Munchkin (play)

Principle

The players incarnate characters of roleplays the purpose of which are single to accumulate eccentric magic objects and to make increase the level of their character as quickly as possible. Many charts help them to reach that point and the players can inter alia betraying their companions, to cry in the skirts of the main of play, to call upon obscure rules to gain a level… The characters are defined only by their level (from 1 to 10), their class (magician, warrior, robber and priest), their race (everyone starts as human but can become dwarf Elfe, , Hobbit), and the accumulation of magic objects which they transport. The goal of the play is to be the first to make reach level 10 with its character.

The environment of this play is clearly turned towards derision, with many charts of magic objects, odder curses and monsters the ones than the others. Let us quote for example the Octahedral Gelatinous one or the Plutonium Dragon among the monsters, chicken on the head for the curses or the sword of dismemberment for the weapons.

The play parodies also certain types of simplistic scenarios of roleplays as the “carry-monster-treasure” which are one in the ways possible to play Donjons and dragons. Thus, with each turn, the player must open a door, fight the monster which is possibly behind, then to seize his treasure while his/her companions of adventure try to put sticks in the wheels to him, to steal his material to him or to add an additional monster to that which it is already fighting.

Extensions and other versions

Two extensions are appeared for the French version to date: Munchkin 2: Chopping better ( Unnatural Centers English ) and Munchkin 3: Clerk and not Net ( Clerical Error in English). These extensions do not modify the rules. They introduce new charts. Hachement better introduces the race Orc and Clerc and not Net that of the Gnome (as well as a new class: the bard). There exist other extensions in the english language version: Munchkin 4: The Need For Steed (the need for destrier) and Munchkin 5: Of-Ranged .

Several other versions with their own extensions of the play are appeared American side using the same basic rules appreciably.

Star Munchkin (the large bill of space) makes it possible to evolve/move in space with development ( sidekicks ) at its sides. One can thus become a cyborg, a mutant or a man-cat. (French in February 2007 Exit by Ubik)

Clown Wars (the war of the clowns)

Munchkin Fu (the large bill samurai) parody films of kung fu.

Monky Business (Business of monkeys)

Munchkin Bites (the large bill-garou or vampire) makes it possible to be a werewolf or a vampire inter alia with a comparse ( undermined ) little shining but useful.

Pants Macabre (macabre Pants) adds the race of the mummies.

Super Munchkin (the super large bill) makes it possible to be a super hero with all the capacities that comprises. Finally, which research very large bill which respects.

Munchkin Blender (the mixer large bill) makes it possible to better mix the various plays in order to make the parts épiques. One can thus become " super ultra munchkin" or to have blood three times over mixed.

Impossible Munchkin (Munchkin: Impossible) allows the players and players to become secret agents and spies. The goal is to recover things near the other players, the whole in good mood and the same spirit as the other plays. (Available in VO)

Munchkin Cthulhu : After having foamed the keeps, the temples shaolins, the spaceships and the haunted houses, the grosbills face their more big challenge: Cthulhu! Will they survive? Will they preserve to them mental health? Will they arrive to… gaining levels? Four new classes (of which Cultiste), of the monsters of beyond reality…

Anecdotes

In September 2007, the American editor of the series Steve Jackson Games announces that the second extension of Munchkin Cthulhu will appear at the beginning of 2008 and will be devoted to the Webcomic Unspeakable Vault (off Doom). For the occasion, François Launet (alias Goomi, the author of the webcomic) will replace the historical illustrator of the series, John Kovalic.

References

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