Customer Reviews

The World Of Synnibarr

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

 

 

I found the rules to be rather more complicated that I prefer, and the overall rules, layout, and general structure of the game was hard to read, hard to understand, and hard to follow. But buried in the muck were several very intersting gems of ideas for worlds, cultures, and images to use. However, ulitmately I came away with the feeling that the game was designed to be a game to engage in power fantasys, and dreams of godhood. Not my choice for a long campagin, though perhaps as an overnighter, or a game where the theme is anime and cosmic powers.

As an RPG, Synnibarr is probably the worst ever created. However, as thick as it is, the core book has many practical, real world applications such as a paperweight, door stopper and at over 400 pages nearly a 6 month supply of toilet paper.

Be afraid...be very afraid...

I've had this book for over 10 years. I've given it a few chances as far as playing it. But each time, it never worked out. The game tries so hard to be versatile that it ends up being overly codified and somewhat convoluted. The only game I know of that was harder to read was HOL: Human Occupied Landfill. But HOL was never meant to be taken seriously. On page 19, there is a 22 step outline of character creation. That's right, 22 steps. And some steps are multi-part, variable method or requiring multiple calculations for derived stats. There are actually 4 different types of surprise. No kidding. No, I am not joking. 4 different types of surprise: Class AA, Class A, Class B, and Class C.

Here is how the book defines character death. Quoted from page 6 in the Glossary section:
"Death - When a character falls below zero life points and is not helped with some manner of first aid or healing spell, he or she will be unconscious (no metabolic shock roll) and will continue to lose life points at a rate of 200 per minute (10 per turn). When a negative 1,000 life points is reached the character is dead."
Now consider that this is just the definition of character death. Not specifically high level character death. So how many life points can a character have at level one? To coin an oft quoted phrase from DBZ: "His power level is . . . OVER 9,000!!!" Now, if you don't mind starting your adventure with enough hp (or life points in Synnibar) to equate you with the damage resistance potential of Tiamat from D&D, cool. Personally, I think it's a bit much. And when you consider the probable life points Tiamat would have in Synnibar just to balance things out . . . oh boy . . . get yr calculators boys 'n' girls. Matter of fact, page 5 lists "calculator" as one of the things you will need to play this game.

Now on page 477, you get a little bit about the author, Raven c.s. McCracken. It tells how he's done almost everything under the sun and therefore his system "ring[s] with authenticity". While I congratulate him on his many accomplishments, I must point out that "realistic fantasy" is an oxymoron. Cloud Strife was designed to carry a Buster Sword because (at the time) it was original . . . and admittedly a bit cool. Same goes for Sephiroth and his Masamune katana that's longer than Shaquille O'Neil is tall. Same for the the fact that whenever Cloud and Sephiroth met in battle, Sephiroth's Masamune NEVER broke. Scientific facts like weight, elemental density, sword balance, force of momentum and such were never considered. The game was called Final FANTASY after all.

I've heard some say that this game is for "the serious gamer". And I agree. However, if you are not a game designer, professional game tester, or exclusively a role-player (I don't know, you might have other hobbies too); or if you're gaming circle tends to like to get a nice chunk of gaming done in one night before they have to head home to go to bed before going in to work . . . you know . . . a person who games for fun; you may want to consider another trans-genre system that's a little more streamlined and . . . I don't know . . . cool? (A god of technology and unarmed combat named "Killgore"? And why is he the god of unarmed combat and TECHNOLOGY? Guns aren't technology? A god of heavy metal (the music), cragons and martial arts named "Blade"? Wouldn't Blade and Killgore's clergy have problems with each other seeing as martial arts is a form of unarmed combat? Can anyone say "religious schism"? But Killgore has an amber aura which is the equivalent of nuetral evil and Blade has a green aura or nuetral good. So I guess they'd have spats anyway . . . )

Mere words can not convey the awfulness of this particular RPG. Digging my eyes out with a plastic spork would be more preferable than ever having to view those soiled pages ever again. Confusing setting, along with incomplete and incoherent rules and numerous typos are the norm for this particular text. Books like this give RPGs, and RPers a bad name. I can only hope that professional therapy will cleanse the dirtiness that I feel from having read this book. If it were possible, I would give this product negative stars.

This game is pretty bad. The system is clumsy and often nonsensical. You need a calculator and a bit of patience for many of the game rules.

That said it was comically awful in a good way too, sort of like that movie you won't admit to watching but love it anyhow. Its a high powered romp through a weird hollowed out Mars traveling through the universe. The classes are all kind of fun to read and fun to play as long as you like powergaming and don't mind the worst aspects of the game.

I had a lot of fun running this game. Can I recommend it? No. But if you have the fortitude for a powergaming mess with an interesting world then you might want to give it a try.

Anyone who gives this game more than one star is either a) a plant for either Wonderworld and/or Raven c.s. McCracken, b) a meth addict with obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusions of grandeur, and too much time on their hands, c) deeply sarcastic or d) utterly insane. Straitjacket, stick between the teeth, don't-let-this-guy-out-or-he'll-start-sexually-molesting-panda-bears insane.

Referring to anything in WoS as "game design" is extremely generous. This book is a collection of fevered rantings and "rad ideas" that would make Kevin Siembieda blush. Rob Liefeld makes fun of the story and art in this book. Take two parts Spacehunter, one part Dungeons and Dragons, five parts Rifts, two parts Dying Earth, three parts Rudy Rucker, and two parts Robert Heinlein. Mix, swish in your mouth, then spit it out and take nine hits of LSD and a heaping spoonful of ego, and you've got World of Synnibarr.

Don't let anyone tell you different. Buy a copy if you must. It makes a wonderful bathroom book. People in your house will wonder why you are laughing, groaning, and screaming "WHAT?!" whenever you go number two.

Iv'e been playing this game for about 5 years now and my gaming group and I really enjoy it. It is a true powergame but very balanced, with plenty of room for great story lines. The only problem I have had with the game as a whole is the fact that some of the rules are vague or in extreem cases missing entirely. None of these are so bad as to make the game unplayable however. And with just a little thought suitable answers can be concluded that maintain game balance. The author is often criticised for putting to many spells, skills and rules into one book. I say "Job Well Done". At least I dont have to by countless book upon book for the next ten years just to keep up with the game world. I got it all all ready.

Synnibarr has gotten horrid reviews, but alas I must go against the crowd. The base storyline and setting are very good! I have found that those who do not see the potential are not power gamers! Obviously the ultumate goal is Godhood, some do not agree with this type of gaming. I have found it to be challanging and have had many an entertaining advanture. I must give voice to the fact that some of the rules directly conflict with each other and therefore are confusing. My GM simply modified them!

I can't begin to explain what is in this unholy tome. I suppose it's one claim to fame is it is the worst, most pretensious and poorly thought out RPG ever produced. The type of thing that could only be considered good by mullet headed, pimple faced pre teen boys wearing Merga Death tees.

Synnibarr is an excellent game. Yes it is a little long winded and some on the rules are a bit extreme (do I really need to know exactly how much force my lungs can create). But the point is, the rules are there if you want them. I don't approve the instant death abilities, but thats just me. All in all an excellent system that has more thqan enough for everyone scifi gamers and fantasy gamers alike.