Pyramid Review: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai RPG

Pyramid Review

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai RPG

Published by Guardians of Order

Written by David L. Pulver and John R. Phythyon, Jr.

160 b&w pages; $19.95

Ghost Dog is an attempt by Guardians of Order to fill a special niche in the role playing industry. It's a game that focuses on one player and his game master. Using the easy to understand Tri-Stat System, Ghost Dog is simple to start and enjoy.

Part resource book, part role playing product, Ghost Dog walks a fine line between usefulness as an RPG, and a movie ad. For those who don't know what Ghost Dog is, it's the story of a young "gansta'"-type individual who lives his life through the code of the samurai, working as an assassin for a failing mafia family. A mix up happens that puts Ghost Dog at ends against his former employees, and wham! Conflict is started.

While the Tri-Stat system is a proven system, it's starting to suffer "Palladiumidis." By this I mean that I already have the Tri-Stat 1st and 2nd edition. Do I really need a customized version for this book? Just as Palladium incorporates their core rules into every new game line, it seems Guardians of Order does the same thing. Sure, there are example weapons and stats for the numerous characters of the movie, but since most of these characters are killed or aren't combative in nature, the point is rather moot. One of the confusing things is that while there is some level of customization to account for a real world setting, no . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: October 13, 2000

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