Review of "Robin's Laws of Good Game Mastering" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
4.5 Solid GM-ing advice aimed mainly at novice to advanced GMs, but with a few gems for everybody. Not a solid five-star rating because the player typology is the weakest part of the book, though necessary as a lead-in. While you have no trouble figuring out some of your player, others pose more problems. That chapter could have used another two pages on identifying players, in my opinion. Also I'm not sure there isn't a type missing either (or maybe even two) - also most people are not pure power-gamer, method actor or tactician and action-oriented does not necessarily mean butt-kicking. Still an invaluable resource that bears re-reading every couple of years. Unfortunately, it's a little dated in parts by now and most of its hints are either rather useless or hard to implement in quarantine-enforced online sessions.
4.5 Solid GM-ing advice aimed mainly at novice to advanced GMs, but with a few gems for everybody. Not a solid five-star rating because the player typology is the weakest part of the book, though necessary as a lead-in. While you have no trouble figuring out some of your player, others pose more problems. That chapter could have used another two pages on identifying players, in my opinion. Also I'm not sure there isn't a type missing either (or maybe even two) - also most people are not pure power-gamer, method actor or tactician and action-oriented does not necessarily mean butt-kicking. Still an invaluable resource that bears re-reading every couple of years. Unfortunately, it's a little dated in parts by now and most of its hints are either rather useless or hard to implement in quarantine-enforced online sessions.
