Customer Reviews

Multiverser: Referee's Rules

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

 

 

In Multiverser, players play themselves as characters who, when they die, travel to other universes. Instead of scrapping their characters and starting over, they can continue indefinitely. The game can be anything you want it to be, since the players can end up in the setting of any TV show or movie, any other game setting, one of the worlds in the supplement books, or a world dreamed up by the GM.

Although the book is huge for an RPG rulebook, it's not as intimidating as it looks, and the system itself is fairly straightforward. It's also designed to incorporate every possibility, from magic to psionics to high tech, including time travel and faster-than-light transport, so there have to be some mechanics to deal with all of those things. Although it takes a while to read through, it's an enjoyable read, and as a first time GM, I'm not having any trouble running the game. The combat system seems maybe too complex, but that's the only flaw I'd mention. The rest of the rules are simple and logical. As for "dan with the box"'s comments, at least these guys were honest enough to say flat-out what they believe, instead of spouting a bunch of politically correct b.s. And, you've got to understand that a game system that appears to endorse polytheism (which this one would, if not for the disclaimer) is going to be offensive to many conservative Christians. But, for the concept of the game (every universe ever imagined exists, and people travel between them) to work, the game has to have a somewhat polytheistic set-up. All the gods and goddesses of mythology, as well as those of fictional pantheons like Dragonlance's, have to exist in the game world. So, given the fact that they were bound to offend somebody no matter what, they chose to be up front about their personal beliefs. If you don't like the religious elements of the game, they can be ignored to some extent, just as you could run D&D in a monotheistic or atheistic setting if you wanted to. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book.

I am afraid to say that "dan with the box" doesn't really know what he is talking about, doesn't understand the game, and obviously hasn't played it either. He probably bought the rules and then skimmed through them. I gave it five stars but I am still learning the system. However, this system is thorough and from what I have seen it can use material from any other system. The great thing is that the effects of the "bias" mechanic (a mechanic that affects the reliability of skills and equipment from world to world) is reproducible on all material that you bring into Multiverser.

I have played a lot of RPGs and CCGs and this one is the most original and largest. It is unlimited in settings and works with every game there is. I like Multiverser a lot. The Book of Worlds is good as well!

Not much to say, I love 1st and 2nd Edition AD&D, and Currently Hackmaster. I go to my local convention where the Author runs the game (MJ Young), and I plan my events around when Multiverser isn't playing. I would give up all other RP, if Multiverser was playing 24/7. Check it out.

This is a great idea fo a game..... but Mark Young completely leached out any flexibility the system had. For instance. Breathing requires a roll! You must make three rolls to perceive something. Walking across the room can take as many as 60 rolls!!!(and hours of dice rolling fun!)

Young wrote the rules (1st edition used a three dimensional grid to acomplish simple tasks)and proved that humans deserve extintion in the process. E.R. Jones on the other hand had little to nothing to do with this books publishing/writing; but was responsible for the game concept(great idea though).

Bottom line:read at your own risk. But if you want to be offended give the disclaimer a read. Young states in it that "polytheism is a spiritually banckrupt religiuos philosophy." I AM NOT JOKING! Oh and have fun walking at flight speeds( actual body skill! The one good thing about this book is it will send you into histerical fits of laughter )