Review: Maze Rats
Grab a couple D6s, there's alot crammed into these pages
Welcome to the Glyph and Grok - A “weekly” blog-letter exploring topics in the tabletop gaming arena. We explore design, execution, and culture relating to anything played on a tabletop.
Introduction
I recently received my Kickstarter rewards from the Knave 2E crowdfunding campaign and I am glad I added a physical copy of Maze Rats with it.
I really didn’t have much expectation for it and added it just to add to my collection, but this zine-sized game packs in an entire campaign toolkit and OSR game experience into a package less than 30 pages.
Maze Rats the Game
Designer and Author Ben Milton of The Questing Beast and The Glatisant Substack is a well-known name in the OSR scene and a designer I enjoy following.
Maze Rats is in the vein of OSR games and thus, has rules and a mindset that pushes players to place themselves into the situation and look for solutions to their problems “outside” of the character sheet. Players are informed to do whatever they can to tilt the situation to their favor, because when “danger rolls” are required the odds are not in the PCs favor.
The resolution system is 2d6. If there is a situation that could result in failure with clear consequences, the GM will call for a danger roll of 2d6 plus modifier for one of the three attributes characters have in this game - Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), and Will (WIL) - and the total must meet or exceed 10 to be considered a success.
There is a sub-system for advantage, where a player character stacks the deck in their favor in some way and the GM can give them advantage to roll 3d6 and take the total of the highest two. If there is a situation where multiple kinds of advantage could be applied, the GM is told simply to not require a roll anymore, which is great advice.
One of the typical features in OSR games to buffer the player characters in a harsh world is present here, in that enemies and NPCs that don’t have a narrative reason to have an attitude are have their reaction to the situation rolled. Meaning an NPC or monster is not automatically going to be hostile, they could even be friendly or helpful. The other defensive rule here is NPC Morale, enemies can and will break if the players can cause enough chaos and damage that they run away like might happen in a real situation.
The game goes from level 1 to 7 and each player character can be leaned into one of the attributes or be given capability to cast spells which has it’s own little sub-system for generating spells that will then be interpreted by the GM and player together.
One of the really awesome things about this game book is that every category of a thing that can be made into a chart is made into a D66 (roll 1d6 to select a one of 6 groups, and then 1d6 selects one of the 6 items) and the players are given just a pile of options with very little effort from them needed. These D66 lists run the gamut of range from types of animals to names, weaknesses, goals and mission types.
Characters themselves are pretty simplified. You have a weapon, amor, shield, and some basic rules with their damage and wielding, but nothing crazy.
Then there are GM tools for creating the major parts of what’s needed to have a small fantasy game world ready to play in. In only two-pages per topic, the D66 tables provided can be used to give a GM the answers to major questions for generating “THE CITY”, “THE WILD”, and “THE MAZE” (the dungeon). Adding in some top-tier OSR style GM advice and anyone could be running a game of Maze Rats after a read through of this zine-sized book.
I have often found it amazing how good OSR game master advice can be, how compact it can be, and how it just is so much better than anything I read in the 2014 D&D Dungeonmaster’s Guide. Look at this ONE PAGE, that has a pile of good advice:
Conclusion
This game packs alot into a small package, and I’m looking to review Knave 2E next which I believe is the ultimate version of what Ben Milton likes to run as an OSR compatible D&D Game. Maze Rats still manages to have it’s own voice and be a different game. It’s go a niche still. I am planning to run it for my young kids that I am trying to introduce these kinds of games to, and I am pretty hopeful for it.
This game is simple, but provides all of the basic support that enables a GM to give big fun at that table for their players.
What I Am Up To
TTRPG Reading: Knave 2E
TTRPG Production: The Glowing Gunpowderspot! Hoping it gets picked for Cabin Fever. Live stream to announce the winners tomorrow 7/1!
Audiobook: Light Bringer - By Pierce Brown, Next: The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buehlman
Useful Things For Your Games
Spotify Playlist Add - Tension