The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen

by James Wallis

Can you keep up with Baron Munchausen's extraordinary adventures as he travels to the Moon and the Sun, rides cannon-balls, defeats armies single-handed, meets the gods, and escapes from bandits on half a horse? The stories of the legendary nobleman come to life as players battle to outdo each other's fantastic feats and amazing accomplishments. It's a role-playing story-telling game of outrageous originality and swashbuckling exaggeration, stretching the bounds of truth until they twang. How is this possible? If Baron Munchausen is involved, anything is possible. The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen contains full rules, more than two hundred adventures ready to be played, mechanics that replace dice and pencils with money and fine wine, and many insults against the inhabitants of various nations, but principally the French. This expanded edition is a facsimile of a suppressed volume originally published in 1808. It contains additional rules for playing in an Arabian style and a complete supplementary game, 'My Uncle the Baron', designed for children, the inbred and those who are very drunk. "The original edition of The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen was unique and marvellous. This new edition is even better. If you are a clever person with clever friends, you will enjoy reading and playing it. Let's not consider the alternative." -Steve Jackson, creator of Munchkin "Utter brilliance in RPG form!" -John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower Nominated for Best New RPG in the 1999 Origins Awards Nominated for Best Family/Party Game in the 2009 Origins Awards Nominated for Best Writing in the 2009 ENnie Awards

Genres: Role Playing Games, Gaming, Fantasy, Humor, Games, Comedy, Reference

22 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Matthew Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what is essentially just a rulebook for a storytelling game, this was a surprisingly amusing read.

The game itself involves players taking on the roles of 18th century Aristocrats who are regaling each other with fantastical tales of their exploits - such as that time they had to wrestle a yeti while trying to set the record for fastest ascent of Everest; or that time they took their dog for a walk and almost brought about to the collapse of the British Empire. During the course of telling your (completely true) story, other players can interject (using tokens handed out at the start of the game) to try and add objections or challenges to trip up the story teller. After everyone has had a chance to tell their story, everyone votes on the best one.

The book includes some variations on the main rules - such as everyone talking about the same amazing event (at which they were all present), but each from their own (biased) point of view; or games where the storyteller must tell a story for 5 minutes WITHOUT actually reaching a conclusion, while the other players use their interruptions and objections to keep the teller on track and try and force them to reach some sort of ending.

I can't speak too the actual quality of the game (as I have not played it) but I imagine it's success will depend entirely upon the people you play with - which is the case for almost all storytelling games. What I CAN say though, is that the book itself is entertaining to read, and is unlike any rulebook I have read before. The whole thing has a very conversational tone, as it is ostensibly written by Baron Munchausen himself, and is filled with tall tales, wit, and humor.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having just written reviews for Golden Sky Stories and Fiasco, I recalled this book, and I beg for patience for my followers who have no interest in either storytelling or role-playing games. It came to mind because it is so rules-light that it does not even deign to call itself a role-playing game, but rather a drinking game. The objective is to tell the best tall tale, as Munchausen would. There are also some prompts and a rule on how to run interruptions but that is about it! In my edition, there were also ways to make the game child- and teetotaler-friendly. However, regardless of whether you try out the game (which I still have yet to), I found the book itself to be hilarious, which is why I have given it the highest rating.

[Petr · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is truly a fun read and immersive with all the madness of Baron Munchausen. You meander through unbelievable stories that beautifully illustrate the style and mood of the game/stories.

I am not sure and not judging the RPG itself, as I have not played it and Goodreads are more about books. I would review the game on specific sites for RPGs.
I like that the rules are (sadly only sometimes) summarized at the end of the verbose chapter and therefore allow quite easily to find the game-specific content.

[Griffin Fickes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept of this game: Improvise crazy stories while your friends interrupt you with more insane details that you have to work into your story. I enjoyed all the variations. But I'm struggling to figure out how and when I would actually play this game. I need to find a group of friends who are all ready and willing to improv a complicated story, we all need to be in the same place (for coin exchange), and we have to all be willing to try out this VERY different kind of role-play. That... just isn't going to happen any time soon. I'm going to hang on to this book for a while, just in case. I would like to try it out. But the odds of actually finding a situation where this game is our top choice activity seem vanishingly small.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically written rules for a game concerning the telling of incredible stories over drinks in the style of an old-timey pamphlet crafted by the titular Baron Munchausen. The adventures referenced are indeed extraordinary and the game laid out herein is a wonderful exercise in creativity and a test of one's penchant for braggadocio. I can't wait for the chance to regale my fellows with stories of my own daring exploits and in turn marvel at the stunningly fictional adventures of my cohorts and comrades.

[Adam Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that this book had two different authors. The first half had a distinctly different feel to it than the second half. The first half was a myriad of different small adventures that always had some fantastical element to it. Very Munchausian. The second half was one very long meandering adventure that was separated into chapters that occasionally had something interesting to say. Overall, I liked this book. However, I think if it were just the first half I would have given it five stars.

[Arthur B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusingly-written, but the actual design of the game is poor - in particular, it's possible to force a win simply by challenging people to duels and winning rock-paper-scissors against them, since they are immediately out of the game if they lose. (It's even possible for someone to be taken out before they even get to tell their story in this manner.) Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...

[juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

We pulled together a group of friends from the SCA and had a blast playing until 2 am with friends. The stories were memorable and it was honestly one of the most fun we've had at a game night. Before the night was done, two friends had purchased the game online -- if that isn't a rousing success, I don't know what is. Maybe the time I escaped the phantasm that happened across me -- setting me on fire in the process, but that was easily remedied -- while I was performing for the Jarl of Livonia, but that is entirely not the point.

[Billy Kid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tabletop roleplaying system where everyone tries to one-up each other with increasingly ridiculous stories about their adventures and exploits in their roles as Georgian/Victorian era noble people.

Makes for a great one-shot with the right group.

[Anuar · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a very interesting book called the Adventures of Baron Munchausen. This book consists of many stories and I am going to tell you about one of them. For me the most funny story was about the horse that was splitted in half. This story was called 1CHalf of the Horse 1D.
As Baron Munchausen said he was really good at fighting and he always attacked the first in all fights. Once when Baron Munchausen was in fight versus Turks. He had very good horse and it was the most powerful horse in his whole army. He was the first to attack and after the attack he went to the fountain with his horse, but his horse was drinking and drinking and it couldn 19t stop drinking. After waiting for a long time, Baron Munchausen heard something behind him and he saw that the water is coming from the back of his horse. That meant that his horse was splitted in half by the gates of the turks. One of his soldiers came to him and told him that he saw second part of horse on the pitch. When the doctor came, he decided to sew these parts together. After it was very good looking horse and he could run again.

[Liz Stoneking · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you review a book for a game of such wit and merriment? Why, we can all try to outdo the baron and his great propensity for fine drink and heroic acts that can cause a delicate lady such as myself to swoon, but we would be hard pressed to do so!
Upon reading this book, I myself became so much more inclined to adventure that on the way home from the bookshop I saved a baby from a small tornado full of pygmy alligators and ended two international wars (one by land and one by sea).
Even my small children joined the fun, playing the simpler edition “My Uncle, the Baron” which roused the faculties of their imagination. Bravo!

[Broodingferret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A roleplaying game for telling stories over drinks, the rules for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen can be summarized in just a few pages; the real joy comes from the quality of the righting. The game is written from the perspective of the Baron and little wit was spared in its creation. Even if you have no desire to play the game, the book is well worth the read, especially since it's only 106 pages and can be read rather quickly.

[Jordan Bethea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a game, but written much more fully and more entertaining than most, as it is written from the perspective of the Baron describing the game to you. The game seems very fun, there are lots of variations included, and it's pretty funny to read through, though just by the nature of being a book about a game, some of the transitions can feel kind of forced, particularly at the end when they are trying to get through all of the different variations you can play.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, as far as reading an RPG guide simply for the giggles, it would be hard to go wrong with the Extraordinary Adventures of the Baron. It wanders, it boozes, it occasionally makes one cringe, and mostly it lays out the rules for a game of improvisational wit and spirit (and provides variants for the young and the not-so-clever, which I have enjoyed as a casual car game).

[Jay Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious parody of itself -- a gamebook that itself is a game and a parody and an example of the game all wrapped up into one. Brilliantly written, very clever, and evocative of the Baron Munchausen themes and ideas.

[Nick Sakkas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another (rule)book that is almost as fun reading it as playing the actual game. The other one was Paranoia: Troubleshooters.

A rulebook of freeform competitive lying, written by the Baron himself.

Highly recommended to all RPG players out there.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the most fun set of game rules ever written.

It's a drinking and boasting game in the style of Baron Munchausen, written in period style. Even if you never play the game, it's totally worth it for the sheer pleasure of reading the rules.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I played this game at GenCon, and it delighted me so much that I decided to purchase it. In addition to being the rule book for a fun improv game, it's also a hilarious story on its own. I look forward to playing it again, and recommend it for all but dull-witted buffoons.

[John Blackmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

GET THIS GAME!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, stylistic and well-done. This RPG offers a storytelling game that anyone can play. Make up your own tall tales weth your family and friends.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had a tremendous amount of fun playing this with my regular gaming group. It's an excellent storytelling game and can easily be played with friends, children, or kooky aunts.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple but entertaining little game - the real wonder of this book is that it is written by Baron Munchausen himself - very entertaining read, unless you happen to he French.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both a fantastic system and a convincing manifesto for a new way of looking at role-playing games and storytelling.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book - look forward to trying the game!