By Endzeitgeist (not me)

http://endzeitgeist.com/genesys-core-rulebook-genesys/

Pretty spot on. I DO think the carious genre sections do give, roughly speaking, enough weapons and armor to hang your hat on, but year, it'd be nice to have more gear. It's my main (and really only) complaint about the game as a whole, and why I waver between it and GURPS.

1 hour ago, StanTheMan said:

Pretty spot on. I DO think the carious genre sections do give, roughly speaking, enough weapons and armor to hang your hat on, but year, it'd be nice to have more gear. It's my main (and really only) complaint about the game as a whole, and why I waver between it and GURPS.

It's hard due the system numbers to have a wide array of specif weapons cause in some point they'll have a very similar set of statistics and qualities.

I think it's more up to us create new things and some variations, but it's really important to keep in mind that there are many ways to create the same weapon, mechanically and that a lot of different weapons can have almost the same stats.

This is good but problematic at the same time, cause there are many "true" ways to do something.

1 minute ago, Bellyon said:

It's hard due the system numbers to have a wide array of specif weapons cause in some point they'll have a very similar set of statistics and qualities.

I think it's more up to us create new things and some variations, but it's really important to keep in mind that there are many ways to create the same weapon, mechanically and that a lot of different weapons can have almost the same stats.

This is good but problematic at the same time, cause there are many "true" ways to do something.

True enough. The range (5 steps I guess?) IS pretty short. Though the item qualities add a lot.

I agree that this review is a fair assessment.

If you have experience creating home-brewed campaign settings, it is pretty easy to take what you want from the core rules, layer on some of the setting specifics, and then spend a couple of weeks on the details. Similarly, if you want to hack an existing property (Harry Potter, Full Metal Alchemist, Thundercats, etc.) then the core rule book gets you 75-80% there.

For inexperienced GMs, Realms of Terrinoth has demonstrated how this system will be more broadly applicable. Though, if a starting GM takes a look at that supplement and runs an adventure or two in the setting, they can likely return to the core book and build their own campaign setting with what they have learned.

A major plus for Genesys is this community, which understandably shouldn't be a consideration in a review of the book itself. But in creating my own fantasy setting I have found expanded spells, weapon list, talents ported over from Star Wars, and additional inspiration from the community at large.

In any case, a pretty good review. I disagree a bit about the underappriciation of the setting and GM section, but then I am seeing through a lens of 25+ years of gaming.

Thank you for your positive response everyone. I was honestly afraid of backlash here from a not-100% positive review. I should maybe explore these boards more deeply than I have already.

I agree with the sparse equipment and NPCs problem. I completely understand WHY FFG did this - it's a big book already and they are running a business, so they want us to buy setting specific books. But, it's crappy for the purchaser if you are limited in funds for what you can buy. My adult self can easily afford anything FFG puts out for their narrative system, which I love, but my youthful self would have not been so lucky.

Solution? It would be nice if FFG would put out a PDF with some generic stats for weapons, armor, and NPCs for each setting. No details, just tables of gear and such. It could be done with just a few pages for each setting. But, I don't see them doing this since it would cut into sales. I bought Terrinoth not for the setting, but to get information to use in my own fantasy setting. If I wasn't a completist, I probably wouldn't have bought the book if I had all of the generic info from a different source.

Solution B? Make it up yourself. And please share it.