Mouse Guard
The Mouse Guard RPG is based on David Petersen’s fantasy books about anthropomorphic mice combating the predators that threaten their territory. Players’ characters join the ‘Mouse Guard’ and play through plot driven adventures using a moderately complicated set of rules.
Playing the part of a ‘humanised’ mouse in a pre-defined role and setting is not obvious territory for players used to heroic fantasy games like AD&D. However, Mouse Guard stands out because it appeals to players who are looking for a storytelling game.
Being part of the ‘Mouse Guard’ gives characters a role and purpose, which is often not as well defined in other RPGs. This can be very helpful for new players who aren’t used to defining their own characters and goals from the ground up.
Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152 (Mouse Guard Graphic Novels) (v. 1)
Mouse Guard’s emphasis on storytelling and roleplaying over mechanics and combat lifts it up the ‘skills rankings’. Instead of focusing on the mechanics and specialised rules of a ‘battle game’, players spend more time collaborating and roleplaying. The result is a tabletop RPG which offers an ‘exploration’ model rather than a ‘battle game’ model.
The rules may need to be simplified for younger players and magic is not a standard part of the system. Adding a straightforward system for magic would be easy but the game doesn’t need spells to play well.
Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152 (Mouse Guard Graphic Novels)
Mouse Guard’s presentation deserves a particular mention, as the book is beautifully presented on every level and printed at a convenient size. The Mouse Guard graphic novels are also of a high standard and they offer a good, quick introduction to the setting. A time will come when players look for a different setting and a new central narrative but there’s plenty of mileage in Mouse Guard.
On balance, Mouse Guard has to be highly recommended as a ‘gateway’ or ‘starter’ tabletop RPG. The setting is compelling and offers plenty of opportunities to mix storytelling and roleplaying. New players are able to learn the mechanics over a few sessions without paying too much attention to the rule set as they do so. While experienced players should find that Mouse Guard makes it straightforward to move on to running games and designing their own scenarios.
