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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 1, 2020 13:11:08 GMT -6
Has anyone tried this? It seems like it was mainly inspired by B/X or BECMI, although there are supplements to make it more like AD&D. Race and class have been separated, although you can still play an elf fighter/magic-user if you wish. The system uses the d20 style of combat, but I'd rather stick with THAC0. However, it's easy enough to convert.
I may probably just add use some of the ideas as a supplement for my B/X or BECMI games instead of using it whole hog.
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Post by dizzysaxophone on Aug 10, 2020 17:37:42 GMT -6
Has anyone tried this? It seems like it was mainly inspired by B/X or BECMI, although there are supplements to make it more like AD&D. Race and class have been separated, although you can still play an elf fighter/magic-user if you wish. The system uses the d20 style of combat, but I'd rather stick with THAC0. However, it's easy enough to convert. I may probably just add use some of the ideas as a supplement for my B/X or BECMI games instead of using it whole hog. I've used the system many times to introduce new players to gaming. It is so cheap for physical copies, and it is easy to run without hardly looking anything up. I love OD&D lbbs more, but it is my go to generic basic D&D system.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 10, 2020 21:49:43 GMT -6
I downloaded the free pdf, but I think I'll buy a physical copy as well.
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Post by dizzysaxophone on Aug 10, 2020 21:58:50 GMT -6
They at least used to be very cheaply available on amazon. I ran a long campaign mixing B2 with their copy of B2 and my players had a blast. Had a ton to do.
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Post by Zenopus on Aug 11, 2020 11:18:09 GMT -6
During the pandemic I've joined a long-running Barrowmaze campaign run using BFRPG that has moved on-line. It plays pretty much like any old D&D or retroclone thereof.
My character is a Fighter (Zell the Barbarian), so I don't need to look up many rules, but the free PDF is very handy to have for quick searches when playing online.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 11, 2020 15:08:20 GMT -6
I may convert a few characters from other game systems.
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Post by jeffb on Aug 11, 2020 19:22:00 GMT -6
Yep. Great product. I bought one back in 08? From Lulu.
Doesnt get much love in the OSR fandom, and I cannot fathom why. Frankly,I think it's the clone that has remained most true to the intent and spirit of the OSR. It never went commercial like S&W and has a mass amount of free support product from the community. They just plug away and keep producing good stuff behind the scenes.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Aug 12, 2020 7:21:26 GMT -6
Doesn't get much love in the OSR fandom, and I cannot fathom why. I think it's a pretty vibrant but self-contained community, so there's not much overlap with the OSR-sphere.
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Post by jeffb on Aug 12, 2020 7:24:54 GMT -6
Doesn't get much love in the OSR fandom, and I cannot fathom why. I think it's a pretty vibrant but self-contained community, so there's not much overlap with the OSR-sphere. Agreed, I just don't understand why it was not embraced like other games- likely because they stick to their guns, and don't trend with the OSR in general- and thus they stay under the radar. Which is probably a good thing. In fact I'm going to say it *is* a good thing
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2020 15:03:59 GMT -6
Yeah I notice if I or one or two other people don't bring it up, it just doesn't get brought up in OSR discussion. They're obscenely hung up on Old School Essentials right now, which is a great presentation of B/X D&D in its own right, and it has a lot going for it, but you're gonna pony up a lot more cash for that bad boy than good old reliable BFRPG - completely free in PDF form and very cheap for a softcover copy. Mine was five bucks a few years ago and I don't think they've gone up. While I'd rather run and advocate strongly for 3lbb OD&D, as far as accessibility to the hobby and ease of use I'd actually recommend Basic Fantasy to Old School Curious types.
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Post by Punkrabbitt on Aug 14, 2020 22:18:11 GMT -6
"Old School Curious," I love that.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 15, 2020 20:33:46 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references.
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Post by Punkrabbitt on Aug 15, 2020 22:10:07 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. Sounds like 1980 to me o.0, except we were using Holmes Basic and the Middle Earth maps in the LOTR books.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 15, 2020 23:34:44 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. Sounds like 1980 to me o.0, except we were using Holmes Basic and the Middle Earth maps in the LOTR books. Good times. I did mostly solo gaming in those days, since I didn't have a regular group, but I used Moldvay.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2020 8:54:03 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. That's the spirit. Have at it. Less is more!
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 16, 2020 13:25:33 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. That's the spirit. Have at it. Less is more! I have been taking a minimalist approach with regards to the rules, but the opposite with miniatures and terrain.
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 3, 2020 17:12:19 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. I just bought both these books from Amazon. I have the first edition of the atlas, but I wanted the revised edition, since it has updated maps and info.
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Post by jeffb on Sept 3, 2020 19:36:42 GMT -6
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Post by Malcadon on Sept 6, 2020 17:45:59 GMT -6
Basic Fantasy, along with Labyrinth Lord and Advanced Edition Companion, is my favorite B/X-inspired rule set. Well before d20, I was never a fan of the messy THAC0 system, and if you can't tell from above, I love the added options that comes with race and class being separate things (instead of getting pigeonholed into a handful of character options). Basic Fantasy offer more then core rules. The Basic Fantasy Field Guide of Creatures Malevolent and Benign is filled with a lot of new, and some old, monsters. While the basic equipment list is good enough for a starting party, The Basic Fantasy Equipment Emporium features a huge list of useful equipment, with the option of pre-calculated Equipment Packs to get a game going on the fly (I can't tell you how much I hate the char-gen slowdown with buying gear, more so with new players). There are additional AD&D class and race options, along with some new options like the Jester, Scout*, Half-Ogre, Bisren (bullfolk), Caneins (dogfolk), Faun (satyr-like folk), Kappa (turtlefolk), Phaerim (halfling-sized faeries)**, and Quasi-Classes (archetype options added to classes; think 2e AD&D Character Kits).
Being Open Source, the Basic Fantasy Download site provides players with .odt copies so players are free to make their own additions, and can even provide feedback and additions on the Basic fantasy Forums, where most of the supplements comes from.
*To me, the Scout class is my kind of "Ranger" and is the perfect default class for Halflings, with bow expertise going to sling-use instead. **While I like (and use) the addition of the Faun, this list off New Races could really benefit from the inclusion of some sort of catfolk. (I might get on that)
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 7, 2020 13:41:47 GMT -6
I am eagerly awaiting my printed version of BFRPG. I may join the forums once I do, although I already follow several others. That said, I have visited the BFRPG forums several times already.
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 7, 2020 13:43:22 GMT -6
Now I have this idea of starting a campaign using BFRPG and Fostad's Atlas of Middle-earth as my only core references. Optional material for the DM: The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Ruth S. Noel. Edit: Also, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 10, 2020 3:00:36 GMT -6
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 11, 2020 14:20:08 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2020 16:51:08 GMT -6
I would reference my copy more often but my cat likes to sit on it.
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Post by doublejig2 on Sept 11, 2020 22:13:50 GMT -6
P-ssies are like that
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Post by stonetoflesh on Sept 23, 2020 10:40:06 GMT -6
I've used the system many times to introduce new players to gaming. It is so cheap for physical copies, and it is easy to run without hardly looking anything up. I love OD&D lbbs more, but it is my go to generic basic D&D system. This is what happened with me and my 14yo nephew, who expressed curious interest in D&D as something to play during the lockdown. I thought long and hard about which version to get him for his birthday, and BFRPG was my choice (even though I too prefer the LBBs/White Box.) Just like B/X, it's relatively easy to learn, run, and hack. Free PDFs and very inexpensive print copies on Amazon sealed the deal -- if he gets his friends involved, they can get their own dice + rulebooks for less than $20 total.
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 23, 2020 11:36:21 GMT -6
That's basically where I'm coming from: getting a system that is inexpensive and easy to learn. If you can limit the number of system + setting books, it would make things easier for beginners, both players and DM. I also take into consideration the possibility that people may have not be able to game as much as they want or decide that rpgs aren't for them after all. Keeping things simple and inexpensive at first is a good way to start; you can always build your collection afterwards.
Of course, this is purely theoretical for me, as I don't know any people who want to learn rpgs at this time. But it's a fun mental exercise nonetheless.
My choice of setting comes from familiarity among many people as well as my personal love for that world. It turns out that you can get a selection of books (Atlas, Guide, Languages, Companion) along with BFRPG and dice at less cost than the Adventures in Middle-earth (both Player's and Loremaster's Guides) with dice only. I was looking at discount prices for both cases. The MERP stuff is quite expensive these days, so I won't include those for beginners.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2020 0:38:42 GMT -6
...Is that the sound of the banhammer that I hear as it's hitting the anvil in Fin's Forge?
"Doublejig! Doublejig!" - it seems to cry. "Language!"
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 24, 2020 15:52:24 GMT -6
Here's my choice of system based on cost effectiveness and ease of learning and teaching beginners how to play rpgs. I am using Middle-earth as a campaign setting, since I am planning to run a game set there, and it's familiar to many people.
Here's a price comparison in rpg resources. All prices are in US dollars as listed in Amazon, which is the amount I paid for my recent purchases. I could have gone for cheaper versions, but I decided to go with a new condition for each book. Prices do not include tax or shipping and handling.
Basic Fantasy Roleplaying Game: $5.00 Atlas of Middle-earth: $ 18.95 Complete Guide to Middle-earth: $14.29 Total cost: $38.24
Compare that with Adventures in Middle-earth Player's Guide: $35.98
The Loremaster's guide is available for no less than $84.08! That's a lot more than I'm willing to spend. And you still need the D&D 5e rules.
Granted, you can download the basic 5e rules free, but you can do the same with BFRPG.
As for learning and teaching the system, I will go with familiarity and the steepness of the learning curve. I already know the BFRPG rules, since they are mostly based on B/X, which I have played for years. Add to the fact that BFRPG is easier to learn than 5e, IMO.
While AiMe has more game-related material, the resources I listed above have uses beyond playing games. These are the reasons I chose to go with BFRPG.
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Post by jeffb on Sept 25, 2020 9:04:38 GMT -6
AIME (and TOR), is no longer being published by Cubicle 7, and last I heard was sort of in limbo- So I'm guessing prices Skyrocketed due to "panic". Unsure if that's been resolved.
No doubt that BFRPG, Iron Falcon, or White Box:FMAG are the least expensive ways to get print products in player's hands.
FWIW- I ran a great Middle Earth game using Fantasy Age, which was free for quite some time during COVID but looks to have gone back to full price on DriveThru. I think it fits Middle Earth much better than any D&D-esque game unless you gut it and start over. Complexity wise, it's about the same level as Castles & Crusades. really fun dice mechanics.
I have some old MERP materials which I still utilize ( I use their timeline, generally- TA1640) , otherwise I pretty much can find anything I need re: Middle Earth online in wikis/whatever or in the two ME books you cited, which I also own.
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