This is how to get people to play old school...

[chgowiz]

Found this via a share by PatrickWR:

revolution21days.blogspot.com/2009/02/it-took-me-eight-years-to-figure-this.html

Last night's game (Trollsmyth's Labyrinth Lord chat game) triggered a minor epiphany for me. Nothing earth-shatteringly major, but it was a bit of a "where have you been all my life!" kind of moment.

Dungeons are fun. Exploring dungeons is fun. I've tended to fixate on the gonzo/weird/inexplicable aspect of a traditional megadungeon, but they're fun for reasons even more basic than that.

Less Edition Wars, more joy. That's what it should all be about.

[coffee]

Exactly!

We play because it's fun.

[makofan]

Like, how can you not pull that lever?

[sham]

What is the gaming world coming to when it takes EIGHT YEARS to discover that dungeons are fun?

Seriously, WTF?

I'm so comfortable in my dark little dungeon niche that I'm quite actually the clueless one, I suppose.

[coffee]

Apparently, adventuring OUTSIDE the dungeons is fun, too. Who knew?

[makofan]

I try and try, but my players have never been interested in Wilderness stuff. They like city stuff though

[sham]

Feb 26, 2009 13:52:04 GMT -6 coffee said:

Apparently, adventuring OUTSIDE the dungeons is fun, too. Who knew?

But my dungeon is so nice and cozy! The day light hurts my eyes and I feel so lost in the wide open world. Besides, how many 10x10 rooms with an Orc guarding a chest full of gold are there really in the Wilderness? Hmmm? No thanks, don't let the trapdoor hit you in the arse on the way out.

[coffee]

Feb 26, 2009 14:53:37 GMT -6 sham said:

Feb 26, 2009 13:52:04 GMT -6 coffee said:

Apparently, adventuring OUTSIDE the dungeons is fun, too. Who knew?

But my dungeon is so nice and cozy! The day light hurts my eyes and I feel so lost in the wide open world. Besides, how many 10x10 rooms with an Orc guarding a chest full of gold are there really in the Wilderness? Hmmm? No thanks, don't let the trapdoor hit you in the arse on the way out.

Yeah, I think you're right. I'll stay right here in my nice, cozy dungeon, too.

[katana]

Ordering Pizza and pulling all nighters...that was fun.

[sham]

I always need to have a d**ned good reason for leaving my dungeon.

1. Green Slime ate my 10' pole.

2. I used my last Iron Spike distracting a Rust Monster.

3. The NPC Cleric got energy drained three levels, fell into a spike-filled pit, then missed his saving throw against an Invisible Death Ray Trap. Most importantly, we ran out of Healing Potions and need a new NPC to power our Staff of Healing.

4. Maxwell, our last cannon fodder Hireling pulled the wrong Iron Level and became about 71" shorter.

5. Bart the Blast-Mage swears if we let him visit the Wizard College he can begin to finally live up to his name and return with the Fireball spell in his arsenal. Sleep just isn't getting it done of late.

6. Besides, after Maxwell got squished and we got tired of arguing with the referee that about the ridiculous 10 gold = 1 pound rule, our move rate has been diminished to 30 feet and we need to unload some treasure.

Otherwise I'm happy here with the Wandering Monsters and grilled Goblin cutlets. I suppose I can stand some fresh air for a few days until we return.

DUNGEONS & Dragons. Imagine that.

I love me some hexcrawl, but I hexcrawl in order to find new dungeons to plunder.

[badger2305]

Feb 28, 2009 2:44:39 GMT -6 sham said:

I always need to have a d**ned good reason for leaving my dungeon.

1. Green Slime ate my 10' pole.

2. I used my last Iron Spike distracting a Rust Monster.

3. The NPC Cleric got energy drained three levels, fell into a spike-filled pit, then missed his saving throw against an Invisible Death Ray Trap. Most importantly, we ran out of Healing Potions and need a new NPC to power our Staff of Healing.

4. Maxwell, our last cannon fodder Hireling pulled the wrong Iron Level and became about 71" shorter.

5. Bart the Blast-Mage swears if we let him visit the Wizard College he can begin to finally live up to his name and return with the Fireball spell in his arsenal. Sleep just isn't getting it done of late.

6. Besides, after Maxwell got squished and we got tired of arguing with the referee that about the ridiculous 10 gold = 1 pound rule, our move rate has been diminished to 30 feet and we need to unload some treasure.

Otherwise I'm happy here with the Wandering Monsters and grilled Goblin cutlets. I suppose I can stand some fresh air for a few days until we return.

DUNGEONS & Dragons. Imagine that.

I love me some hexcrawl, but I hexcrawl in order to find new dungeons to plunder.

Yes, as we used to say on the TML, your post was a keyboard kill. Making laugh so hard I spit coffee all over my 'puter is definitely worthy of an exalt. Thank you.

[blackmoor]

Yeah that was a good one.

Dave Arneson
"Dark Lord of Game Design"

[mythmere]

I love me some hexcrawl, but I hexcrawl in order to find new dungeons to plunder.

Almost a total bullseye, IMO.
But the other reason is to look for a really good hill where you can build your castle.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2009 13:38:02 GMT -6 sham said:

What is the gaming world coming to when it takes EIGHT YEARS to discover that dungeons are fun?

Seriously, WTF?

I'm so comfortable in my dark little dungeon niche that I'm quite actually the clueless one, I suppose.

Tragic, isn't it? And I've got friends who still haven't figured it out.

[gkaralunas]

Like, how can you pull that lever?


Because it was fun, just that if a Demon or God showed up the attitude of the party was O'Kay who want's 1st strike?

We played for the fun and (emonital release) of fighting the impossible fight and it was so OD&D that I find it hard to explain it further.