This article originally appeared in Pyramid #17

Pyramid Pick

Everway: Visionary Roleplaying

Designed by Jonathan Tweet
Published by Wizards of the Coast
Price: $35.00

Jonathan Tweet has been responsible for some excellent, innovative games. He co-wrote Ars Magica, which has one of the best improvisational magic systems around. He was also responsible for Over the Edge, one of the most rules-light systems around. But he's gone one step further with his new game, Everway, which is probably the most innovative and playable systems to arrive on the market in years.

Modern fantasy roleplaying grew out of wargaming. From the early days of Dungeons and Dragons, the emphasis has been on rules and tables, lists of weapons, damage modifiers, lead figures, and dice. At first, RPGs concentrated on combat, but then more rules were brought in for non-combat skills, and then rules for describing the personality of the character. But each addition of sophistication led to another layer of rules which the GM and players must know.

Some games have rebelled against their wargaming roots. Amber got rid of the dice. Theatrix did too, and chose to concentrate on plot. But the rules were still there, and many people missed the random element. Now comes Everway, which has managed to get away almost totally from rules, while still having a randomness and a framework for players and GM to work within.

So what's so special about Everway? The box contains three computer-manual sized books, two packs of beautifully designed cards, a couple of maps . . .

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



Article publication date: January 1, 1996

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