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Miscellaneous Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millennium by Phil Brucato $39.95 / Smoke, Mirror & Muse / 2003 Some say the Land of Faerie is separated from the world of men by vast distances; others say that it is as close as the nearest mushroom-ring. Phil Brucato, author of Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millenium, believes that both statements are true. This latest effort from the mastermind behind Mage: the Ascension offers us roleplaying scenarios in the fairlyland realm of Deliria, a beautiful and deadly reality which occasionally intersects with our space and time. Brucato's fairies are alternately kind and cruel, amusing and awe-inspiring, but always unnerving and alien. He has not confined himself to Victorian pixies or Brothers Grimm nightmares (although both receive due attention); rather, he draws upon myths from around the world, including today's urban legends. He finds fairies among Japanese street fashion models, in musty occult bookstores, and in the far-flung realms of cyberspace where the distinctions between real and virtual are blurred. As in the stories, Brucato's fairyfolk interact with players as allies, adversaries, or combinations thereof. The combat mechanics of Deliria are simple, almost rudimentary. Instead of polyhedral dice, random numbers are generated using an ordinary deck of cards, with provisions for both spectacular successes and spectacular failures and modifications based on attributes and situation. Those who prefer more involved gaming systems such as those employed in Runequest and Chivalry & Sorcery, may find Deliria's approach too basic. For instead of minute details about the effects an axe has on chainmail versus plate mail, Deliria's action system (which can apply to noncombat activities such as speeches and public presentations as well as swordfights and magic attacks) is less concerned with realism than with moving the story along. This becomes abundantly clear when the involved process of character generation is examined. When players are finished, they will not only know their attributes (strength, vitality, etc.) but will have a fair amount of backstory and extensive knowledge of what makes a character tick. Armed with this information, players will be ready to start creating a front-story-the interactions between one's character and the strange new worlds lying at the edge of their vision. Deliria is deceptively simple. Its rules are guidelines which must be fleshed out by a game master and his players. But since there are few tables at hand, many situations require the GM to think on his feet and make snap judgments. Even if not a RPGer, readers may find this book entertaining as the book is beautifully designed, with illustrations spanning the gamut from Beardsley-esque Art Nouveau to modern Photoshop productions. It could also be a fine resource for fantasy writers; the steps used for character generation could be used as exercises for fleshing out storylines and characters. Overall, this is a magnificent and worthy effort. It is to be hoped that Brucato continues his work in the universe, further illuminating the dark and murky corners of the world of Deliria. —Kevin Filan

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