h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Wizards of Coast have released a hard-cover roleplaying sourcebook that uses the d20 system and is set in the world described by this series of novels. Now the novels were nice, the game is also nice and the illustrations are extra nice; but the thing that drove me around the bend was the introduction to the book from the pen of Mr Jordan himself. Reading this I have to say that if he ever produces an autobiography then it'll surely be hailed as a wonderous cure for insomnia. The guy spends a few lines telling the reader about the wonderful world he has created and then describes the D&D campaigns he ran for his son and his unique style as a DM. Mr Jordan then proceeds to waffle on about how he would punish the rash decisions made by his child and stick to the rules come hell or high water. I'm just glad I didn't get started gaming with a DM like the one he portrays himself as. Yes, you have to be fair most of the time, but some times when your players have a crazy idea and the rules don't allow for it or you hadn't planned on it then the best thing is to run with it and make the most of their creative energies. And at the end of the day there's always a place for a wand of fireballs, or a world-decimating sword that sings sea shantys; you just have to make them rare, relevant and justified.