 
Sign in to create or edit a product review. Gygax Magazine #1 and #2 were just outright s#&&ty compared to #3. Now, if they can continue the momentum, I will gladly support this "magazine" with full support. More adventures, more supplemental material, and more creativity... So, I spent about 2 hours reading Gygax Magazine last night and about another hour finishing it this morning and I have to say that I really liked it in the fact that it is not what I truly expected. When I am surprised, I will get more involved therefore I actually finished it ahead of time. The review I am about to make is one that some people were cringing for some reason. One of the main reasons I left the Roll for Initiative podcast was the unnatural fear of the review that I was going to give this magazine because it might sour friendships (which it did) or whatever other personal and professional relationships existed. No matter the reason, a review is totally worthless if not honest. One thing I will never do is compromise my honesty when it comes to a professional review of a product. Gygax Magazine is no exception to this rule. So here is my take. Let me start that this magazine is not exclusive to the old school mentality. That was a very wise decision from the very beginning. Remaining exclusive especially in such a niche hobby (it will NEVER be anything else) will only limit the success of its readership. Concentrating on today’s games whether it be roleplaying games, board games, miniatures games with the added bonus material of the old school mentality (where it began) is a great direction. There is no real reason to dismiss anyone because they choose to play an older edition of D&D or if they prefer to play Pathfinder. There is no need to criticize ones method of having fun when it is not fun to someone else. The days of exclusivist gaming is nearing an end because for this hobby to thrive among its masses, we have to learn to embrace that what is good for one, is good for all. This magazine from what I read this past two days is going to ignite emotions from various camps of that exclusivist camp (it already has) and guess what, we are still going to game and have fun. That is the only reason why the magazine is here and that is to promote gaming, embrace inclusion, and never forget the roots of gaming as a whole among other things. There were a number of articles that really caught my eye and so I am going to expound a bit on them and why I liked them. “The Cosmology of Role-Playing Games” by James Carpio really piqued my interest and only in the sense that the chart provided shows the extent of how role-playing games as a whole has just exploded in our culture. The number of role playing games certainly could not be all on this wondrous chart but it gave a very clear example of how games came into being, their design, and their focus. For those that were not aware of the large selection of rpgs that were released in the last two decades or so, you will be in for a mighty treat. One part of the article covers “the moons of the OSR” and I revel in the fact that it did not mention a very elitist and mentally flawed group that swears that OSRIC was the “torchbearer” of the OSR movement. Nice try, but like I said, mentally flawed. The torchbearers will always be those gamers who continue to play within the spirit of the rules and those games that have long went out of print. It is those gamers who continue to utilize the “texts” of those out of print role playing games who continue to light the way into the future of uncertainty as far as the D&D name brand is concerned. I cringed when I read the article “Still playing after all these years” by the PONS (I refuse to mention him by name or even acknowledge him and by the way, the PONS is an acronym for “person of no significance&rdquo. This article was simply nothing but the ramblings of an old, cantankerous man trying to escape the shadow of a great man. It is littered with backslapping accomplishments and selfish bravado. When I read an article, I do not want to read “I did this”, “I did that”, “I have been here”,” I have been there” or any other of that self imposed water walking cheerio talk. The level of braggertness (if such a word exists and it does) that reeked within this article was just overpowering and I was very relieved to finally relieve myself of the agony I was exposing myself to. My only advice to the PONS is to start seeking something NEW to talk/write about. For those gamers who have been doing this for many years, we get it. We do not need to be reminded on how to host our games or change our techniques. We do not need to be directed by you to be “cocky” when self confidence comes in time and experience. To exclaim that “you personally only know a few people who have that level of self confidence to host a game” in the manner you speak speaks very highly to the fact that you do not know today’s GM’s/DM’s/CM’s. This is now the 21st century and gaming as a whole has evolved quite a bit since the 60’s and 70’s. Get with the times because we are way ahead of the game. It was great to read on Leonard Lakofka’s article aptly titled, “Leomund’s Secure Shelter and his personal history of the game. I am a huge fan of his personal works and they will forever be etched in my memory from days of old. The first portion of the article was a bit open and I am glad to hear that his health is improving HOWEVER the part that really caught my attention is when he made the claim that “many AD&D players are overweight” as he was before health issues forced him to take measures to get better. I have been in this hobby for many years (39+ in March of this year) and I would never make a claim without some supported documentation that MANY people are fat who play AD&D. That comment just did not sit too well for me as I read it. The article moves on to its main thought which asks what is better, a magic sword +1 to hit or one that does +1 to damage. Decent article but let me ask this, is this important for me as a DM when I host an AD&D game? Probably not. This is an excellent article for those who are not well versed in math and for those who live to argue about such minutia. In any case, it is good to see one of favorite writers write again. Who cannot love the (IN)famous “Ecologies” from the old days when playing 1st Edition D&D? Ronald Corn’s contribution, “The Ecology of the BANSHEE” is superb. Enough said on that. The articles by Luke Gygax and Ernie Gygax were excellent. It is pleasant to read about some of the things that these two gentlemen have lived through back in the day when they spent time with their father. Reminiscing from the past has always been a healthy way to relive the olden days and no better way than to remember the days when it is with family. The articles, “Gaming with a Virtual Tabletop”, “DM’ing for your Toddler”, “The Future for Tabletop Gaming”, “Great power for ICONS”, “Talents off the Frontlines”, and “D&D past, Now, and Next”, are all interesting articles and I hope they will enable the gamers that are targeted by improving their games, finding more players, and just have fun. Of all the articles mentioned, I really enjoyed the whole take on the use of miniatures from Michael Tresca in his article, “D&D past, NOW, and Next”. The number of arguments and flawed logic on this particular issue is” legion” within the gaming community and I am glad it has yet again resurfaced with some resounding facts. Bravo to Mr. Tresca and his research on the subject. James M Ward’s article, “Playing it the Science Fiction Way”, was truly an exceptional article. Again, this is a very controversial subject in the roleplaying arena where some gamers are so ingrained in a one dimension loop de loop mentality that one cannot play a science fiction game in the same manner as a fantasy role playing game and have FUN. James Ward has proven time and time again that that type of thought is incorrect. Well done article and well worth the read. The addition of Gnatdamp which is a small NPC village that can be easily plugged into a game is excellent. The additional “adventure seeds” was the icing on the cake. This is the kind of material I personally seek in a gaming magazine. This is the type of material I utilize in my games if need be. The best part is that the contents of this article can be plugged into any game with little or no changes necessary. One of my favorite articles of Gygax Magazine is the “New Warrens” by Wolfgang Bauer. Wolfgang is a classy person all around and I am a huge fan of his works and contributions to the Pathfinder Game. I am very much looking forward to the Kobold’s Cavern portion in each magazine. Paizo’s Pathfinder roleplaying game is a stunning success and I wish them the best in the many years to come. The articles (Magical Miscellany by Randall Hurlburt and Scaling Combat Feats for Pathfinder) that support the Pathfinder game will certainly attract the host of gamers who play it. Kudos to Wolfgang and Paizo. The additional material such as Marvin the Mage, What’s New with Phil and Dixie, and Order of the Stick close the magazine with their “humor”. Nine times out of ten, I really do not know where the cartoon is going so I practically ignore it. For those that enjoy it, you have it. In closing, this is the first issue of Gygax Magazine and do realize they are breaking the ice. Provided the Editior in Chief keeps an open mind and open heart to gaming as a whole by not remaining exclusive to one small niche in the population, the possibilities that more gamers will warm up to the magazine is potential. The cost of the magazine is exceptional. It is cheaper than most other gaming magazines at the local gaming stores. The talent is present in providing interesting and worth reading articles. Hopefully, when there is an open window for submissions, gamers will submit some worthy articles to share with those who invested in the magazine. Notable changes I would recommend is have articles on gaming, not personal achievements or backslapping “this is what I did” articles. Bring more gaming into the magazine instead of making it almost a pseudobook of self hero worship. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate this magazine a 4.5. On a scale of A to F, I rate it a C-. Do we really need the word "a#$%~&%" in this book??? I put the book down after seeing this word and never picked it up again. PERFECTION at its best. Great job by Bill Webb and the gang at FGG. This is a super book and nothing can touch it. If I could give it 10 stars, I would. Enough on that ;D
- TOAD, The Tome of Adventure Design - It is an ok book but the ULTIMATE TOOLBOX is much more superior than TOAD. |
