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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 9:59:50 GMT -6
Thank you for the tips. I found a guide on grey-elf.com that really helped. GreyElf is also a member of this forum, so yes, he's a excellent resource!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 7:53:16 GMT -6
I'm one of those "free spirits" that doesn't bode well when I have a "rule jockey" amongst my players. If I say there's a 1:6 odds, then roll and keep your panties out of a bunch. It's a game, have fun, this isn't strategy war gaming (sometimes we DO play like that on purpose). Our groups are usually stated to be "collaborative story-telling" type gaming. When we have a few kids with us, they're off swinging from the banisters while somebody's stopping the action to argue a rule-point. Go find a 4e or Warhammer game somewhere! The Top 3 Rules of My Game Sessions: - Have FUN
- The DM/Referee rules and over-rules when needed for the benefit of the over-all game and players.
- Don't you dare eat my snacks or run out of coffee.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 6:55:58 GMT -6
Two fighting men, a thief and a wookie … Awesome! When You Give A Bro A Wookie..... ...then he'll want a laser crossbow. BTW, I'm completely stealing the wand of Infinite Flatuation or "Periapt of Thunderous Flatulence" and will use it in our Labyrinth Lord game this Fri night. The kids will howl.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 6:42:35 GMT -6
Besides the links that I PM'd you, one of the things that kept me in an infinite loop, was the "hyphens" in the Troop Combat Table on pg.41.... I kept thinking they were "negatives." From what I hear, it's a common misunderstanding that sends folks to either grow hair, or lose it.
Once you realize they are not negative numbers, it should all start clicking into place. The bottom line... if it's complicated, you're likely doing it wrong.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 5:23:47 GMT -6
I use just about any of the early AD&D (like the G1-G3 Against the Giants) The conversion is not an issue, if any at all. To keep, retro, stay "pastel." ...or there's all the great Judges Guild stuff. [edit to add...] and check this out! www.philotomy.com/lost_city.html
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 28, 2011 5:00:28 GMT -6
They had a blast, and so did I. This, right here, is the perfect session report in one sentence. It's why we do what we do. Have an exalt. I'll give that a hearty AMEN too! Good job! Sent from my Transformer TF101 using ProBoards
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 21:15:44 GMT -6
In our very first playtest, not more than a minute or so into the game, the players encountered an odd plant growing out of the middle of the road. One player decided to inspect it up close. (I roll dice.) The plant is alive and surprises the PC. (I roll again.) It hits! (Yet another roll.) It does three hit points. The character was dead. The room was kind of quiet. I hardly ever kill characters and this one happened so suddenly and needlessly. Then one of the other players said, "Cool. I avoid the plant and we keep going." The group was fine after that, but the early kill helped to set the tone for the game. Nothing like a fresh kill to set the tone! ;D
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 7:07:15 GMT -6
.... Another option is the "clone" route; several companies are trying to support OD&D-style play with their own products which aren't 100% exact but play much the same. In the meantime, if you don't mind the B/X route, you might also look into Labyrinth Lord by Goblinoid Games. It's very well supported, also has a free download version, and is a great product. LL has a booklet (free or cheap PDF) called Original Edition Characters (I think) which is designed to convert LL into OD&D. Goblinoid Games linkRPG Now for PDFsYou might also take a look at Swords & Wizardry, which also has a free download or you can buy a rulebook at low cost. I'm partial to the WB version because I did it, but any of the versions would do what you want until you can find an affordable OD&D set. A third option would be to wait (just a bit) for Delving Deeper from Brave Halflling Publishing. DD is supposed to be out really soon and has some really nice “buzz” out there about how well it will clone the original.... Yes, I'll 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, all those options! Labyrinth Lord is neat because you can combine player characters and styles from 1974 OD&D to B/X, to 1e AD&D. S&W "Whitebox" has a great design and feel to it, and many of us are pining away for the Delving Deeper goodness. Good things come to them that wait! Here to help spread the love of the game(s),
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 5:48:09 GMT -6
Welcome to all since my last welcome! I'm in HBG, PA USA, so look me up if you're in the area! My sons and I have a group that gets together irregularly! We're here to help!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 5:45:48 GMT -6
Confession: In the 30+ years of gaming.... we've never given a hoot about encumbrance aside from mere "common sense" type rules of "dude, there's no way you could carry that around." I always thought it would be good to use and add to the games, but nobody cares for the extra accounting. True story.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 5:09:24 GMT -6
Here is a little edit of the TSR sheet. I just added in AC and HP. Thanks, great "replica" feel! Exalt!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 27, 2011 5:08:10 GMT -6
Here's another, that includes my latest mental wanderings, which are chainmail combat and single saving throw. Another Character SheetIt is based on the one that was included with S&W WhiteBox back when Brave Halfling was still involved in that. I like the CM integration! Exalt!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 22, 2011 19:33:39 GMT -6
We are about 1/4 of the way through the edit. We are taking our time, double-checking the text and mechanics. So.....you're..... making a list? Checking it twice? ....so now we know. Santa's a halfling, not an elf.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 21, 2011 13:13:29 GMT -6
Hmm.... I think "Periapt of Thunderous Flatulence" has a more OD&D sound... Awesomeness. Pure Awesomeness.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 20, 2011 17:28:34 GMT -6
That right there is a total keeper! :-D
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 20, 2011 15:48:04 GMT -6
Bottom line for me, is to make it FUN, funny, exciting.... pull out all the stops and don't stop to check the rules. Make it like a kid's radio drama. Once, when I was running a game for a bunch of kids they bumped into shriekers.... I screamed so loud they jumped out of their chairs. (literally) they still laugh and talk about that.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 20, 2011 4:38:38 GMT -6
Crikey! That can buy a whole lot of salt pork and hardtack! I think that might just be the quote-of-the-day already! LOL
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 1, 2011 12:38:41 GMT -6
Hope the guy's ok! I just sent out a tweet to the masses as well.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Dec 1, 2011 12:15:08 GMT -6
Yeah, oddly enough I just started noticing too. I'm used to seeing his tweets and stuff. I was trying to let him know we used some his Dyson's Delves last weekend for an OD&D game. Hope he's ok
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 27, 2011 15:37:06 GMT -6
I've never, ever played psionics in any edition of D&D. Never really took the time to "get it." I can see it it a sci-fi setting, but never used the D&D mechanic for that. I'm sure some have enjoyed it!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 27, 2011 13:07:15 GMT -6
I have pg 68 the last page of corrections, pg 69 is "Other Fantasy Releases by TSR" on the inside cover.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 27, 2011 1:00:00 GMT -6
I've said it elsewhere, but this is an excellent idea! Please supply something like it for future Delving Deeper expansion!! :-D
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 19, 2011 0:59:28 GMT -6
I'm play-testing this weekend again, Larry Moore's (DwD Studios) very soon to be released "Bare Bones Fantasy" system which includes both a random dungeon generator and an adventure generator. (each on 1-side of a sheet) The BBF system uses their own "d00 lite" mechanic which is quite simple, but the dungeon and adventure generators would be useful in any generic fantasy genre game. bravehalfling.com/page6.htmlSo much good stuff coming out! And to think my Delving Deeper Box Set should be arriving so soon I can almost feel it.... ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 18, 2011 15:37:40 GMT -6
Yes! Keep it in! We enjoy it and have assigned #'s to the offense/defense stances so we could randomize it with die rolls.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 17, 2011 20:53:22 GMT -6
I'm also interested in doing some larger scale battles/skirmishes using the "normal" system from Chainmail. One of the reasons we're starting out at 6th level is that I want to engage with the military and kingdom building element of the game at higher levels. We're playing a Chainmail/OD&D game on Sunday (11/20/11) with about 4 adults and 5 or so boys ages 10 and up. I'm guessing most of our combat will be using the Man-to-man tables, but I'll likely try to fit in some "normal" too. We won't be playing with miniatures though. SOOO much fun. The kids (and dads) love it.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 16, 2011 14:15:06 GMT -6
Looks interesting! I'll print it out and maybe give it a spin this weekend! Thanks!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 15, 2011 8:53:45 GMT -6
That was your personal experience tPD, but I don't believe it mirrors the experiences of a great many. Even the authors admitted it was disorganised, making it difficult for many to grasp. And certainly if this forum is anything to go by, a great many people who, like yourself, started gaming with the original books often have quite contrary opinions as to what the rules actually say and will express surprise at "never having seen that particular rule" when it is pointed out, not because they lack experience with the game, but because the disorganised format of the rules got in the way. I think I'd tend to agree here. While yes, the mechanics are rather simple, the arrangement, presentation, and at times seemingly contradicting verbiage can be confusing to new players. ...i.e. in other words, the game is simple in spite of the original rulebooks as written and presented. I must have read Chainmail 4 or more times cover-to-cover until it finally clicked. (it wasn't the rules themselves.... perhaps, it was the simplicity that made it obscure?)
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 14, 2011 23:07:31 GMT -6
That's awesome. As the default ref/gm/dm in all of our rpg exploits for years, I just had the first time playing a few months ago in over 25 years. It was fun! I think one of the things that OD&D lends itself to, is a relatively small learning curve for the basic mechanics for the newbie. I've loved bringing a number of folks into the hobby o er the last year or two with pure 1974 OD&D (kids too!)
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 13, 2011 8:23:21 GMT -6
John, I'd recommend another of my favorite retro-sci-fi games at StarFrontiers.us (plus the DwD guys are great!)
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Nov 12, 2011 20:15:13 GMT -6
OD&D forum is now the official forum home of Delving Deeper RPG That's really groovy, because I love the ProBoards forum service and app support! (and I'm loving everything I've seen so far with DD!)
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