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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game

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Average Rating:3.9 / 5
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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
Publisher: Beyond Belief Games
by James H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/12/2008 21:42:02

A fun if slightly rough product dedicated to actual medieval roleplay (which, so far as I can tell, makes it unique as a standalong RPG). Medieval Murder Mysteries also manages to streamline the d20 system. I should calrify that if you're looking for a fantasy RPG, you probably need to look elsewhere. This game is, as noted previously, an honest-to-god medieval RPG, which means that it presents character options appropriate to medieval Europe -- there are no fireball-flinging wizards here, nor is magical healing a staple of the economy. Likewise, you can except to play a human character. This is much more "The Name of the Rose" RPG than "The Collected Works of Tolkien" RPG.

The only true pitfalls of the product are the substandard layout (specifically, the text is very cramped, paragraphs aren't indented, and the whole thing ends up being hell on the eyes as a result) and the lack of any real advice or mechancis that support the Mystery genre. That said, at $2.50, I suppose one gets what they pay for and the high points of the product (e.g., attention to detail, a concerted effort to avoid passing off hackneyed fantasy tropes as medieval history, and a fun re-engineering of d20) make up for the product's shortcomings.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
Publisher: Beyond Belief Games
by Matt F. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/09/2006 00:00:00

Though I haven't playtested this yet, it looks pretty cool; it's got an overall model like CoC: "skills" are in there as the main game mechanic, with a brutal combat system.

It uses the C&C siege engine, basically, with a target number for success and bonuses based on level for your class abilities. Hit point progression goes from a die roll to a flat, small additional HP per level after level 4 or so. You don't get much tougher after a certain point. There's a fairly brutal fumble and crit chart, and a chance of infection from wounds.

Your "skills" are d20 type skills picked from a list, in addition to some class abilities. While it is a very d20ish system in terms of skills, that's much more appropriate to a mystery game than to heroic fantasy. Much less jarring than skills in D&D (I hate skills in D&D).

This game has the feel of an old-time game; it's not fleshed out as much as one might like for a full-scale RPG, but the idea is great and the mechanics are sufficient. I'm interested in possibly playing it like a medieval deadlands or even medieval CoC, and that would be quite esy. Tweaking the game only requires additions, not subtractions.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Combat system and creative game concept are the real standouts here.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: There are several things that could have significantly fleshed out the game for the GM that aren't well covered. The bases are all touched upon, but some things like a walkthrough of the legal process (rather than scattered definitions of the steps involved in a glossary fashion) would have been helpful.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
Publisher: Beyond Belief Games
by Michael D. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/22/2006 00:00:00

This is a great approach to designing characters in a genre popularized by television and books. It offers a slimmed-down version of d20 rules that allows for some pretty nasty combat.

However, it contains what I would consider only bare-bones advice for GMs who are unfamiliar with plotting mysteries. Doing so well requires some deft gamemastering, which this product doesn't discuss in enough detail (especially considering the high standard set by the GURPS: Mysteries pdf).

It is also designed to be used in a historical context only, meaning there are no FX. While this saves a lot of headaches on the part of the GM, it might frustrate groups used to using magic to solve their problems. Post-conquest England is the default setting, although the material could apply to most of pre-Renaissance Europe for GMs without the means to do more specific research. Still, you can get historical data for free on the net - I would have replaced this stuff with GM advice in a heartbeat.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: The authors take well-thought out steps to curtail the imbalancing effects of high-level characters in a d20 campaign. Lots of attention to historical detail.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The rules for infection make weaker weapons more dangerous than tough ones. Not enough information on actually designing and running mysteries.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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Medieval Mysteries Role Playing Game
Publisher: Beyond Belief Games
by Anna D. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/18/2006 00:00:00

Because of my dad, I got hooked on watching Brother Cadfael. Medieval Murder Mysteries is very good and just reading through it gives a person good ideas for new adventures. Hack and Slash is well and good, but an adventure mystery is better.

A nice addition is the list of books at the end. Been a while since I read a mystery and the selection here is extensive.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: The idea of Medieval Murder Mysteries.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Nothing to dislike.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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