Basic Fantasy RPG

[tkdco2]

AFAIK, the AiMe Player's Guide has always been around that price. It was one of the reasons I never bought it. After all, I only play a few times a year at most, so why invest that amount of cash? However, I'm pretty sure the Loremaster's Guide is much more expensive than it originally was.

[tkdco2]

It should be easy enough to combine BFRPG with B/X. Maybe I will play around with it and see which combinations work best.

[tkdco2]

I played a solo game using BFRPG a few nights ago. The system works pretty well. I remembered how easily magic-users can reach zero hit points even when out of combat. Good thing I used my "three strikes" rule (you can get healed the first two times, but there's no escaping death or dismemberment the third time), or the magic-user and the cleric would have died from falling into two consecutive pits.

[tkdco2]

I'm currently working on a MERP to BFRPG conversion. I've previously did some work converting MERP creatures to B/X, so I just need to make a few modifications. Since BFRPG separates race and class, and several optional classes are available in the website's downloads section, converting MERP is a bit more straightforward.

I just have to decide on how to convert some of the details.

[Deleted]

It's very nice how much good supplemental content there is for BFRPG, yes. To give an example, my dear mother - bless her heart - has only ever wanted to play a Gnome in any edition of the game. They appear in the Glain Supplement, thankfully, so that's covered for my needs.

[tkdco2]

The downloads section has a lot of material submitted by the mods and fans. Even if they don't, a search may reveal what you're looking for (e.g. monk or bard).

The folks at the forums seem pretty nice. I may join that forum, even though I'm already in more forums than I need to be.

[Deleted]

I've been there a while. I post as Tazer_The_Yoot over there. We'd be happy to have more folks. The vibe is similar to this place, but there's less activity.

[tkdco2]

I like the idea of quasi-classes in the Downloads section. Has anyone imported them into OD&D?

[Deleted]

Dec 26, 2020 1:32:50 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I like the idea of quasi-classes in the Downloads section. Has anyone imported them into OD&D?

Sounds like a good idea for a potential one-shot. I'll throw it into the pile of ideas I already have. 

[Malcadon]

Within the past month, I got the Basic Fantasy Rulebook, Basic Fantasy Field Guide, and AA1: Adventure Anthology #1 for less than $15 on Amazon. They are all up to date editions and releases (they get updated fairly frequently).

I'm going to print some of the low-page count supplemental files and place them into a binder. I like some of the new races (Bisren, Caneins, Faun, et al.) available in New Races.

While I have an eye on Equipment Emporium, that is still getting worked on.

[tkdco2]

I bought the Rulebook and Adventure Anthology #1, and I downloaded several of the supplemental files.

One reason it is taking my MERP-BFRPG conversion so long to finish is my inability to choose how to present the ranger and bard classes. Should I use the class writeups or the quasi-classes? Should I allow both options? Or should I take a cue from Falconer and use a reskinned cleric as a ranger? Another problem is what sources to include. I wanted to keep as much material as I could within the basic rulebook. But some of the Field Guides have what I need, so including those books means I won't have to reinvent the wheel.

I've been working on a thought experiment on how to get younger players into rpgs. I would assume they'd be on a budget, so I wanted to see how frugal they could get. BFRPG is definitely affordable with its $5.00 price tag (with free options available as well). Along with some inexpensive dice and perhaps a few cheap tools, they'll be able to start playing without spending lots of cash.

[Malcadon]

Oh I forgot to state that to offset the cost of shipping, I added a purple Crown Royal bag to the BFPRG order.

It looks like the bag of holding for Pimps and just as voluminous. (Seriously! I have a lot of dice and I still can't fill it up!)

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2021 3:37:12 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I bought the Rulebook and Adventure Anthology #1, and I downloaded several of the supplemental files.

One reason it is taking my MERP-BFRPG conversion so long to finish is my inability to choose how to present the ranger and bard classes. Should I use the class writeups or the quasi-classes? Should I allow both options? Or should I take a cue from Falconer and use a reskinned cleric as a ranger? Another problem is what sources to include. I wanted to keep as much material as I could within the basic rulebook. But some of the Field Guides have what I need, so including those books means I won't have to reinvent the wheel.

I've been working on a thought experiment on how to get younger players into rpgs. I would assume they'd be on a budget, so I wanted to see how frugal they could get. BFRPG is definitely affordable with its $5.00 price tag (with free options available as well). Along with some inexpensive dice and perhaps a few cheap tools, they'll be able to start playing without spending lots of cash.

For Middle-Earth, take the lowest possible magic versions of each class. That's my gut feeling. 

If I wanna get young people into RPGs, I just buy extra rule books and give them out when I run local games (obviously on hiatus right now). With BFRPG that hardly puts a dent in my weekly budget.  

Don't underestimate young people's resourcefulness with this stuff, either. I taught my niece about D&D. She's 11. She immediately found a dice rolling app online and just uses that. 

[tkdco2]

Very true. I can see kids downloading the basic rulebook and a dice-rolling app, all free. While I still struggle with figuring out how to open multiple tabs on my phone, I know the kids are experts in that.

[tkdco2]

As for my MERP conversion, I'm trying to convert the professions (classes) as accurately as possible. My work is meant to be a conversion, after all. Bards and rangers have more access to spells in MERP than in BFRPG, so I'm looking at the cleric and magic-user classes. Here are a couple of ideas off the bat:

Bard: Use the elven magic-user/thief combination class as a base. Allow humans to take this combination. Shields are allowed, but armor is otherwise prohibited when casting spells. Restrict magic to spells that influence or deceive any targets; sleep and stun spells are allowed. This would make the bard a little more in line with the MERP version, but experience point requirements to level up would be a bit high.

Ranger: Use the cleric base as a class. Drop all weapon restrictions, but restrict armor to leather when casting spells; shields are permitted. Drop the turn undead ability. Restrict spells to those related to survival and gathering information; minor healing spells are allowed. Keep using the cleric/thief attack table. Rangers would thus be less proficient in combat than fighters (as in MERP), but they would lose any thief abilities and require fewer experience points to level up. Perhaps raise the XP requirements, especially if some thief abilities are allowed?

If I use the ranger and bard supplements found in the Workshop and Downloads sections, the conversions would be a bit less accurate. Bards would work, since their songs have spell-like effects. However, their songs are more often used to enhance their allies than directly affect enemies. Bards have low XP requirements to level up, but humans can combine this class to the four base classes. Perhaps allow Elves this last option as well. Note that Dwarves and Hobbits can be bards in BFRPG but not in MERP. Rangers, on the other hand, would lose all spellcasting ability but would become more proficient in combat. As written, Dwarves can be rangers in MERP but not in BFRPG.

Quasi-classes are add-ons to the base classes. The ranger (hunter) and bard versions are close to the classes described above, but they no longer exist as their own classes. However, they are a bit more flexible because they can be added to any base class. The GM will have to decide which combinations are appropriate. MERP 2nd Edition offers more professions as options. The quasi-classes are probably the best way to model them.

[tkdco2]

I'm thinking of redoing my conversions. I think I've strayed too far from my original intent, which was to make a simple yet fairly accurate conversion from MERP to BFRPG. I've let too many of my own house rules creep into my work. I also want to limit as much material as possible to the core rulebook. I also found some ideas on other forums that I hadn't thought about doing. However, I don't want to overcomplicate my work, so I need to go back to the drawing board and figure out what to include.

[tkdco2]

Right now, I'm vacillating whether to include every human group in MERP, along with the languages, or just give a brief overview of the main types. This conversion is a bigger task than I originally thought.

[Deleted]

I'm leaning pretty hard into BFRPG for my coastal campaign next year. I went through a whole thought process starting with Whitebox, moving through Holmes, then Holmes plus 3lbb plus Greyhawk, which led to just Iron Falcon for simplification, and then BFRPG because it's the same idea but simpler.

Good thing I haven't prepped anything specific yet or I'd be boned. So yeah... Right now looking like BFRPG core rules. I'm using the extended bestiary too. Player options will include core options plus Paladins and Half Elves. Holmesian scroll rules. Side Initiative. All pcs begin with 5000 xp and one minor magic item. Rp and goal based xp distribution. Colorful and varied hex encounters. This appeal to anybody?

[tkdco2]

Sounds great!

[tkdco2]

I'm thinking of using the 2E Monstrous Compendium to supplement the BFRPG core rules. I have downloaded electronic copies of the Field Guides, but I like having things in print.

[Merias]

I have played/run BFRPG a fair bit, but I also like to use the adventure supplements for ideas and scenarios in my OD&D/White Box games. Having the main supplements and adventures cheaply available in print is a huge advantage - I don't feel bad about marking up my copies with notes and changes. If I need a pristine copy, I just buy another.

[jeffb]

Mar 17, 2021 4:20:34 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I'm thinking of using the 2E Monstrous Compendium to supplement the BFRPG core rules. I have downloaded electronic copies of the Field Guides, but I like having things in print.

I/'ve use/d the 2E Monstrous Manual as my defacto book for many O/TSR games. During the early days of C&C I just used it or the 1E MM instead of buying Monsters & Treasures.

FWIW- I think Amazon has the Field Guides pretty cheap.

[Deleted]

The more I think about it, the more certain I am I definitely wanna use BFRPG for my sandbox pbp. I think the two big selling points are accessibility and lack of Alignment, which isn't always helpful or needed for every type of campaign.

[tkdco2]

I will definitely use BFRPG for my next campaign. The core rules can do most of what I want to do with a game, and some of the downloads provide the rest.

[tkdco2]

Mar 17, 2021 4:20:34 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I'm thinking of using the 2E Monstrous Compendium to supplement the BFRPG core rules. I have downloaded electronic copies of the Field Guides, but I like having things in print.

DMR2 Creature Catalog from the BECMI line is another good addition. Experience point values are already added, although I haven't checked if they match the BFRPG method. But they're probably similar.

[Deleted]

Mar 31, 2021 13:45:19 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

Mar 17, 2021 4:20:34 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I'm thinking of using the 2E Monstrous Compendium to supplement the BFRPG core rules. I have downloaded electronic copies of the Field Guides, but I like having things in print.

DMR2 Creature Catalog from the BECMI line is another good addition. Experience point values are already added, although I haven't checked if they match the BFRPG method. But they're probably similar.

I'd say it's "close enough for Government work" to borrow a popular phrase. This is one of those "OSR rules are very roughly inter-compatible" areas. Maybe not a perfect match but not disruptively different. Not something that players would notice or care about, certainly. 

[Deleted]

Been re-acquainting myself with Claymation classic movies that prominently feature islands. Delighted to discover that more than 90% of the bestiary of these movies are in BFRPG and the rest are "close enough" to existing monsters to palette-swap something. Specific locales and bestiaries will be taken from the following:

King Kong (1933)

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)

Mysterious Island (1961)

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

Clash of the Titans (1981)

The basic conceit of the campaign will be that fantastic relics and treasure maps arrive at the major coastal port town of "the known world" leading to far-away treasures of immeasurable value guarded by titanic creatures of myth and legend. The local Caliph will personally finance a small fleet of ships to spread throughout the Umber Sea in search of these various "lost lands". The PCs will be treasure-seekers on board one of these vessels. Said PCs will begin with the aforementioned power boost of 5,000 xp and a minor magical item, but obviously, as in the movies these locales are based upon, monsters are gigantic and very powerful. They are not walking sacks of experience points but forces of nature to avoid or appease. 

I will make an official inquiry about forum interest in such a pbp campaign sometime in January of 2022, after the poll-based one wraps up. This is like a pre-announcement outline. Some details might be refined between now and then. I've been headed in this direction for a while now, though, so it's safe to assume that the broad strokes of what I've said will occur. 

[tkdco2]

I was browsing through my B/X books and came across the Giant Shrew entry. I never paid attention to this before. I started laughing because LOTRO is wrapping up its annual Spring Festival soon, and one of the activities is the Shrew Stomp. One of the quests involve getting the giant shrew before anyone else.

So I got my BFRPG book, and sure enough, there's a giant shrew entry there too. Now I can add it to my Middle-earth bestiary!

[seandon4]

I'm a bit late to this discussion, but I ran a 2 year campaign on Roll20 with BFRPG a few years ago and it was good fun. Even though I kind of like OD&D/LBBs more, BFRPG is good for approximating B/X D&D compatibility.

[Deleted]

Apr 12, 2021 15:33:15 GMT -6 seandon4 said:

I'm a bit late to this discussion, but I ran a 2 year campaign on Roll20 with BFRPG a few years ago and it was good fun. Even though I kind of like OD&D/LBBs more, BFRPG is good for approximating B/X D&D compatibility.

That's kind of my feeling, as well. I enjoyed using BFRPG in the past and I keep wanting to again, but I'm really attached to 3lbb and wanting to try to use it for things people don't normally associate it with. It's a mental tug-of-war.