The World of Synnibarr


The World of Synnibarr was a multi-genre role-playing game published by Wonderworld Press and written by Raven c.s. McCracken. A second edition of the game, co-written by Bryce Thelin, was published in 1993. It is noted largely for its exceptionally poor design.
The game features an unusual amount of variety in play. It combines elements of fantasy, science-fiction, super-hero and other genres and does occasionally lend itself to power gaming.
A third edition of the game was funded by a Kickstarter in 2013, which was expected to be released in 2014-2015, but remains only partially complete as of June 2020.

Setting

Synnibarr is actually Mars 50,000 years in the future, hollowed out and turned into a spaceship to take humanity to a safe place after the Earth had been destroyed. Civilization is beginning to be rebuilt after a series of disasters and technology is practiced as a religion.
Synnibarr is also noted for bizarre monsters, including the Giant Mutant Fire Clam and the Flying Grizzly. Guilds and organizations play a major role in the Synnibarr 'Worldship'. Mortals are often able to interact with immortals, demi-gods and even the gods themselves.

System

Most rolls are of percentile dice though some are additive while others use a roll-under mechanic. The third edition game mechanic replaces the previous percentile system with a streamlined skill-based system, where resolve and experience create cogency levels that are pitted against opposing cogency levels for determining results.
McCracken and a group of other people have been playing and developing Synnibarr since the mid 90s. In December 2012 a Kickstarter was launched to publish a new edition. The project was expected to span three books, an "Ultimate Adventurer's Guide", a "Worldship Atlas", and a "Book of Fate". The "Ultimate Adventurer's Guide" was published in August 2018, but as of December 2019 backers had received neither books nor updates for some time.

Reception

Some consider it a bad example of a role playing game.

Reviews