Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games

Rating:
Summary: The best history of gaming ever
Review: I began role-playing in the late seventies, when all of the earliest role-playing games were still available for sale. Reading "Heroic Worlds" is like returning to those early days, both in its comprehensive listing of every role-playing game release available up through 1990, and in its evocation of the state of the art of role-playing games in its early days. This book is bound to be a classic for a number of reasons: one, it's the only place that will serve the collector hoping to buy every single supplement for their favorite game; two, it's the best history available on the subject, even today; and three, it will serve the game designers of the future, in seeing what has already been done, and what still remains to be done. It's a wonderful read, as well. Now all we need is a second edition, that updates the subject to the present day!

Rating:
Summary: The best history of gaming ever
Review: I began role-playing in the late seventies, when all of the earliest role-playing games were still available for sale. Reading "Heroic Worlds" is like returning to those early days, both in its comprehensive listing of every role-playing game release available up through 1990, and in its evocation of the state of the art of role-playing games in its early days. This book is bound to be a classic for a number of reasons: one, it's the only place that will serve the collector hoping to buy every single supplement for their favorite game; two, it's the best history available on the subject, even today; and three, it will serve the game designers of the future, in seeing what has already been done, and what still remains to be done. It's a wonderful read, as well. Now all we need is a second edition, that updates the subject to the present day!

Rating:
Summary: The best history of gaming ever
Review: I began role-playing in the late seventies, when all of the earliest role-playing games were still available for sale. Reading "Heroic Worlds" is like returning to those early days, both in its comprehensive listing of every role-playing game release available up through 1990, and in its evocation of the state of the art of role-playing games in its early days. This book is bound to be a classic for a number of reasons: one, it's the only place that will serve the collector hoping to buy every single supplement for their favorite game; two, it's the best history available on the subject, even today; and three, it will serve the game designers of the future, in seeing what has already been done, and what still remains to be done. It's a wonderful read, as well. Now all we need is a second edition, that updates the subject to the present day!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful trip down memory lane!
Review: Lawrence Schick's book captures the essence of
an era. More than a mere collection of titles,
Heroic Worlds gives insight and commentary well
worth the read.
A must for the RPG collector.
If you don't have it, get it!


Rating:
Summary: The definitive resource for collectors of RPG's bar none
Review: This book has it all for collectors of RPG material from the earliest days to 1990. One can only hope that a sequel can be published eventually that would cover 1991-present. The book is divided into sections of role-playing based on genre. Each item has a general description followed by how many different editions were published, how many pages, any inserts and other pertinent information. There are also special notes on special collectable items and quotes from many of the original designers themselves on their creations and how they were created. This book really contains just about every RPG product ever published, even the small press items that are impossible to come by. The author really knows his area and did his homework. This book is sine qua non for the RPG collector. Absolutely superb!

Rating:
Summary: More PLEASE!!!!!!
Review: What can I say? This is simply the greatest. If you collect role playing games, you absolutely have to have a copy of this book. The only question I have is -- when can we look for a sequel??? Mr. Schick, take pity on us and give us an update, please!

Rating:
Summary: More PLEASE!!!!!!
Review: What can I say? This is simply the greatest. If you collect role playing games, you absolutely have to have a copy of this book. The only question I have is -- when can we look for a sequel??? Mr. Schick, take pity on us and give us an update, please!

Rating:
Summary: An important title for all gamers to have
Review: What can I say? When you see a work like this on a hobby you're passionate about, you pick it up, and hope it's good. Schick delivers the goods here, but I would have liked to have seen more commentary from more people. Hopefully, like the other reviewer here, there will be a sequel for the past 9 years, there having been a real boom in certain games (White wolf, Deadlands, etc....)