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Post by hamurai on Nov 11, 2022 14:17:44 GMT -6
Just something I found on itch.io (and not on these forums): traversefantasy.itch.io/fmcIt's a clean, modern layout for the 3LBBs and even includes Chainmail Mass Combat and Fantastic Combat rules in the long appendix. At the moment, it's an Alpha version, but I think it looks very promising. Also, it's free!  |
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Post by Marcia B. on Nov 11, 2022 19:34:17 GMT -6
Hi Hamurai! I'm mostly a lurker here (I just like to read), but thank you for mentioning my project! I hope you find it useful and enjoyable. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback |
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Post by hamurai on Nov 12, 2022 3:02:47 GMT -6
Hi Marcia, I knew I had read your name around here at some point!  From what I've seen so far, I love your project! I'm reading the PDF in the evenings and if I find anything which needs feedback, I'll gladly contact you. One question I already have: Do you plan to make POD available through some source once you have finalized your book? |
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Post by Marcia B. on Nov 12, 2022 7:22:59 GMT -6
I’m so glad you like it so far!! I’ve been curious and anxious about what the response from people who have been playing OD&D as their main game, so that means a lot W.r.t. printing, unfortunately I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but my plan was to create an at-cost POD on Lulu once I was happy with the final product. What I may do though, once I get a working computer (mine was in its final moments while getting ready to post the PDFs!), is create a Lulu-compatible cover for those who want to print ASAP! My actual dream, even though I tend to actually be a very casual RPG player, is to make my own custom set in a 10” box with the hardcover book, a cardstock remake of the Outdoor Survival map, and a bunch of dice and little tokens. I think it’d just be fun to imagine what if D&D didn’t change rules-wise, but if the publishers treated it more like a board game (or maybe Hasbro in some alternate timeline turned it more into one). It probably would be just for me though, since the idea of selling boxes stresses me out. Anyway, to persuade people to hold off on printing just yet, the next version will have stats for the “balor” (whose name I will either black out or write as “REDACTED”, to be cute), and also some reference tables in the appendix (including for ascending AC and a Chainmail-based weapon-vs-armor table). I think little things like that will help it be a more useful onboarding tool besides it serving as a reference for the original, which is honestly how I have been using it. XD |
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Post by DungeonDevil on Nov 12, 2022 11:59:11 GMT -6
I’m so glad you like it so far!! I’ve been curious and anxious about what the response from people who have been playing OD&D as their main game, so that means a lot W.r.t. printing, unfortunately I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but my plan was to create an at-cost POD on Lulu once I was happy with the final product. What I may do though, once I get a working computer (mine was in its final moments while getting ready to post the PDFs!), is create a Lulu-compatible cover for those who want to print ASAP! My actual dream, even though I tend to actually be a very casual RPG player, is to make my own custom set in a 10” box with the hardcover book, a cardstock remake of the Outdoor Survival map, and a bunch of dice and little tokens. I think it’d just be fun to imagine what if D&D didn’t change rules-wise, but if the publishers treated it more like a board game (or maybe Hasbro in some alternate timeline turned it more into one). It probably would be just for me though, since the idea of selling boxes stresses me out. Anyway, to persuade people to hold off on printing just yet, the next version will have stats for the “balor” (whose name I will either black out or write as “REDACTED”, to be cute), and also some reference tables in the appendix (including for ascending AC and a Chainmail-based weapon-vs-armor table). I think little things like that will help it be a more useful onboarding tool besides it serving as a reference for the original, which is honestly how I have been using it. XD Getting LULU to accept a homemade cover is quite the chore. If you succeed, let me know how, 'cause I have yet to figure out how to please them. BALOR is public-domain (it actually comes from Old Irish literature), and you can use it without legal repercussions. It replaced BALROG which is intellectual property of the Tolkien Estate. You can also come up with your own names for things to keep in the clear. In my own Fantasy RPG ( Meadows & Megaliths) I include monster-concepts which are derived from D&D TSR (and now Wi$bros') IP, but "reskinned" with Greco-Latin names. E.g. the Lurker Above became Orophion from Greek 'orophe for "ceiling". |
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Post by Marcia B. on Nov 12, 2022 12:17:34 GMT -6
I’m so glad you like it so far!! I’ve been curious and anxious about what the response from people who have been playing OD&D as their main game, so that means a lot W.r.t. printing, unfortunately I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but my plan was to create an at-cost POD on Lulu once I was happy with the final product. What I may do though, once I get a working computer (mine was in its final moments while getting ready to post the PDFs!), is create a Lulu-compatible cover for those who want to print ASAP! My actual dream, even though I tend to actually be a very casual RPG player, is to make my own custom set in a 10” box with the hardcover book, a cardstock remake of the Outdoor Survival map, and a bunch of dice and little tokens. I think it’d just be fun to imagine what if D&D didn’t change rules-wise, but if the publishers treated it more like a board game (or maybe Hasbro in some alternate timeline turned it more into one). It probably would be just for me though, since the idea of selling boxes stresses me out. Anyway, to persuade people to hold off on printing just yet, the next version will have stats for the “balor” (whose name I will either black out or write as “REDACTED”, to be cute), and also some reference tables in the appendix (including for ascending AC and a Chainmail-based weapon-vs-armor table). I think little things like that will help it be a more useful onboarding tool besides it serving as a reference for the original, which is honestly how I have been using it. XD Getting LULU to accept a homemade cover is quite the chore. If you succeed, let me know how, 'cause I have yet to figure out how to please them. BALOR is public-domain (it actually comes from Old Irish literature), and you can use it without legal repercussions. It replaced BALROG which is intellectual property of the Tolkien Estate. You can also come up with your own names for things to keep in the clear. In my own Fantasy RPG ( Meadows & Megaliths) I include monster-concepts which are derived from D&D TSR (and now Wi$bros') IP, but "reskinned" with Greco-Latin names. E.g. the Lurker Above became Orophion from Greek 'orophe for "ceiling". I will definitely keep you updated!! Might write a blog post about the process since it might be something that others are interested in Thanks for the reassurance about the name “balor”! That was why I originally went with it in FMC (in encounter tables) because it seemed like it was not a trademarked term, but I just think it’d be funny to call attention to the balrog’s conspicuous removal in later prints of OD&D. |
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Post by DungeonDevil on Nov 12, 2022 13:26:47 GMT -6
I wonder if you could go the "leet" direction: ba1rog, ba1r0g, etc. |
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Post by ochrejelly on Nov 12, 2022 13:30:06 GMT -6
I’m so glad you like it so far!! I’ve been curious and anxious about what the response from people who have been playing OD&D as their main game, so that means a lot W.r.t. printing, unfortunately I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but my plan was to create an at-cost POD on Lulu once I was happy with the final product. What I may do though, once I get a working computer (mine was in its final moments while getting ready to post the PDFs!), is create a Lulu-compatible cover for those who want to print ASAP! My actual dream, even though I tend to actually be a very casual RPG player, is to make my own custom set in a 10” box with the hardcover book, a cardstock remake of the Outdoor Survival map, and a bunch of dice and little tokens. I think it’d just be fun to imagine what if D&D didn’t change rules-wise, but if the publishers treated it more like a board game (or maybe Hasbro in some alternate timeline turned it more into one). It probably would be just for me though, since the idea of selling boxes stresses me out. Anyway, to persuade people to hold off on printing just yet, the next version will have stats for the “balor” (whose name I will either black out or write as “REDACTED”, to be cute), and also some reference tables in the appendix (including for ascending AC and a Chainmail-based weapon-vs-armor table). I think little things like that will help it be a more useful onboarding tool besides it serving as a reference for the original, which is honestly how I have been using it. XD Getting LULU to accept a homemade cover is quite the chore. If you succeed, let me know how, 'cause I have yet to figure out how to please them. BALOR is public-domain (it actually comes from Old Irish literature), and you can use it without legal repercussions. It replaced BALROG which is intellectual property of the Tolkien Estate. You can also come up with your own names for things to keep in the clear. In my own Fantasy RPG ( Meadows & Megaliths) I include monster-concepts which are derived from D&D TSR (and now Wi$bros') IP, but "reskinned" with Greco-Latin names. E.g. the Lurker Above became Orophion from Greek 'orophe for "ceiling". What exactly are the problems you’re having with Lulu accepting your covers? I’ve made a ton of covera and never had problems there, maybe I can help. |
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Post by DungeonDevil on Nov 12, 2022 14:38:11 GMT -6
Welp, I had to resort to their lousy templates to make covers for all my publications thus far with LULU because my uploaded cover was getting constantly rejected -- despite the fact I followed all their instructions, including the formula for calculating the spine thickness (the exact equation eludes me right now). Any tips will be very helpful, as I really hate the generic look of the covers on my books.
Also, if I have it set up to offer just the hardcopy, what do I do to also offer the ebook as well?
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Post by Starbeard on Nov 13, 2022 12:04:49 GMT -6
Nice project, Marcia B.! I like the split between B&W and colored pages, and that you've based the colored version on the pamphlets and rules cards seen in 60s and 70s boardgames. That was a nice touch of authenticity not usually seen in 'nostalgia' projects. Out of curiosity, what paper size are you printing to? With the square-ish dimensions I wasn't sure. |
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Post by Marcia B. on Nov 13, 2022 17:17:24 GMT -6
Nice project, Marcia B.! I like the split between B&W and colored pages, and that you've based the colored version on the pamphlets and rules cards seen in 60s and 70s boardgames. That was a nice touch of authenticity not usually seen in 'nostalgia' projects. Out of curiosity, what paper size are you printing to? With the square-ish dimensions I wasn't sure. Thank you so much! That means a lot The paper size is 8.25” so it is compatible with both letter and A4 size paper for anyone who wants to print pages at home. If I actually produce the annotated version, the extended length will also be of a “compromise” size like 11”. |
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Post by breeyark on Nov 14, 2022 14:13:51 GMT -6
Welp, I had to resort to their lousy templates to make covers for all my publications thus far with LULU because my uploaded cover was getting constantly rejected -- despite the fact I followed all their instructions, including the formula for calculating the spine thickness (the exact equation eludes me right now). Any tips will be very helpful, as I really hate the generic look of the covers on my books. Also, if I have it set up to offer just the hardcopy, what do I do to also offer the ebook as well? This is curious. I always make a single file with the overall size that they give you. I don't even worry too much about the spine width and so on. I kind of just approximate it, and then when you upload it you can see the preview and adjust as needed. It works out well and I never had a problem. |
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Post by DungeonDevil on Nov 14, 2022 15:37:09 GMT -6
How do you estimate the spine width? That depends on the number of pages. Several years ago it was a (supposedly) precise formula.
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Post by thomden on Nov 14, 2022 16:50:54 GMT -6
How do you estimate the spine width? That depends on the number of pages. Several years ago it was a (supposedly) precise formula. Depends on how thick the paper is. |
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Post by ochrejelly on Nov 14, 2022 22:33:47 GMT -6
I just download the template that is generated for the project, and then create my cover over top of it, delete the template layer, and submit that. Looks great and you get the correct dimensions.
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Post by Marcia B. on Feb 8, 2023 18:17:47 GMT -6
Hey y'all! I don't want to bother y'all with updates too often, but I wrote a blog post about a character record template that someone shared in the thread ' Original/Older Play Reports'.
Here is the link! It's relevant to this thread since I ended up recreating the character record for FMC, along with making some condensed reference sheets to play with. Of course, they can be used for OD&D in general.
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Post by Starbeard on Feb 8, 2023 19:16:07 GMT -6
Cool! The activity log would fill up in a heartbeat, but I really like the utility and the simple outline of it. I used to track things in much more detail, but over the past 2 years I've streamlined my campaign records to just GP and XP, and I really like how it works.
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Post by Marcia B. on Feb 9, 2023 7:19:26 GMT -6
Cool! The activity log would fill up in a heartbeat, but I really like the utility and the simple outline of it. I used to track things in much more detail, but over the past 2 years I've streamlined my campaign records to just GP and XP, and I really like how it works. Thank you! You make a good point w.r.t. it filling up; I should make another sheet of just logs, that one could print next to or on the flipside of the initial record.
And that's neat that you ended up handling your records in the same way! GP and XP are such useful abstractions that they are perfect for streamlining. |
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Post by countingwizard on Feb 10, 2023 8:58:49 GMT -6
I’m so glad you like it so far!! I’ve been curious and anxious about what the response from people who have been playing OD&D as their main game, so that means a lot W.r.t. printing, unfortunately I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but my plan was to create an at-cost POD on Lulu once I was happy with the final product. What I may do though, once I get a working computer (mine was in its final moments while getting ready to post the PDFs!), is create a Lulu-compatible cover for those who want to print ASAP! My actual dream, even though I tend to actually be a very casual RPG player, is to make my own custom set in a 10” box with the hardcover book, a cardstock remake of the Outdoor Survival map, and a bunch of dice and little tokens. I think it’d just be fun to imagine what if D&D didn’t change rules-wise, but if the publishers treated it more like a board game (or maybe Hasbro in some alternate timeline turned it more into one). It probably would be just for me though, since the idea of selling boxes stresses me out. Anyway, to persuade people to hold off on printing just yet, the next version will have stats for the “balor” (whose name I will either black out or write as “REDACTED”, to be cute), and also some reference tables in the appendix (including for ascending AC and a Chainmail-based weapon-vs-armor table). I think little things like that will help it be a more useful onboarding tool besides it serving as a reference for the original, which is honestly how I have been using it. XD Honestly Wilderness travel should be treated like a boardgame. I've played it several ways, but having at least an unlabeled map with outlines of landmass, major landmarks/mountains and moving turn by turn tracking thirst/hunger is a ton of fun. Clearing the land for a barony can get a bit monotonous, but otherwise it's a really good way to physically differentiate between wilderness scale and dungeon scale. Arneson/Gygax were really on to something using different systems for different activities (wilderness, underworld, sea adventures). I like austinjimm 's Wild Lands of Oros interpretation of Outdoor Survival rules the most. Lays it out in a much clearer way and adapts the mechanics a little better for the sword and sorcery setting. I've been pushing him to clean it up for official publication, but I think he's working on the Omphir region of Planet Eris. |
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Post by dwayanu on Feb 14, 2023 20:36:22 GMT -6
Regarding cannons (p. 175), the original has a drawn illustration of the variation measure. Textual clarification in place of that could note that the ends are respectively numbered 1 and 6; the three lines in between are numbered 2, 3-4 and 5.
On p. 176 (Resolving Missile Fire), it appears that much has been omitted, namely:
Split-move and Fire
Pass-through Fire
Arc of Fire
Number of Ranks Permitted to Fire
Indirect Fire
Cover
Throwing Axes and Spears and Javelins
If these subjects are treated elsewhere, it might be good to have a page reference here.
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Post by Marcia B. on Feb 20, 2023 22:48:41 GMT -6
Regarding cannons (p. 175), the original has a drawn illustration of the variation measure. Textual clarification in place of that could note that the ends are respectively numbered 1 and 6; the three lines in between are numbered 2, 3-4 and 5. On p. 176 (Resolving Missile Fire), it appears that much has been omitted, namely: Split-move and Fire Pass-through Fire Arc of Fire Number of Ranks Permitted to Fire Indirect Fire Cover Throwing Axes and Spears and Javelins If these subjects are treated elsewhere, it might be good to have a page reference here. All the above will be in the next version! It talked about split-move and pass-through fire in the mass combat procedure, but I just added a note to tell the reader to refer to that page. Thank you! |
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Post by titusgroen on Apr 9, 2023 20:45:48 GMT -6
traversefantasy.itch.io/fmcI haven't had the opportunity to read through it yet but there appears to be a new OD&D re-organization project out there. Has anyone taken a look at it? The only I've ever read is the White Box and sadly I've never had a chance to play in any ODD game so I'm curious as to whether the new layout makes a difference or not.
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Post by hamurai on Apr 9, 2023 22:49:11 GMT -6
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Post by peelseel2 on Apr 10, 2023 21:28:48 GMT -6
What about adding the Balor as a possible Orc leader?
Great project, BTW.
Does LULU have an 8.5x8.5?
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Post by titusgroen on Apr 11, 2023 1:13:31 GMT -6
Whoops! Thank you! Mods feels free to delete this thread. |
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Post by machfront on Apr 11, 2023 4:12:06 GMT -6
I also wonder about your formatting, organization, etc., Marcia , with regards to POD and such….or if such is in the cards….
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Post by machfront on Apr 11, 2023 4:16:02 GMT -6
I absolutely cannot come close to controlling your project, but may I humbly suggest a thief class as if it was there at the start, that is, a “white box thief” at least as an addendum or appendix, etc (since the class is so iconic, at least).
If you philosophically disagree, I get it, so no worries. Heh.
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Post by rredmond on Apr 11, 2023 10:58:14 GMT -6
Whoops! Thank you! Mods feels free to delete this thread. Nah it's all good, let's enjoy this in one big happy thread  |
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Post by peelseel2 on Apr 11, 2023 14:19:06 GMT -6
The only change I would recommend is to change the 'Modern Combat' AC's to the more modern equivalent for player familiarity. 20-Descending AC = Modern AC. This changes nothing really except the AC of Leather goes to 13, and a player has a 50% chance of hitting an unarmored opponent instead of 55%. Then the bonus to hit increases by 1 for each level area i.e. Fighter, Cleric, M-U levels 1-3,1-4,1-5 have a +1 to hit. This also gives them the added benefit of feeling like they get a modifier.
It's easier to sell to modern players. "All AC are the same except leather which is boosted to 13. Roll to hit armor class, and add bonuses in.". It also dovetails with Beta-D&D with a Target-20 type system.
BFRPG gets this exactly right.
Just my copper's worth.
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Post by peelseel2 on Apr 12, 2023 12:18:32 GMT -6
In looking at the text, the above change would entail a lot of work. I would do it for you if you are pressed for time or need help. Depending on the source files, I could probably do it in a timely manner.
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