benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 28, 2009 0:46:57 GMT -6
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 28, 2009 0:40:27 GMT -6
That's a nice collection you got there, Geoffrey!
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 28, 2009 0:33:03 GMT -6
At the moment I have one regular player: my wife. On occasion, we get to play with our regular group, before the world changed (i.e. before they left the island where we live). That is, with two more players.
About half the staff of the school where my wife works has been replaced this year, so I'm going to see I can recruit (and corrupt to gaming goodness!) some teachers out there. Cross your fingers for me!
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 18, 2009 18:16:07 GMT -6
New editions are about cash, coin, bread, dough, dollars, pez, moolah... money.
It's not about making the game better. It might be for a revised edition, if the author(s) didn't get it right the first time around, but afterwards? It's just a question of marketing.
If your game is really good, all it's going to need is printings with minor fixes. Cf. Call of Cthulhu. Otherwise, either the authors/designers changed and want to start from scratch because the original game isn't theirs, or the original authors aren't that good to begin with, and/or the company tries to squeeze every single dollar it can from the brand.
In all cases, it's kind of lame, when you think about it.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 16, 2009 16:14:03 GMT -6
It's alright. It's very good news to see this available already.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 16, 2009 11:32:39 GMT -6
I'm jealous, Jay.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 16, 2009 11:31:23 GMT -6
Very good initiative! Just downloaded it.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jul 2, 2009 19:40:14 GMT -6
Thanks for the zine! ;D
These are exactly the conventions I was thinking about. Thanks for the help!
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 30, 2009 12:35:05 GMT -6
Is there a place where FO! writing conventions (particularly in terms of stats) are summarized for everyone to see? I see that in the first issues there were quite a few substitutions of terms, for legal reasons I would guess. Like "Defense Class" instead of "AC" and such.
So. Are there conventions in this regard, or this is something the editor changes when publishing the article, or it's more of a "wing it and we'll fix it if we need to" kind-of thing?
If there are conventions, what are they?
Thank you!
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 20, 2009 19:50:42 GMT -6
Isn't everything just a house-rule? *reads the OP* *Ponders the original question quoted here* Yes.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 20, 2009 19:47:36 GMT -6
The One-Page Manifesto goes: Have a 1 page wilderness map: like Melan's Fomalhaut maps. Have 1 page of hex descriptions: like early JG products. Have a 1 page of random encounter charts: like the ones of the AD&D DMG - you could have 1 for hot climates, 1 for temperate and 1 for cold, finally 1 for sea adventuring and 1 for cities. But you are using 1 at a time. Have many 1 page cities: like my Enharza. Have many 1 page adventure sites: ruins, dungeons, caves, crashed spaceships, you name it - like what we have already seen. Have a 1 page player's handout of your campaign. Have a 1 page "stock monsters" compendium of stats: like the JG ready ref sheets. Have 1 page of weird tables. Of each of anything... have 1 page. The One-Page Manifesto is pure Win. I hereby subscribe to your newsletter.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 20, 2009 11:04:43 GMT -6
Thanks for the heads up, mach! I haven't tried ordering via Amazon yet. We'll see how that goes!
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 19, 2009 19:36:36 GMT -6
Lulu's shipping costs suck. They constitute the main obstacle to my orders of vintage gaming products. I still buy in PDF, but would otherwise buy physical products if shipping fees were remotely reasonable. As for Knockspell #2... heh little PDF... come to papa now, don't be afraid...
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 19, 2009 17:46:58 GMT -6
Yup. The DMG mostly is a bundle of tools for the DM to run the game. None of these tools are particularly needed to run the game in that they could be substituted for other, simpler tools for similar results.
Most of the people accusing AD&D of being overly complicated actually consider the issue from the wrong side of the screen. It certainly can be considered complicated, IF you are the DM, and IF you want to absolutely run everything by-the-book. Which IMO is NOT advisable.
If, on the other hand, you are a player, most of the game's mechanics won't be clearly visible to you, and the game will end up looking pretty straightforward at the start of the game (with growing complexity as your character raises in level, obviously).
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 19, 2009 17:38:23 GMT -6
The impetus behind the publications of OD&D and AD&D were radically different, because of the time frames and the way the hobby evolved in the mean time. Basically, AD&D's publication was much more of a business move with some underlying concerns that influenced its final shape (like unified play and system reference to further a common ground that would allow the business to be viable for the long term) than OD&D's, which was more of an experiment at the time.
In other words, I don't think that AD&D was ever particularly intended to be "Gary's home game", though obviously AD&D's form was greatly influenced by the way Gary's home campaign was run. These in the end were two different things.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 19, 2009 11:17:52 GMT -6
Great. That's what I had gathered from the fact you roll d6s for damage. I just wanted to throw the question out there to see what you'd say about it. How about the option to use Attack maneuvers to parry incoming melee attacks? Did you try or heard from someone who tried that kind of variant?
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 19, 2009 10:40:43 GMT -6
Alright. I've read the contents of the S&S boxed set and I must say, I find the whole game to be both original and vintage in feel. It really is a game that makes me want to both run and play it. It got my creative juices running, that's for sure.
Congratulation to Jason on the results. Very cool.
One thing that surprised me is the notion of a number of attacks in a round for a character of a certain level allied to a number of pips you can distribute between your attacks. That latter part is great to get the players to make decisions during game play.
Of course, coming from recent versions of D&D I was surprised by the number of attacks in a round and the number of dice rolling that ensues during combat. Has there been any concern about this before? How does it play out in practice, when a 4th level warrior gets to roll the dice four times to attack? Doesn't it slow down game play for anyone? Please put these doubts to rest. I know I'm missing something.
One idea I had to add some sense of tactical decision to combat was to leave the option for a character to either use an Attack to ... attack, OR to actually parry an given opponent's incoming attack by making an attack vs. attack contest. Has anybody house ruled something similar, and how did it work out at your game table? Opinions about this, otherwise?
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 18, 2009 13:21:52 GMT -6
It's me. Just shooting you an email right now.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 18, 2009 13:16:30 GMT -6
1. What are you doing with an original edition/retroclone D&D? - I'm running an established campaign as a DM
2. What type of roleplaying game were you playing (or are still playing) before you became interested/involved in an original edition/retroclone? - 3E D&D
- I was playing something other than D&D
Third Edition, OGL games and World of Darkness games most recently (and still). 3. If you were playing 3E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone? I would still run and play third ed, but got tired of everything being about rules, more rules, and yet more rules. I wanted to strip the game of most of its mechanics to get back to its core essence and from there, hopefully, build "my" ideal version of the game from the ground-up. Still in the process of doing so. 3. If you were playing 4E, why did you decide to investigate/play an original edition game or retroclone? n/a. I don't play 4e. 4. What attracted you to investigate/play an original edition/retroclone D&D? - I liked the approach of the rules/mechanics
- I liked the philosophy behind the rules/mechanics
- I liked the "feel" (Swords & Sorcery or pulp) of the game
See above. Going back to the roots of the game, its simplest expression, to build my own game from there. 5. How did you learn about the original editions/retroclones? - I already owned my older books
I honestly don't remember when I first heard of the White Box. It was decades ago.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Jun 18, 2009 13:04:13 GMT -6
I wouldn't go as far as to say that D&D "has to be" Gonzo Fantasy, but the possibility to have Gonzo associations and combos in a D&D game is part of the genre, for me as well. D&D allows us to use a wide range of sources of inspiration to fuel our games, and that makes it special as a game.
D&D is about exploration. Whether it'd be dungeons or wilderness areas, the adventurers discover new places and uncover mysteries, kill monsters, meet new friends and foes in the process. It's about the delve into a world away from the mundane. It's about treasure hunting. About defying dragons and rescuing princesses.
D&D is about collaboration. I feel that the character classes, or achetypes, and particularly the way they combine with each other to create a complete synergy with the concept of exploration detailed above, is what makes the game mechanically interesting to play.
D&D is about imagination. There's nothing quite like building your own dungeons, wilderness area maps, and build a world from there. You can build "plots" or "stories" in other games, but I found it never creates a world quite as open to the creativity of both game masters and players. The concept of "sandbox campaign", in particular, is what makes D&D special in this regard. Nearly all later RPG designs tried to frame the imaginations of their users in some way or another. D&D tried to open the gates of imagination from the start, and it got it right more than any other game out there, in my opinion.
D&D is about enjoying the company of each other. Whether immersive or casual, the game is about getting together and rolling some dice while pretending to be someone else for a few hours. It's not about copying art, not about the emulation of this or that media, not about being "deep", though you certainly can be. It's first and foremost about playing a game together. It's unapologetically social.
I'm going to stop here for now.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on May 3, 2009 13:17:08 GMT -6
People often don't realize how much they love something, or someone, until it's gone. I guess that's one fundamental aspect of humanity. Doesn't make Dave's loss any easier, of course.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 28, 2009 15:10:51 GMT -6
Hey, Jay. If I can make it to GenCon, I sure want to play Chainmail with you. My schedule for the summer is up in the air, though.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 28, 2009 12:31:45 GMT -6
Don't be too disappointed! We still have a victory on our hands, and I'll personally advertise Fight On! in the future. I know how word-of-mouth is important in this hobby of ours. You can count on me from now on.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 28, 2009 11:34:03 GMT -6
I had never purchased FO! before the Compendium was made available. In my defense, though I did complain about the price point, I ended up purchasing it to help everyone out. Still, apologies are in order: I apologize to Calithena in particular, and thank everyone for the great results produced with FO!
I had expectations that the Compendium would be good to very good, and I'm happily reporting that I was wrong. It's not merely good. It's awesome.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 28, 2009 10:35:45 GMT -6
Alright. I sort-of complained on this thread earlier about the price point for the Compendium, but actually ordered it later on.
I received it today.
It's true. This has to be one of the coolest hardcovers I got. I am VERY impressed so far, so much so I wish I hadn't complained earlier. Reviews pending. I'll talk about it on the Citadel of Eight as well.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 26, 2009 14:40:52 GMT -6
1 strong mag will be better than 2 less strong. Much better if all contributions go to one. Why not all friends under one zine? I disagree. I think that what matters in this instance with what type of relationship there is between KS and FO!. Competition, when it is friendly and healthy, is a good thing, IMO. It inspires everyone to give the best of themselves and outdo themselves. What I don't want to see is sniping, backstabbing, and predatory, or exclusive competition (I keep this author and you won't get him! I sell there and not you, etc). That would be very bad for us. So long as we're all friends and cooperate to strengthen each other rather than try to trip and backstab the competition (and thus, ourselves), it's good for us.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 26, 2009 14:35:50 GMT -6
I much prefer it that way - with Knockspell having its own forum, I mean.
I like to think of Knockspell and Fight On as partners, as the March contest of Lulu showed us, rather than competitors. Though I must say... some healthy competition is always a good thing. *grin*
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 24, 2009 11:59:58 GMT -6
As I understand it, a sandbox campaign is one that allows free will within a given set of constraints, usually geographic. That's how I'd define the term as well. What's interesting is that "sandbox" took a life of its own in computer games as well. For instance, the term is used continually in Halo 3 map design through Forge, the tool allowing any player to create his own map variants. One of the most recently released maps for the game is actually called "Sandbox" precisely because it is a basic template that can be adjusted in almost any way to create any variant map through the Forge application. Link to YouTube presentation of the map. Fascinating stuff, when you consider where the term comes from.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 21, 2009 15:02:35 GMT -6
I would just tell you to not focus on what you missed but rather to focus on what you can share with all of us right now! Carpe diem, my friend. Make the best of the "now". Welcome back, in any case.
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benoist
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
OD&D, AD&D, AS&SH
Posts: 346
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Post by benoist on Apr 15, 2009 16:27:56 GMT -6
We intend to move forward with all projects Dave was working on. It is going to take some time to go through the material for everything Dave was working on. If Dave had intentions for something to be made available, if at all possible our goal is to make it available. Fantastic. Thank you very much!
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