Looking for a non-fiction book on RPG gaming from the late '80s

Question

I've read a few similar questions on RPG.SE - I know for sure that the book I'm looking for is neither Dicing with Dragons nor Fantasy Wargaming.

I was nearly sure it was Dicing with Dragons. However, I bought that book and I can tell it's not the same one. It doesn't break down D&D for the layman like I remember this one doing.

Here are some miscellaneous things I remember about the book:

• I remember the book from when I was a teen, in the late 80s.
• It was published before 1990.
• It talked about getting into RPGs, not specifically Fantasy.
• It talked about multiple RPGs (I think so).
• It must have been talking about D&D, but it wasn't specific to D&D, since I remember it used Comic Book characters as references.
• I feel like it was trade paperback-like.

I don't remember much more than what is listed above.

The part that I recall most vividly every time I think about the book, is that somewhere in the book it mentions D&D style ability scores and it describes Strength compared to Superman and Constitution related to the Hulk, or something similar.

I would love to find this again. Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

It could have been John Eric Holmes' "Fantasy Role Playing Games" from 1981.

He gives an overview of several systems including "Tunnels & Trolls" and "Chivalry & Sorcery". I recall a nice piece of advice for first time players: don't get too attached to your first character; send in a "scout" with the expectation of a possible quick character death, and save that wonderful little elf or hobbit for later :-)