Fudge Expanded Edition

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: A powerful resource for gamers to build their own rpgs from or to play from the shell in the book. Recommended for a referee who likes to rules tinker, not a newcomer. For an experienced ref this is a dreamy book.

Rating:
Summary: Splendid tool for do it youself rpgs
Review: FUDGE Expanded edition is an excellent introduction to the Fudge roleplaying game. The book provides the the tools to design a wide variety of games and gives a number of examples of how the system could be used in different genres. A couple of things to bear in mind for anyone thinking of buying this book. First, the book is primarily a game design engine, that is a tool to help design a roleplaying game, rather than a game itself. The expanded edition does include an introductory fantasy game. Second, the FUDGE system is abstract and descriptive by nature. That is to say, abilities are generally described in abstract terms, by the seven level FUDGE scale (Terrible to Superb) not by specific measures (i.e., how many pounds can you lift, how far can you jump in feet, etc.)Likewise, skills and attributes are unconnected. The system simply describes the character, it does not attempt to model how (for example) fast reflexes might improve sword skill. This does have the advantage that there is far less temptation to model a character to a system, unlike GURPS (again for example) where anyone wanting a character with a high weapon skill has to have a high DX.
I haven't had the chance to try the sample game (Fantasy FUDGE) but it looks like a good introduction. It has a couple of flaws for an introductory game. It does not explain what options are in use for the combat system, and the magic system could use more detailed explanations and examples. Given that this is supposed to be an introductory game, it's a concern. But overall, a very good product.

Rating:
Summary: Roleplay *your* way
Review: Fudge is a system for roleplaying games that focuses more on roles than rules or rolls. One of the author's goals was to produce a system where neither player or Game Master would have to refer to a rulebook during play. Another goal was to produce a system that encouraged people to "just fudge it" in a freeform manner. A third goal was to produce a system that could be used in any sort of setting from fantasy, to science-fiction, to supers. In all three cases I think Mr. O'Sullivan has succeeded!

The original edition was occasionally critizied because it did not include a specific setting or sample game. It didn't really need one, because it could quickly be adapted to work in the setting of your choice, but that was an oft heard objection. Fudge Expanded Edition answers that objection by adding a pretty complete fantasy setting with a short introductory game that allows players to jump right in and start playing with no customization needed.

All in all, I think Fudge Expanded Edition is an excellent buy for experienced roleplayers that want to move to a simpler, more rules-light, system. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: The most flexible RPG system ever
Review: Fudge is for people who want to build their own game worlds. The rules are simple, elegant and amazingly flexible. You could run a campaign based on any movie you have ever seen or book you have read. If you are the type of game master that changes/makes rules no matter what system you are in, here is a system that encourages you.

Note that you can look up the reviews on amazon.com for the non-expanded version and they apply to this book also. The main criticism you see for the non-expanded book is that it is best for experienced GMs only. The expanded version trys to make the game more friendly by adding a pre-customized fantasy setting with an adventure. I think this goes a long way toward making the game better for those new to RPGs.

A great system.

Rating:
Summary: The most flexible RPG system ever
Review: Fudge is for people who want to build their own game worlds. The rules are simple, elegant and amazingly flexible. You could run a campaign based on any movie you have ever seen or book you have read. If you are the type of game master that changes/makes rules no matter what system you are in, here is a system that encourages you.

Note that you can look up the reviews on amazon.com for the non-expanded version and they apply to this book also. The main criticism you see for the non-expanded book is that it is best for experienced GMs only. The expanded version trys to make the game more friendly by adding a pre-customized fantasy setting with an adventure. I think this goes a long way toward making the game better for those new to RPGs.

A great system.

Rating:
Summary: A Game Designer's Dream
Review: When I first read the Fudge rules, it was an epiphany of how to handle game mechanics. It offers one simple, bell-curve based, mechanic that can be adapted to all situations. Further, it's based on real world qualifiers.. you have a "Good Strength", not a "Strength of 15". It is also quite minimalist.

But that's just the first paradigm shift of Fudge. It is also a set of rules that lend themselves quite well to structure-less gaming. The name of the rules says it directly - you don't need a rule for everything, just FUDGE it.

Many people miss this aspect of the rules and assume that Fudge isn't a game, but a set of building blocks for making your own game. You can use them that way too, but that's just an option. In fact, Fudge can be played entirely by-the-seat-of-your-pants.

While Fudge gamers can be of any level of play, I would recommend finding an experienced RPG gamer to GM Fudge at first. If you really want to start out on your own as a novice, pick up Magical Medeley, also from Grey Ghost and Amazon. It has a brief summary of Fudge in the opening pages, and then several examples of how to build a magic system for Fudge. This, plus the sample adventures in the back, is a great introduction to Fudge gaming.

It absolutely changed the way I look at RPG games. And the Grey Ghost printing of the rules is a very handy resource. (I also printed a copy of the free rules, which you can get on the net, but the print face and typesetting made those rules a good 2 1/2 inches thick.. and its not done in nice typeset. After 2 years of using that volume, I decided I'd rather buy the Grey Ghost version and have something easier to lug around :-) )