[RPG]: Red Dwarf: The Roleplaying Game , reviewed by Dan Davenport (5/5)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9730.phtml

Dan Davenport's Summary:

A witty and comprehensive treatment of a comedic sci-fi setting that turns out to have a lot more potential than I'd originally thought. The XPG system doesn't particularly enhance the setting, but it generally stays out of the way.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Todd Downing at 2003-09-26 10:43:44
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Thanks for the review, Dan! I like your reference to the show's theme at the end. :-)

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2003-09-26 11:28:55
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Todd Downing wrote:
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<b>Thanks for the review, Dan! I like your reference to the show's theme at the end. :-)</b>
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Glad you enjoyed it, Todd.

--
Dan Davenport

Post originally by Mark Bruno at 2003-09-26 11:40:54
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Yeah, that was a nice touch, Dan.

I do have one complaint, though, and it's fairly major. You misrepresented both the Hardware and Ships chapters. Actually, you only glossed over them when, in fact, they're two of the best chapters in the book, written by a highly competent individual who was integral to the development of the game and its intended vision and philosophy.

Next time, you really should give credit where credit is due and not snub the people who were key to the implementation of this license into a highly entertaining roleplaying game of never-before-seen proportions that really hinges upon the successful work as experienced in the Ships and Hardware section.

And to think that I slaved over those chapters for months on....oops.

Ahem

Well, now that I have that off my chest, I can go back to enjoying my triple-fried egg sandwich and curry-powdered scones.

-- Mark

Post originally by Todd Downing at 2003-09-26 11:48:43
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Bad Mark. No biscuit.

Post originally by Wulf Corbett at 2003-09-26 11:50:24
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Nice review. I had to run Red Dwarf on absolutely no preparation time ("Our GM hasn't turned up, can anyone run something?"), and found the GELF golf scenario highly inappropriate for an intro. Just like you, I found the whole thing depended on players slogging through multitudinous rerolls from inept PC golfers. Soon some of them gave up and it turned into a firefight - at which time I discoverd the lethality of bazookoids!

However, I had less problem with 'being' the AI. Norman Lovitt being one of my heroes, I just donned the voice and the facial expression when required (although I actually set it on the SS Majestic, pleasure liner, with rebuilt engines after 2 million years of scutter effort after a meteor strike - it would have been quicker but the only AI to survive was the Bingo caller).

Wulf

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2003-09-26 12:00:35
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Mark Bruno wrote:
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<b>I do have one complaint, though, and it's fairly major. You misrepresented both the Hardware and Ships chapters. Actually, you only glossed over them when, in fact, they're two of the best chapters in the book, written by a highly competent individual who was integral to the development of the game and its intended vision and philosophy.

Next time, you really should give credit where credit is due and not snub the people who were key to the implementation of this license into a highly entertaining roleplaying game of never-before-seen proportions that really hinges upon the successful work as experienced in the Ships and Hardware section.

And to think that I slaved over those chapters for months on....oops.</b>
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*ahem* Well, lest Mark feel neglected...

The equipment and ship chapters really <u>are</u> great, with nice touches throughout. In all honesty, I really should have mentioned the "catalog" format of the equipment listings. Very amusing, particularly in the juxtaposition of the "ad text" with the "real story".

--
Dan Davenport

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2003-09-26 12:09:11
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Wulf Corbett wrote:
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<b>Nice review.</b>
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Thanks!

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<b>I had to run Red Dwarf on absolutely no preparation time ("Our GM hasn't turned up, can anyone run something?"), and found the GELF golf scenario highly inappropriate for an intro. Just like you, I found the whole thing depended on players slogging through multitudinous rerolls from inept PC golfers. Soon some of them gave up and it turned into a firefight - at which time I discoverd the lethality of bazookoids!</b>
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Heh.

In retrospect, while I liked the flexibility of the scenario aside from the "lousy golfer" issue, I think a scenario lending itself more to interaction would have been more appropriate. The interaction was the fun part for my players anyway, as you might expect from a Red Dwarf game.

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<b>However, I had less problem with 'being' the AI. Norman Lovitt being one of my heroes, I just donned the voice and the facial expression when required (although I actually set it on the SS Majestic, pleasure liner, with rebuilt engines after 2 million years of scutter effort after a meteor strike - it would have been quicker but the only AI to survive was the Bingo caller).</b>
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Oh, I didn't really have a problem playing Holly. It just seemed silly speaking in GM terms while in character.

--
Dan Davenport

Post originally by Balbinus at 2003-09-26 15:09:47
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Seriously, a great review very well written which leaves me with a good feel for the game and an interest in it I hadn't expected.

Nicely done Dan, great stuff.

Post originally by Mark at 2003-09-26 18:02:44
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You rock, Dan.

And Todd, it's no good threatening to take my biscuit rations away because I have some stashed in a secret place that you'll never find. So there!