Robert Asprins Myth series, Favorite Parts and / or What You've Used in Game


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I loved this series and I felt my heart drop when I heard Robert was dead.

One of my favorites was when Aahz convinced Skeeve to try out for court mage. Brilliant use of illusion spells!

I have used it in campaigns before.

In later books, Guido and his cousin Nunzio, infiltrated the Postilium army. The description of their experiences in the service was so very accurate!


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All time favorite moment was when Skeeve was fighting Big Julie's army and Aahz goes out into the fray in disguise but gets captured...long story boring Skeeve thinks his dear mentor's been killed.

I've always liked my silly books with a touch of realism and grit. Suddenly, right in that next chapter, Skeeve just wasn't a kid anymore. Oh sure, he'd act like it from time to time, but he just simply WASN'T one.

Then my second fave is the end of that next chapter. He starts dealing with the army; HARD. His spells and cohorts really started damaging the enemy directly and it was pretty BA. Then at the end they regroup and start planning their next attack; Skeeve asks his group for a sword and hears "here kid, take mine." And HUZZAH! Aahz is back!

Good Times.

I've not used any of it in my games; not Gleep or Bunny, Not Massha or Vic the vampire, not even the Woof Writers though I have a lycanthrope campaign underway. No, somehow (for me anyway) that would cheapen my own coming of age alongside Skeeve.

Rest in peace, weary accountant-turned editor-turned-author; you will be missed.


That last comment brings up the number one reason he was my hero.

When he told the IRS,'I will give you all of my profits on any book I am the sole author.'

They agreed to it and he never was the sole author of another book.

Genius!


I like the part where it turns out that Guido and Nunzio are in the Teamsters.

The union forever!


Good one Comrade!

How about when Skeeve went to Perv to find Aahz and stopped for a bite to eat...he ordered human food and what did he get? Cuts of meat in the shape of a human! He passed out, lol.


I never saw the lad's drinking problem coming ever. I liked his genie though (was it Kevin?). The book I always found hardest to get, even as an adult was the Big Game between Veh-Gus and Ta-Hoe.

I did adopt one thing from the Myth series. Whenever anyone asks about something in the future I always reply dryly: "We'll burn that bridge when we come to it." It's now part of my common parlance.

Other lines I've stolen:

Big Crunch like Smash!

I never refuse a fifth.

(one of the chapter quotations) Holy Batsh** Fatman! I mean...


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In most of my D&D games the most common gambling game played in taverns is Dragon Poker.

...wish I hadn't sold those books.


whoa. I hadn't heard he passed. sorry to hear that. I met him and Phil Foglio at a Con in TX back in the day. I only followed the books through the early '90s, but I may still have an autographed comic book around somewhere. Both very twisted and funny guys.


Fortunately a lot of his books are on digits now, but it is impossible to get those autographed. Still, the stories are solid.

I never got to meet the man, but there is always the next life.

A true game built on the books would be awesome, but until then...Home built games will have to do.


I once tried to do what Robert did with Thieves World and pass a campaign in process to another GM and work it around until it got back to me, but it kinda went south. I guess I should have screened the GMs better and/or set some more descriptive guidelines.
For the next campaign I am making some 'Myth' characters. Oh yes! Never mind the the Aahz behind the curtain when you go to visit Skeeve the Great!


If Tananda is a Trollip (female troll) does that mean that female trolls should be human like in appearance in the campaign? Have we just been seeing the males? lol


Mark Hoover wrote:
I did adopt one thing from the Myth series. Whenever anyone asks about something in the future I always reply dryly: "We'll burn that bridge when we come to it." It's now part of my common parlance.

THAT'S where I got that!!! I've been using that for years and had forgotten where I got it from.

I've been reading the Myth Adventures comic done by the Foglios, same people who do Girl Genius. If you aren't aware of it check it out!


Nunzio and Guido have been regulars in my campaigns, but the fairy godfather has yet to be seen...I guess he is still in the closet.


Sad to see the Foglio comic does not continue after the end of the first story. =/


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I had a PC with Leadership who picked 2 of the better guys to be bodyguards: named 'em Guido and Nunzio, and when they died, continued the trend with Anthony, Rocco, and so on.

Houstonderek desperately wanted a D-hopper for his character, and I obliged him only partially thus far.

I have no problem making the Bazaar at Deva the home plane for Mercanes.


True it is sad the comics didn't go further, but at least the novels did.


I think for my new campaign I will use the Tananda version of the female troll...just to throw off the players.


Phil Foglio + Tananda = the only reason I became interested in the whole series. She was an assassin with HUGE talent.

That being said after adolescence I went back and re-read everything done in the novel series up through the mid nineties. And then read them again...and have nearly destroyed them all reading them over and over.

I have tried reading the new stuff but my heart's not in it these days. Time and a place I guess. Just went back over Phil's Myth art; that is simply how I will ALWAYS picture these characters.


I agree Mark. His early stuff is the best. The later ones it seems he and his co-author were trying too hard (or not hard enough).


In our game today we had a character pull a Skeeve move. He took a spear from someone and just levitated it away from him...it was a great understated moment.

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