Customer Reviews

Diana: Warrior Princess

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just to correct the mis-impression you might have from the prior reviewer - it's quite clear that this book is not meant to have any relation to Princess Diana, it's just a coincidence of title. If you are a big fan of the Princess of Wales... this isn't what you are looking for. If you're big on roleplaying games, however....

Yes, it's an RPG. Anyone who can't accept that premise can stop reading now. Okay -- item two: it's an RPG with a difference (which shouldn't surprise people who've heard of the author).
This is the 20th Century seen through cinematic eyes, by someone who has read a lot of cram notes on the 20th century, who isn't too worried about being sued if he gets the details wrong, and whose audience wants a good story, not historical accuracy.
So Queen Victoria is married to Albert -- Albert Einstein -- who does "Something with atoms", and the leading riverboat gambler of the era is Wild Bill Gates.
And since it's a game there are rules on how you can join in. So, you, too, can fly the sky with the WW1 aces Monty Python's Flying Circus, or adventure with the 7 Dw*rves, led by "Doc" Savage.
But the best part is reading the book and imagining more of the fractured future history of the last hundred years -- watching as (say) Lohn Lenin, Boy George, Paul Getty and "Ringo" Starwalker fight the Undead Legons with their Golden Discs, or the skirmishes of the Third-of-a-World War between the All-Black-And-Tans and their sworn foes, the bionic Springboks.

Is it too much to hope for a small expansion pack in a year or two ?

It's just a game, and a hilarious one at that. Evidently some people are just too close to see the humor here. Of course, the premise for the game is that in the year 3000, television executives have decided to create a show as true to life and well researched as Xena is today... to that end, you get Diana: Warrior Princess. The fun ensues from there. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys satire and RPGs. Oh, and to the first reader, the first thing I thought of is that the 'show' needed a character based on JFK in it.

Contrary to other thinking, this game is about Diana and her selfless life. How many other royals were known for acts of charity around the world? DWP the game is as great tribute to the royal family as there has ever been. Writer commenting on the age of Diana have called her rich, unfaithful and many other nasty thiongs. Gladly, this game presents her as she really was and is: a hero against the forces of evil ()Landmines) polical power (Thatcher, Kenny) and the rule of technology over people (Wild Bill Gates). Unlike most RPG's of this era, The GM is allowed a free hand in determining the extent to which history bis or isn't misrepresented. Personally, I think it is Rowland's greatest work, but that may be because I was dazzled by the excellent artwork, high quality PDF of the game (available at the e23 website). Things that I didn't like were the evil portrayal of Victoria (one of England's greatest personalities and the real lack of a magic system. I will give a former reviewer credit for asprcts of this game that seem "too close." That is yo be expected. Royals are set on a throne for a reason and that does not mean that a standard game can divest a royal of something that is there by "divine right." I think that this is why Landmines seems to be a more visceral enemy and all of the royalty (Diana, Victoria, Elizabeth, Bonny Prince Charlie) The author is definitely treading on dangerous ground, but I think he does it tastefully and a good GM could follow that example.

When I ordered this book I was sooooo excited. I have over 500 Princess Diana books and I tend to prefer the more obscure books. Who wants to keep reading the same old story over and over again?
I however was NOT expecting this book to be a role playing game. Some people may love this type of thing but I found it offensive. There is no mention of Diana's death so this notion that she is alive in this game is rather disturbing to this reader. Fergie appears as Diana's goofy friend that is always getting into trouble leading to Diana rescueing her time after time again. HRH, Prince Charles is one of the villianous charachters but Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll is a vicious ruler hell bent on murdering Diana. A murderous queen is the closest we get to a realistic situation. But this book is just to close to home for me to be a game. I don't mean to sound snooty but a Princess Diana game is comparable to a John F. Kennedy role playing game. It's just a bit too disrespectful to the memory of incredibly special people who died tragic deaths. I felt like she was being lampooned at her memories expense. A Princess Diana Trivial Pursuit game I can handle but this warped fantasy is not this devotees cup of tea. If you want a good Diana fiction book I suggest "Whose Death in the Tunnel" by Aaron McCullum Becker or "Di and I" by Peter Leftcourt both of which are availble here at Amazon!