OK, this is a bit different type of review.
My great-great-uncle was John R. Neil who illustrated all but the first OZ books (and wrote several.) Since they were hanging around underfoot, he used members of his family for models. Ozma is my grandmother, Roberta Neil, and Dorothy is my Great-Aunt Ann Marie Neil.
I've been reading OZ book since I could read and have dozens of copies of the books, framed reproductions of Neil's work, and lovingly crayoned copies of his art. I have just read through the Pirates of Oz and have to say that the artwork is superb and very much in keeping with the original. Clearly the authors and illustrators have read and researched the original books and even the game play keeps close to the storyline.
Neil was working at the turn of the last century and his is a very flamboyant Art Deco style. However, I think if he was drawing today, he would not only approve of the Pirates of OZ but might well be working in much the same style. He had the same dramatic flair and slightly dangerous look that you can see in Pirates of OZ.
OK, I'll probably never play the RPG (a bit past that stage, I'm afraid) but I'm happy to see this new stage in the long and glorious History of OZ. It takes a classic adventure tale and refreshes it after 100 years.
(But I do want to see a Scalawagon, They were definitely my favorites. Drove themselves, answered verbal commands and cooked dinner at the same time Google has nothing on them!)
Terry Irving
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