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Post by jeffb on Apr 15, 2023 7:53:44 GMT -6
I had no idea this site existed. It's a very well done SRD site (and looks to be way more intended for the future) for the 13th Age system. Beautifully done site. 13 Vaults
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Post by jeffb on Apr 15, 2023 7:36:06 GMT -6
….and yeah…the MU and the Druid thing….prior to the Cleric list….is…or now ‘was’…really bizarre…like….huh what? lol This is a way to drive the totals higher, but sometimes it backfires like here-I think they realized how dumb it was from feedback and thus the change in stretch goals. Everybody needs at least the Cleric and MU first and foremost.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 15, 2023 7:29:56 GMT -6
Having said that, and being a KS ‘virgin’, I do wonder what I may or may not qualify for or get. Again, I gave for the pdf and quality hardback, so I do wonder where I might lYinsofar as the extra stuff. ? Not that I need nor demand such mind you…I just do not know. The pledge level descriptions are pretty detailed if you are unsure of extras. If you got the hardback (and PDF), you will get the stretch goals of the PDF spellbooks (and DM Screen inserts if the KS goes to that level). If you want some of the other goodies, like the adventures, then you can manage your pledge and select the "add ons" you want. e.g. I got the limited edition hardback, but have no use for the POD version (aesthetically, and I hear mostly bad things about larger POD books from DTRPG, vs stuff like old modules and supps of lower page count). I wanted the two adventures as well, without selecting the "all in" pledge of $88 (which includes the POD I don't want) So I got the limited cover rulebook (and PDF), and for "add ons" I selected the initial two adventures they were offering in print format (names escape me now, one is a solo) which also includes those adventures in PDF format. Those + the hardcover brought my total pledge to $70 (with shipping) Just depends on what you want. You can always (until the KS ends) retract your initial pledge and select a totally different pledge level like "all in" or "adventures only", or whatever else they have.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 14, 2023 17:45:30 GMT -6
They've gone over 100K
I think the ref screen inserts are next.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 9, 2023 6:32:46 GMT -6
Update on the KS
Awesome, I was a bit worried we might not get the Cleric spellbook and just the druid and MU, which would be weird.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 7, 2023 13:00:52 GMT -6
Unfortunately I've been sick the last couple days and I had to cancel the tix for the show last night. Will have to wait for it to hit streaming services, as yesterday was the last day it was showing in my lovely local theatre (makes me wonder how well it's doing- they have 15 screens and it's been less than a week). It's still showing at 2 other malls in the metro area, but both are in questionable areas with a fair amount of crime- one or the other hits the local news every week for something (including stabbings and shootings). Don't need to see it that bad Honor Among Thieves is definately a movie you could skip seeing at the theater, if the only reason you bought tickets was for the presentation. I actually enjoyed the experience of seeing it with a large audience; and hearing their reactions to different d&d references and in-jokes. Also, I find it cathartic to laugh, or cry, or jump out out of my seat in fright with a group of like-minded fans. For that, I wish I had gone sooner, maybe on opening night, to watch it with the real diehards I've loved the movie theatre experience since I was a little kid. It's been tough for me the last several years between Hollywood turning to complete garbage and the pandemic on top of that. I'd much prefer to experience anything in the theatre, but doesn't look to be in the cards for this.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 7, 2023 12:56:07 GMT -6
Another update:
here is a new "side" KS of some inexpensive S&W mini adventures by a 3rd party to go with the new book.
Also seems Matt is going to slip in some item creation rules into the new book. Draft versions will be in the updates of the KS.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 7, 2023 6:18:48 GMT -6
So it looks like they are adding in PDFs of "spell books" for each class as stretch goals, have come out with their own "OGL" for S&W, and are adding some optional Morale rules ala B/X.
It's at just under 88K with 18 days to go. I suspect all the spellbooks will be unlocked.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 7, 2023 5:18:50 GMT -6
Unfortunately I've been sick the last couple days and I had to cancel the tix for the show last night. Will have to wait for it to hit streaming services, as yesterday was the last day it was showing in my lovely local theatre (makes me wonder how well it's doing- they have 15 screens and it's been less than a week). It's still showing at 2 other malls in the metro area, but both are in questionable areas with a fair amount of crime- one or the other hits the local news every week for something (including stabbings and shootings). Don't need to see it that bad
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Post by jeffb on Apr 3, 2023 7:43:11 GMT -6
I'm not watching the video I posted yet so as not spoiler myself. Going Thursday night with Wife and Daughter
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Post by jeffb on Apr 3, 2023 7:42:09 GMT -6
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Post by jeffb on Apr 2, 2023 11:26:20 GMT -6
Of course he sold the rights nearly 40 years ago- however Ed was ousted early in the 5E period. Novels were cancelled and he was "let go" from anything to do with advising/writing for official FR/D&D. Really sad (and I have a few choice expletives as well). He has been relegated to publishing on DMs Guild for his own creation and he has a Patreon. Found this using Google Bard: "Ed Greenwood does collect royalties from the Forgotten Realms. He is the creator of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and he continues to work on the setting as a consultant for Wizards of the Coast. As such, he is entitled to royalties from any sales of Forgotten Realms products, such as books, games, and merchandise. Greenwood has said that he is happy with the arrangement he has with Wizards of the Coast, and that he feels that it is fair to both parties. He enjoys working on the Forgotten Realms, and he is grateful that he is able to continue to do so even though he is no longer the primary creator of the setting." Yes he gets royalties, but by selling the rights he has no more influence other than what he is allowed to have by TSR and then WOTC. He has not done anything official for WOTC in years. He is and always has been a gracious man however, so I don't see him ever having much negative to say despite he is no longer utilized or consulted and his book deals were cancelled.
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Post by jeffb on Apr 2, 2023 7:36:45 GMT -6
If I had one quibble I didn't see Ed Greenwood's name in the credits anywhere and I stayed to watch them all. Of course Gary and Dave deserve credit too, but the whole movie had Ed Greenwood's stamps all over it. Of course he sold the rights nearly 40 years ago- however Ed was ousted early in the 5E period. Novels were cancelled and he was "let go" from anything to do with advising/writing for official FR/D&D. Really sad (and I have a few choice expletives as well). He has been relegated to publishing on DMs Guild for his own creation and he has a Patreon.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 30, 2023 7:57:38 GMT -6
Thank God for the OGL (and whatever new licensing comes about).
The 4e model for online play would have been fantastic- sadly it never came to fruition.
This thing is an abomination.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 28, 2023 16:24:14 GMT -6
I like S&W Complete - I keep the Otus cover version on my shelf. I'm getting the offset print book and the modules. It's a shame to me that the new Otus cover is PoD only. Print on demand hardcover is not to the point where I like it for durable game books. I still prefer S&W over the main line competition. It would be a trip to see Mythmere Games re-release Swords & Wizardry Whitebox but reflecting the various rules updates that have been made since (particularly the "Essential Adventuring Rules" that White Box FMAG added in), and give it new art and a nice offset printing. But that's another kettle of fish. : heresypost I don't feel Erol's work has been worth a darn since his return during the 3E era. None of it is as evocative and inspired as his TSR days and it looks like it was done by somebody with way less talent, or who just doesn't care anymore. I avoided buying the second print of S&WC because of that (and the 3rd print, but that's another kettle...) I'd love to see the Mullen "Green King" again for a cover on Complete. : endheresypost Otherwise, I'm with you.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 28, 2023 11:21:43 GMT -6
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Post by jeffb on Mar 23, 2023 17:24:00 GMT -6
What would you give the LOTR Trilogy, Rob? As a whole or individually? The Fellowship 5 out of 5 the other two 4.5 out of 5. Overall 3.5 of 5. Bilbo 5 out of 5. In general, I liked the main characters but the movie was bloated in an obvious way and it suffered for it. Just trying to get a sense of "rating scale' here. Sure thing. More comments, the D&D movie has likable characters, believable motivations, an ok plot (a lot of flashbacks but points), and it didn't feel bloated like the hobbit did. Also bonus points for the primary motivation NOT being to save Neverwinter or the world like the trailers implied. Saving the day was a side effect. Also, the hobbit would be a 4 out of 5 FANTASY movie but it is not supposed to be just that it is about Tolkien's Middle Earth. Hence the downgrade. Also as for Rings of Power, it ranges from 2 out of 5 to 4.5 out of 5 depending on the specific storyline we are talking about. The best by far was with Elrond and Durin. The 2 out of 5 is the forging of the three-ring sequence except where Sauron interacts with Galadriel which was way better IMO but too short to salvage that last episode. Far too rushed and totally dropped the lore about the nine and the seven. Thanks for the details, Rob. That helps. As I see the thread is getting sidetracked, I'll refrain from getting into my own scoring and analysis of the LOTR/Hobbit trilogy here
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Post by jeffb on Mar 22, 2023 17:27:08 GMT -6
The movie is good. The heist plot is a bit pedestrian but you wind up liking the main characters. There is plenty of pathos to go along with the joking. The point of the heist follows from the motivations of the character. Some plans come up successful and some fail. And they make sense given that it is a D&D world. This film is just simply fun. Just like the majority of our campaigns, the film will not withstand deep analysis and focuses on what is fun. The longer you have been playing this hobby the more you will enjoy the various easter eggs. But none of the easter eggs are important to understand what is going on. Nor they are gratuitous, just part of the general background of the characters existing in a D&D world. The only bad thing I will say is in the credit where it was listed as Hasbro's D&D. While no fan of Wizards I thought that was a bit of a dick move on Hasbro's part. Incidentally, the main end credit is an enjoyable bit of animation. And there is one end credit scene. Overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars. What would you give the LOTR Trilogy, Rob? As a whole or individually? The Hobbit Trilogy? Just trying to get a sense of "rating scale' here.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 20, 2023 5:30:44 GMT -6
My wife and daughter saw the previews at another movie this past w/e and now want to see it. I'm flabbergasted. Any opportunity to push D&D on them is something I try to capitalize on, so I guess I'm going to go see it despite my apathy. But I've made it known to them I may be whining and commenting like a little beeatch as we watch
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Post by jeffb on Mar 17, 2023 16:54:51 GMT -6
So I took a look. It is very similar to what I did with the C&C Fighter and S&W Fighters- extra attacks vs 1 HD, and/or X attacks against foes 1/2 your level, etc.
The problem I as well as my Fighter players (my Son and an Adult buddy) had was as the Fighters got higher level, rolling so many attacks became anti-fun/boring. 10th level fighter, rolling 10 attacks against the goblins became really tiresome, and time consuming. I cannot imagine then trying to juggle the wonkiness of 3/2 attacks in AD&D along with that (whatever edition- that was eliminated from the get go for us BITD)
I really like what was done in Exemplars and Eidolons (Sine Nominee) with the "fray die"- Classes have an auto hit attack to use against low level minion type foes that is simply a roll for amount of HD taken out. I'm not up on exact numbers, but the Fighter would, in addition to his normal attack against foes that posed a real threat, would get say a D4 or D6 to roll against the goblins/kobolds/orcs- and do that many HD worth of damage. 1HD foe? Fighter rolls his D6 fray die, and gets a 4? 4 of those 1HD creatures are toast. This was extremely popular for the mini adventures I ran using E&E several years ago. Wizards and Rogues get it too in E&E, but for OD&D/2E/C&C, I would limit it to fighters.
I prefer rolling minimal attacks and seeing more spectacular results from Fighters (more damage/exploding dice, easier crits/increased threat range, cleave type moves, fray dice, imposing conditions whether mechanical or fictional, etc)
However, if you want to stay away from modern mechanics, then rolling lots of attacks is probably the best way to go about it.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 17, 2023 16:34:52 GMT -6
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Post by jeffb on Mar 15, 2023 17:09:12 GMT -6
DL'ed for a looksee later,
AFAIC The Fighter has always been underpowered except for the Greyhawk Fighter (and then 1E neutered them again) or the 4E Fighters.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 12, 2023 18:24:38 GMT -6
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Post by jeffb on Mar 12, 2023 13:23:21 GMT -6
To me it just looks like a hodgepodge of ideas from various OSR and modern D&D derivatives (13th Age, Dungeon World, DCC RPG, 5 Torches Deep, IndexCard RPG, etc) with a intense marketing campaign and pretty aesthetics. :shrug: I was thinking about Kickstarting it, but the hype and marketing has put me off a little bit, and I'm intending on supporting Mythmere Games's new Swords & Wizardry printing so I decided to sit out and wait for Matt's Kickstarter. Same. Between having that "nothing new to see here" vibe, all the hype (a turn off), and seeing that S&W is up for a new version under Mythmere I decided against backing it as well and will save my money for Matt Finch.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 12, 2023 13:19:42 GMT -6
I've been pondering backing this but am currently suffering a vision crisis and can't see well, so I can't read the quickstart. I would like to hear additional feedback from folks here so that I can decide if I want to spend my $$ on this product. (Mixed reviews make me nervous. I love the concept of OS meets 5E but if it's too simplified my 5E crew won't buy in.) It's very simplified. Some of the mixed reviews were saying perhaps a bit too much for a lengthy campaign game. Your crew probably would like Into the Unknown better if they like the crunchier bits of PC abilities/class features, etc. Can you view/listen a youtube video? Tenkar ran a 3.5-ish hour session and posted it. WARNING- NSFW or Grandma's sensitive ears. www.youtube.com/live/ZzACKIOLnAY?feature=share
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Post by jeffb on Mar 12, 2023 6:44:55 GMT -6
Interesting discussion on "magic" including some bits where TSR "unbalanced" magic or changed Ed's ideas for the novel writers. Some interesting discussion on Deities as well (and of course what was intended and what ended up being produced, was not the same) youtu.be/CXFbgsFy1Xc
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Post by jeffb on Mar 12, 2023 6:38:36 GMT -6
It's the latest and greatest stripped down 5E OSR hack. I already have a couple of those but this one has been making the "news" lately for a couple reasons- A bunch of glowing reviews (some of them paid reviews however), and it's nearing the Million $ mark on KS with 17 days left. Some links Free Quickstart on DTRPGand Link to KickstarterTenkar and his crew (including our own Rob Conley) did a playtest stream over the weekend, and they seem to have mixed reviews. I've spot checked through the (edit) Quickstart, and..eh. I'm not seeing anything all that exciting, new, or revolutionary. I guess if you are a younger player who is only or mostly experienced with 5E, this may seem like an amazing new product. To me it just looks like a hodgepodge of ideas from various OSR and modern D&D derivatives (13th Age, Dungeon World, DCC RPG, 5 Torches Deep, IndexCard RPG, etc) with a intense marketing campaign and pretty aesthetics. :shrug:
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Post by jeffb on Mar 11, 2023 8:21:10 GMT -6
Rolemaster, Chivalry & Sorcery I'm not sure that Rolemaster and C&S (2nd) would even have their "introduction" fit in the entirety of a single "Little B---- Book". You would need a 3 box set of 3 booklets each for them. Kidding aside, you probably could do Rolemaster Express in a LBB format. As I recall my C&S 2E box had extremely small print and was in a 3 booklet (full size) format. I found it hard to get through and reference even with my young eyes, and youthful enthusiasm when it was new. Many FGU products were like that. That actually gave me an idea- I'd love to see Aftermath, Villains & Vigilantes, and Daredevils in a digest box size.
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Post by jeffb on Mar 11, 2023 8:01:45 GMT -6
An older thread bumped I see.
Has there been any scuttlebutt on the new S&W print now that Matt is back at Mythmere doing his own thing?
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Post by jeffb on Mar 6, 2023 18:08:33 GMT -6
I tell my players the only canon is what happens at the table; everything else is open to interpretation. I'm okay with the Time of Troubles, but the Spellplague will never happen in my game. The Realms may suffer from overdevelopment, but I can use whatever details I like in my game. I will stick to 2E when I run the games, with a few 1E additions. I'd start the game using the 2E timeline and go from there. The notable characters may make the odd cameo appearance, but by and large they'll have more important things to do than interact with the PCs, at least until the characters become more powerful. I agree that the art in the 3E books sucks. I hated the look ever since I saw the character illustrations. Subsequent editions haven't improved. I generally start off a Realms campaign in 1348 DR, which is 10 years before the "beginning" of the 1E Timeline @ 1358 (and within the year or so, the ToT would occur) for two big reasons. 1) Huge fan of the Pool of Radiance computer game. It was my first exposure to the FR (I wasn't TTRPGing at the time). I loved all the lore presented in the game manuals/hintbook and whatnot. POR takes place during 1348.The Moonsea/Phlan area is a really good but often overlooked area for FR games, and so the PCs have the option of getting involved in my own take on the POR adventures in that area. 2) The 1E DMs book for the FR box set has a large section of news and plots that has occurred month by month in the recent past few years (1356- ish up until the start of 1358) to give DM's food for thought. Many of the ideas and scenarios presented are excellent for hooks and a sandbox type game, but I hated that all that cool stuff had been assumed to have already happened! Screw that. I'm using it. The only thing Canon in my games is what I feel like making Canon. I pull some bits from a various number of supplements, mostly 1E and 2E but also some 3E and 4E books too. I kind of rewrote the 2E to 3E transition at the time it occurred for a campaign I ran in 3.0. I have a writeup somewhere in a .doc. I should dig it up.
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