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Fifth Era Apocalypse #1
One Bad Roll
One bad roll catapults a group of friends into a new world...
Five friends gather for their usual game night like they have hundreds of time before. But when they use a strange new die, they are instantly transported to a fantasy world where all gaming ideas can come true.
Together, the party must join forces to deal with the vile Necrolord whose plans will not only threaten this world, but Earth as well. Should be easy for a team of lifelong gamers.
However, when gaming and real life collide, there are situations which can't be anticipated.
Will Samo use science to solve all her problems? Will Wyatt always resort to violence? Will Bourbon discover lost treasure? Will Falcon restore his kingdom. Will Melf, the bard, find his pants?
Five friends gather for their usual game night like they have hundreds of time before. But when they use a strange new die, they are instantly transported to a fantasy world where all gaming ideas can come true.
Together, the party must join forces to deal with the vile Necrolord whose plans will not only threaten this world, but Earth as well. Should be easy for a team of lifelong gamers.
However, when gaming and real life collide, there are situations which can't be anticipated.
Will Samo use science to solve all her problems? Will Wyatt always resort to violence? Will Bourbon discover lost treasure? Will Falcon restore his kingdom. Will Melf, the bard, find his pants?
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2023
307 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 23, 2023
It's like the author intentionally wants readers to hate all the characters, and decided to take every trope and gamer joke and make them as annoying and unfunny as possible.
I feel bad since I like the author's other series, but this was a huge miss.
I feel bad since I like the author's other series, but this was a huge miss.
April 8, 2023
Nope. Stopped at 8%. Everyone had 2 names. Way too hard to follow.
February 21, 2024
One Bad Roll by Ryan Rimmel is a "D&D players become their characters" LitRPG novel. On the plus side, D&D players will appreciate the familiar references and parodies of tropes, players, and really bad D&D adventures. On the downside, the amusement factor fades, and the story and comedic aspects weren't good enough to sustain my interest. After 5 hours of listening, I abandoned the audiobook when I realized that I couldn't take 7 more hours.
The narrator may have contributed to my issue since he really leaned into the "camp" nature of the novel and over dramatized the character voices, especially Falcon, who seemed to speak in dramatic William Shatner voice. With. Every. Word. Having. A. Period. Behind. It.
The narrator may have contributed to my issue since he really leaned into the "camp" nature of the novel and over dramatized the character voices, especially Falcon, who seemed to speak in dramatic William Shatner voice. With. Every. Word. Having. A. Period. Behind. It.
March 23, 2023
Let down
Not as good as the authors other books. Characters were unlike able and not funny. I wss looking forward to the book so I'm disappointed.
Not as good as the authors other books. Characters were unlike able and not funny. I wss looking forward to the book so I'm disappointed.
April 8, 2024
On a get together of friends and old pals, starting a new Dungeons and Dragons campaign with a brand new dice, world shifts and suddenly the players find themselves in the DnD world looking as their characters. What caused this, how will the friends get back to their world and how can they achieve it.
The casts' enforced role playing while in the dice witch's world is hilarious. Edge lord assassin with dark past and a vow of vengeance that takes precedent over all other impulses, vegan nymphomaniac toolless bard elf, who's locked in perpetual limbo of horniness, extremely prejudicial and discriminating rune smith dwarf of the proud no-beard-scratching clan, etc.
Occasionally the cast returns to the dice witch, after having rolled the magic die, where the all the DnD character traits are suppressed and players again act as themselves. This is especially important for the barbarian, the usually tactical player who's in charge of planning the party's route or battle plan and is trapped in an oaf of a Minotaur barbarian character, but for some reason players don't roll the die more often, like, whenever a new situation with possibility of conflict arises.
Conclusion: 2/5. Listened on Audible 1 credit. Narrated by: Johnathan McClain. If you like Dungeons and Dragons, especially campaigns like 'Critical Role', and Jonathan McClain's narration then 'One Bad Roll' is for you. By the same token, you can just listen/watch DnD campaigns elsewhere. The way how the story is told resembles a podcast. Terrible value for the length of the book - 2.65$/hour (33.90$ /12 hrs 47 mins).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
The casts' enforced role playing while in the dice witch's world is hilarious. Edge lord assassin with dark past and a vow of vengeance that takes precedent over all other impulses, vegan nymphomaniac toolless bard elf, who's locked in perpetual limbo of horniness, extremely prejudicial and discriminating rune smith dwarf of the proud no-beard-scratching clan, etc.
Occasionally the cast returns to the dice witch, after having rolled the magic die, where the all the DnD character traits are suppressed and players again act as themselves. This is especially important for the barbarian, the usually tactical player who's in charge of planning the party's route or battle plan and is trapped in an oaf of a Minotaur barbarian character, but for some reason players don't roll the die more often, like, whenever a new situation with possibility of conflict arises.
Conclusion: 2/5. Listened on Audible 1 credit. Narrated by: Johnathan McClain. If you like Dungeons and Dragons, especially campaigns like 'Critical Role', and Jonathan McClain's narration then 'One Bad Roll' is for you. By the same token, you can just listen/watch DnD campaigns elsewhere. The way how the story is told resembles a podcast. Terrible value for the length of the book - 2.65$/hour (33.90$ /12 hrs 47 mins).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
April 11, 2024
Really annoying
DNF at 9%
I liked the author´s early "noobtown" series novels but this book is grating on my nerves. Everyone has two names you are supposed to remember.
The plot idea per se of a D&D group ending up in their game is not bad but the execution seems like pandering to far left wing activists. A wannabe womanizer ends up as sexaddicted, bisexual but sexless, an annoying, misandrist woman ends up as a racist male dwarf who is not allowed to clean his beard, is constantly refered to as they/them and enables the author to use phrases as "she shoved her hands into his beard". A married couple explores how to have sexual intercourse as minotaur and gnome..
If i should somehow develop a desperate craving for bleak stereotypes, sexual confusion and constant lectures about racism etc as dispicted in this book i can watch contemporary shows on Disney or Netflix..
DNF at 9%
I liked the author´s early "noobtown" series novels but this book is grating on my nerves. Everyone has two names you are supposed to remember.
The plot idea per se of a D&D group ending up in their game is not bad but the execution seems like pandering to far left wing activists. A wannabe womanizer ends up as sexaddicted, bisexual but sexless, an annoying, misandrist woman ends up as a racist male dwarf who is not allowed to clean his beard, is constantly refered to as they/them and enables the author to use phrases as "she shoved her hands into his beard". A married couple explores how to have sexual intercourse as minotaur and gnome..
If i should somehow develop a desperate craving for bleak stereotypes, sexual confusion and constant lectures about racism etc as dispicted in this book i can watch contemporary shows on Disney or Netflix..
March 28, 2025
Title: One Bad Roll (Fifth Era Apocalypse #1)
One Bad Roll, the first installment in Ryan Rimmel’s *Fifth Era Apocalypse* series, had the potential to be a gripping LitRPG experience that blends a post-apocalyptic world with complex fantasy mechanics. However, the novel falls short in several key areas, making it an uneven entry into an already saturated genre. While it has moments of creativity, these are overshadowed by shallow world-building, repetitive character arcs, and an underwhelming plot structure. Here’s a deeper dive into where this novel both shines and falters.
Plot and Pacing
One Bad Roll opens with an interesting premise: a man named Dale finds himself thrust into a post-apocalyptic Earth where the rules of reality have been upended, and people are living in a fantasy game-like environment. While the setup promises excitement, the novel is hampered by inconsistent pacing.
The early chapters are bogged down by excessive exposition and infodumps, with the protagonist’s inner monologues often spelling out the game mechanics rather than showing them in action. While LitRPG novels are known for their attention to detail regarding stats, skills, and level-ups, the novel's execution is clumsy, often pulling the reader out of the immersive experience.
The story itself also suffers from a lack of urgency. While the stakes are supposedly high—survival in a cruel, new world—the characters rarely feel truly threatened. Dale’s journey often feels more like a meandering walkthrough of a low-stakes video game rather than a tense, life-or-death adventure.
Character Development
Unfortunately, the characters in *One Bad Roll* lack the depth needed to carry such a narrative. Dale, the main protagonist, is a stereotypical "everyman" character with little emotional complexity. His reactions to the apocalypse are oddly muted, and he adapts to his new circumstances far too quickly. The internal struggle you would expect from someone in this situation is absent, making it hard to sympathize with his journey.
Moreover, the supporting characters feel flat and one-dimensional. Their personalities are often dictated by one defining trait (the warrior, the healer, the comic relief), and they rarely evolve beyond these simplistic roles. This lack of character growth leads to repetitive dialogue and interactions, leaving the reader craving more emotional stakes and deeper connections.
World-Building
The world-building in *One Bad Roll* is perhaps its most disappointing aspect. A post-apocalyptic Earth merged with fantasy elements offers endless creative possibilities, but the execution feels half-hearted.
Rimmel gives us a world with minimal description, and when details are provided, they often feel superficial. The history behind the apocalypse and the transformation of Earth is glossed over, leaving gaping holes in the reader's understanding of how and why the world became what it is. Furthermore, the game-like mechanics are not well-integrated into the story. Instead of feeling like natural parts of the world, they seem tacked on, as if the novel were trying to check off the LitRPG genre’s boxes without fully committing to their logic.
Dialogue and Writing Style
Rimmel's writing style is serviceable at best, but often borders on repetitive and uninspired. The dialogue is stiff and frequently forced, with characters explaining things to each other in ways that feel unnatural. For example, there are moments when characters openly discuss game mechanics or explain basic facts about their world as if it’s new information to them—this not only breaks immersion but also feels patronizing to the reader.
Additionally, the humor in the novel, which could have been a refreshing reprieve in an otherwise dark world, often misses the mark. The jokes feel misplaced and are often recycled, making them more irritating than amusing.
Missed Opportunities
The biggest disappointment of *One Bad Roll* lies in its wasted potential. Post-apocalyptic settings, when done right, can serve as rich backdrops for themes of survival, human nature, and resilience. Unfortunately, Rimmel seems more interested in the mechanics of leveling up and gaining new abilities than exploring the deeper emotional and philosophical implications of his world. The novel has brief moments where it flirts with more profound ideas—such as how society rebuilds itself after a cataclysmic event—but these moments are quickly abandoned in favor of more game-like content.
Final Verdict
One Bad Roll feels more like a missed opportunity than a fully realized LitRPG adventure. While it’s clear that Ryan Rimmel has a passion for the genre, his execution in this first book leaves much to be desired. Between the underdeveloped characters, shallow world-building, and clunky writing, the novel struggles to engage the reader on more than a surface level. Fans of the LitRPG genre may find some enjoyment in the game mechanics and the occasional action sequence, but those looking for a deeper, more immersive narrative will likely come away disappointed.
In conclusion, One Bad Roll might work for diehard LitRPG fans, but for readers who crave a story with emotional depth and stronger character development, this book may fall flat.
July 30, 2024
I started this book because I have really enjoyed Rimmel’s Noobtown series. This time we get five first level adventurers (only one of whom is actually a noob) and by a cruel twist of fate, steal them away from their homes to save the world for real as they sit down to play their favorite 5th Era game with a brand-new set of characters. That cruel twist? It appears that their melodramatic dungeon master has created a world using the 5th Era system that almost perfectly matches an actual fantasy world fighting for its life. Therefore, these adventures are kidnapped with a set of magical dice to do what all adventurers do—save the world.
There are complications. The married couple finds the wife a gnome and the husband a half minotaur—that poses problems they hadn’t considered in their game play. The noobie has made himself important politically in a way that causes lots of trouble. And so forth.
It was a lot of fun watching them earn levels and discover the difference between sitting around the table rolling dice and actually charging into combat. The threat was fun—not particularly original but a lot of fun. The action is really well thought out—as you would expect from Rimmel.
And yet, this book doesn’t hit the stride of the Noobtown series. It may get there, but it didn’t start out on the same high. I think the “problem” (and I use that world carefully) is that Rimmel is trying to focus on five characters now instead of one—and that is a much more challenging task that getting into one character’s head and basically staying there. Still, this is a good story with the potential to launch a great series.
There are complications. The married couple finds the wife a gnome and the husband a half minotaur—that poses problems they hadn’t considered in their game play. The noobie has made himself important politically in a way that causes lots of trouble. And so forth.
It was a lot of fun watching them earn levels and discover the difference between sitting around the table rolling dice and actually charging into combat. The threat was fun—not particularly original but a lot of fun. The action is really well thought out—as you would expect from Rimmel.
And yet, this book doesn’t hit the stride of the Noobtown series. It may get there, but it didn’t start out on the same high. I think the “problem” (and I use that world carefully) is that Rimmel is trying to focus on five characters now instead of one—and that is a much more challenging task that getting into one character’s head and basically staying there. Still, this is a good story with the potential to launch a great series.
July 5, 2025
I gave it a 2nd star because the LitRPG elements aren't handled as terribly as it is common of the genre.
In 5EA you'll quickly come to hate the ridiculous world as much as the players who wanted to see it destroyed, rather than saved, even BEFORE they got isekaied into it.
Kidnapped by a witch, the players are mentally tortured by being put into the bodies of their joke characters as a second personality. For the bard, this means not being able to stop himself from screwing literally anything he sees despite not having genitalia, for the barbarian, this means being little more than a passenger watching all the stupid things his body does. None of this is funny, and nothing the characters do makes you appreciate or empathize with them.
What might have been a very slightly humorous book dies a horrible death to repetition. Being told how the characters are frustrated that the monsters don't conform to 5 foot spaces like they do in the game is interesting the first time, but it makes you want to quit reading by the 6th.
In 5EA you'll quickly come to hate the ridiculous world as much as the players who wanted to see it destroyed, rather than saved, even BEFORE they got isekaied into it.
Kidnapped by a witch, the players are mentally tortured by being put into the bodies of their joke characters as a second personality. For the bard, this means not being able to stop himself from screwing literally anything he sees despite not having genitalia, for the barbarian, this means being little more than a passenger watching all the stupid things his body does. None of this is funny, and nothing the characters do makes you appreciate or empathize with them.
What might have been a very slightly humorous book dies a horrible death to repetition. Being told how the characters are frustrated that the monsters don't conform to 5 foot spaces like they do in the game is interesting the first time, but it makes you want to quit reading by the 6th.
April 26, 2025
It was a fun read, though I think the meta-narrative put down of D&D was overly harsh.
It's a story about a regular group of TTRPG players who meet up at a game store for their regular game, when a new player shows up with a strange new d20, they all get rolled into the game world that they've been playing in. A lot of the fun comes the from the players now being their characters and having to deal with and live the choices they made when they created them. Like the really smart guy who decided to play a different for once and went with a dumb barbarian. Or the guy playing a hedonistic elf who hastily filled in his character sheet and neglected to specify a gender and got none.
It's a story about a regular group of TTRPG players who meet up at a game store for their regular game, when a new player shows up with a strange new d20, they all get rolled into the game world that they've been playing in. A lot of the fun comes the from the players now being their characters and having to deal with and live the choices they made when they created them. Like the really smart guy who decided to play a different for once and went with a dumb barbarian. Or the guy playing a hedonistic elf who hastily filled in his character sheet and neglected to specify a gender and got none.
July 18, 2023
I've finally figured out what's been lacking in the last couple of Ryan Rimmel books I've read... It's prolly been lacking in all of his books and I've read a lot of them, but just realized that I want more from a book than a few laughs.
I love action-driven storylines and a good plot which Ryan Rimmel exceeds in, and his stories are purdy funny... But that's where it all comes to a screeching halt, because without good characters, characters that I can believe in, I couldn't care less. So unless Ryan Rimmel fixes his ways, I'm done.
I love action-driven storylines and a good plot which Ryan Rimmel exceeds in, and his stories are purdy funny... But that's where it all comes to a screeching halt, because without good characters, characters that I can believe in, I couldn't care less. So unless Ryan Rimmel fixes his ways, I'm done.
April 28, 2023
Ok, if what you want is a dnd reference, progressive fantasy with heavy rule lawyering on D&D 5th edition and some meta humor, this is a good book. It delivers what it promises. No more nor less. Sure, the characters are kind of flat, the development is minuscule and the worldbuilding is very, unique but on the nose.
But the blurbs promise a happy meal and it gives you a happy meal. If you expect anything else, thats on you.
But the blurbs promise a happy meal and it gives you a happy meal. If you expect anything else, thats on you.
October 25, 2025
This book was AWESOME! It's also a little cringy but it feels like an actual dnd experience and reminds me of the knights of the dinner table comics I would read growing up. Also the narrator does like 30+ voices flawlessly and makes it all seem likes it actually happening "in game" (also naturally the minotaur and gnome married couple gets bonus points from me)
Oh and I forgot but out of nowhere the town mayor is some Fart troll lady which is the most 2025 thing I feel.
Oh and I forgot but out of nowhere the town mayor is some Fart troll lady which is the most 2025 thing I feel.
December 22, 2025
I rather enjoyed this one. Lots of snarky humor. Unlike some other people I had no trouble with having players and characters. Maybe that's because I've done a lot of table top role-playing. The group and play very much reminded me of the kind of games I've played.
The book did have some frustrating moments, but I managed to get through them.
Largely the book went from one funny idea to the next with a bit of real emotions in between.
The book did have some frustrating moments, but I managed to get through them.
Largely the book went from one funny idea to the next with a bit of real emotions in between.
March 22, 2023
As someone who has run TTRPG's for many decades, I've got to say that I would rather run over many of the other gamers presented in this book than game with them. Also, PUG's (pick up groups) of gamers - never good. And stuck with a crappy GM and what sounds like a lame system?
Got frustrated of this book then bored with it PDQ.
DNF.
Got frustrated of this book then bored with it PDQ.
DNF.
December 27, 2023
Need book 3
Now, it's not as good as the noobtown series, but I cried with laughter when it mentioned Pumas....
.... seriously....I will NEVER get over "fecking pumas".
MOVING ON
This is delightfully cringy cause if it doesn't remind you of you in SOME aspect of your childhood at some point.... especially if you have siblings....
Love the dnd and humor and the complete insanity!
Now, it's not as good as the noobtown series, but I cried with laughter when it mentioned Pumas....
.... seriously....I will NEVER get over "fecking pumas".
MOVING ON
This is delightfully cringy cause if it doesn't remind you of you in SOME aspect of your childhood at some point.... especially if you have siblings....
Love the dnd and humor and the complete insanity!
June 28, 2024
Anyone up for a game?
Are you a fan of D&D or tabletop games? This may be the book for you.
It starts out a bit slow going through the character creation and such that you would in a normal D&D game, but then the whole thing picks up and takes off. There are many interesting jokes and the quests are reminiscent of a true ass of a dungeon master.
Are you a fan of D&D or tabletop games? This may be the book for you.
It starts out a bit slow going through the character creation and such that you would in a normal D&D game, but then the whole thing picks up and takes off. There are many interesting jokes and the quests are reminiscent of a true ass of a dungeon master.
April 8, 2023
Utterly hilarious
There are so many hilarious moments beginning with the young figure kid realizing that isekai with old people who have kids and jobs at home is less exciting on to the encounter with the dragons. Jack vs Wyatt is equally good. Overall I want book 2 now.
There are so many hilarious moments beginning with the young figure kid realizing that isekai with old people who have kids and jobs at home is less exciting on to the encounter with the dragons. Jack vs Wyatt is equally good. Overall I want book 2 now.
September 5, 2023
rather unsurprising. all in all, a book that is what it says on the cover - few laughs, straightforward (rpg) action. nothing more, nothing less.
it took me a while get "into" it though. it bored me in the beginning. but after 15% it picked up, and I was happy with it by the end of it.
it took me a while get "into" it though. it bored me in the beginning. but after 15% it picked up, and I was happy with it by the end of it.
May 8, 2025
Worth a read
I’ve read my share of ‘sucked into the game books’ and certainly a ton of LitRPG books, but this is the first one where the gamers bad choices come back to bite the characters in the ass. I like it.
I’ve read my share of ‘sucked into the game books’ and certainly a ton of LitRPG books, but this is the first one where the gamers bad choices come back to bite the characters in the ass. I like it.
March 25, 2023
I love Rimmel's sense of humor and extra points for getting a Puma Check reference in there.
March 26, 2023
It is a nice twist on Isekai/VRMMORPG. It didn't hold me the same way Noobtown did and I am on the fence for continuing the series. There is potential, just not sure there is enough.
April 3, 2023
Another hit from Ryan Rimmel.
April 17, 2023
It took a minute to fall into the writing style and tempo of the story, but once I did I couldn't put it down!
July 18, 2023
I enjoyed this a surprising amount. The humor is fun, though the splitting of the party and multiple points of view made it slightly more difficult to dive into the book fully.
Read
September 10, 2023Too juvenile, dropped at 1%. Might be better later.
October 7, 2023
It's one thing when you dislike/hate most of a books characters. It is a whole other level when it feels like the author also dislikes/hates the characters.
October 9, 2023
Not bad not good, sometimes funny, sometimes not. Not for hardcore fans yet not for the uninitiated. I liked it, and not.
I won't continue the series
I won't continue the series
November 29, 2023
I love lit-rpgs and d&d, and this was a super funny listen. There are lots of fun ways the rpg tropes are used, and very much enjoyed.
May 1, 2024
Omg I love Money? Munnie? (unsure of name spelling) and how cute Johnathan narrates him 🥰 This was too hilarious with all the innuendos, "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" references, and the names 😂
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews