NPCs

Review for my memory. May have spoilers.GM warns the group that this game is going to be played in a more realistic manner than he has ever run a game before.., what if some NPC in the game choose to become the Adventurers to save the town they love??I enjoyed the twists, the story, the character interactions.Only 1 complaint, in the first half of the book there were random words that were smaller than the other words, just one in the middle of a paragraph or sentence, but it happened alot, please someone do an edit check and fix it.Good news! there are 4 more books. I'm off to get the next one.

Seriously a fun read for any TTRPG player. But of course now…how am I supposed to navigate feeling bad for the NPCS I encounter in a campaign!? Lol

You know, I thought the premise sounded amusing, but I was truly not prepared for how delightful this book was!I've never played a pen-and-paper role playing game; I thought they sounded like fun as a kid, but didn't know anyone else who was into that kind of thing. A little older and I was too ashamed to admit to liking something so nerdy...and then I discovered video games. Even though I'm not the stereotypical gamer, I like a game with a good strong storyline for the same reason I like reading well-written fantasy: it's a chance to immerse myself in a magical world, and the best games do it like a Choose Your Own Adventure. (Remember those?)Sadly, many of the books I've tried that are based on a D&D-style storyline just don't cut it. The "rules" that make a lot of sense in a game get cumbersome in a book, and things like characters and the depth of the plot are sometimes less developed than they should be. Too often they just sound like something that would be better if you could play it, like a you-had-to-have-been-there moment.Not sadly, this was not one of those.The author was completely transparent about basing this on an RPG; the whole story is built on a real-world frame of five obnoxious kids playing a pen-and-paper game, and the author frequently pokes lighthearted fun at the game structure that any of us who've played them for any real length of time probably don't even notice anymore. It really was a very funny book. One of those jabs was at the traditional party structure - a standard RPG party of adventurers contains a fighter, a rogue, a magic-user, and a healer because those four classes cover the bases. It's both an interesting look at stereotypes and a mockery of the way character races gravitate toward certain classes.I was a little nervous about the writing going in. I hadn't heard of this author before, and there are SO many e-books written by people who never really grasped the mechanics of telling a story well. I needn't have been; I thought the book was very well-written and I enjoyed the author's style enormously. It wouldn't have surprised me if the author's voice and sense of humor had started to grow old - again, it happens a little too often, and what starts out charming starts to grate before too long - but it never did. And I KNOW I don't need to mention the epidemic of editing fails going around lately. This book was definitely edited. I think I caught two mistakes.This was a very quick read. (Too quick? Only 'cause it was so good.) The plot itself was impressively well-paced, with a perfect scope for the length, and a terrific balance of action, discussion, and exposition. The main storyline is tied up neatly - I do so hate cliffhangers - but instead of a happily ever after, the author leaves plenty of room for the continuing adventures of the NPCs. I really, really hope we get to continue their adventures!I've been trying to decide whether people who aren't into role playing games would enjoy this, or even get it, and I'm inclined to think they would. While the universe is along the lines of Drizzt's or Elminster's (though to be clear, this is not set in the Forgotten Realms) or the Dragonlance books, it probably reminded me most of the comedic fantasy of Jig the goblin in Goblin Quest, with flavors of Robert Asprin and Xanth without the puns.I'm either off to see what else this author has written - he's seriously got some chops - or maybe I'll dust off Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights; NPCs really reminded me why I liked those games so much. As for you, I say you should try it...and if you're not a "gamer" but find you like it, then maybe that's a suggestion that you ought to give an RPG a try and find out for yourself what it's like to be an adventurer.

As a lover of both DnD and reading, this was an excellent combination. Reading the description, I questioned how the author would be able to combine perspectives of the people playing DnD with the NPCs actually in the game world, but he did a phenomenal job in my opinion!

I let a friend borrow my first copy and they loved it that I had to buy a second one!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The concept was not a new one, as Andre Norton did Quaqq Keep. I also read another where the whole world was cover with hexes. If the characters travelled the allowed number of hexes they could go no further, regardless of the time of day. These are two works one by one of the Masters of Fantasy and Science Fiction.But, (and this is important) Drew Hayes takes the characters and places them there. They are brash and looking for a fight just so they can throw a fireball and bang some heads. I have found this to be true in many of the role playing games that I both played in and DM. But Drew asks an interesting question. What happens to all of those NPCs that are left behind. For them life still goes on and the citizens have all of their own problems. The mayor's is kidnapped the Goblins like clock work. So much so that she learns their language and what their lives are like.When they make the choice of having four dead adventures they are in a dilemma. They want to save their families and their village from the mad king. So, they become the characters, they know how the adventures act and talk. Which explains the slang from the real world that has seeped into their. At least the author did keep the swearing down to a reasonable level.The experiences that the four friend go through helps them to find out who they truly are. I found it interesting as to the choices each made. Mr. Hayes did a great job of breaking some of the stereo types found in gaming. And, the ending is quite a surprise and one I will leave for you to read.Overall, a very well written book, I found two errors (I have a BA English) which shows that he has a great support system of people to work on ideas, direction and finally editing.The best feature of the book is how he blends the real word with the fantasy world. I am looking forward to the next books, as he gave a hint that there may be one. If not this story can still stand on it's merits.

Reading this book is just like your playing an rpg. Can’t get enough. I wish the author was my real life dm as it’s just that amazing. So good Iv brought 3 more copies to gift to friends who now love it also. I wasn’t going to give them mine!

An easy and enjoyable read. I liked the transition from in-game characters to the real world personalities.Certainly going to read the next instalment.

I was in the mood to read something fun and silly, but this turned out to be that and a lot more.The characters are great but the connections between them are beautifully drawn. The book is extremely genre-savvy and a lot of laughs come from that, but the tone is effortlessly maintained so that the events of the story feel important and moving rather than just pastiche or spoof.Great read.

This was a swift and enjoyable read for anyone who has spent a good chunk of their youth lost in fantasy gaming worlds with friends, pizza and a healthy pile of weird shaped dice. Not sure what non-role players will think as there's lots of in-jokes but for the rest of us, just dig in and enjoy with a smile.

As I started the first book not expecting much, I got totally surprised by how entertaining, innovative and well thought out this story is. I immediately ploughed through the two follow up title in the series, and it only gets better from there. I highly recommend it for fantasy lovers and rpg players (also a fantastic source of inspiration for Game Masters!)