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When I first discovered indie RPGs after many years thinking GURPS was the epitome of gaming, I thought simply opening up the GM role to the rest of the table, asking the other players "I don't know, what IS behind that door?", would make an awesome play experience. It didn't work very well! But with Itras By, I've finally found that experience: it's a game where volleying ideas back and forth between GM and character-players is fun, functional, and utterly central.
Itras By is founded on the principles of improv theater. "Don't block," that is, never stifle another player's fun by rejecting their ideas or refusing to participate in their stories. Instead, use what they give you, and build and add your own spin and suggestions. It brings about a delightful, smooth flow of play with a lot of kibbitzing and laughter.
The setting, an anything-is-possible surrealistic city where elements of weird urban fantasy (like China Miéville or Neil Gaiman), crime noir, and mythic fable blend, ...
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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PDQ: Roughly half the book is based upon the PDQ system adapted for pulp Call of Cthulhu. Optional rules include Mythos Dice and Heroism. If you're not familiar with the PDQ system, it boils down to a simulationist task resolution system, where the GM sets a task difficulty, and the player rolls dice and modifies them to see if he succeeds. PDQ, however, adds some nice RPG color to this task. Rather than predefined skills, a player starts out with a set number of modifiers. He then selects his skills and traits. based on his character, subject to the GM. So, for example, a character can have Good [+2]: Personality: Fearless, encouragig the player to roleplay his character a certain way. The PDQ core system is available online for free.
Adventure: Three Kings: While it's obvious the writers did their research, I felt let down by the lack of specifics in this half of the book. The adventure felt more like a campaign of adventure seeds, than the highly descriptive Cthulhu adventures w...
Rating: [3 of 5 Stars!] |
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this is an excellent addition to any d20 modern gamers collection.
if you've ever wanted to play the modern equivalent to a classic D&D
class, such as the paladin, monk, wizard, ranger, psychic warrior, etc,
this is basically a must have, as it's specifically made for that.
also, in addition to it's specific focus, it adds the "Shadowborn Hero"
class, which is excellent if you want to play a creature of shadow right from the start, and want to expand your options beyond the very basic feats and races available in Urban Arcana, or if you prefer to play a mutant, there's an entire Shadowborn Hero class tree dedicated to giving you mutation points to spend on extra or improved mutations, always welcome.
if you want to have a fairly decent amount of low level magical or psionic ability, then there are several class tree's which allow you to while maintaining balance, and there's even a talent tree that let's you gain an animal companion after just 1 other talent, so you could hav...
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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