tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80169652802215587492024-03-13T09:27:11.356-07:00New Fish In An Old SchoolNew Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-30088298840101477552011-04-24T20:07:00.000-07:002011-04-24T20:07:22.047-07:0010 Lost Cities of the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV84-Lk3FBY/TbTlVEDP84I/AAAAAAAAAEs/swD8eLs4awI/s1600/0401_derinkuyu-underground-lost-cities_485x340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV84-Lk3FBY/TbTlVEDP84I/AAAAAAAAAEs/swD8eLs4awI/s1600/0401_derinkuyu-underground-lost-cities_485x340.jpg" /></a></div>Some interesting real life inspiration for adventure settings..<br />
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<a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-39274939">http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-39274939</a>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-27325086755429118342011-04-19T00:45:00.000-07:002011-04-19T00:49:00.470-07:00Pathfinder "Basic"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CavWLwx63v8/Ta09m5LmAuI/AAAAAAAAAEo/0jxEu_4TsQQ/s1600/pf+intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CavWLwx63v8/Ta09m5LmAuI/AAAAAAAAAEo/0jxEu_4TsQQ/s320/pf+intro.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve made no bones about the fact that I’ve been </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-im-rooting-for-paizo-publishing.html"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">rooting</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> for the success of Paizo Publishing in the wake of Wizards of the Coast’s mishandling of D&D. A while back I wrote about the possibility of Paizo producing a </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/10/basic-pathfinder.html"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">rules light/basic</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> version of its wildly popular (but decidedly rules heavy) Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. It appears they’re definitely going forward with the project.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The box (pictured above) looks promising. </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=312260844979&set=pu.147071044979&theater"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Eric Mona</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, of Paizo, has said that this picture is just a mock-up of the box. The art (by Wayne Reynolds) is as it will be in the final product but the name of the product (now simply “Basic Game”), font used, etc., will likely change. Mona has also said that the box is exactly the same dimensions as the board game “Kill Doctor Lucky” (which is </span><span lang="EN-US">11.5 x 9 x 2.9 inches</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">). If Paizo remains true to their sterling reputation, I’m sure it will easily rival, if not surpass, the D&D 4E </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/09/return-of-red-box.html"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Red Box</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> produced last year by WotC in terms of production quality.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">However, reading what little has managed to trickle out about the project has taken some of the wind out of my sails. It would appear that Paizo is intending the set to be more of an introduction (i.e., an expensive advertisement) for the monster 500 page <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Core Rulebook</i>. Black Diamond Games has said: “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-themecolor: text1;">Some details: It's a full 5-level Pathfinder box set that uses the same rules in a more user friendly format. It should have a DMs book, player's book and adventure. No miniatures but standee figures ala Kill Doctor Lucky. It's $34.95</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">.” </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/paizo/pictureOfPathfinderBasic"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Elsewhere</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">, Paizo has said: “This </span><span lang="EN-US">is, unquestionably, still the Pathfinder RPG. We've made it easier to learn and to play, but you could theoretically take your character to a Pathfinder Society event and play level-appropriate scenarios alongside people who created their characters out of the Core Rulebook</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">.”</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">If it’s “the same rules” then there’s no real need for the new set. Sure, it might hook a few people who were initially scared off by their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Core Rulebook</i>, but that’s a bit of a bait and switch in my opinion. If people don’t want to play a game that takes 500+ pages to run/understand, I fail to understand why they’d want a game that introduces them to the same 500+ page rule set, just more gradually (and at </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-themecolor: text1;">$34.95 every 5 levels!)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">. I fear it’s the same tactic WotC used with their new Red Box: the same cumbersome rules with little more than a wink and nod toward boxed set nostalgia. No thanks!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">The fact that it will include standee figures is also a complete disappointment for me. I have </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/09/from-wargames-to-roleplaying-games-and.html"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">no love</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"> of using strategy heavy/minis-oriented combat in my RPGs and the fact that Paizo is including them in their “Basic Set” shows that they introduce this facet of the game early on. So, get ready for the groundwork being laid for attacks of opportunity, flanking bonuses, and five foot stepping for tactical advantage. Again, no thanks!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">According to Paizo’s Technical Director, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/paizo/iWantAPathfinderBasicNotAIntro"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Vic Wertz</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, they haven’t ruled out putting out another boxed set to take players beyond levels 5 (perhaps in the style of B/X or, who knows, maybe even BECMI D&D). </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/paizo/iWantAPathfinderBasicNotAIntro"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Mark Moreland</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">, a game developer at Paizo, revealed that the company would be previewing the new boxed set in June at PaizoCon so we can look forward to more details then.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Here’s hoping my initial impressions are wrong. I’d love a true “Basic” version of the game!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-50547175191571167812011-04-18T13:41:00.000-07:002011-04-18T13:43:47.089-07:00AD&D 2nd Edition and the OSR<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ2YSBabC6o/Tayicz1Q8qI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3Gl7e3PyZJQ/s1600/add2phb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ2YSBabC6o/Tayicz1Q8qI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3Gl7e3PyZJQ/s1600/add2phb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Taking a brake from the wildly popular (/sarcasm) randomly generated inn posts... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve played through just about every edition of (A)D&D over the years. As I mentioned in some of my previous posts, I’m returning to the earlier editions because I miss that old school style of play that keeps us all coming back for more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, I’ve been having a bit of a difficult time with my players. They’re all decidedly new-school in their approach to gaming (even those who, like me, played many of the earlier editions of [A]D&D). Initially, they were open to trying some of the early stuff, most notably B/X D&D or AD&D 1<sup>st</sup> Edition. However, they don’t really seem happy with either system (the major complaint being that they’re not “detailed” enough for them). I’ve written about that elsewhere but in seeking to bring my group into the OSR it occurs to me that “baby steps” may be the way to go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, in our discussions, one player suggested trying AD&D 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition. I had lots of fun with that edition back in the 90s and think I can still enjoy it because it is largely backwards compatible with everything that came before it (with minor tweaking) unlike more recent editions of the game. I know that old school gaming has more to do with the style of play than with the system used but I also know that some systems tend to support old school style while others undermine it. So, what are your thoughts on AD&D 2E? Can it rightly be considered “Old School?”</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-18889706993514708882011-04-16T23:24:00.000-07:002011-04-17T00:16:16.716-07:00Random Inn Names (Tables 2 and 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpW7zVyn58s/TaqHpLpIeUI/AAAAAAAAAEg/u5ERum6slnQ/s1600/medieval_inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpW7zVyn58s/TaqHpLpIeUI/AAAAAAAAAEg/u5ERum6slnQ/s320/medieval_inn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Here is the second group of naming conventions for randomly generated inns (see the initial table for naming conventions </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2011/04/random-inn-names-table-1.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">here</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">), which I refer to as compound inanimate names (ex. The Cracked Anvil). I tried to keep repetition from Table 1 to an absolute minimum. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As an aside, I like to name it as the dice roll, even if the combination doesn’t make immediate sense or seem to fit together. If you look at the names of pubs (especially historical pubs) the names don’t always seem to make sense. There’s generally history behind the name known only to locals. Strange names or pairings might even turn into a potential adventure hook for the players! At any rate, I hope you enjoy it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Table 2: Compound Names<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Table 3: Compound Names</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">01-02 Ample<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>01-02 Anvil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">03-04 Ancient<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>03-04 Apple</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">05-06 Blighted<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>05-06 Barrel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">07-08 Bloody<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>07-08 Bottle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">09-10 Cracked<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>09-10 Cask</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">11-12 Crystal<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>11-12 Cleaver</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">13-14 Damned<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>13-14 Dagger</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 49.6pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">15-16 Dented<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>15-16 Dock</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">17-18 Elegant<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>17-18 Egg</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">19-20 Enchanted<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>19-20 Elderberry</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">21-22 Fiery<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>21-22 Flagon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">23-24 Flint<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>23-24 Flask</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">25-26 Glimmering<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>25-26 Garden</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">27-28 Gnarled<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>27-28 Glass</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">29-30 Hidden<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>29-30 Hammer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">31-32 Hollow<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>31-32 Hearth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">33-34 Idle<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>33-34 Ice Pick</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">35-36 Infernal<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>35-36 Iris</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">37-38 Jagged<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>37-38 Jar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">39-40 Jeweled<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>39-40 Jetsam</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">41-42 Keen<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>41-42 Keg</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">43-44 Knavish<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>43-44 Kettle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">45-46 Laden<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>45-46 Labyrinth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">47-48 Lavish<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>47-48 Landing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">49-50 Macabre<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>49-50 Mallet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">51-52 Majestic<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>51-52 Mask</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">53-54 Noble<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>53-54 Nave</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">55-56 Notorious<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>55-56 Nest</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">57-58 Old<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>57-58 Oak</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">59-60 Ornate<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>59-60 Oar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">61-62 Painted<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>61-62 Pike</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">63-64 Potent<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>63-64 Platter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">65-66 Quaint<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>65-66 Quill</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">67-68 Quirky<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>67-68 Quiver</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">69-70 Regal<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>69-70 Rack</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">71-72 Rustic<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>71-72 Rose</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">73-74 Steel<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>73-74 Skillet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">75-76 Soaked<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>75-76 Sword</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">77-78 Tranquil<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>77-78 Tome</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">79-80 Tilted<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>79-80 Tuber</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">81-82 Underrated<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>81-82 Urchin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">83-84 Unassuming<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>83-84 Vase</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">85-86 Velvet<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>85-86 Vein</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">87-88 Volatile<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>87-88 Wagon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">89-90 Wondrous<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>89-90 Wheel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">91-92 Weird<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>91-92 Whetstone</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">93-94 Xanthic<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>93-94 Xenolith</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">95-96 Yellow<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>95-96 Yam</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">97-98 Yammering<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>97-98 Zephyr</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">99-00 Zigzagged<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>99-00 Ziggurat</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">More later!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-72500452878249103862011-04-16T08:33:00.000-07:002011-04-16T15:34:50.795-07:00Random Inn Names (Table 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fy2ap6X_No/Tam2r9XGNNI/AAAAAAAAAEU/hADmSaor1Kk/s1600/Medieval-Inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fy2ap6X_No/Tam2r9XGNNI/AAAAAAAAAEU/hADmSaor1Kk/s320/Medieval-Inn.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’m nearing the completion of my tables for randomly generated inns so I’ll be posting them in the coming days. I’m beginning with names because that’s the first thing PCs will notice about the inn. In my games I’ve used lots of naming conventions but the tables I’ll be posting here can be boiled down to four: Simple names (ex. The Sanctum), Compound inanimate names (ex. The Cracked Anvil), Compound animate names (ex. The Blind Wyvern), and Compound obscure groupings (ex. The Pig and Whistle). So, below is the first in the series of randomly generated naming tables: simple names composed of just one or two words. The names often help me imagine what the inn might be like (for example, The Illusionist might be run by a retired magic user or illusionist and feature unique magical entertainment), where it might be located (The Shearwater, for example, is probably located in a port somewhere), or even special features of the establishment (The Labyrinth, for example, might have a mazelike structure inside). Here's how the tables will work...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Roll 1d4 and consult the results below to determine the naming convention.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1 Roll 2d10 and consult the percentile result shown on table 1. (Simple Names)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">2 Roll 2d10 twice linking the percentile results from tables 2 and 3. (Compound Inanimate Names)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">3 Roll 2d10 twice linking the percentile results from tables 4 and 5. (Compound Animate Names)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">4 Roll 2d10 twice linking the percentile results from tables 6 and 7 (Compound Groupings)</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Enjoy!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Table 1: Simple Names</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">01-02 The Abbey</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">03-04 The Abyss</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">05-06 The Backdoor</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">07-08 The Bulwark</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">09-10 The Cave</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">11-12 The Crown</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">13-14 The Dive</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">15-16 The Downfall</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">17-18 The Eclipse</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">19-20 The Egress</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">21-22 The Faire</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">23-24 The Faucet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">25-26 The Gadfly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">27-28 The Grotto</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">29-30 The Helix</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">31-32 The Hideaway</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">33-34 The Illusionist</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">35-36 The Idol</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">37-38 The Jester</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">39-40 The Jib</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">41-42 The Keep</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">43-44 The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kingfisher</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">45-46 The Labyrinth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">47-48 The Last Stand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">49-50 The Madhouse</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">51-52 The Morass</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">53-54 The Nest</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">55-56 The Nightmare</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">57-58 The Obelisk</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">59-60 The Oculus</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">61-62 The Portico</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">63-64 The Powder Keg</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">65-66 The Quagmire</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">67-68 The Ragamuffin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">69-70 Riffraff</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">71-72 The Sanctum</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">73-74 The Shearwater</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">75-76 The Tailwater</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">77-78 The Turret</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">79-80 The Underbelly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">81-82 Utopia</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">83-84 The Vagabond</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">85-86 Villainy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">87-88 Wanderlust</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">89-90 The War Party</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">91-92 The Xanthippe</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">93-94 The Yardbird</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">95-96 The Yearling</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">97-98 The Zealot</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">99-00 The Zephyr</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">More naming tables tomorrow!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-86805750227510678662011-04-13T22:59:00.001-07:002011-04-13T23:06:52.784-07:00First Quest: The Music<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oBYUf-66Wg/TaaNR3mFqmI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nvib1l81gzQ/s1600/first_quest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oBYUf-66Wg/TaaNR3mFqmI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nvib1l81gzQ/s1600/first_quest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">While I'm working on my tables for randomly generated inns, I thought I'd provide you with the following...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Back in the 80s, I owned an album set (two, if I recall correctly) called “First Quest.” It was produced by TSR and contained both a story as well as musical tracks for each portion of the story. The outside cover was Easley’s cover of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dungeon Masters Guide</i> and the interior sleeves had maps and tables printed on them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We used to play the musical tracks in the background while we gamed back then. Unfortunately, the albums were cracked in a move long ago and I haven’t seen them for sale (or even referenced) anywhere else. Just when I was beginning to think the albums were just a part of my feverish childhood imagination, someone has posted the audio on Youtube. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9sfnTGm5a8">Here</a> is the link for the first track (the others can be navigated to using the videos suggested to the right of the original). Check them out for 80s “fantasy” music at its finest (that’s sarcasm guys, listening to it now it reminds me of cheap renaissance faire music crossed with the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx7KjOyEv8I">Men Without Hats</a>)…</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-85318883245603282812011-04-12T01:30:00.000-07:002011-04-12T01:33:54.658-07:00Inns and Outs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-eC7e5Eu3Q/TaQNsrwGUhI/AAAAAAAAAEM/yawkcFJ2jkQ/s1600/medieval-tavern-u-krale-brabantskeho-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-eC7e5Eu3Q/TaQNsrwGUhI/AAAAAAAAAEM/yawkcFJ2jkQ/s320/medieval-tavern-u-krale-brabantskeho-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve been playing D&D (in one iteration or another) for nearly 25 years and one of my favorite things is designing inns. “Inns, you say?” Yes, as cliché as it may sound, inns almost always end up being the hub of my PCs illustrious adventures. Of course, the inns in my games run the gamut from being just a place for the PCs to hang their hats in between dungeon crawls to being the center of my city-based campaigns, and everything in between. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Recently, I’ve undertaken a project that’s been bouncing around inside my head for a loooong time. I’m putting together a collection of tables to create some colorful randomly generated inns. The tables will provide randomly generated names (from the silly to the sublime), to prominent NPCs (like that innkeeper who is really a wererat running a thieves guild), to unique features (like a series of subterranean prison cells beneath the cellar where unsuspecting drunks are waylayed and sold into slavery), to...well, a ton of other things. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I hope to post some things in the near future for your perusal and would greatly appreciate your feedback as to if you think such a project would be at all useful in your campaigns, things you’d like to see included (or excluded), etc.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-72485384560713985852011-03-01T09:25:00.000-08:002011-03-01T09:31:58.928-08:00Old School D&D on Television<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-btx1PJCkTyw/TW0sErhlMKI/AAAAAAAAAEI/RRUBsk9c-io/s1600/Community-TV-Show-Abed-and-Troy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-btx1PJCkTyw/TW0sErhlMKI/AAAAAAAAAEI/RRUBsk9c-io/s320/Community-TV-Show-Abed-and-Troy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For those of you who don’t watch much television, <a href="http://www.nbc.com/community/">Community</a> is a relatively new show on NBC starring Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, and Chevy Chase. The show regularly follows the core cast as they seek to complete their “general education” courses at a local community college (Greendale) to earn their college degrees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A recent episode featured the cast playing Dungeons & Dragons. They were reaching out to a fellow student (not so affectionately referred to as “Fat Neil”) who was a role-playing enthusiast. I know that D&D has worked its way into the mainstream consciousness to such a degree that it’s not uncommon to see it referenced in pop-culture but this episode took me by surprise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Why? Because this was no passing reference, it was the entirety of the episode. Also, the D&D they featured was old-school D&D, specifically 1<sup>st</sup> edition AD&D. In fact, Neil’s collection of books was made up exclusively of AD&D materials. When Chevy Chase later purchases a milk crate full of gaming paraphernalia, it’s again strictly AD&D 1<sup>st</sup> edition materials.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The session they played featured many of the characteristics we all know, love, and associate with the old-school style of play. For example, when one of the characters asks “Shouldn’t there be a board, or some pieces, or something to Jenga?” the DM responds “No, no, this is a role-playing game. It takes place entirely in our collective imagination.” Ah, it made me long for the days before battlemats, attacks of opportunity, and 5 foot stepping for tactical advantage. The goal of the game is stated by the DM: “Your goal is to track down the dragon, kill him, and then claim the treasure as your own.” What!? You mean no saving the world? Nope, just a fun quest with looting treasure as the goal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The game they played was based upon a fabricated old school module (“The Caverns of Draconis”) and featured a decidedly sandbox-style of play, character death as a result of a critical hit (no need to roll to conform the critical, it’s old school!), role-playing to find creative solutions, etc. I found it fascinating that, in the mind of the mainstream, D&D is still old school!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you have the time and the inclination, check it out:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Part I: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVanRXdlfLA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVanRXdlfLA</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Part II: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdj7ssRAh-E">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdj7ssRAh-E</a></span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-49614834991078581582011-02-23T14:13:00.000-08:002011-02-23T14:27:28.787-08:00Can't We All Just Get Along?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8SjQ1QZe60/TWWGmqvXT2I/AAAAAAAAAEE/4IyP-lUiFNk/s1600/Mike-Mearls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8SjQ1QZe60/TWWGmqvXT2I/AAAAAAAAAEE/4IyP-lUiFNk/s320/Mike-Mearls.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Okay so its been a while. I’m back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There’s been a kerfuffle in the gaming community over a recent <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20110208">article</a> by Mike Mearls, the Group Manager for the D&D Research and Development Team over at Wizards of the Coast. In the article, Mearls essentially issues a plea for all of us who have played the various iterations of D&D to just get along; in essence, it’s an appeal for an end to the infamous “edition wars.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I must say, the change in tone on the part of WOTC smacks of desperation. It’s no secret that sales of 4<sup>th</sup> edition materials are floundering, often being equaled or even surpassed by other industry leaders, such as Paizo. Now that WOTC finds themselves in such an unenviable position, folks like Mearls are encouraging us not to bash other/earlier editions of the game.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I can’t help but wonder, did Mearls see how 4e was originally marketed? It was heralded by WOTC themselves as being the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">best</i> version of D&D. Their initial marketing strategy even employed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbbqMoEwDqc">videos</a> showing how primitive, clunky, and unplayable previous editions were. Yet now we’re supposed to play nice and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> say the very things WOTC themselves said back when 4e was being released? Is anybody buying this?</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-45566753389862144042010-10-25T15:26:00.000-07:002010-10-25T15:31:30.182-07:00To the Sources!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TMYEHUlahYI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tZXR4vXJeRE/s1600/Libri_antichi_-_Ancient_books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TMYEHUlahYI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tZXR4vXJeRE/s320/Libri_antichi_-_Ancient_books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One of my passions in life is Christian theology. Lately, I’ve been reading on the history and theology of 17<sup>th</sup> century Christian Orthodoxy (riveting, I know). One of the things that struck me as interesting is seeing what happened to inspiration during that era. The passion, drive, and enthusiasm of the 16<sup>th</sup> century (with its <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ad fontes</i> return to the sources of biblical Greek and Hebrew, a return to the writings of the church fathers, and an unprecedented Reformation and counter-Reformation) were replaced with a somewhat dry and lifeless systematization of doctrine. The 17<sup>th</sup> century thinkers didn’t necessarily deviate from what had come before them, theologically, but their somewhat doctrinaire approach to the theology of their predecessors was a marked change from what occurred just a century before. Renaissance had been replaced with cold rationalism. Thus began the “scholastic” period of that era.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In the same way, it seems like the roleplaying industry has entered into a “scholastic” era of its own. Gone are the wild and wooly days of blazing new trails. Gone are the days when you enthusiastically figured things out as you go. Gone are ingenuity, motivation, and zeal. They’ve all seemingly been replaced by “systems.” Complicated systems which, though they may work just fine, nevertheless appear to those of us from the previous era as somewhat hollow and lifeless. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In thinking through both, I can’t help but conclude that the fault lies with becoming overly self-referential. The theologians of the 17<sup>th</sup> century weren’t so much using the sources those in the 16<sup>th</sup> century used, they were using the theologians from the 16<sup>th</sup> century themselves as sources. So, instead of going back to Scripture and the earliest church fathers, the theologians in the 17<sup>th</sup> century just ended up citing the conclusions of those just one century earlier. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In the roleplaying game industry, we became exceedingly self-referential in the 80s. By the late 80s, gamers weren’t so much using the sources Gygax and others used, they were using Gygax & Arneson themselves as sources. So, instead of going back to Howard, Lovecraft, Moorcock, etc., the gamers in the 80s just ended up citing the conclusions & methodology of the desingers of D&D.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The result, inevitably, became a bland and somewhat lifeless experience for many. Worse, we forgot what they said and did in those early days and started going along with additional systemization which really just took us further away from the roots of the hobby.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That’s one of the things I love about the OSR (especially since “Renaissance” brings to mind a return to long forgotten sources). When I see retro-clones, I see us going back to the original sources. When I see new and exciting products like <a href="http://lotfp.blogspot.com/">Lamentations of the Flame Princess</a> I see those deeply steeped in the sources which inspired D&D blazing creative new trails. That’s what we need in the RPG industry today. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ad Fontes</i>!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-51361334634383707932010-10-19T09:52:00.000-07:002010-10-19T09:57:07.971-07:00Pen and Paper Gaming in the 21st Century - GamesU 2009 - Keynote<object height="295" style="background-image: url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/kKp7Vi1apto/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kKp7Vi1apto?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kKp7Vi1apto?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Interesting take on the RPG industry by Erik Mona, Publisher at Paizo and general fan of old school games/gaming. He addresses the history, challenges, and opportunities that lie before those of us who are still playing and enjoying pen & paper RPGs. It’s a time investment, but well worth it in my opinion to get an insider’s view of things, one of the few insiders who has worked for the largest two companies in the industry.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-28589462781969251322010-10-17T04:46:00.000-07:002010-10-17T04:50:27.575-07:00The Whys and Wherefores of House Rulings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLrh7pt23dI/AAAAAAAAAD0/CkFEWxeFLSg/s1600/Rules_Graphic.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="309" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLrh7pt23dI/AAAAAAAAAD0/CkFEWxeFLSg/s320/Rules_Graphic.gif" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">House rules have long been a part of our beloved hobby. They likely started because OD&D, especially just the LBBs, were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">incredibly</i> rules light. Those first dungeon crawlers didn’t have rules on things they needed, so they invented rulings on the fly. That worked quite well and encouraged folks (rightly) to rely upon the ingenuity of their DM and the creativity of their players where house rules were needed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As D&D got more complex, house rules seemingly took on a new life. Whereas before, house rules were used to fill in lacuna in the written rules, now they were increasingly becoming used to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reject</i> written rules that just didn’t work well for individual DMs and players, depending upon the preferences of the particular gaming group. The more complex the incarnation of D&D, the more common house rules replacing written rules became. Again, this worked beautifully as long as everyone was aware of the preferences of the group in which they played.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Something that’s been bothering me lately is running into people (online and in my FLGS) hiding behind house rules who simply <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t know</i> the written rules at all. As stated above, I have absolutely no problem with house rules. I use them and my group loves them. However, we at least try to learn the written rules and have our own rationale for why we do what we do. But I keep encountering folks who claim to have played since the 70s who reject the written rules in favor of their own rulings, without knowing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> they’re rejecting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I hate to keep picking on “DM Vince” from the <a href="http://rfipodcast.com/show/">Roll For Initiative</a> podcast (a podcast I generally recommend and really enjoy) but he’s a perfect example. The other two hosts, Jayson and Nick, have a great grasp of the AD&D rules. When they differ from them, they know the written rules and they know why they opt for their own rulings instead. Vince, on the other hand, never seems to know any single rule, as written, but you can always be certain he’ll just do things his way under the mantle of “old school” gaming. That’s fine as far as it goes. Nobody has to be an expert to play and enjoy (A)D&D. However, he has not one, but TWO podcasts wherein he discusses (A)D&D. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Again, I don’t mean to pick on any one person. I’m just finding that lots of folks do what DM Vince does: decide against using written rules without knowing what they are or why they’re doing it. By all means, reject the rules as written in favor of your own rulings, but at least know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> you’re rejecting and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Okay, rant over.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-74081903231859166612010-10-16T01:41:00.001-07:002010-10-16T04:17:57.899-07:00To Kill or Not to Kill?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLllNOqps2I/AAAAAAAAADw/s8WMdw597Kw/s1600/s_DragonsLair_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLllNOqps2I/AAAAAAAAADw/s8WMdw597Kw/s320/s_DragonsLair_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In reading through many gaming blogs recently, I’ve noticed two attitudes concerning PC death that I consider to be somewhat extreme: one largely represented by old school players and one largely represented by new school players.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some old school players almost seem to take pride in killing off the PCs. When you read their session reports it’s as if they feel their job as a DM hasn’t been accomplished if they don’t somehow manage to achieve a near TPK. For them, the presence of monsters guaranteed to kill players or insta-death traps are a badge of honor which proves to their players and readers alike that they are card carrying Gygaxians. I was listening to an episode of the <a href="http://rfipodcast.com/show/">Roll For Initiative</a> podcast recently in which they were discussing <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/rollforinitiative/RFI027.m4a"><span style="color: blue;">deadly traps</span></a>. One of the hosts, Jayson (a more or less by the book kind of DM), asked another, Vince (a self described “evil DM”), about how he handles situations where his players cleverly figure out how to avoid a death trap he’d placed in a dungeon. Vince’s response? He just changes it on the fly to ensure it does what he’d originally intended. In addition to that being all too “railroady” for me I find the PC death philosophy behind it somewhat objectionable. Players aren’t there just to be killed off.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However, there’s another extreme in the new school which I find equally frustrating. This philosophy makes PC death almost impossible. Not only do new school rules typically allow a player to take much more damage before dying (with stat inflation, allowing them to go into negative hit points before real death, etc.) but DMs in the new school have become so accustomed to fudging rolls in favor of their players that death in the game is only something that applies to monsters or NPCs put into the party for just that purpose.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As far as I see it, there’s a happy medium here. I’m not there to kill the PCs but I will if they do something foolish or if the dice fall that way. That most commonly happens with low level PCs but it’s always a danger. Still, if I set out to get a TPK, I can. Every time. Even if it means fudging in favor of the monsters/dungeon. But let’s face it, that’s not fun for the players or the DMs (at least, not for me). Play the game, let the dice fall where they may, and let your goal be having a good time not being an “evil DM” out for your players’ blood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By the same token, taking the threat of death out of encounters simply neuters the game. Adventuring is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">supposed</i> to be dangerous. To a degree, casualties are going to happen without a DMs “help.” To consistently fudge the rolls in favor of the PCs is just as bad as consistently fudging them for the monsters. Let the polys fall where they may and let the players learn, through trial and error, through life and death, what they can and can’t do. I find that this style of play is much more enjoyable for everyone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Still, it’s your game, play it as you will!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-23641518311862441502010-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:002010-10-14T08:08:28.333-07:00The Soundtrack to Your Campaigns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLccoeeo8yI/AAAAAAAAADs/WVyf1eDR3c4/s320/music-notes.jpg" width="320" /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Like many people who played D&D in the 1980s, I was a died-in-the wool metalhead. In fact, most of my gaming friends were. As a result, when we played, we often had music going in the background. Usually, we listened to speed/thrash metal like Metallica or Megadeth. However, we were also big fans of some of the more iconic metal bands of the 80s (Dio, Ozzy, etc.). Recently, I heard the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W0DB8NYhmI">Flash of the Blade</a> by Iron Maiden. Wow, did that song bring back memories. Surprisingly, not of junior high or high school, but of gaming. I can recall, in vivid detail, certain things that happened in our campaigns well over 20 years ago…memories sparked by little more than a guitar riff.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As the years rolled on, I occasionally tried to incorporate more “atmosphere appropriate” music into my campaigns. I recall a failed attempt to use a cassette of renaissance music I’d purchased in a used tape bin. I tried some of the music from TSRs own LPs First Quest (anyone remember those?). I tried some stuff from bands like Tangerine Dream which produced evocative synth music. Ultimately, none of it really worked. The only thing that ever felt really appropriate were film soundtracks but those had the added drawback of reminding us of the movies from which they were taken (still, I’ll always relish charging into battle to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDmXtW9Yx0">Anvil of Crom</a> or <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjvqY-U9gV0">Carmina Burana</a>)</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In thinking about this stuff lately, I can’t help but wonder what folks are using these days, especially with the advances in technology and the ready availability not only of music via MP3s but also sound effects. What sorts of music/audio do you use in your games to enhance the ambiance?</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-6460755431101311502010-10-11T10:15:00.000-07:002010-10-11T10:22:19.463-07:00Class Multiplication<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLNG0WacyPI/AAAAAAAAADo/6-F_3V45FII/s1600/PZO1113GMScreenFull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="103" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLNG0WacyPI/AAAAAAAAADo/6-F_3V45FII/s320/PZO1113GMScreenFull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve often seen old schoolers talk about stat inflation when it comes to successive versions of D&D. Those with experience with later editions will no doubt find that things really do develop rather quickly. As soon as one jumps from D&D to AD&D the average number for ability scores goes up by 2 (according to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/10/d-vs-ad.html">Rules Cyclopedia</a></i>). Hit points likewise tend to increase. Then, in 2<sup>nd</sup> edition, a whole host of alternate rolling methods were introduced, bringing with it more stat inflation. Now, it’s not uncommon for players not to roll stats at all, but rather to assign them using point buys or stat arrays, bringing with it yet more stat inflation.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While these things are bothersome to me, something that’s been getting under my skin lately is class multiplication. It seems that with each successive version of D&D we see more and more classes. While I personally think the addition of thieves was a good idea in order to capture a popular trope which was missing in the game (although, it wasn’t difficult to get by without them), I can’t say I much like what many newer RPGs are doing (and forget about keeping track with the addition of “prestige classes”!).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, just before I quit playing Pathfinder (I apologize for always using Pathfinder as an example, but it’s the only modern fantasy RPG I’ve played in the last year or two), Paizo announced the addition of several new classes with the advent of their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Advanced Player’s Guide</i>: Alchemists, Cavaliers, Inquisitors, Oracles, Summoners, and Witches. The next book Paizo will be releasing is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ultimate Magic</i>, which will see yet another new class in the form of the Magus (a wizard/warrior hybrid). This officially brings the number of classes you can play up to 18! I can’t help but wonder when (if) the number of classes will top out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One of the things I appreciated about 2<sup>nd</sup> edition was that it sought to put an end to class multiplication. Yes, I know that people enjoy classes like the barbarian or the cavalier from 1<sup>st</sup> edition, but 2<sup>nd</sup> edition ditched them. Why? Because, properly speaking, barbarians and cavaliers are really little more than specialized warriors. So why not play a warrior from the frozen plains as a barbarian? Why not play a warrior who excels in mounted combat as a cavalier? Why the need for new classes? That is, of course, how 2<sup>nd</sup> edition handled these classes. True, the addition of specialized kits from TSRs line of “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Complete * Handbook</i>” of splat books probably isn’t very popular today (among old schoolers and new schoolers alike) but I at least appreciated the fact that TSR saw a potential problem and tried to handle it (even if their “solution” was just as complicated as the problem they sought to avoid).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One of the things I’m enjoying about getting back to our roots is ditching so many of the extraneous classes. Not because I don’t like tropes such as witches or oracles but because I think those tropes can be attained using the core classes, with a little imagination and roleplaying. I’m quite certain that there are inventive DMs and creative players who enjoy the new classes. However, the more I dig into our history, the more convinced I’ve become that the multiplication of rules/classes was little more than an accommodation to inept DMs and unimaginative players.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-81646693311698796822010-10-09T02:15:00.000-07:002010-10-09T04:28:54.642-07:00Why I’m Rooting for Paizo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLAyiZE-g4I/AAAAAAAAADg/b8NKqD2fLtQ/s1600/paizo-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TLAyiZE-g4I/AAAAAAAAADg/b8NKqD2fLtQ/s320/paizo-logo.jpg" width="250" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While it’s true that Pathfinder’s massive Core Rulebook (or rather, <a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/08/into-age-of-silver-and-back-again.html">my wife’s reaction to it</a>) is the reason I came into the OSR, I have to say I still appreciate the materials Paizo produces for Pathfinder. Also, I happen to believe that Paizo’s success is promising for the OSR. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What success, you ask? Well, according to <a href="http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/18504.html">ICv2’s findings</a>, Pathfinder is now tied with D&D 4E in sales. That’s pretty impressive given that WotC puts out roughly 4-5 books for every 1 book that Paizo publishes. A game only 2 years old competing neck & neck with D&D? That would have been unthinkable before Paizo! While <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/295191-d-d-pathfinder-tied-first-place-icv2-q3-rpg-sales-list.html">many folks have challenged ICv2’s data as anecdotal</a>, Lisa Stevens, CEO of Paizo Publishing, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/general/pathfinderIsTiedFor1stCongratsToPaizo&page=3">has confirmed ICv2’s findings</a> with Paizo’s own figures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I, for one, think this bodes well for the OSR. Why? Because it demonstrates several things key to our success…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(1) People aren’t just going along with edition changes as was largely the case in the past. Pathfinder’s success demonstrates that people are willing to play “older” versions of D&D unsupported by the current license holder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(2) No more widespread brand loyalty. People aren’t just buying whatever WotC happens to put out. They are being more discerning in spending their gaming dollars. The fact that an ever increasing number of people are willing to spend their hard earned money on fantasy roleplaying game products not published by WotC is promising for Mythmere, Goblinoid, et al.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(3) WotC finally has some real competition. Rivalry is great for the industry, it drives the frontrunners to produce higher quality materials. In my opinion, it may also cut down on the “let them eat cake” attitude displayed by WotC in the past. Maybe, just maybe, this means that WotC may reprint some of the older things which appeal to us, or at least offer PDFs for sale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(4) Viable competition also causes industry leaders to ponder what they can do to gain the edge, perhaps including marketing to our niche OSR market. WotC has seen this as is evident with the release of their D&D essentials starter set. Sadly, their idea of marketing to us is limited to pretty boxes. Paizo has picked up on the fact that more and more players are taking an interest in old school style (not just old school trappings), as is evident with products such as their sandbox style adventure path, Kingmaker, as well as their recent announcement that they will be producing an introductory/basic version of Pathfinder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(5) Paizo already supports the OSR to a degree. Erik Mona is the driving force behind their publication of the pulp fantasy publication, Planet Stories. He has mentioned, time and time again, his love for and desire to serve old school gamers with future Paizo publications.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If nothing else, this news demonstrates that mainstream players now have viable options. If someone gets tired of the D&D 4E system, perhaps they’ll take a look at Pathfinder or some of the older editions of D&D before abandoning the hobby. Even if those of us in the OSR don’t see any gains, it’s good for the overall industry at the very least.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-14945330939041470022010-10-08T15:06:00.000-07:002010-10-08T15:35:35.452-07:00Target: OSR<object height="295" style="background-image: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/e1j4MZerR7Q/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e1j4MZerR7Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e1j4MZerR7Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve posted <a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/09/return-of-red-box.html">previously</a> about the return of the D&D red box (or, the cover at least). In that post, I mentioned that folks in the OSR may be, at least partially, the targets of the new WotC <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D&D Essentials Starter Set. Since then, I’ve wondered if perhaps I was wrong and that maybe children were the primary intended audience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However, I recently saw the advertisement for this product (posted above). I now have no doubt that we, or at the every least, our children are WotC’s targets for this product. Just watch the video. The backdrop for the ad is a pseudo-80s heavy metal song <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and, as many long time roleplayers well know, gamers and metalheads often <a href="http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2010/05/common-culture.html">shared the table in the 80s</a>. Likewise, the entirety of the video is made up of old school art & imagery, superimposed with things like graph paper (a far cry from the technology pushing ads we’ve seen in recent years from WotC). Finally, take a close look at the final shot: the new red box with the back of module B2 (Keep on the Borderlands) behind it. Strange, given you can’t play Keep on the Borderlands using 4E (although, I am curious as to what the hermit’s “Daily Power” would have been…/sarcasm off).</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This version is apparently a marketing tool based upon the submission of a contest winner </span>(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUOSsQlV2Qw&feature=related">which is even more overtly old school</a>).</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks to <a href="http://3d6-in-order.blogspot.com/">3d6-in-Order</a> for posting the ad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-76133160715546260902010-10-08T08:53:00.001-07:002010-10-08T08:57:13.791-07:00New Arrival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TK8-fN5MmeI/AAAAAAAAADc/p0vhdK-gkxU/s1600/D&D+Expert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TK8-fN5MmeI/AAAAAAAAADc/p0vhdK-gkxU/s320/D&D+Expert.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My copy of the “X” in “B/X” arrived in the mail yesterday. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated the fact that the mail carrier folded the package in half and shoved it in to my tiny apartment-sized mailbox. Oh well, thankfully it was only the book (while I’d like to have the box and module as well, I don’t have the cash to spend on it right now) and it was only in there for about 30 minutes or so before I rescued it. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m looking forward to reading it through completely. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve had Moldvay's Basic set for quite a while now, complete with box and module. I somehow managed to pick up a near mint (both books inside were mint, the box is slightly damaged on one side) copy on Ebay for $11.00 a while back. The owner said a relative bought him the set but he and his friends had already moved on to AD&D, so the set was never used, it just sat on his bookshelf for decades. Since I only bought the book this time, I’ll just keep it with its little brother in the Moldvay box.</span>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-58026402975684357142010-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:002010-10-06T16:39:23.484-07:00Railroading Players Into the Sandbox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TK0GI3LpZII/AAAAAAAAADY/Brkf7F4-ZkQ/s1600/railroad-tracks9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TK0GI3LpZII/AAAAAAAAADY/Brkf7F4-ZkQ/s320/railroad-tracks9.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As regular readers of this blog already know, I share the OSRs dislike of railroad style play. I don’t think players should be forcefully steered in one direction or another. I firmly believe in giving players real and meaningful choices which impact the game and the world around them. As far as I’m concerned, players are masters of their own destiny.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However, I’ve been wondering lately if there are any redeeming qualities to the “railroad” style of play. Perhaps that’s the wrong way of putting it. Even the terminology is repugnant to me (and probably also to you). Instead, I’ve been wondering about the limited use of plot-driven adventures under some circumstances.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, I’ve been having trouble getting across to my new players just what a sandbox style of game truly is. They are constantly looking for that one adventure hook which will get them into the thick of the game. I’ve explained that we’ll get into the game no matter what they do but they just don’t seem to get it, quite yet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, my players were recently part of a mercenary party traveling to the coast. One of the players got it into his head that I <em>wanted</em> him to uncover a plot to ambush the party from within. He spent the better part of an hour seeking to root out the non-existent conspiracy and was extremely frustrated that he couldn’t figure out what I wanted him to do. Of course, I didn’t <em>want</em> him to do anything…except enjoy himself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So, I’m working on a sort of D&D version of the nicotine patch. For the time being, I’m giving my players the types of games they’re used to, slowly weaning them off the railroad style, while getting across the point that they really can do whatever they want. One helpful way to get the point across is to reveal to them (in game) that the world around them lives and breathes, responding (or not) to the decisions they make. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, in our last game the players were traveling through the forest and opted not to investigate some tendrils of smoke curling into the sky above the treeline in the distance. Later, in town, they discovered that some goblins had attacked and killed some homesteaders, including the very man the players had been intentionally looking for.</span></span><br />
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This has been, by far, a much more successful approach in introducing them to sandbox styles of play than innumerable conversations on abstract gaming philosophies. Railroading players into the sandbox. Who knew!?</div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-69453587435562892762010-10-04T00:08:00.000-07:002010-10-04T00:08:42.373-07:00Child’s Play<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKl9boieD0I/AAAAAAAAADU/FbVDg_7S6CA/s1600/Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKl9boieD0I/AAAAAAAAADU/FbVDg_7S6CA/s320/Kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My perceptions could be off but it seems to me that BECMI (aka, Mentzer) D&D <a href="http://bxblackrazor.blogspot.com/2010/07/quitting-while-im-behind.html">isn’t all that well liked in the old school community</a>. Sure, there are people (<a href="http://nfiaos.blogspot.com/2010/08/valuable-lessons-from-mentzer.html">like me</a>!) who began playing D&D using Mentzer’s rules but even those folks tend to prefer playing other versions of the game.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One of the arguments I hear frequently is that BECMI D&D is synonymous with “kiddie D&D.” I think the fact of the matter is that all editions after Holmes was enlisted are geared toward reaching children as well as adults. Tim Kask, the first full-time employee of TSR, has related that Holmes was brought in to sterilize D&D and <a href="http://media.blubrry.com/saveordiepodcast/saveordie.info/wp-content/uploads/SOD0A.MP3"><span style="color: blue;">make it less scary for children</span></a>. Still, I’m not sure why Mentzer’s rules tend to act as the lightning rod for the “kiddie” criticism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, that’s not a new criticism. I spent the first six months or so of my gaming life working my way through Mentzer’s rules only to find out that the older kids (aka, high shcoolers) preferred AD&D. Basic D&D, we were told, was for kids. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So what is it about BECMI/Mentzer that people dislike? Why is that the edition people tend to associate with kids?</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-4588599770989307102010-10-03T01:10:00.000-07:002010-10-03T01:25:58.231-07:00Basic Pathfinder?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKg6Zsf3z8I/AAAAAAAAADQ/UhZHOHS4wfA/s1600/PathfinderRPG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKg6Zsf3z8I/AAAAAAAAADQ/UhZHOHS4wfA/s320/PathfinderRPG1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There’s been some discussion generated over on the <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/paizo/pathfinderIntroGame">Paizo boards</a> regarding the news that they’re working on a Pathfinder introductory set. They’ve asked for feedback from their fans (imagine that!) on what they’d like to see in such a set. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been surprised at the number of people requesting an old school/rules light version of the game. Not because I think old schoolers are few and far between but because I had no idea just how many seem to play Pathfinder despite their personal preferences. I freely admit to liking Pathfinder and Paizo as a whole. I see them as legitimate successors to the spirit of what was once D&D (albeit, buried under the barnacles of complexity). If a large/established company is ever going to work at brining the spirit of old school gaming back to the mainstream, I firmly believe it will be Paizo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The encouraging news is that there seems to be an immense interest in having the intro game be more than just an advertisement for the Core Rulebook. Folks are asking Paizo to consider actually creating and maintaining a distinct line of gaming materials that are fully compatible with, but considerably less complex than, the full-feathered Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. In essence, they’re asking Paizo to follow the old TSR model of a “basic” game and an “advanced” game.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I played Pathfinder until recently. While I did enjoy some sessions I have to admit that the system is <em>tremendously</em> complex and games easily devolve into searching the rulebooks for this or that obscure directive as opposed to actually playing. Add to this the incredibly complicated minis-oriented/tactics heavy combat and I knew the system wouldn’t work for me long term. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’d be lying, however, if I said I wasn’t intrigued by what may come of this. I, for one, would be ecstatic to see Paizo succeed in this endeavor.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-3809944089232677012010-10-01T20:23:00.000-07:002010-10-01T20:38:09.420-07:00D&D vs. AD&D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKapGVH-NJI/AAAAAAAAADM/P_aKQG6OJqo/s1600/PB173201-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKapGVH-NJI/AAAAAAAAADM/P_aKQG6OJqo/s320/PB173201-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In reading through the D&D <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rules Cyclopedia</i> (1991) I came across this helpful summary of the differences between RC D&D and AD&D (p. 291):</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AD&D characters tend to have higher ability scores, especially if some of the optional character generation rules are used. However, ability score bonuses are generally gained at a score of 15 instead of 13.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AD&D characters usually use different dice to roll hit points (for example, fighters roll d10).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AD&D game clerics get spells at first level, and often start with two or three spells.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The AD&D system separates character class and character race. Different class and race combinations are available (e.g. dwarf fighter/thief).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The AD&D alignment system adds a Good-Evil axis to the D&D game Law-Chaos axis, allowing greater detail (Lawful-Good, Chaotic-Neutral, etc.).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AD&D game spells are more complex. While one or two elements of a D&D spell may vary by character level, any and all elements of an AD&D spell (range, duration, effect) might vary in this way. AD&D spells are also more likely to have multiple effects or reversals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AD&D game magical items are more complex; many have three or more separate functions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The systems have different combat round time scales (affects encounter pacing).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The AD&D system uses a 10-point armor class scale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The AD&D game weapons inflict different damage against larger-than-man-sized opponents than against smaller opponents.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Equipment prices and encumbrance numbers are different between the two systems. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some D&D optional rules (Fighter Maneuvers, Weapon Mastery, and so on) have no equivalent in the AD&D system. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While I was aware of these differences, I thought it was nice to have the “official” listing as per TSR. It’s proven to be helpful as I work to determine which incarnation of (A)D&D I’ll ultimately choose as my main system.</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-4826503352799058892010-09-30T16:29:00.000-07:002010-09-30T16:37:12.195-07:00From Wargames to Roleplaying Games and Back Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKUdpxKsVKI/AAAAAAAAADE/KBIIy84yVnE/s1600/Combat+n+Tactics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKUdpxKsVKI/AAAAAAAAADE/KBIIy84yVnE/s320/Combat+n+Tactics.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lately the use of minis in roleplaying games has been on my mind. When I first began playing in the mid 80s we just didn’t use them in the game. We engaged in what I call “narrative combat.” The DM would vividly describe the scene, the position of the monsters, etc., answering the players questions when necessary. The combat was more like a movie reel in our heads and less like a game of chess. Oh sure, sometimes we’d buy a Ral Partha mini or two if they resembled our characters, but apart from perhaps showing marching order when entering a dungeon they had no real use in our games. They were there for flavor or fun but not much else…and we liked it that way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It seems to me now that the most dominant games on the market today, namely D&D 4e and Pathfinder, require minis for combat. I’m sure there are plenty of people who find ways to work around it if they find that style of combat distasteful, but the systems themselves seemingly necessitate them (with attacks of opportunity, 5 foot steps, flanking bonuses, etc.). The element I find disheartening is listening to players as they engage in those styles of play. In the games I’ve observed at my FLGS, gone is any sense of narrative. The focus is completely on the battlemat and game mechanics. It used to be “I stumble backward fumbling with my pouch to retrieve my spell components, trying to stay out of the path of the charging orc.” Now it’s “I five foot step here [pointing at the battlemat] so our fighter can get the flanking bonus and I cast defensively.” I’m afraid the roleplaying has turned into boardgaming/wargaming.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The people I’ve spoken with who are sympathetic to the OSR generally blame D&D 3e. However, I think the preoccupation with elaborate tactics requiring minis in D&D goes back a bit further, to AD&D 2e. Specifically, to the <em>Player’s Option: Combat & Tactics</em> book. I bought it when it first came out in the 90s but after going through the book once it sat on my shelf unused (and still does). In hindsight, I see that book as almost a blueprint for how combat would work in fantasy RPGs post 2000. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m quite sure there is a way to use minis, and minis-oriented combat, while retaining descriptive combat. Like most things in the game, it requires a capable DM. Sadly, it seems to me, the newer systems almost seem to assume that the DM is an incompetent schlub so they add in more and more rules/mechanics to make up for his/her inability/lack of creativity. </span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-28119169883165553032010-09-28T02:01:00.000-07:002010-09-28T02:04:05.146-07:00Attack of the Clones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKGuolDrgXI/AAAAAAAAAC8/WvoL0J7AmH0/s1600/diceinfo_tsr_header.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TKGuolDrgXI/AAAAAAAAAC8/WvoL0J7AmH0/s320/diceinfo_tsr_header.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve spent the last few weeks downloading copies of the various retro-clones on the market. I’ve been reading through everything from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Swords & Wizardry</i> to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">OSRIC</i> (and everything in between) in an attempt to find the one I want to use. The difficulty, thus far, has been twofold: (1) An illogical brand loyalty. (2) Realizing just how deeply new systems have impacted my thinking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When it comes to brand loyalty, I’ve always been a D&D fanatic. While I sometimes used other rpgs as temporary diversions I always returned to D&D. It may sound strange, but not playing D&D, even when it is ostensibly a D&D rules set, is really sticking in my craw. There’s just something about looking down and seeing that familiar TSR logo (in any one of its incarnations) looking back at you. It is totally irrational, I know, but that subjective pull just won’t seem to go away just yet. Anyone else experience that? I’m hoping that, in time, the retro-clone logos/covers will take the place of those old TSR covers in my mind’s eye as being representative of great fantasy rpgs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m also coming to grips with how deeply I drank from the waters of the new school of gaming. For example, I was working on a dungeon the other day and found myself asking lots of questions: (1) Why do the monsters get more powerful as the players delve deeper? (2) Why don’t the monsters ever attack and kill one another? (3) Why don’t the monsters trigger the traps? (4) How do the monsters navigate the locked doors? Etc. My need to have everything explained, up front, is a habit that will die hard. Don’t misunderstand me, all of these things will likely be explained as the players explore, but I think that’s sort of the key. Allowing players, their decisions, their exploration, etc., to root out the answers. I think, inevitably, deciding all of these things ahead of time will likely lead me to railroad my players in certain directions to find the answers I’ve predetermined. Better, I think, to have several potential answers in mind and let the players find it out for themselves (or not, as their actions determine things).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At any rate, as I navigate the waters of the OSR, one thing is certain…I’m having a blast!</span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8016965280221558749.post-73542871903610778052010-09-23T00:36:00.000-07:002010-09-23T00:43:02.702-07:00Begging, Borrowing, and Stealing from The History Channel<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TJsDY1bmvYI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-qZsQBniclg/s1600/cities_of_the_underworld-show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6kjgvYdfdQU/TJsDY1bmvYI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-qZsQBniclg/s320/cities_of_the_underworld-show.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve recently been watching, and immensely enjoying, a television show which has given me some great ideas for crafting some fun dungeons. It’s a show on the History Channel called <a href="http://www.history.com/shows">Cities of the Underworld</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_of_the_Underworld">Wiki</a> defines the premise of the show as exploring “the subterranean environment and culture beneath various civilizations.” Programs have featured everything from the torture chambers beneath the stronghold of Vlad the Impaler to the tunnels beneath Portland where unwary travelers were abducted and taken into the slave trade. It’s been a wonderful source of inspiration, not only to spruce up traditional dungeons, but to add in some subterranean fun your players would never expect. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend checking it out (there are some episodes on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cities+of+the+underworld&aq=0">Youtube</a> if you don’t have access to the History Channel). </span></div>New Fish In An Old Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13721546559966917909noreply@blogger.com2