What do you think?
Rate this book
Metagamer Chronicles #1
Homebrew
If Gary had known he'd get trapped in an RPG with his real-life stats, he’d have tried harder in gym class.
Gary Burns just wanted to create the greatest RPG campaign of his gaming career. But a freak magical accident sucks him into the very world he created—as himself.
Surrounded by heroes who look and sound like his friends, Gary is forced to play out the story he wrote. Worthless in a fight, Gary must prove himself valuable even if it means feeding the team insider knowledge.
Because he needs keep his friends close—and himself alive—until he can solve the puzzle he never how to get everyone back home.
Homebrew puts the RPG into LitRPG, taking the ever-growing GameLit genre back to its tabletop roots. If you miss the rattle of dice and gaming at a table with your friends, the Metagamer Chronicles are what you've been craving. Fans of Dungeons and Dragons and old TSR novels will love Homebrew .
Gary Burns just wanted to create the greatest RPG campaign of his gaming career. But a freak magical accident sucks him into the very world he created—as himself.
Surrounded by heroes who look and sound like his friends, Gary is forced to play out the story he wrote. Worthless in a fight, Gary must prove himself valuable even if it means feeding the team insider knowledge.
Because he needs keep his friends close—and himself alive—until he can solve the puzzle he never how to get everyone back home.
Homebrew puts the RPG into LitRPG, taking the ever-growing GameLit genre back to its tabletop roots. If you miss the rattle of dice and gaming at a table with your friends, the Metagamer Chronicles are what you've been craving. Fans of Dungeons and Dragons and old TSR novels will love Homebrew .
- GenresFantasy
330 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2018
134 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 18, 2018
An interesting take on the genre. Think NPC's by Drew Hayes but with the DM taking part as an adventure but remembering everything.
3.5 rounded down due to too many and very repetitive character sheets. Besides that, very well written and will pick up the next one.
3.5 rounded down due to too many and very repetitive character sheets. Besides that, very well written and will pick up the next one.
April 30, 2018
This was awesome! The writer of this book did something I've yet to see other's do. They actually rolled dice to see the outcome and as a GM went with it throughout the entire story. It was well done. It makes it so that you really don't know what's going to happen when you actually roll the dice. The only thing that I wasn't really a fan of is how the MC knew things and let his party just do whatever. Granted, I do get it that he didn't want to give away the "game" but after realizing that pain is real, how can you really sit there and say that you're not there for REAL. Anyway, that's a personal gripe. Besides that, I'm REALLY looking forward to see what happens in book two!
September 12, 2019
Since my only introduction to fantasy gaming group actually entering the fantasy world they play in was Joel Rosenberg's Guardian of the Flame series, I wasn't sure what to expect from a "modern" scenario. While I loved the Guardian of the Flame Series up until they decided to "end" slavery, I also liked this book too.
I'll admit I was, at first, a bit bored with the dice rolling and stats of the gamers but as I kept reading I found myself looking for these just to see what Gary was going to put the new stats on and how he was going to use them.
I found the plot of the book to be quite good. DM gets transported along with 4 of the 5 players in his gaming group and has to deal with adventures. I wondered why one player didn't transport but then figured out that Gary transporting was the reason why Zane didn't (or at least I believe that's the reason.). Gary was a gamer who was a DM (dungeon master) and didn't play a character in the games he was DMing so when the transfer occurred and he was sent along with 4 of his gamers it messed things up a little. The game was made for 5 gamers...not 5 gamers and the DM.
I do think Gary has way too much information and his stats (and reasons for putting new advancement stats where he does) is a bit weird because I played D&D since it came out and only stopped when my brother (who made the world) lost interest in 2010. It also seems a bit formulated since Gary knows everything that is going to happen and any information that's needed to survive. He made the world!
I am interested in where the author is going to go with this to keep the reader's interest so I will probably pick up the next book in the series. It remains to be seen if I will read any of the others.
I'll admit I was, at first, a bit bored with the dice rolling and stats of the gamers but as I kept reading I found myself looking for these just to see what Gary was going to put the new stats on and how he was going to use them.
I found the plot of the book to be quite good. DM gets transported along with 4 of the 5 players in his gaming group and has to deal with adventures. I wondered why one player didn't transport but then figured out that Gary transporting was the reason why Zane didn't (or at least I believe that's the reason.). Gary was a gamer who was a DM (dungeon master) and didn't play a character in the games he was DMing so when the transfer occurred and he was sent along with 4 of his gamers it messed things up a little. The game was made for 5 gamers...not 5 gamers and the DM.
I do think Gary has way too much information and his stats (and reasons for putting new advancement stats where he does) is a bit weird because I played D&D since it came out and only stopped when my brother (who made the world) lost interest in 2010. It also seems a bit formulated since Gary knows everything that is going to happen and any information that's needed to survive. He made the world!
I am interested in where the author is going to go with this to keep the reader's interest so I will probably pick up the next book in the series. It remains to be seen if I will read any of the others.
July 3, 2023
~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book. I did buy the kindle book to accompany my reading. ~
I really need to share this story with my dungeon master because their most recent game was a horror dnd game where we were trapped and I think they deserve to contemplate being thrown into that horror show. The premise was a huge draw, but I took a bit to actually listen/read because... well... sometimes life is like that.
While I believe that tabletop gamers will derive more enjoyment from this book than general gamelit fans, it still offers a compelling narrative for anyone interested in the genre.
The characters in the story felt true to the spirit of a roleplaying campaign, and the clever jokes about common tropes brought a smile to my face. Although I didn't always agree with the main character's choices, I understood that since he wasn't fully convinced of the reality of his situation, some of his decisions were forgivable. In fact, if I found myself unexpectedly transported into a game I had created, I would probably react in an entertaining way rather than making the most strategic moves.
One aspect that became tiresome and unnecessary was the repetitive inclusion of the character sheet. Instead of providing the entire sheet repeatedly, it would have been more effective to simply highlight the changes. This would have made the narrative flow more smoothly. My other issue was the cliffhanger ending. I fully intend to pick up the next book because I enjoyed the story, but cliffhangers always annoy me. Especially since I felt like the story wrapped up really well prior to the cliffhanger.
Mikael Naramore does an excellent job narrating.
I really need to share this story with my dungeon master because their most recent game was a horror dnd game where we were trapped and I think they deserve to contemplate being thrown into that horror show. The premise was a huge draw, but I took a bit to actually listen/read because... well... sometimes life is like that.
While I believe that tabletop gamers will derive more enjoyment from this book than general gamelit fans, it still offers a compelling narrative for anyone interested in the genre.
The characters in the story felt true to the spirit of a roleplaying campaign, and the clever jokes about common tropes brought a smile to my face. Although I didn't always agree with the main character's choices, I understood that since he wasn't fully convinced of the reality of his situation, some of his decisions were forgivable. In fact, if I found myself unexpectedly transported into a game I had created, I would probably react in an entertaining way rather than making the most strategic moves.
One aspect that became tiresome and unnecessary was the repetitive inclusion of the character sheet. Instead of providing the entire sheet repeatedly, it would have been more effective to simply highlight the changes. This would have made the narrative flow more smoothly. My other issue was the cliffhanger ending. I fully intend to pick up the next book because I enjoyed the story, but cliffhangers always annoy me. Especially since I felt like the story wrapped up really well prior to the cliffhanger.
Mikael Naramore does an excellent job narrating.
December 26, 2023
A fun start to a new LitRPG series
This book is one of a relatively new genre which crosses over between fiction (usually fantasy fiction) and roleplaying games. Different books in this genre take different approaches to this mixture. In this one, nerdy gamer Gary Burns has spent a long time creating not only his own fantasy world for his friends to play out their adventures, but a whole roleplaying system. In tabletop roleplaying, this is known as a ‘homebrew’, hence the title of the book. After an introduction to Gary and his friends, a bit of magical flummery transports all of them into the world that Gary has created, but only Gary is aware that it is a game.
The fantasy world is richly detailed but sticks close to classic tabletop gaming tropes. We have the obligatory tavern meetup, patrons, quests, random monsters, underground ‘dungeon’ exploration and so on. What makes this book interesting, though, is the combination of Gary’s knowledge as the creator of the game combined with his bafflement as to how they all get there and the challenges of how to help his friends and maybe even get out of the game alive.
The game system described in the book is interesting, too. It borrows a lot from Dungeons and Dragons, as most such systems do, but has its own take on player character classes, levels, and advancement. I think this is a good choice for a LitRPG books, as it helps reduce the confusion faced by new players/readers when faced with a whole lot of new stuff right at the start.
All in all, an enjoyable start to a series and I am looking forward to future books.
This book is one of a relatively new genre which crosses over between fiction (usually fantasy fiction) and roleplaying games. Different books in this genre take different approaches to this mixture. In this one, nerdy gamer Gary Burns has spent a long time creating not only his own fantasy world for his friends to play out their adventures, but a whole roleplaying system. In tabletop roleplaying, this is known as a ‘homebrew’, hence the title of the book. After an introduction to Gary and his friends, a bit of magical flummery transports all of them into the world that Gary has created, but only Gary is aware that it is a game.
The fantasy world is richly detailed but sticks close to classic tabletop gaming tropes. We have the obligatory tavern meetup, patrons, quests, random monsters, underground ‘dungeon’ exploration and so on. What makes this book interesting, though, is the combination of Gary’s knowledge as the creator of the game combined with his bafflement as to how they all get there and the challenges of how to help his friends and maybe even get out of the game alive.
The game system described in the book is interesting, too. It borrows a lot from Dungeons and Dragons, as most such systems do, but has its own take on player character classes, levels, and advancement. I think this is a good choice for a LitRPG books, as it helps reduce the confusion faced by new players/readers when faced with a whole lot of new stuff right at the start.
All in all, an enjoyable start to a series and I am looking forward to future books.
December 31, 2023
Gary Burns is a game master (GM) for his friends, and is exited to start a new campaign in the world he has created. But when a magical accident thrusts him into a real version of his created world, surrounded by caricatures of his friends as the characters they created, Gary begins to question what is real, and his own sanity. However, as Gary begins to accept this new reality, he must decide what role he wants to fill, and weather or not he should use his game knowledge to sway things in he and his friends' favor.
As a tabletop gamer myself, I greatly enjoyed this story, and look forward to further installments in this series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As a tabletop gamer myself, I greatly enjoyed this story, and look forward to further installments in this series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 15, 2021
Overall the book is enjoyable, especially if you are someone who likes the litrpg genre. The story is fun and imaginative without relying too much on other pop culture stories and ideas. The mystery of how the characters end up in the game has not yet been addressed but I am sure it will in future books. I think what I liked best about this book is that it avoided harem elements or having all the female characters be the same cookie cut mold. I’m excited to read the next book as this one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.
February 10, 2021
A super interesting concept - if I (as a GM) was taken into my own campaign magically, what could I do and what sort of trouble would I inadvertently get myself into? Great concept.
Sadly, the MC is a bit dim (I hate reading about/spending time with dim people) and the secondary characters seem to be a tedious collection of stupid nerd/gamer tropes and annoying habits.
Interesting as the concept was, I gave up after an hour (audiobook).
Sadly, the MC is a bit dim (I hate reading about/spending time with dim people) and the secondary characters seem to be a tedious collection of stupid nerd/gamer tropes and annoying habits.
Interesting as the concept was, I gave up after an hour (audiobook).
November 25, 2024
Fun and entertaining book that follows some of the typical role-playing adventure tropes, also is a home brew world and is uniquely adapted to make it interesting. I have read several other books where the role-playing group gets pulled into the adventure, this one is by far the best one I have read.
In particular, I think the author did a fantastic job of including details that only the DM would know, while still excluding some details from the DM so that it was a challenging adventure.
In particular, I think the author did a fantastic job of including details that only the DM would know, while still excluding some details from the DM so that it was a challenging adventure.
February 9, 2025
4.5 stars including a half star since it was a wonderfully creative LitRPG to have a portal fantasy with the DM included with his own regular stats. I don't know how more people haven't read this! If you haven't, you'll struggle a bit to understand what's happening. But if you've done any type of RPG, you'll love the book despite its awful cover. (I know what the author was going for with that cover, but It could be so much better!)
April 10, 2018
Great story for anyone who has DM’d a game
This story really settled inside my heart in a special way. The characters who are observations the main character has about his friends, the side thoughts he has about how people interact in a world he created - the emotional resonance that comes with the characters plight in the world... it fits together brilliantly.
This story really settled inside my heart in a special way. The characters who are observations the main character has about his friends, the side thoughts he has about how people interact in a world he created - the emotional resonance that comes with the characters plight in the world... it fits together brilliantly.
May 16, 2021
Real Interesting LitRPG
You’ll love this book if you like playing D&D — nostalgically for me. If you do NOT know what I refer to as D&D — don’t bother reading it.
Otherwise — I already bought the rest of the series to read. What does a “normal” bloke do in an extraordinary circumstance?
Fast-paced ... like a good adventure / campaign.
You’ll love this book if you like playing D&D — nostalgically for me. If you do NOT know what I refer to as D&D — don’t bother reading it.
Otherwise — I already bought the rest of the series to read. What does a “normal” bloke do in an extraordinary circumstance?
Fast-paced ... like a good adventure / campaign.
January 1, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
The little I've read in this genre has not really caught my fancy, but this was an interesting take. The plot was engaging and I liked the character development. I'm looking forward to where this is going.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The little I've read in this genre has not really caught my fancy, but this was an interesting take. The plot was engaging and I liked the character development. I'm looking forward to where this is going.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2024
In this LitRPG portal fantasy, a gamemaster inadvertently makes a wish and finds himself in his own campaign with his players as their characters. The game progresses predictably, though the GM knowing the details of the campaign he designed are an interesting twist.
Nothing special here. The writing is fine, as is the story.
Recommended only as a light interlude.
Nothing special here. The writing is fine, as is the story.
Recommended only as a light interlude.
May 8, 2018
Great Story
And well-written, too. But a few glaring errors. (Embarrassing, too . . . who can screw up simple addition?) But the errors aren't frequent enough to detract from the story, just the occasional drop from emersion.
And well-written, too. But a few glaring errors. (Embarrassing, too . . . who can screw up simple addition?) But the errors aren't frequent enough to detract from the story, just the occasional drop from emersion.
October 5, 2018
Review
Alright, at first I didn’t really know if I’d like the book but I was totally wrong. It’s hard to put down and I kept finding myself needing to read the next chapter. Check it out if you have a soft spot for d&d and share that love with your buddies.
Alright, at first I didn’t really know if I’d like the book but I was totally wrong. It’s hard to put down and I kept finding myself needing to read the next chapter. Check it out if you have a soft spot for d&d and share that love with your buddies.
April 20, 2024
This was a fun concept with an okay execution. I had a good time with it, but will probably forget about it rather soon.
But it's perfect as a break between bigger books of long fantasy series! :)
So maybe I'll continue at some point.
But it's perfect as a break between bigger books of long fantasy series! :)
So maybe I'll continue at some point.
September 6, 2025
Enjoyable read
Perhaps the best LitRPG novels I’ve read. I like how the author explains real world people in a fantasy world especially how they level up. Very good explanation and story.
Perhaps the best LitRPG novels I’ve read. I like how the author explains real world people in a fantasy world especially how they level up. Very good explanation and story.
April 12, 2018
Hard to fo,low
Book was difficult to focus on. I read first few chapters and abandoned.
Characters and their I teractions were lame.
Book was difficult to focus on. I read first few chapters and abandoned.
Characters and their I teractions were lame.
April 27, 2018
I liked it a lot. interesting story and characters.
February 6, 2020
This book was an interest start to the series. I wasn't expecting some of the things that occurred. Its an interesting take on table top games and getting stuck in the game world.
October 14, 2020
3.5 Stars
September 14, 2023
This was a fun read (listen). I'm so glad the MC took the gloves off near the end. Also, listening to this the week Baldur's Gate 3 dropped is tremendous! 👍🏽👍🏽
February 12, 2024
I received a review copy of this book.
Homebrew is the first book in a series where the dungeonmaster and his entire group gets transported to a world he just created, this was to be their first knight playing. As it turns out, things start out the same, then take a turn for the random, and events aren't as they were built.
It's a pretty good story, and one I've read before, and (apparently) I enjoyed it much more the last time I read it. I would have skipped reading this a second time, but I was already to chapter 6 before I realized I'd already read this one, and I couldn't find any way on booksprout to say I didn't want to review a book I'd read before, so here we are. A solid 3 stars showing these days, but it does remind me there are some series I did not continue reading, so there is that. :)
Homebrew is the first book in a series where the dungeonmaster and his entire group gets transported to a world he just created, this was to be their first knight playing. As it turns out, things start out the same, then take a turn for the random, and events aren't as they were built.
It's a pretty good story, and one I've read before, and (apparently) I enjoyed it much more the last time I read it. I would have skipped reading this a second time, but I was already to chapter 6 before I realized I'd already read this one, and I couldn't find any way on booksprout to say I didn't want to review a book I'd read before, so here we are. A solid 3 stars showing these days, but it does remind me there are some series I did not continue reading, so there is that. :)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews