Review: "Dash-In Dungeons (Basic Set)"

Wednesday Night Games, $85.80 (inc. postage) from www.dashindungeons.com

The gist: A role-playing game for 2-5 swords'n'sorcery-lovin' lads and lasses that doesn't require hardcover rulebooks, character sheets or funny-shaped dice – it's all done using almost 500 custom playing cards. One person runs the show and deals the cards, while the others play a band of brave/greedy adventurers.

Selling points: Forget long-winded political histories translated from Elvish, the emphasis here is on motoring through underground caverns, pounding the slime out of monsters, dodging traps and hoovering up money and magical devices. Did I mention it's the brainchild of an Aussie bloke named Mark McPherson and manufactured locally?

It's kinda like: "Dungeons & Dragons" without the bookkeeping – or, if you prefer, "World Of Warcraft" without the hermit factor. In fact, you can rip through a game of "Dash-In Dungeons" in only an hour, meaning you could theoretically play it during your lunchbreak (depending on the nerd-tolerance level of your workplace).

Final word: Everything you need for a great gaming session...except potato chips, pizza and beer, obviously.