Pyramid Pick from the Past
The Burning Wheel Fantasy Roleplaying System - Revised [2003]
Published by Luke Crane
Written by Luke Crane with Don Corcoran, Radek Drozdalski, Ian Marshall, Thor Olavsrud, Rich Soto, and Peter Tierney
Front Cover by Kev Sather
Back Cover by Jin Kwan
Illustrated by Erica Henderson, Dan Licht, Kev Sather, and Dan Schenström
The Burning Wheel System Book 304-page softcover & Character Burner Book 304-page softcover; $25
First published in 2003, The Burning Wheel is a self-published indie game that focuses not on narrative structure like My Life With Master or narrative control like Under the Bed, but is instead a fully worked fantasy RPG with an emphasis on detail and roleplaying. Both simple and complex, it is a game for the more experienced player and GM, with expectations to match. Released to great acclaim, its author has not only revisited the game for a revised edition but also published supplements like the Monster Burner and a science fiction version, Burning Empires.
The game comes in two thick volumes. The Character Burner lets players "burn," or create, detailed characters with a past from one of four races -- Dwarves, Elves, Men, and Orcs. The Burning Wheel System Book provides the rules, covering magic, combat, NPC creation, and a small bestiary. (More monsters and more detailed monsters can be found in the Monster Burner.) Both books are well laid out, engagingly written, and entertaining to read. Both include an index.
The four races are markedly . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: July 20, 2007
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