When I ordered some books on rpgnow.com recently, I discovered the
Stalker RPG by
Burger Games, which is based on the short science fiction novel
Roadside Picnic by the
Strugatsky brothers and on the Russian movie
Stalker.
First of all, I am a big fan of the short novel
Roadside Picnic, the movie
Stalker and also of the computer game
S.T.A.L.K.E.R., even though it is very losely based on the former two.
When I ordered the
Stalker RPG, I did not expect very much, I have to admit. But when I started to read it, it blew my mind away - it fits completely in the world of the short novel and the movie. The atmosphere is great (dark, morbid, corrupt, dangerous), nearly everything in that world setting by the Strugatsky brothers is accounted for, explored or described in detail. The game mechanics are pretty interesting, too, since this RPG does not work with dice or cards or anything similar - I have not understood the mechanics, yet, but I am deeply fascinated.
Has anybody played the RPG and can give me some hints (game mechanics, how to GM it) or opinions?