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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome $15.00 $9.99
Average Rating:4.9 / 5
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
Publisher: Simian Circle Games
by JONATHAN M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 04/30/2018 08:44:07

Far Away Land is a fantastic book that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you are looking for a fun, light-hearted game with rules for kingdom building, montaging, and killing dragons, this is the book for you.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
Publisher: Simian Circle Games
by Matthew B. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/29/2018 23:17:16

I have to admit, the art hooked me. It's deceptively simple, cartoonish, and gonzo in all the right ways. The core mechanic is a simple die pool built from attributes and skills. Character generation is completed in a few simple steps. There are no classes (wonderful). Players can essentially make whatever type of character they wish.

Although the setting is full of odd species, it's assumed that PCs are human.With that said, there is a section in the back which provides rules for playing non-human characters. I wish that this section was included in the character creation chapter, but this is a minor quibble.

When you consider the art, the setting, and the rules, it should come as no surprise that this is a game that doesn't take itself very seriously. Regardless, there is a solid system here, as well as a unique, madcap world to explore.

FYI, Simian Circle Games just Kickstarted a new version of Far Away Land. There's tons of new art, rules clarifications, etc.. Although this is a great book, keep you're eyes open for the new version.

I pledged $45 for a hardcover copy of the Tome of Awesome after I bought the original.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
Publisher: Simian Circle Games
by Kevin B. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/17/2015 17:40:13

It would be easy to hate Dirk Stanley. He's that guy that walks into the room, that does everything you do, only a million times better. He's probably a pretty cool guy, to boot. And that would just make him hate you more. Far Away Land is not a game that everyone is going to embrace: it's too unique for that. But in the context of what it does, it does everything right. Let's start with the art. This book is worth the price of admission simply as a collection of great fantasy art. Stanley manages to conjure up Tom Wham, Matt Groening, and Scott McCloud all at the same time. The art might be jarring and not correct for a darker game, but it is perfect for this. The tone of the game is light hearted high adventure. This feels a lot like the early, heady days of TSR. Imagine walking into a bungalow where Tom Wham and James Ward have been on a blackout drunk designing a game...pages everywhere...and when you put them together, it's a lot like this. The rules lite approach allows him to cram his core rules, optional rules, side games, Monster Manual, and Deities and Demigods into one set of covers, with room left over for the world itself with more detail than E. Gary Gygax put into the first edition of Greyhawk. In hand, this book is small but gorgeous. It says Tome of Awesome right on the cover, and it is that.

Game design is a quiet art, without a lot of real world accolades and one of the smallest target audiences one can labor to please. It would be easy to hate Dirk Stanley for being so damned brilliant, but let's not do that. Instead, if ever we see this guy at a panel or onstage at a con, let's stand up and shake the rafters. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you Mr. Dirk Stanley....



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
Publisher: Simian Circle Games
by James S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/14/2015 16:39:52

LOVE IT.

First, I have to say, the easy mechanics and gonzo Adventure Time-esque Setting are fantastic. The mechanics are simple, sensible and a terrific way to introduce children to the hobby.

Now, for the artwork: I suppose many would call it hyperbole, but I haven't seen a Campaign Setting and its accompanying artwork mesh so well since Brom and Dark Sun.

There Is only one quibble: Mechanically, when two make opposed rolls and tie, the defender wins. I'd rather the win go to the attacker instead.

But that is minor and easily house ruled.

Otherwise, buy this. Reward true creativity. Have a blast!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Far Away Land RPG: Tome of Awesome
Publisher: Simian Circle Games
by erik f. t. t. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 02/07/2015 23:50:06

Sometimes when you check out the most recent free releases on RPGNow, you start a journey that leads you to an awesome not free release. Such is my story when it comes to Far Away Land.

You see, when I stubbled across Far Away Land RPG Adventures: Journey Into the White I was intrigued by the cover art. It seemed old school D&Dish with quirky as hell art. As it was PWYW, I was able to peek for free. And peek i did. And it was good. Short, but good. It also seemed to be sandboxie, which I like.

In for a penny, in for a pound. I almost bought the core book in print with PDF for $25, but then I saw the Tome of Awesome, which is core plus 3 expansions, was $35. Damn it! Yes, I'm in.

So, what is the system like? It reminds me a bit of a hybrid of Old School D&D, Tunnels & Trolls, Adventure Time and a bit of crazy. It is a D6 system where you roll a pool of dice and just keep the highest roll. Fairly simple. Pools are based on one of three Stats - BRT (Strength / Con), DEX (er, dex) and WIT (Int / Wis / Cha rolled into one) and Boons (think skills like melee for combat, arcane for spell casting, subterfuge for picking locks and dealing with traps - you get the idea) and Flaws (narrowly defined disadvantages.) Armor absorbs damage (much like T&T), there are hit points, levels and spell levels (the spell list certainly hues close to D&D.)

The art is simply amazing to my eyes. You'll either love it or hate it. I love it. It captures the quirkiness of the system and the setting (from the little I've read of the setting.) I've only read the actual core rules thus far - there is so much more to dig through.

The PDF looks nice on my tablet and the color hardcover is nice solid book. No noticeable bleed through the pages, which is impressive with the amount of color art in FAW.

A version of this review appears at TenkarsTavern.com



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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