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Heroic Worlds Paperback – July 1, 1991
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length448 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPrometheus Books
- Publication dateJuly 1, 1991
- Dimensions6 x 1.12 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100879756535
- ISBN-13978-0879756536
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Product details
- Publisher : Prometheus Books
- Publication date : July 1, 1991
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 448 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0879756535
- ISBN-13 : 978-0879756536
- Item Weight : 1.6 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.12 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #619,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #87 in Other RPGs
- Customer Reviews:
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2019Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseOne reviewer said that this book is overpriced based on its physical qualities. I'll buy that. There are quality issues to be sure. Most buy the book for the content, however. If I had judged this book by its cover, I would not have considered it. The cover art is terrible, but the book's content makes it easy to forgive the publisher for design oversights. The book contains an impressive listing of old school RPGs, RPG supplements and modules. The author gives a brief (and often humorous) synopsis of each item and that is exactly the thing I was looking for. I am glad I purchased this book and I've referred to it often over the years. It is a must read reference for the serious classic RPG collector.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseBoth as a player and sometimes author of paper RPG I found this encyclopedic walk down memory lane HIGHLY entertaining!
- Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2015Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseNo RPG library is complete without this!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2012Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI've heard about this book for a whole, and I had the impression it was some end all be all encyclopedia on role playing games, specifically those from the "golden age" of RPGs (70s - early 90s). So I finally plunked down my $29 for a copy and I must say I'm not sure what all the fuss and accolades were about. At first glance the book is visually a huge disappointment. The paper and print quality is shockingly poor, the print is so badly faded it's sometimes hard to read the words. For almost 30 bucks you would at least expect a decently printed book! As for the contents, it reads like a boring catalogue rather than anything like a "history" of RPGs. It basically lists the games/adventures, and provides a short one paragraph description of each. Most of these descriptions do not provide anything insightful or interesting, you can get better information by looking up the products on Wikipedia or even Amazon itself. The only redeeming features are a few articles written by the game authors themselves, such as Tom Moldvay and Ken St. Andre, and a few "Recommended" lists of games for each genre. Overall this is a very dry and uninteresting catalogue of old RPGs, and I would have given it no stars except for the fact that it's quite "complete", and probably the only product of its kind that exists. But charging $30 for a shoddy product like this is totally ridiculous, I think five bucks is more of a reasonable price.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2007Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseComplete compendium of RPGs from their origins up to 1991. Includes excerpts from interviews, lists and commentary by the author. It's the sine qua non book for the true collector.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021Format: PaperbackPublished in 1991, this book is comprehensive of the role playing games, supplements, and adventures published up to that date. Before the dramatic expansion of the internet, books and magazines were the only way to get compiled and curated information on games. Yes nowadays, you get a lot more on Wikipedia and other sources, but back in the day, this book was the bee's knees. I still look through it now to get a thumbnail description of an item before I plunk down for it on eBay or with other internet sellers.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2006Format: PaperbackI have spent way way too many hours over the years poring over my battered but beloved copy of this book. An ultra-detailed reference to RPGs from the dawn of roleplaying through 1991, it's a wonderful treat for the RPG fan.
Now all we need is a 2nd edition or vol. 2, covering the revolutions of Vampire/dramatic roleplaying, LARPs, d20 and all the innovations of the last 17 years!!! Still, this book as it stands is a great reference. D&D fans especially will be delighted at the ton of info. covering the early years of their favorite game.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2010Format: PaperbackOk, this book isn't even close to being current. However, it lists all the great classics from the past- and even a few that aren't so classic (like the small supplement I wrote!).
Great reference guide.




