A review by jeffhall
Puppetland: A Storytelling Game with Strings in a Grim World of Make-Believe by John Scott Tynes
4.0
Puppetland is my first introduction to the world of storytelling games (as an alternative to more rules-heavy games like Dungeons & Dragons). The basic idea of the game is genius, inspired by puppetry in general but more specifically by the classic puppet figures of Punch and Judy.
Because it is so light on rules (no dice needed!) it can be quickly learned, but in the end I'm not sure I'll ever play it as a game. That said, it's an excellent model of the potential of story-telling games, and John Scott Tynes' closing article "My Life in Puppetland" is a great read by itself, tracing the thread of his personal history that led to the creation of this game. Add in wonderful artwork throughout the book, and it all comes together as a wonderfully entertaining package, whether or not you intend to play the game itself.
Because it is so light on rules (no dice needed!) it can be quickly learned, but in the end I'm not sure I'll ever play it as a game. That said, it's an excellent model of the potential of story-telling games, and John Scott Tynes' closing article "My Life in Puppetland" is a great read by itself, tracing the thread of his personal history that led to the creation of this game. Add in wonderful artwork throughout the book, and it all comes together as a wonderfully entertaining package, whether or not you intend to play the game itself.