NEW RULES FOR CLASSIC GAMES

by R WAYNE SCHMITTBERGER, $10

published by
JOHN WILEY (ISBN 0471 536210)

reviewed by
MIKE SIGGINS

It has been a while since I have found a general games book as good as this one. The basic idea is to take established game systems and enhance them, fix them or completely change them -- truly an essential book for the variant fanatics out there, but also a damn good read for the rest of us. The book has over 200 pages of tweaks, ideas, enthusiasm and game related anecdotes and is well written as you would expect of a Games magazine bigwig. I read it through in one sitting and am still waiting to try out some of the more appealing suggestions, though even the minor wrinkles will cause you to at least think about the implications. Just to whet the appetite, there are workable tweaks for Triv, Mah Jongg, Risk, Go, Monopoly and Hearts, a fix for Hnefatafl (at last), rules for adding extra players, the amazing duplicate backgammon and further chapters include new uses for game equipment, handicapping, paper & pencil games, and even PBM. The major games such as chess, draughts and backgammon are given an entire chapter of variants and new interpretations. Now I know there are many of you who like to play strictly by the rules, but this is inspirational stuff for any gamer. Highly recommended. As for availability, failing a helpful American correspondent (thanks Michael), you may be able to able to order it from John Wiley's Chichester office (perhaps through WH Smiths?) or alternatively a US gameshop, or bookshop, will do mail order.

Mike Siggins