Customer Reviews

Hackmaster: Official Player's Handbook

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have the 1st, 2nd and 3e editions of D&D/AD&D and have been playing for many years. I enjoy all of the incarnations of this game as well as other RPGs. Certainly, I have to say I am very impressed with this book.

It's not the exact same game as any of the other editions mentioned above. Although based on 1st and 2nd edition materials there is a lot of new content. You'll love the new approach to building characters and using Building Points. The skills/proficiencies/talents have received a total overhaul and really shine. Spells have been significantly altered, and while this took me by surprise, the game dynamics do seem really well balanced. There are many new PC races and more new classes than you can shake a stick at.

HackMaster is really fun, and it is certainly better crafted than many games out there today. You'll really enjoy the ideas and writing in this book regardless of which side of the D&D or RPG fence you are on.

This is a very well organized, indexed and thought out RPG. There is so much more new material and subtle changes in the game than most people are aware of. HackMaster is truly a unique game but with all the old style attention to detail and style. The support site and forums at KenzerCo (the publisher) are extremely active and have a large following.

One last thing, I have heard/read several reviews who complain about a parody aspect to these books. People who make this claim have probably only briefly paged through the PHB before putting it back on the shelf. After you make it through the first few pages, you really don't notice any obvious parody. Rather, the book is well written with a healthy dose of humor. And if you can't laugh at yourself, what are you doing playing an RPG anyway?

This game is essentially an update of 1st and 2nd edition dungeons and dragons for those who prefer the original system to the new D20 system. As such, it does a nice job of collecting and representing those rules.

On the other hand, the game is also a parody of those games. The writing is intentionally stylistically poor, the layout and organization can be daunting, and the book is incredibly obsessed with tables and charts and dice rolling. For example there are tables on whether your birth is legitimate, tables on how many siblings you have, and tables on whether your parents were competent as parents, and whether their parenting hurt or harmed you.

While you can play the game straight as written, it still really is a parody. I know people who view the book as serious and run games using it, and I know people who bought it, laughed the whole time reading it, and have no intention of ever playing it.

If you've never used the old Dungeons and Dragons systems before, be warned that the old systems were kludged together, inconsistent, and often counterintuitive. This game happily embraces all of these flaws, making it somewhat daunting for a newcomer to understand.

Miss the old days of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Love reading KODT...Well here you go. The game that puts both of them together. Uses a mix of 1st and 2nd edition AD&D rules (you know, the good ones) and adds in all the details from the KODT and Hackmaster comics. Nothing could be better. Do not let all the charst scare you. Just sit back and have fun. See why the death of a character affects a player so much. Kenzer has even brought the HMPA alive.....

HackMaster is the fantasy roleplaying game played by BA and friends in the Knights of the Dinner Table comic book and it has been brought wonderfully to life by the designers at Kenzer and Company.

HackMaster takes the core of the 1st Edition AD&D game engine (with a dash of 2nd edition) and spices it up with additional rules that you probably always wanted. You get a comprehensive character creation system using build points that includes skills, talents, and quirks/flaws, rules for honor that reward good play and punish poor play, rules for armor damage/penetration and a lot more. It's all wrapped up with a healthy dose of humor and fun.

If you long for the days when demi-humans had level limits and a good armor class had a negative sign in front of it then HackMaster is the game for you. And after you have digested the 400 page Player's Handbook, you can pick up the GameMaster's Guide, the multi-volume Hacklopedia of Beasts and an ever-growing number of adventures. So what are you waiting for? Strap on your HackMaster +5 and get hacking - hoody-hoo!

In reading Knights of the Dinner Table, from whose hallowed pages this game is spawned, one thing becomes evident; while this game may use Advanced Dungeons & Dragons as a springboard, the water at the bottom is bitterly, bitterly cold.

First, any GM worth their HackMaster GameMaster's Association certification isn't there to coddle you through a dungeon, helping you beat the big bad Swack-Iron Dragon. You don't have to imagine the enemies you're trying to beat; he (or she) is sitting right behind that GM's shield. So grab your dice and girdle your loins. It's war.

Actually, in all seriousness, this game is one of the best RPGs I've played. A lot of it is more a fun poke at AD&D than anything else, but it is a hell of a lot of fun to play. Just don't get too attatched to your charachter; you may go through a few while playing.

When I bought this book it was originally for the comedy factor. The I started to READ it. WOW! This book contains a cleaned up hybrid version of AD&D 1st and 2nd Edition with a LOT of additions and expansions. Several new Character classes and races are included plus SO much more. This is a lot more enjoyable than WOTC D&D! After I read it I went out and picked up The GM guide and several of the Hacklopedia's I cannot wait to run this!

Plus the book is written brilliantly! It is not only easy to read, but also enjoyable! I couldn't put it down!

There are elements of this book that include Gaming strategies and attitudes for play. Even if you don't play the game, if you play any RPG, you should get this book! There is a LOT in here about how to be a successful gamer and have fun.

Good Job! Thumbs Up!

Back in the day, an RPG was about fun and the DM ruled the table with an iron fist... Kenzer has brought those days back to life.
The Hackmaster system takes a tried and true AD&D engine and builds upon it with a new (and practical) skill system and a boatload of new and original material.
The game is not a joke! People who read KODT and think this game is just a spoof of the comic game have obviously NOT played it. I've run umpteen hundred games of D&D 3E and despite the mechanics there is always a rule issue or inconsistency that the players will harp on or what not. Hackmaster lets the GM, be the GM and keep the game on track however necessary.
Admittedly, the system can be cumbersome (just as AD&D was) and if you've never played original AD&D 1st or 2nd edition the learning curve can be pretty steep but the end result is well worth it. The game has enough humor built in to keep the sessions enjoyable without being overly 'stupid'.
I would highly recommend Hackmaster to veteran AD&D players who aren't impressed with the new version and for new players looking for a system that supports more colorful role playing.

This is for those who have played D&D in the past and want to re-live the glory days and/or just want to slay some Orcs. Great stuff from the Kenzer team.

Okay, first of all, the printing advertised on Amazon is the OLD printing. There's a new version with the errata included. That asside, I originally refused to buy the Hackmaster RPG because the group I was playing with wanted to try it out and I didn't think it would take. I was much more interested in AD&D and just spent my money on 3.5 edition books.

However, Once I started actually playing the game, I couldn't help but get into it. The fractional attribute points that increase as you level is a wonderfil addition. Skills are handled better than 2nd edition AD&D and the Quirks and Flaw and Priors and Particulars are an awesome and unique addition that truly makes hackmaster a unique game, not just a comical rehash of AD&D. I have since purchased the Zealots guide and plan on buying the spellslinger's guide (note: the one advertized on Amazon is the older printing, you really want the newer one), the combatnt's guide (to my knowledge there is only the one printing, so feel free to buy it here) and the grifter's guide.

Kudos to Kenzer and company for this awesome product.

For those of you who grew up on Dungeons and Dungeons before Wizards of the Coast took over, have no fear. This game uses basicly the same rules from 1st and 2nd Editions. It takes the classic role playing game and adds so much more. Developed by KenzerCo, the guys who created the comic "Knights of the Dinner Table", it is a game that was developed from the ongoing adventures of a group of players from the comic book. Both vetran and novice players will have a fantastic time playing this game.