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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 11, 2008 19:51:05 GMT -6
Hey, everyone, I wasn't sure where exactly to post this, but Philotomy said I should pop over here and mention it. I was working awhile back on trying to figure out how to actually use Chainmail with OD&D. As I'm sure you're all aware...it's neither easy nor intuitive. So as I began to make notes, modifications, alterations, expansions, theories, etc...I realized I'd done 2/3 of the work on writing a whole new game, albeit one in the OD&D mold. That game is now complete and up for sale at my lulu store front: www.lulu.com/elflairgamesHopefully it's kosher to mention this here. If I'm overstepping a line, I apologize. As I said, Philotomy over at RPGNet told me to pop over and mention it, that you all would be interested. |
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Post by greyharp on Aug 11, 2008 20:56:32 GMT -6
I've just purchased a copy of the pdf and was all set to say I'll print it out in the next couple of days, after I've been to town and bought some more cardstock, but then saw the document was 206 pages long!!!! Turns out Lulu has stuffed up and the document is repeated twice in the pdf (which explains why the file size was double what Lulu said it was). I get the impression these sorts of glitches aren't uncommon. So yes, I'll print the 103 page document out later this week and have a look through. Having had just a quick glance, you've done a good job setting it out. Thanks. Dave  |
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Post by Haldo Bramwise on Aug 11, 2008 21:20:26 GMT -6
Hey this looks very cool! From what I can see from the preview, you've done a very good job.
Congratulations!
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 11, 2008 21:37:37 GMT -6
Really?? I'll have to double-check that.
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Post by Finarvyn on Aug 11, 2008 21:40:37 GMT -6
So ... can I copy-paste from the PDF or is it security locked?
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 11, 2008 21:41:17 GMT -6
It's not security-locked. I'd of course appreciate it if you didn't re-use stuff that isn't OGC, but yeah, you can copy/paste
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Post by philotomy on Aug 11, 2008 21:42:26 GMT -6
I just purchased the PDF, too; sure enough, it's 206 pages (doubled).
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 11, 2008 21:45:58 GMT -6
I'll try and fix that tomorrow
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Post by philotomy on Aug 11, 2008 21:46:41 GMT -6
Hey, I just noticed the acknowledgment; thanks for the mention! (Although I go by Philotomy Jurament -- the old tournament PC name -- I kind of like Philotomy Juggernaut. I wish I'd have thought of that!)
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Post by Finarvyn on Aug 11, 2008 21:49:21 GMT -6
It's not security-locked. I'd of course appreciate it if you didn't re-use stuff that isn't OGC, but yeah, you can copy/paste Oh, I have no desire to steal your stuff -- I just like to import PDF text into a Word doc so that I can read it better. I think I'll buy a copy tomoorw once you fix the double-copy snag.  |
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Post by apeloverage on Aug 12, 2008 2:01:08 GMT -6
I'm not sure if it matters, but the cover picture is the same as the one used for Labyrinth Lore. |
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Post by carjack on Aug 12, 2008 4:42:49 GMT -6
Just bought and d/led it. Very nice! I will have to give it the real read once I get home from work tonight, but I like what I see so far. Ah, d6's for combat!
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 12, 2008 6:27:46 GMT -6
Oh, I have no desire to steal your stuff -- I just like to import PDF text into a Word doc so that I can read it better. I think I'll buy a copy tomoorw once you fix the double-copy snag. I don't know that there's much I can do about it; the uploaded PDF was not a double-copy. Seems to be a Lulu error. But I'm going to try and switch the download link from the hc to the softcover; see if that makes a difference. [EDIT]Okay, I've switched the download link from the HC to the softcover, and viewed the download pdf. It's working on my end at 103 pages. |
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 12, 2008 6:28:40 GMT -6
Hey, I just noticed the acknowledgment; thanks for the mention! (Although I go by Philotomy Jurament -- the old tournament PC name -- I kind of like Philotomy Juggernaut. I wish I'd have thought of that!) Oops. I'll fix that next edition (which will come if/when I can afford to pay for actual art) . |
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Post by Finarvyn on Aug 12, 2008 7:54:51 GMT -6
I was working awhile back on trying to figure out how to actually use Chainmail with OD&D. As I'm sure you're all aware...it's neither easy nor intuitive. Bought it. Downloaded it. Reading it. It's an interesting set of rules, particularly since I've been tinkering with a Chainmail set of rules myself. Nice to see that we're taking different approaches, however, since you based yours on the Man-to-Man stuff on page 41 and I was looking at trying to use a variant of the Combat Tables from page 40 for my version. Overall, it looks like you've done a nice job. I've spent most of my time reading the Combat section, but I'll get to the other stuff in due time... |
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 12, 2008 14:28:57 GMT -6
Thanks, everyone! I hope actual examination and use maintain the positive first impressions! I look forward to any comments you may have (and bear with me; I'm still learning the Lulu ropes).
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Post by doc on Aug 12, 2008 16:59:31 GMT -6
This sounds like something I might want to purchase as an actual book. For those of you who have downloaded and read it, what can you tell us about it? What is the presmise? What is the system like? How is character creation? etc.
Doc
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Post by carjack on Aug 12, 2008 20:49:40 GMT -6
Just got done really perusing it, and I really like it!
To answer Doc a little bit, S&S is bridging the gap between Chainmail and OD&D by really merging the two rule sets. S&S uses just d6s and percentiles, and uses a combat system drawn from the Man vs Man charts in Chainmail. Character classes are Warriors, Priests and Wizards, but also include Paladins, Thieves and Assassins.
The rules are well organized and bring a lot of good ideas into play. For instance, Wizards must roll to see if they successfully cast their spells, with success allowing the spell to be cast again. The spell can also be marginally successful, where it goes off, but is delayed by a round. Failing the roll causes the spell to fizzle and to be wiped from the wizard's mind until he studies it again.
Overall, S&S is very well written and I find the artwork used to has a certain charm to it. I am definitely itching to play it, and I hope I can get a game around soon!
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Post by blackbarn on Aug 12, 2008 23:07:36 GMT -6
The rules are well organized and bring a lot of good ideas into play. For instance, Wizards must roll to see if they successfully cast their spells, with success allowing the spell to be cast again. The spell can also be marginally successful, where it goes off, but is delayed by a round. Failing the roll causes the spell to fizzle and to be wiped from the wizard's mind until he studies it again. That's simple and brilliant. I think I'll order this as a printed book and give it a try. |
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Post by carjack on Aug 15, 2008 9:52:15 GMT -6
Hey Greyelf!
Still reading and getting more interested as I go with it. I find the bit about taking extra actions interesting. (Burning extra attacks for different actions during a round) Aren't extra attacks only useful against 1 HD creatures? If so, wouldn't you only be able to take extra actions against 1 HD creatures?
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 17, 2008 20:43:10 GMT -6
Sorry, folks, just got back from Gen Con.
No. Extra attacks are extra attacks. That's how you advance in this game. The rationale comes from the mesh of the Fantasy supplement with the Man combat rules in Chainmail, wherein a Hero is 5x as powerful as a Man, and a Superhero 2x (iirc) as powerful as a Hero.
Remember that monsters attack as fighters, so they, too, will gain multiple attacks at higher hit dice.
While at first it may seem that's a lot of die rolling, combat will cycle through fewer rounds as a result, so play time should be similar to a single-attack combat system. Also, if you roll all attacks first, then roll damage simultaneously, that will save time.
Now, in the future, in a supplement or revision, I may include an option for combat whereby your attack level = your level - monster's hit dice (minimum 1), but that will be an option, as it will complicate the game.
Also, potentially good news: there MAY be a publisher potentially interested in this game. MAYBE. Nothing is remotely set in stone yet, but someone was interested enough to take a printout to peruse.
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Post by carjack on Aug 17, 2008 20:53:07 GMT -6
Hope you had a good time at the con!
Yeah, only today did I notice what I'd misread and gotten all mussed up on. I was just going to post that I'd made a mistake when you chimed in!
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Post by greyharp on Aug 17, 2008 21:24:27 GMT -6
I'm about halfway through and will make some comments/ask some questions when I'm finished. Certainly enjoying so far and wouldn't mind trying it out.
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Post by greyharp on Aug 19, 2008 17:13:39 GMT -6
Well thegreyelf, I like it and am glad I bought it. While I haven't play-tested it (and probably won't have the opportunity to do so for quite some time), I look forwarded to giving it a spin with my gaming group.
I was initially concerned at, what I thought was, the difficulty of rolling a successful ability check, until I saw the follow-up section in book two and then it made sense. I really love your treatment of the Neutral alignment and found the Neutral (Unaligned) option simply brilliant.
I think your melding of Chainmail and 0e is a success and one example of that to my mind, is the "flavour" of the elf and halfling races, which I found to be wonderfully different from the standard fare.
All in all, I agree with all the points posted here by others. Thanks for a great piece of work and future fun.
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Post by carjack on Aug 19, 2008 17:56:35 GMT -6
I agree that the treatment of elves and hobbits (sorry, halflings..) is wonderful and really sets the game apart from OD&D as I have played it before. A hobbit with a sling is a dangerous thing indeed, and an elf with a magic sword is definitely a death-dealing machine!
Now I just need to print this game out. I know I should have bought it as a book, but I'm just too impatient to wait!
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Post by greyharp on Aug 19, 2008 18:46:33 GMT -6
Now I just need to print this game out. I know I should have bought it as a book, but I'm just too impatient to wait! That's what I did. ;D  |
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Post by carjack on Aug 19, 2008 19:37:30 GMT -6
Very nice!
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 22, 2008 12:21:19 GMT -6
I'm really glad you guys like it. I am thinking of a revision that may clarify and expand on the text just a bit (nothing substantial that would negate the usefulness of what you already bought), but mostly will have a new layout with more (and some better) artwork. Possibly a new cover as well.
The reason is, I got my hardcover in the mail the other day and was disappointed in a couple minor "glitches" in layout that I caught.
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Post by blackbarn on Aug 22, 2008 16:34:59 GMT -6
Do you have an estimate on when the revision might happen? I'm planning to order it, and would wait if it's going to be fairly soon.
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Post by thegreyelf on Aug 23, 2008 19:03:19 GMT -6
If you're planning on ordering a hard copy, I'd wait. I hope it won't be too long; I started working it yesterday. I should clarify that the text itself will not change, save to fix a few typos. I may (and probably will) put the PDF up for free for a few days after I finish it, to make up for those who have already bought it.
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