WHAT IS A ROLE-
PLAYING GAME?

A role-playing game (or RPG) is a cooperative storytelling game where the players take the role of “characters” that act and interact within a fictional adventure, devised and run by a game moderator (GM).

The GM is responsible for the consistency of the story through which the players’ characters (PCs) navigate, and for the actions of other characters that the PCs meet in the game.

Each player portrays his or her one character and the GM portrays everyone else. These other characters played by the GM are called non-player characters (NPCs). Obviously, this places a large amount of responsibility on the GM’s shoulders.

A role-playing game by its nature is rather fluid. Unlike other games, it doesn’t involve action on a computer or TV screen, or markings and movements of pieces on a board. It’s much more abstract.

Usually, the GM describes the situation in the adventure to the players, explaining what the PCs see and hear. The players tell the GM what their characters wish to do.

Sometimes interaction between the PCs and the GM is resolved simply by talking; the GM decides something will happen, and it happens. Often, such decisions are made when the outcome of such an event is not in doubt (for example, a character wants to open a door, so the GM decides he does so).

However, when an outcome is in doubt, such as when a PC is attacked by an NPC, or when a PC wishes to complete a difficult task, the GM may ask the player to roll dice and consult the statistics of his or her character. This adds a level of excitement and uncertainty to the game. Character statistics are a numerical value indicating how well a character can do something, whether it's lifting a weight, hitting someone in the jaw or shooting a gun.

A successful roll indicates success in that particular action, and the GM continues the story accordingly. Many such rolls may be made over the course of a single adventure.

Sometimes the PCs will try to resolve some linear “mission” within an adventure, but sometimes there is no absolute goal. Like real life, the PCs act and react just like normal people, in a world of the GM’s creation. Well-played PCs should be like real people, with their own wants, hopes, dreams and fears. And sometimes there is a short-term goal for them to accomplish, like there is in life: completing a class, delivering the newspapers, or blowing up the enemy stronghold.

Ongoing role-playing games are often composed of dozens of adventures linked together to form a campaign. Campaigns cover months or even years in story time, and follow the paths of the PCs as they grow and develop.

Sometimes, however, an adventure is a one-time thing. The GM prepares and presents an adventure for the PCs that runs its course in a single night, or in a short period of time.

And that, in a nutshell, is role-playing.

THE ONE-ROLL ENGINE

GODLIKE uses an innovative dice-pool system called the "One-Roll Engine" (O.R.E.), whose simplicity in use is matched only by its detail in gameplay. In an attack, one roll of the dice determines initiative, accuracy, damage and hit location.

Unlike other games, GODLIKE dice pools do not just look to overcome a target number; instead, you look for matching dice.

Both the number of matches and the matching numbers' values are taken into account by the system.

Don't just take our word for it—read what people are saying about GODLIKE and its supplements.

GODLIKE

Sci-Fi.com (Science Fiction Weekly) review by Ken Newquist
"GODLIKE ultimately succeeds because it successfully and believably integrates superheroes into the war.... Our Pick: 'A'."

Out of the Box review
by Kenneth Hite
"The world is richly super [yet] delightfully bleak and war-torn.... Look, up in the sky — and take cover."

About.com review
by Jody Harkavy
"...an excellent game with many roleplaying opportunities and chances to be real heroes."

RPG.net review
by Lisa Padol
"I recommend Godlike to anyone who wants a grittier superhero game or game set in World War II with superheroes."

RevolutionSF review
by Mark Finn
"Slick production values, and a simple and clever system with an eye toward punching through tanks and German machine gun nests, make this a great superhero game."

RPG.net review
by James A. Beggs
"If you don't mind a game that is very gritty (and they have optional rules to tone that down), then this game is just incredible."

The Forge review
by Ron Edwards
"Taken on its own terms, the GODLIKE setting is awesome...."

Gaming Report review
by Wayne Tonjes
"GODLIKE is a wonderful book."

RPG.net playtest review
by J. Peralta
"Setting and character, what more can one ask for? Add to that two of the most talented game designers in the business and you have a recipe for success."

RPG.net playtest review
by D. Pond
"Both of these authors seem to thrive on innovation, and GODLIKE looks to me like a unique and innovative game."

Ogre Cave review
by Nathan James
"I have not found a game that has drawn me in such as GODLIKE has."

Open Roleplaying review
by Craig Pearlman
"GODLIKE is a shining example of what we look for in a well-made RPG."

Pyramid Pick
by Matthew Pook
"Not only an excellent World War II RPG, but an excellent superhero game as well."

RPG.net review
by Matthew Gabbert
"...a realistic historical superhero game with a streamlined and versatile (and deadly) game system."

RPG.net review
by Rick Neal
"Even if you never do run it, it’s well worth the price tag as an example of world building and system design. And just reading it is fun."

RPG.net Review
by Carl Congdon
"It's a good game with solid mechanics ... and a well-researched, believable setting."

Valet d'Couer Review
"GODLIKE offers an innovative game system as well as a captivating background setting."

Runner-up for Best RPG in the Pen & Paper Fan Awards
Also nominated: Mutants and Masterminds (winner), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Riddle of Steel, Spycraft.

Godzilla Gaming Podcast Review
". . . Really captures the mood of World War Two combat." [more]

Gake Geeks Video Review
"I recommend this game if you want a supers game that has more bite to it, a bit more complexity." [more]

RPG.net Review
by Michael Erb
"You can tell some extraordinary and compelling stories with Godlike, but I would definitely consider it for a more mature audience." [more]