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Post by robertsconley on Apr 21, 2024 22:20:30 GMT -6
The stat blocks for the NPCs look a bit unfamiliar. Could you briefly explain the ones that aren't Old School stats? They are compatible with Sword & Wizardry by Matt Finch a OD&D retro clone. You can use descending or ascending AC in S&W. The HiT Bonus gives the same result as the attack chart when using ascending AC. CL and XP is how Finch had to adapt XP awards for creatures. S&W uses a single number for save with certain classes and race getting a conditional modifier like magic users getting +2 vs. spells. The rest is just out of the creature or class description formatted as a stat block. Here are more examples of monsters I formatted for other projects www.batintheattic.com/downloads/MW%20Monsters%20Sample.pdf
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Post by robertsconley on Apr 21, 2024 22:11:50 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Apr 16, 2024 7:45:35 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Apr 16, 2024 7:44:52 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Mar 18, 2024 8:21:09 GMT -6
Historically speaking, were shields ever used that paladin-in-hell way? It looks upside down. While uncommon kite shields were gripped that so they can be used for punching with the point. Yes, it is less protection, but the paladin is wearing full Plate Armor, to begin with. Probably opted to maximize his attack options. From the Bayeux tapestery
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Post by robertsconley on Feb 20, 2024 6:24:36 GMT -6
I have no clue why that disappeared but I restored the link. Appreciate folks pointing it out to me. I will be updating this with a Rev 03 once the book for How To Make a Fantasy Sandbox is released and licensing it under CC-BY like I usually do for my rules stuff.
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Post by robertsconley on Feb 5, 2024 8:32:19 GMT -6
Anyone know of good scans of the JG First Fantasy Campaign map or a good true recreation of it? Did Rob Conly ever make a good re-creation of it? I did back in the day. But then I lost it except for a photocopy I made of one section. The blog post batintheattic.blogspot.com/2009/05/from-attic-blackmoor-redux.htmlThe photocopy. It looks dirty because it was colored similar to my handdrawn wilderlands maps. The big innovation for me for this map was using a labeler to print out transparent labels that I could apply to the map.
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Post by robertsconley on Feb 5, 2024 8:23:54 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Feb 5, 2024 8:22:53 GMT -6
Anyone run a Harn campaign with ODD or AD&D rules? How did it go? I recall Robert Conley mentioning using AD&D with Harn on the Bat in the Attic blog, but I might be wrong. Sorry for the belated reply. While I never used Harn with AD&D 1e, I used Harn stuff within my Majestic Wilderlands using AD&D 1e. For example repurposing Aleath (rotated 180 degrees) as the town of Tell Qa on Map Six Viridstan. In general it worked out fine. However the main reason it worked out is because I viewed level as a mark of experience not as a something distinctive that set player character apart from the ordinary inhabitants of the setting. At first this is was a side effect of using Judges Guild products where every NPC had a class and level but stuck with it because it just made things work out better with the stuff I was doing with my campaign. For me -level 1 to 2 are apprentice levels, folks who are trained but still learning. -level 3 to 5 are journeymen levels, folks who are considered professionals. -level 6 to 8 are master levels folks, folks who are considered top professional and often in leadership positions. -level 9 to 11 are grandmaster levels, folks who are at the pinnacle of their profession. -level 12 to 15 are nobel/olympian level of skill, folks who are considered to be the best throughout the "known" world. -level 16+ are once in a generation geniuses or athletes who are the best of the best. Later when I wrote the Majestic Wilderlands and return to the use of D&D in the form of OD&D, I added a skill system to handle things that I found players wanted to do as their characters that didn't involve spellcasting or combat. Plus players wanted to get better at those things. This made adapting Harn stuff even easier, given the large number of non-adventuring types in their various articles. I have a free version of my Majestic Fantasy rules with the skill system here. www.batintheattic.com/downloads/MW%20Majestic%20Fantasy%20Basic%20RPG%20Rev%2010.pdfIn my Basic Rules for my Majestic Fantasy RPG, I have an NPC section formatted like the monster section, as adventures in my campaign are often about the PCs dealing with NPC conflicts. It has entries like the PDF www.batintheattic.com/downloads/Bandits%20&%20Brigands%20Ver%2001.pdfA little late but I hope this helps.
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Post by robertsconley on Jan 14, 2024 19:26:23 GMT -6
Good to hear from you Tavis and glad to hear that things are working out with your family.
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Post by robertsconley on Dec 20, 2023 12:04:34 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Dec 20, 2023 12:03:16 GMT -6
(deleted)
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Post by robertsconley on Dec 7, 2023 9:06:35 GMT -6
I'm a "The Everfull Library of Yelnoc Trebor" level supporter, but didn't remember getting anything. I'll look up my mails, maybe I missed something. The links are in this backer only post. Link to Post
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 21, 2023 22:18:27 GMT -6
The print version of Blackmarsh is now available again both in softcover and hardcover feature cover art by Richard Luschek. Many of you will know him from his work on various Harn products available from Columbia Games. The books are using the new digest size layout. The full map of Blackmarsh is still inside the book and the book fold has been taken into account for its presentation. Softcover Digest edition - $6.99 Hardcover Digest edition - $11.99 www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89944/BlackmarshAgain appreciate the support of all of you have given me over the years and the kind words in your reviews.
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 21, 2023 22:17:56 GMT -6
The print version of Blackmarsh is now available again both in softcover and hardcover feature cover art by Richard Luschek. Many of you will know him from his work on various Harn products available from Columbia Games. The books are using the new digest size layout. The full map of Blackmarsh is still inside the book and the book fold has been taken into account for its presentation. Softcover Digest edition - $6.99 Hardcover Digest edition - $11.99 www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89944/BlackmarshAgain appreciate the support of all of you have given me over the years and the kind words in your reviews.
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 16, 2023 9:34:43 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 14, 2023 7:29:45 GMT -6
Appreciate all the support everybody here has given my kickstarter! Now above $11,000 and over 650 backers!
If you missed my first announcement there are still 3 days left to go before it ends. So far the new PoD digest version of Blackmarsh has been released along with the beta layouts for How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox and the Isle of Pyade.
If you missed my first announcement there are still 3 days left to go before it ends. So far the new PoD digest version of Blackmarsh has been released along with the beta layouts for How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox and the Isle of Pyade.
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 6, 2023 7:04:10 GMT -6
Backed! We're such a small community here, we should all support each others' efforts! Appreciate the support folks. Currently working on the layout for the standalone Isle of Pyade.
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Post by robertsconley on Nov 1, 2023 12:53:06 GMT -6
I just backed the kickstarter - congrats on your funding levels, Rob! Backed at the $20 level. Stoked to get this in hardcopy! Appreciate the support folks. BTW, how is PYADE pronounced? Is it "Pie-Aide" or "Pee-Ahd", or "Pee-yah-deh"? Good question, Pie-Aide rhyming with fade.
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Post by robertsconley on Oct 30, 2023 18:03:37 GMT -6
I posted the first beta layout for my How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox Kickstarter backers.
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Post by robertsconley on Oct 13, 2023 19:22:00 GMT -6
Appreciate the compliments and it is great to be funded!
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Post by robertsconley on Oct 12, 2023 6:38:56 GMT -6
How to Make a Fantasy SandboxStarting in 2009, I wrote a series of 24 posts on the Bat in the Attic blog covering the different aspects of creating a hexcrawl-formatted setting. Over 150,000 views later I have finished the series. Along the way, many of you thanked me for writing the series and told me how it helped your own efforts. batintheattic.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-fantasy-sandbox.htmlNow that the last post has been completed, I combined and rewrote these posts into a single 150-page book. I also consolidated the small fantasy setting I was using, the Isle of Pyade into its own document that you can drop into your own campaign. Many of you enjoyed Blackmarsh, Points of Light, and my remastered version of Judges Guild's Wilderlands of High Fantasy. Now with How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox, you can learn the techniques I used to make these settings to make your own world to adventure in. www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2993/Bat-in-the-Attic-GamesThe project rewards will consist of a digest-sized version of my Blackmarsh setting with a new layout and art. The How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox book and the Isle of Pyade setting book will be available as PDF and Print-on-demand books using at-cost print coupons from DriveThruRPG. I hope to see you at the launch of my Kickstarter on Friday, October 13, 2023. How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 31, 2023 14:17:56 GMT -6
Thanks for doing this.
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 30, 2023 13:29:43 GMT -6
What has happened over the past decade is that there are people who believe that there is a ton of money in our old games, and have convinced themselves that 'getting control' of an IP is the ticket to 'fame and fortune'. They tend to get cranky and dramatic, and we're not interested in the drama. We're considered 'weird' by these people, as we want to get information out to people and we're not concerned with our own 'fame and fortune'. Speaking from my experience as an OSR publisher from the beginning. As well as somebody who writes a lot about sandbox campaigns and hexcrawl formatted settings like Judges Guild's Wilderlands. This is the best approach. There is no sure ticket to fame and fortune. However adopting an attitude of "Hey look at this interesting thing I am doing." combined with "OK, I understand it's not for you" for the naysayers works out well.
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 30, 2023 13:15:40 GMT -6
Long answer: Bob wants to tell the largest number of people that he can about Blackmoor and the way Dave played. Bob was one of the very first Blackmoor players, and inherited Dave's campaign when Dave passed away. Bob has found a couple of local people who game the way he and Dave did, and he's bringing them down to Gary Con to introduce them to the larger gaming world. Both Luke Gygax and Paul Stormberg are behind this, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is and funding the trip. Any way you can provide a short summary of what the difference is? As if I sat down for a session? Just want to have enough of an understanding of some context.
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 16, 2023 12:48:22 GMT -6
Thanks folks, working through the last parts of the initial draft before announcing the Kickstarter. There will definitely be three books offered as a bundle How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox, the thinner Island setting book which just has the example setting, and the new digest layout of Blackmarsh.
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 11, 2023 17:22:37 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 11, 2023 17:20:57 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Aug 11, 2023 17:20:25 GMT -6
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Post by robertsconley on Jul 21, 2023 20:24:32 GMT -6
To be more specific: what OD&D-related micro publishers really need is the 3.5e SRD released as CC-BY. Do we in the case of OD&D? Don't get me wrong I want the D20-SRD under CC-BY. Because of the existing content where the license can't be changed. But the biggest threat to any of the OD&D Clones isn't that we are copying the mechanics. But we are copying lists of terms. Spell names, monster names, etc. While elements of these lists are in the public domain and other are generic everyday words. It could be a problem when an entire list of names is copied. Like making a monopoly clone (OK) but with the same street names and property values (probably not OK). However, I checked the D&D 5e SRD and it has all the names and terms one needs for a CC-BY OD&D Clone. Is there anything missing that only found in the D20-SRD? I can see it being a issue for a AD&D clone as the 5e SRD monster list is not as extensive as the D20 Monster List.
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