[RPG]: Action! System Core Rules v.1.1, reviewed by ShannonA (2/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10439.phtml

Shannon Appelcline's Summary:

The <i>Action! System Core Role-Playing Game Rules</i> feel more like an RPG toolkit than an actual RPG. However, the game system that underlies it is well designed and intuitive, so this seems like a very good starting place for actual RPGs.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Attila at 2004-06-28 07:26:26
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"Character Advancement: There are no rules for improving characters."

Dunno about the pdf version, but the printed one has rules for awarding and spending experience points on page 86.

Post originally by Robin Ashe at 2004-06-28 07:52:01
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The download I got was 92 pages.

Something that was rather disappointing was that it was just the first 92 pages of a 103 page system, with references to certain tables and info past page 92.

I also agree that it didn't have the best editing, and there were some rules that just seemed backwards. For instance, the Immunity and Addiction traits seem like they're costed in a completely backwards fashion. I mean imunity to Iocane Powder for 2 points and Tabacco for 10 points?

Overall I'd say it was a good system, partly because I liked Cyberpunk and I could see elements of Cyberpunk in the Action! rules as well as some improvements of them.

I haven't gotten through reading the whole thing, it was clearly written out but not really gripping so it was rather easy to put down, but the impression that I got was that it was worth the $0 I paid for it to download it, but even with extra pictures in there, linking and more pages I wouldn't pay the $5 for the full rules until they have some of the quality issues worked out.

Post originally by Robin Ashe at 2004-06-28 07:53:33
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The free PDF I have of it has that as well. I suspect it has something to do with the version he reviewed having only 48 pages...

Post originally by Shannon A at 2004-06-28 11:52:55
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The newer 2003 v1.1 is 48 pages. It was the 2000/2001 v1 that was 92.

Shannon

Post originally by Robin Ashe at 2004-06-29 00:32:00
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Ah ok. So I assume it corrects some of the goofs in the original one and then chops off a third of the content in exchange?

Post originally by Shannon Appelcline at 2004-06-29 01:05:28
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It looks to me like the original was intended for more general release and for game players while the second was more of a reference document for designers. I can't really say what the underlying thoughts were, however.

I just grabbed the most recent version because I wanted to review Action! before I reviewed an Action! Packed game.

Shannon

Post originally by Shanya Almafeta at 2004-06-29 03:24:53
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Time charts were used by Fuzion before Action, and by Hero before Fuzion. They were used in about the same way.

Post originally by Robin Ashe at 2004-06-29 03:58:45
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Ah, that makes sense for a good reference point.

Post originally by tetsujin28 at 2004-06-29 05:16:48
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That's all Action! really is.