#RPGaDay2015 – Most Surprising Game? Mutant: Year Zero

Autocratik (David F Chapman). #RPGaDAY2015 – 4th day and question:

Most Surprising Game? I add recently to the question.

For me, Mutant: Year Zero by Modiphius Entertainment was in a good way the most surprising game of last year. Mutant is far more than the expected Gamma World clone. My yesterdays #RPGaDay2015 post already includes some of my arguments for the game.

On the other hand, there is the new German edition of SIXMOREVODKA’s Degenesis: Rebirth Edition, also a post-apocalyptic roleplaying game. The rules and world description, a set of two books with 350+ pages each, cost about 100 €. The well known comic artist Marko Djurdjevic made most of the worth seeing graphic design and artwork of the game. Degenesis is after the groundbreaking Apocalypse World and the inspiring Mutant: Year Zero hopelessly overloaded with ideas that don’t „click“ for me. The opposite of well-meant is badly done. Mutant offers a focused, but „open metaplot“ with a lot of room for your own ideas. For me as a Gamemaster, Degenesis is like a „creative straitjacket“ that drags me down with a mess of standard genre tropes which leave not enough air for my own breath. An English translation has been announced. Tastes differ – I suggest: If you like pretentious coffee table art porn books, buy Degenesis. If you want a „good“ Dark Future roleplaying game, buy something else. I think I will pillage some Degenesis stuff and that’s it. Did I mention? The artwork is great though …

Finally, the in many ways streamlined Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is in my opinion a positive surprise. After the long and troubled playtest I didn’t expect such a revamped set of rules. D&D 5E is a good example of creating something new without losing the brand identity. I never thought I would say this, but the current edition of this classic is well done (so far).

My alltime most surprising game is probably Dust Devils, a collaborative Old West storytelling game by Matt Snyder. When it came out, it was very thought provoking.

Weitere interessante Artikel?

1. #RPGaDAY2015 – Favourite New Game of the last 12 month? Mutant: Year Zero
2. Dark Future Round-up: Apocalypse World 2nd Edition, Award for Mutant Year: Zero & Degenesis Graphic Novel by Warren Ellis?
3. Mutant: Year Zero: An Interview with Tomas Härenstam
4. #RPGaDAY2015 – Kickstarted game most pleased you backed? tremulus
5. #RPGaDAY2015 – Forthcoming game you’re most looking forward to? Unknown Armies 3rd Edition