When I first read Pundit's review, I was quite excited about LotFP--it seemed like a quirky and unique take on "old school" D&D.  I considered purchasing the game right off because his review was so positive.  However, I downloaded a PDF of the game to peruse it myself.  And what I discovered is that this game is, well, balls.

I can accept the foibles of 2e D&D, with the varying XP charts and the weird saving throws and the staggered character progression.  I can accept system oddities like the fighter being the only class to gain an attack bonus and the specialist being the one class that does skills.  What I can't abide, however, is a poorly-formatted book that looks like a bunch of houserules that some guy in his basement whipped up over the weekend.

Appalling.  While I'm not particularly artistically inclined, the cheapness and lack of quality in the LotFP is striking.  Everything is sloppy and ugly.  I couldn't imagine plopping down $50 for this junior high trash.  I could throw this together in a day, and it would still be prettier and more accessible than this crap.  (Size 12 Times New Roman in a single column?  Come on.)  Even RIFTS books are better than LotFP.  Everything is scattered.  And even if the rules were gold--which they're not--the book itself is so uncharismatic (for an inanimate object) that my instinct is to reject it on principle.

The writing itself is atrocious.  Allow me to reproduce a few sample sentences here:

QuoteThe character’s Wisdom modifier is applied to the final number of
required days (with a positive modifier lessening the number of days, of
course). There is always a minimum of one day.

QuoteThe character’s Intelligence modifier is applied to the final number of
required days (with a positive modifier lessening the number of days, of
course). There is always a minimum of one day.

He does it twice here.  Twice!

QuoteWhile every Magic-User must use a spellbook to store
their magical knowledge – mortal brains are not structurally designed to
hold this information – there is no “formula” for any particular spell.

QuoteThis spell brings all of creation (and anti-creation) to a complete halt,
while allowing the caster the freedom to act in this inert universe. Because
existence wants to be active, this spell cannot last long.

QuoteIn battle, there is no law. Man maims man. Horribly wounded men scream
for mercy as their life’s blood pours out from cruelly hacked wounds.
Their cries are ignored and their lives extinguished by those too cruel or
frightened to listen. Poets and politicians speak of the honor of battle for
a just cause, but in battle there is no justice. There is just death from metal
implements that crush, slash, and stab.

QuoteMagic-Users choose a different path. Instead of cowering away from the darkness, they revel in it.
They see the forces of magic as a new frontier
to explore, a new tool for the attainment of power and knowledge. If it
blackens the soul to equal that of any devil, it is but a small price to pay.

Good God.  This game already needs a second edition.

Quote from: B.T.;470680(Size 12 Times New Roman in a single column?  Come on.)

If you don't like the contents, you don't like the contents, but I didn't use Times New Roman or single columns in the formatting.

I've been pretty happy with my copy. The only issue with it I've had is the font; the lower case "s" that is larger than the upper case "S" drives me bonkers.  But that's a pretty minor quibble.

I don't understand the complaint about single columns; mine is two column. The layout is pretty damn good. The book is ordered in a logical manner (quite unlike the aforementioned Rifts books) and the rules aren't scattered about at all.

Are you sure you're reading the same book as everyone else?

Okay, I take back the ugly remarks.  I'm not sure what copy of the game I'm looking at, but I downloaded the art-free copy from the website, and its formatting is much improved.