I played in a game of this last year, really enjoyed it! Our GM ran things super well, I like how every dungeon ends up like a puzzle box rather than a theater of combat. Favourite arcanum was a magic omniscient skull which would answer yes/no questions... with whatever it thought would lead to the worst outcome.
Wow! Really inspiring review! Other rpg books have been passing Into the Odd on my priorities list for ages. It has to end one of these days. This is clearly a must have for its contents, ideas etc not to mention for what a gorgeous little book it is 😍 Thanks for the review!
Great review I quite like Into the Odd even though I find the Failed Careers in Electric Bastionland more interesting and funnier than the loadouts in Into the Odd I still use that book since it is so gorgeous and the Oddpendium and the arcana are gold for almost anything Love also all the mechanics about enterprises, apprentices and so on!
am I crazy or did I get a dud without ribbon bookmark or Free League's version does not come with one? If so, do you know of any way to add a ribbon bookmark to a book?
This game is so good! You're on fire with picking great games. Electric Bastionland is really cool as well. There's a fork off of Electric Bastionland called ANNA X-66. It is an amazing game... it's somehow weirder than Into the Odd. EGGCELLENT HMMM HMMM HMMM 👽👍
Darn it. Every time I dismiss this game, someone makes me reconsider... Excited to hear about Pendragon. I have been slacking and haven't even cracked into my Starter Set box.
I really don’t know. I’m guessing it would be best used used in overland scenarios to remove huge obstacles or threats to the party’s enterprises. Or as a way to secure areas in a crawl. Or maybe just throw a giant monster into the setting and let the detachment try to stop it from crushing a settlement. If they fail then the party has to try to escape…like a cloverfield scenario.
@@DMTalesTTRPG Sounds cool. Obviously, some way to include epic battles would be the way to use them. I'm about to start GMing Into the Odd soon, and I'm pretty sure one of my players will be interested in the "run a business/detachment" system. So, I'm looking for ideas. Thanks for the suggestions!
The interesting thing is that the characters have to survive long enough to afford one! 10 guilders is a LOT of money. It’s like the old school concept of characters getting to a certain level and building a keep or a tower.
Love a system curated for a unique setting! The whole death mechanic sounds very fun and different from mainstream heroic play. How do we play all these games...HOW?
For me the Rules-Lite Narrative forward games often feel simply... unfinished. A marketing scheme that rebrands a lack of meat as "freedom to make the game you want to play". (Ok, but then what did I pay for?) And "Into The Odd" has all the hallmarks of this bleeding edge minimalism and over reliance on the flavor packet to carry the day... ...This is all by way of saying I love this game. The deep consideration that McDowall clearly brings to the task, makes this game ring in way few others of its ilk is able to. The framing of the world and the minimal mechanics fuse in that sweet way that pushes mechanically minded players off their optimization instinct, and grounds narrative players that otherwise can drift to simply ignore stats and rules. I don't know if it could carry a long campaign but as palette cleanser and idea well, it deserves a place of honor.
I don’t know if I agree with your description of “rules lite,” but I agree it is DIFFICULT to create a good rules lite game, and that Into the Odd is near the top of that list.
@@dungeondumbo yah. I’m a fan. The only “big book” game I’m running right now is Numenera…and even then the rules are simple. It’s the character options that take up so much space!
My apologies in advance. This wasn’t your best review. I would suggest you start by introducing the atmosphere of the game, the setting, the backdrop, etc. I couldn’t tell if this was old-school Renaissance, a Cthulhu spin off or more modern. Everything else was great. It just would’ve helped me understand what this game was about and provided better context for everything else you say in the review. Just a suggestion. Shadow of the Demon Lord 😉
@@DMTalesTTRPG I guess I don’t know what an NSR is 😆. Should probably start looking that up first. That being said, I would’ve started off with something like this for someone dumb like me… Into the odd is a rules light Cosmic Fantasy Horror RPG that takes place in an industrialized age reminiscent of the Victorian era where the characters are treasure hunters looking for Arcanum, a magical or ancient technology etc etc.
I played in a game of this last year, really enjoyed it! Our GM ran things super well, I like how every dungeon ends up like a puzzle box rather than a theater of combat. Favourite arcanum was a magic omniscient skull which would answer yes/no questions... with whatever it thought would lead to the worst outcome.
Oh that sounds fun!
I certainly like the custom monster creation approach, and the hexcrawl sounds rad
Yah, I'm going to put together a crawl to run for @avenuestudios and I REALLY want to lean into that...I need to make the map!
Great review! I had a blast playing this and definitely putting the book on my list.
I’m glad to play. And you got eaten by a worm and still had fun!
Ooh.. I like that idea of apprentices. And roll under, who can resist.
It’s a pretty fast system. You have to THINK and know to run away to survive.
@@DMTalesTTRPG Sounds a lot like B/X D&D. But I get it, odder.
@sharpmountaingames9303 very odder…
Wow! Really inspiring review! Other rpg books have been passing Into the Odd on my priorities list for ages. It has to end one of these days. This is clearly a must have for its contents, ideas etc not to mention for what a gorgeous little book it is 😍 Thanks for the review!
Thanks. It is pretty cool!
Great review
I quite like Into the Odd even though I find the Failed Careers in Electric Bastionland more interesting and funnier than the loadouts in Into the Odd
I still use that book since it is so gorgeous and the Oddpendium and the arcana are gold for almost anything
Love also all the mechanics about enterprises, apprentices and so on!
Thanks! I would like to pick up Electric Bastionland soon!
am I crazy or did I get a dud without ribbon bookmark or Free League's version does not come with one?
If so, do you know of any way to add a ribbon bookmark to a book?
@@DMTalesTTRPGyou're welcome!
Looking forward to your next reviews and it's an awesome book, best GM section for me (with ICRPG's)
My Free League has a book ribbon. And… it’s sewn into the binding so I know of no way to do it after the fact, sorry.
I’d go with Knave for sheer amount of content, but this is right up there.
Great Video! I am a huge of both Into the Odd, Mythic Bastion and Electric Bastionland, go Mockeries! You may also like Death is the New Pink.
Thanks for the tip. I need to get the other Bastion games!
One of my very favorite games ever! Always glad to see it getting more attention.
Thanks for stopping by!
❤ Free League! Always enjoy your reviews.
Thank you!!!
welcome back, hope the holidays went well cheers
Thanks! Good to be back!
Thanks, now I have to get this game too! Great review as always!
Always glad to share fun games!
This game is so good! You're on fire with picking great games. Electric Bastionland is really cool as well. There's a fork off of Electric Bastionland called ANNA X-66. It is an amazing game... it's somehow weirder than Into the Odd. EGGCELLENT HMMM HMMM HMMM 👽👍
Thank you!!
Darn it. Every time I dismiss this game, someone makes me reconsider...
Excited to hear about Pendragon. I have been slacking and haven't even cracked into my Starter Set box.
I need to get to the Pendragon review soon! And check out Into the Odd…
seems interesting, like the run a business part
I find that really interesting.
My fav system!
Nice!!!!
Curious. My copy doesn't have a book ribbon.
Yah, someone else pointed out theirs didn’t have one. My copy is a first printing, so I think maybe later printings didn’t have it.
This bums me out.
@@DMTalesTTRPG It's unfortunate, yeah. By the way, what suggestions/ideas would you have on how to use the Detachment system?
I really don’t know. I’m guessing it would be best used used in overland scenarios to remove huge obstacles or threats to the party’s enterprises. Or as a way to secure areas in a crawl.
Or maybe just throw a giant monster into the setting and let the detachment try to stop it from crushing a settlement. If they fail then the party has to try to escape…like a cloverfield scenario.
@@DMTalesTTRPG Sounds cool. Obviously, some way to include epic battles would be the way to use them. I'm about to start GMing Into the Odd soon, and I'm pretty sure one of my players will be interested in the "run a business/detachment" system. So, I'm looking for ideas. Thanks for the suggestions!
The interesting thing is that the characters have to survive long enough to afford one! 10 guilders is a LOT of money. It’s like the old school concept of characters getting to a certain level and building a keep or a tower.
👍👍👍
Shadow of the Demon Lord
You REALLY want me to get that.
So many companies now basing their games off Into the Odd now.
It’s a pretty fun system.
Love a system curated for a unique setting! The whole death mechanic sounds very fun and different from mainstream heroic play. How do we play all these games...HOW?
SOOOO many games. This would be fun to live stream, though, because if you play smart you can get DEEP into a crawl in a short amount of time!
@@DMTalesTTRPG Let's doooo it! Adding to the list although my pro GM is maxed right now so need someone to run it😏
Let’s set a date!
@@DMTalesTTRPG 🫡 I will ping you in Discord later today!
@AvenueStudios nice!!
For me the Rules-Lite Narrative forward games often feel simply... unfinished. A marketing scheme that rebrands a lack of meat as "freedom to make the game you want to play". (Ok, but then what did I pay for?) And "Into The Odd" has all the hallmarks of this bleeding edge minimalism and over reliance on the flavor packet to carry the day...
...This is all by way of saying I love this game. The deep consideration that McDowall clearly brings to the task, makes this game ring in way few others of its ilk is able to. The framing of the world and the minimal mechanics fuse in that sweet way that pushes mechanically minded players off their optimization instinct, and grounds narrative players that otherwise can drift to simply ignore stats and rules.
I don't know if it could carry a long campaign but as palette cleanser and idea well, it deserves a place of honor.
I don’t know if I agree with your description of “rules lite,” but I agree it is DIFFICULT to create a good rules lite game, and that Into the Odd is near the top of that list.
My group has been playing a campaign for several seasons. Characters have grown and passed the campaign on to their apprentices.
@@WileyGames nice!
…must not buy any more games….must not buy any more games….must not buy any…. 😂
Real life comes first, but then…if you have hobby money….
@@DMTalesTTRPG I did consider this…it looks great. I am a sucker for these small format rpg books. 📚 😎👍
@@dungeondumbo yah. I’m a fan. The only “big book” game I’m running right now is Numenera…and even then the rules are simple. It’s the character options that take up so much space!
@@DMTalesTTRPG not played any of the Cypher Monte Cook stuff. Numenera sounds like a cool setting 😎
It very much is. I want to expand into some more Cypher System settings as well. The most complex part is character creation and advancement.
My apologies in advance. This wasn’t your best review. I would suggest you start by introducing the atmosphere of the game, the setting, the backdrop, etc. I couldn’t tell if this was old-school Renaissance, a Cthulhu spin off or more modern. Everything else was great. It just would’ve helped me understand what this game was about and provided better context for everything else you say in the review. Just a suggestion.
Shadow of the Demon Lord 😉
It’s NSR
@@DMTalesTTRPG I guess I don’t know what an NSR is 😆. Should probably start looking that up first.
That being said, I would’ve started off with something like this for someone dumb like me…
Into the odd is a rules light Cosmic Fantasy Horror RPG that takes place in an industrialized age reminiscent of the Victorian era where the characters are treasure hunters looking for Arcanum, a magical or ancient technology etc etc.
@TheWizard10008 ok.
NSR is “new school rules.”
Rewatched the video yah it would been a good addition.