Alan Bahr

This is a stripped-down, D&D/OSR-based role-playing game that provides what looks like a simple, rules lite game engine for dungeon exploration. I like it and want to give it a try in play (I have only read the book, but haven't yet had a chance to play using these rules). Three basic classes and basic game mechanics.

My complaints:
* Not enough detail on magic or spells that might be possible. That would be a big gap in actual play.
* There's a weird hang-up in the game in that taxes are so high that the player-characters are driven to risk their lives dungeon-delving. This literally drives the whole game. (I imagine Bahr wrote this game after writing a big check to the IRS.)
* The game and it's fundamental premise are poorly served by the two mini-settings provided, which throw the game and its implicit setting of dungeon-delving out the window and offer suggestions of playing a Robin Hood campaign or one set in a gigantic cemetery, dodging watchmen.

Having said that, the game looks fun and I think the mini-comic included in the game does a better job of explaining the setting and the game's conceit than literally anything else included in the book.… (meer)