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Truth & Justice
by Franklin C. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 04/15/2007 00:00:00

For those gamers who love comic books, but hate the number-chunching of other games (like Champions or GURPS), -this- is the game for you!

<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br><BR>[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]<BR>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Truth & Justice
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Andrew B. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 02/28/2007 00:00:00

I admit that I was initially drawn to this product because of my past experience with the PDQ system. I've seen PDQ used in a game about ninja who deliver fast-food, and I've seen it used for a tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure setting. It comes as no surprise then, that PDQ works so well in a game inspired by Fairy Tales.

In PDQ, every character is defined by a series of descriptive stats such as Brawling, Swordplay, and Cunning. As long as it can be described by a descriptive adjective, it can be a stat in this game. Dice are used to determine the success or failure of various actions, with a number being added or subtracted depending on the character's skill level. PDQ is versatile and easy to use, and it really shines in the story-driven environment of the Zorcerer of Zo.

The brunt of the book is devoted to describing the game's fairytale setting. The Zantabulous Zorcerer of Zo is a clever mishmash of fairytale archetypes. Rather than labor in the intensive details like a typical RPG campaign, ZoZ paints a broad picture and lets the players fill in the specifics as they go. Fairytales are built from simple but evocative pieces: the evil forest, the house of gingerbread, the wicked stepmother. So, to, is the land of Zo. The authors give lots of advice on creating the proper atmosphere, and the PDQ system grants the players the freedom to quickly and easily build whatever sort of characters they can imagine. The resulting blend is a perfect mix of freedom and inspiration that results in a great fairytale RPG experience.

This PDF grew out of a home campaign the author put together as a time-friendly way to enjoy some gaming with friends. The experience was so successful, his players insisted that he publish his notes. As a result, Zorcerer is a very different read compared to the average gaming book. There are plenty of sidebars with information from the original campaign. In addition, an entire chapter gives gamemastering advice mixed with notes on how and what occurred during the author's adventures. These examples are a great way to show the themes and ideas of ZoZ in action, and they are an interesting read as well.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: This is one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while. The author clearly did some homework, and his advice is very useful for running a fairytale-based game. PDQ was a perfect choice for game system, and here it is adapted perfectly to the setting. As a side note, I thought that the inclusion of tips for running the game with a group of children was a great touch. Zorcerer of Zo is another in a line of cool gaming products based on PDQ. Highly recommended.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: No gaming product is perfect, but Zorcerer of Zo doesn't have any major flaws to speak of. Less a dislike and more of a caveat is that, if fairy tales aren't your cup of tea, this book isn't something you'll find very useful. Also, ZoZ is very open and player-empowering. If your players aren't the type to become immersed in their campaigns, you won't get as much out of this game as you otherwise might.

Finally, I think the game is a bit overpriced. It is well written and nicely put together, but its just a wee bit expensive for my tastes.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Steve Z. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 02/17/2007 00:00:00

This is an absolutely wonderful game! The treatment of the genre is smack-dab on target, the game system lends itself perfectly to this type of play, and the narrative of the first Zo campaign is entertaining and gives a very good example of how a roleplaying campaign plays out. If you enjoy having a good time playing an RPG, then buy this game!<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Very well presented. Chad really knows his subject matter and has a passion for it that draws you in and gets you excited about it. Very cool!<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Not a big fan of the page layout of the PDF, but it doesn't detract from the overall goodness of it! I wish the map of Zo had a touch better resolution, but again, not a giant problem.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Truth & Justice
by Matthew W. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 02/13/2007 00:00:00

Very nice system. I love the do-it-yourself mechanic of the powers. Has a more expressive story feel to it without getting bogged down in applying points like with other superhero games. Highly recommended! <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Fast but accurate character creation. <br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: There are 3 settings towards the end of the book. I only create my own settings for superhero stuff, so this doesn't work for me. On the other hand for those looking for alternative settings then just translating from popular comics but don't want to create their own, these examples are very good. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Truth & Justice
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Andrew M. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/24/2007 00:00:00

Damn this game is good!

There are a host of good "fairy/faerie tale" products on the market, but this is the first one that has grabbed me enough to want to begin an immediate campaign.

There are really three key elements to Zo -- the game system, the game advice on running (and playing) the fairy tale genre and the written history of the first Zo campaign.

Each element is excellent.

While I like the basic PDQ system, Zo accurately states that it just uses the "Good Parts" of PDQ. This makes for a fast paced, fun and flexible game system that suits the genre.

The advice on running fairy tales is spot on. While there are other good systems that address this topic, I like Zo's green eggs and ham approach the best so far.

Finally (and maybe I'm strange in this regard), I like reading other GMs' campaign histories. In this case, the history, play notes and player comments really provide a road map for running a successful Zo campaign. <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: I feel ready to run a campaign after just reading the game.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Us Old Guys need a bigger font.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Zorcerer of Zo
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by John W. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/24/2007 00:00:00

I'd never been seduced by a product ANYTHING like this before. I've always taken my FRPG'ing very seriously and the concept of this game should have seemed childish, goofy, and "not really for serious RPG'ers" to me.

But something struck me about this one... Something in the product description that screamed "You know a whole group of players who are playing (that big d20 FRPG) who would really prefer the game to revolve around the story and be a little lighter hearted." So I bought this with them in mind.

Boy, did it teach me something... And with 20+ years of both playing and writing FRPG's under my belt, that's not easy to do. I found myself wishing all my gamers could relax their egos and take a Zo adventure with me... While that may not happen, I certainly now have a more suitable tool for enertaining all those "half gamers" in my group of friends and family.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Very complete in its efforts and extremely well written. Very much addressed my concerns of "how can I get (other FRPG) players excited about Zo?" and "In what way is Zo superior?"<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: It's a little bit pricey for the PDF, but that's a small complaint given the far above average quality of the product.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Jarrod S. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/16/2007 00:00:00

This is what roleplaying games should be. They should make players want to describe exactly what their characters are doing in as much detail as possible instead of just saying "I hit the giant with my sword." BORING! The PDQ system is fast and simple but still crunchy enough for those traditionalists. This is definitely a game for those who can think outside the box.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: The ease of the PDQ system. <br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The pages are 12 x 9, which is going to make this diffcult to print.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Chris B. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/15/2007 00:00:00

Stunningly simple role playing game that's perfect for anyone trying to wean non-gaming friends, family or loved ones in to RPG's.

After downloading it this weekend, a night out with the girlfriend and her girlsfriends led to each girl devising her own fairy tale character - it was so simple.

Praise to the lads at Atomic Sock Monkey for a great product at a cool price.

<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Simple, accessible, complete, cheap<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Organisation of campaign/setting content could have been better but overall the setting provided is far more detailed than you might expect. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Nathan C. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 01/09/2007 00:00:00

The Zorcerer of Zo, by Atomic Sock Monkey Press, whisks readers off to a fabulous fairytale land where life is a tad bit simpler and stories elevate beyond the rudimentary elements in both story and game mechanically wise. Featuring the PDQ system, Prose Descriptive Qualities, a simple mechanical RPG system that places story and character development above heavy mechanical jargon, the Zorcerer of Zo embraces the fantasy elements of its world providing a fantastic setting for players and DMs to frolic in.

After a fairly easy to read synopsis on fairytales and fantasy by the writer, Zorcerer moves into the core of the product by describing the world of Zo and its various whimsical kingdoms. Humorously pulled, altered and twisted from various sources such as Narnia and Oz, the six kingdoms could be used in any system as it is funny good fluff.

The middle portion of the book summarizes the PDQ for those new to the system (you may download the entire rule set for free at Atomic Sock Monkey Press?s website) and how it is utilized in Zorcerer. The PDQ is an excellent system for running a game in a fairytale land because of the amount of room given to PCs for character creation. Players begin character creation with a story of their character and their qualities are derived from the prose. Then, using a point assignment system, they are assigned a rating in the qualities. The qualities are not ?listed? per say and are left up to the imagination of the player. If I want my character to have the quality ?Lovable?, its in the game. Zorcerer spices up the system a bit by also allowing characters to assign two special moves to one quality. The special moves add a bonus to the quality. The PDQ uses 2d6 for all conflict resolution.

The main focus of the system is story telling, which (hack and slashers should cover their ears), effects bonuses you receive on the dice. Imagine that. A role-playing system that provides bonuses for role playing. Considering that Zorcery is an original fairytale story, the setting embraces the prose element of the game allowing the players to weave their story?s into the gameplay.

The end of the PDF returns back to DM reference material such as NPCs, adventure hooks and a unique add on, session reviews from the writer. This is a very innovative feature I have yet to see in a PDF. It is very helpful and gives the reader a real insight in how the writer intended for sessions to run.

For the Player This is a role players system for those whom do not want to be too bogged down with rules lawyers. Players will enjoy the story telling elements and the magic system?s ease of use where players use hero points to power spells. More importantly, the land of Zo is a good place for those players whom want to create their own fairytales.

For the DM If your DM style lends more towards creating a narrative, the land of Zo is the best place to start. More involved than other PDQ systems, Zorcerer gives you a lot of material to produce your own adventures. With NPCs, story hooks and the writer?s own notes, you have a lot of material to weave your own tale.

The Iron Word Do not let rules-lite scare you. The PDQ is meaty enough to provide a good time for the average role player whom just wants a good evening to create an innovative story. The Zorcerer of Zo is the right setting to create such a tale as it is far off from traditional role playing fantasy to be called unique. <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: - the setting matches the rulesystem perfectly

  • enjoyed the land of lo and its off skew takes on novel fairytales
  • the addition of writers game sessions is nice, new and innovative
  • emphasis is on fun <br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: - with a system this open, the players have a lot of power, could easily be abused by a rules lawyer<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>


Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Dead Inside: the Roleplaying Game of Loss & Redemption
by Sophie L. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/06/2007 00:00:00

This is the system I want to use to run games based on the TV show "Lost" or the Warren Ellis comic book "Fell", slightly altering the settings' premises to use that of "Dead Inside": the characters have somehow lost their souls and are trying to recover them (or grow new ones.)

The premise of the game makes a strong contrast with many modern horror RPGs, giving the PCs a reason to hope and work. The system is easily learned, taught, used, and can handle surprises thrown by your players.

<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Slick, simple mechanics; lovely premise that is dark and on the fringes of horror without the PCs themselves having to be the horror (though they can be), and with a glimmer of hope to guide them. Strong incentive to do more than "murder, pillage, burn." (Also, one of the ads was for good music.)<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The art and layout are only average; too many ads in the back.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br><BR>[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]<BR>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Dead Inside: the Roleplaying Game of Loss & Redemption
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Cold, Hard World: The Real World Sourcebook
by Sophie L. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/06/2007 00:00:00

Very much worth it if, like me, you'd rather run "Dead Inside" more in or very near the mortal world than in the Spirit World. Add to that a toolbox of GM resources and story ideas and the book suddenly becomes not only indispensable for "Dead Inside" but also useful with other PDQ games such as "Truth & Justice" and with other modern horror or suspense games.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Cold, Hard World: The Real World Sourcebook
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The Zorcerer of Zo
by Sophie L. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/06/2007 00:00:00

Excellent book, I can't recommend it enough. Can be played with all audiences young and old. Simple system that does the job and gets out of the way when not needed, but supports creative and adventurous play. Excellent support in the text on how to create and run a campaign from scratch. One of those games that truly fosters creativity and good, fun stories.

This is also the nicest-looking book published by ASMP so far, very nice presentation.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Great rules, easy to learn in a few minutes and fostering creative play; lovely presentation, excellent GM advice.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Zorcerer of Zo
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Truth & Justice
by Zachary B. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 09/19/2006 00:00:00

As a long time superhero rpg fan, I have owned almost every superhero rpg on the market. In my opinion, this is one of the all-time best, as well as my current system of choice. This game is very easy to play, and versatile. Definitely check it out!<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Ease of play, genius character creation system, and quality of the game design were all strong points.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The only drawback to this game was that it could have used a bit more art.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Truth & Justice
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Truth & Justice
by Ralf W. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 08/20/2006 00:00:00

T&J uses an adapted PDQ system which is very rules light (which I prefer). If you're looking for a crunchy supers game, T&J is definitely not for you. In a time of poorly edited gaming books, this book was a pleasure to read. I do like the author's writing style.

Highly recommend with just a minor quible: As a game of comic heroes, the art could have been better.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: - good discussion of the genre

  • rules light system
  • three sample settings
  • good bibliography<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: - the art could have been better<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>


Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Truth & Justice
by andrew b. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 08/09/2006 00:00:00

loved it...esp the art from the creator of something positive webcomic.

game play is fast and smooth and is represenative of the genre.

buy it<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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