[RPG]: Blue Rose, reviewed by Bard Bloom (4/5)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11208.phtml

Bard Bloom's Summary:

Want to be a character from Mercedes Lackey, Diane Duane, Anne McCaffery, Andre Norton, or someone like that? Blue Rose does a fine job of giving you that experience.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Torben Mogensen at 2005-04-18 06:32:44
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Nice review. The way you describe corruption points reminded me of the Dark side points in West End Games' Star Wars RPG. Except that you don't actively choose to embrace the Dark side, but have an increasing risk of turning to the Dark side every tim eyou gain a point.

Post originally by Bard Bloom at 2005-04-18 06:59:45
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I don't know that game. The basic concept of nastiness points isn't that new (Mage had paradox, I'm sure that Vampire had something along those lines, and even old D&D lets GMs track alignment). The option of embracing the nasty I haven't seen before -- and having it be a major boon to weenie players makes it a worthwhile moral dilemma.

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-04-18 09:42:32
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Nice review, Bard!

I particularly appreciate you mentioning the politically correct attitude toward homosexuality. Preachiness in a game can be a turn-off no matter what the subject matter, but it would have been easy for you to gloss over it in light of your agreement with the game's point of view.

I'll reserve judgment on whether I find the game as dogmatic on the subject as you did, but I'm happy to have the heads-up.

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by Uh at 2005-04-18 10:46:39
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You do realize that AT LEAST ONE of the authors of Blue Rose is a homosexual right? Judging by that I wouldn't call it politically correct.

Jason

Post originally by Dan Davenport at 2005-04-18 10:52:06
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Uh wrote:
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<b>You do realize that AT LEAST ONE of the authors of Blue Rose is a homosexual right? Judging by that I wouldn't call it politically correct.

Jason</b>
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I didn't, but I don't really see your point -- not unless you mean that the expression of an understandable personal bias on the part of the author can't be political correctness at work.

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Dan Davenport

Post originally by No2 at 2005-04-18 11:03:17
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Your comment is true. This Leftist bias drove me away from the game; I don't like political propaganda disguised as games.

Post originally by No2 at 2005-04-18 11:03:43
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Agreed.

Post originally by Kevin Mowery at 2005-04-18 11:44:22
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Well, the Jarzoni aren't just anti-homosexual. They're also anti-magic (except in the hands of priests), patriarchal, and they don't trust nonhumans.

I think the game is done a disservice when the setting is described solely in terms of homosexuality. There's a *little* more to the game than that.

Post originally by Yamo at 2005-04-18 11:46:23
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Hell, the same obvious real world politics of any sort. I can't say I could enjoy any game that preaches this blatantly. I'm honestly surprised that they had the restraint to not introduce a BBEG called Egroeg W. Hsub. Maybe they're saving him for a suppliment.

The rules sound cool, though. They ought to consider a Blue Rose SRD so I can get the rules without the authors' socio-political tract of a setting included. Damned if I'm paying for the paper and ink that eats up.