Very rarely does a book cross my desk that redefines my views on what makes up a gaming supplement. Well, okay, Ill be honest. I dont really have a desk, at least not in the traditional sense. Its just an old table covered in books, papers and my IBM XT. And books dont really cross the desk either. They start out with good intentions, but like great explorers on a desert expedition with a bicycle and a case of Milwaukees Best they dont get very far. Sometimes I wonder if I dig deep enough through the books Ill run across a mint copy of Action Comics #1. Granted, the physics required for such an endeavor to take place would cause Schroedinger to have an aneurysm, but it could happen.
Now keep in mind that I dont currently have a gaming group. Im not exactly allowed back in Rhino Games, the local gaming shop, after the Mountain Dew incident. Interestingly enough, my friend Deacon said theyre still trying to find the rest of the banister. I really have no idea how or what exactly happened. I swear. Try telling that to Jake, the owner. I know Ive tried, but every time I do, he starts turning red which only serves to highlight the scar on his forehead. Ive apologized a half-dozen times. Ive offered to pay for the damages and the medical bills. Nothing seems to work. I suppose that I could drive across town to Montclair Hobbies, but theyre overpriced and the shop smells funny and to be honest, theres something to be said for store loyalty. Besides, theres been a sort of knocking sound coming from the Taurus this last week and Id hate to have it break down while Im in East Montclair.
Deacons offered to let me join his group. Its a nice offer and Id take him up on it if it wasnt for the fact that my ex-girlfriend, Carol, plays in it. Weve tried gaming together twice since she and I broke up. The first time it erupted into this huge argument. Im talking a balls to the wall free for all. Im surprised that no one got hurt. The second time was even worse. I still dont think that its fair that shes still allowed to shop at Rhino and Im not, but what am I going to do? The worst thing about it is that Im never the one who starts it. Im always calm, cool and rational. Shes the one who insists on digging up old arguments and comparing my manhood to the size and shape of a Lil Smoky. Thats just wrong. Im certainly not expecting to win the John Holmes award for best male part in a relationship. I can live with that. Hell, I can live with most of her veiled little snipes. I just dont see how sniggering when I state that my character has the Endurance feat is the act of a mature adult. So I just cant really play in Deacons group.
On a positive note, Deacon, Buster and I will have BusterCon 2002 up and running in a couple of weeks. So if youre in the Montclair, SD area from July 12th through the 14th, wed love to have you. Its going to be at the Holiday Inn on Seventh and Burkhalter in Meeting Room 7. Id give you the link to the web address, but Buster said that hes having problems with his Linux server and that its going to be offline for a while.
Anyway, if I had a regular gaming group, there is one book that I would find to be absolutely indispensable as a DM. Weve all been there, right? All of your players are grooving on this masterfully planned adventure that youve just spend every single bit of your spare time developing. Suddenly, one of your players takes a left turn at Waterdeep. He figures out that the beggars are really rogues in disguisethe one group of NPCs that you hadnt come up with stats for! Now the fight is on, and what do you do?
BAM! Enemies and Allies, my friend. Chapter 1: Crime. Youve got insta-stats for your rogues. Need a cop? BAM! Chapter 4: The Law. Youve got a city guard. Need a quick priest for the heroes last rites? BAM! Chapter 2: Religion. Naboo the High Priest of Gunga is at your service, yousa betcha.
Enemies and Allies shines in other ways. Its not just a book on NPCs, its a book on life. In Chapter 2: Religion, it reads Many of the characters in this section have extreme views on their religion. My god. Truer words were never written. Its like going down to Clancys Pub and listening to Father Ternatin argue with Rabbi Misklowicz on a Tuesday night. Sometimes Reverend Moore joins them. Its not pretty. Deacon says the whole thing reminds him of a bad joke.
I just cannot stop raving about this book. It is not just a gaming masterpiece; its a guide to life. On a rating scale of five nuts, I give it six, because it is just that good. This is a book that if you dont have a copy of it already, you should run, not walk, to your local gaming store and pick up a copy. Or drive if youve got a car. You need this. And if your local gaming store doesnt have this work of art, let me know and Ill hook you up. I know someone who has a ton of copies of Enemies and Allies that he overbought and is looking to get rid of.