Friday, October 19, 2012

Jumping on the USR Bandwagon...

This is just a short post explaining that I am going to dig in to some serious work with the USR rules system.  I have the original version offered on the Trollish Delver site.  The document has been sitting on my hard drive for months and I just now got around to reading through the rules.  I am really impressed with the rules and I have several projects that I would like to use USR as the base rules system.
 
My Toldara campaign was originally developed for 3.x and Pathfinder.  After some time, I became interested in using a simpler rules set for the campaign.  I have dabbled with Castles & Crusades and several other systems.  I finally decided to look into doing a B/X version after recovering some old gaming items from my old room at my parents.  Then I discovered the Moldvay Era Classes in USR download available from Tabletop Diversions.  After I read that information I decided that USR looks like it would work remarkably well.
 
I also have several unfinished game ideas from my Old Gaming Notebook series of posts that I would like to complete.  The most likely are A World in Ruins and To The Stars... after I complete the Toldara conversion. 
 
That is a minimum of three downloads that I am developing.  USR is pretty much exactly the type of game I was attempting to develop with Quick Six and S.T.A.G.E. but I kept hitting stumbling blocks because I just could not seem to "get it right" on either one of these designs.  I am currently putting them both on the back burner and attempting to show some USR support.
 
More later...  

7 comments:

  1. Hey Charlie, thanks so much for the kind words about USR and I'm really glad that you have so many ideas for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem. Thank you for putting the game out there.

      Delete
  2. If you are looking for a very simple classed based game, see if you can find Tracey Hickman's XD20 system. It has a basic system with 1 stat, and the advanced has 3. While it is class/level based, it allows for some interesting possibilities where low levels can adventure with high levels. The problem is that I think you can only get it from his XDM book. So it will cost you money. The book is at least an entertaining read even if you don't use the system.

    If you want another simple rpg that is skill-based, besides the obvious. many have recommended Chimera Basic from the Welsh Piper. It is a free download.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the information, Darius. I have never heard of the XD20 system but it sounds interesting. Unfortunately for him, XD20 will have to go in the old "to purchase" list. There are 2 rule books ahead of it - Perilous Journeys and Steamcraft - that you may have heard of on the net and from the recent kickstarter. :-0

      I have actually been interested in Chimera Basic after hearing some praise for it. I may have it on my hard drive but if not then I will definitely take a look.

      I just wanted to also say that I appreciate the feedback and interaction on my blog. It is always nice to be able to actually communicate with people instead of just a blank screen. Feel free to comment anytime.

      Delete
  3. I had never heard of XD20 until a few months ago. I was at a con in Aug where I had a table selling stuff and promoting the kickstarter. While I was away doing something - Laura and Tracey Hickman stop by the table. My wife talks to them, and only has a vague idea who they are. They look at the SteamCraft book and thought it was great. They ended up talking to me wife about stuff. There is some important other stories after this, but it will take awhile. But those other stories lead me to their table. I am talking with Tracey about the nature of gaming and various things. He says he is going to DragonCon where he is running a charity game for the cast members of The Guild. I ask what system he is going to use, and he thought about it. Then decided that he was going to show off simple gaming. Then he told me about the XD20. I believe he was going to do the XD20 Basic where everything you want to do is rolled against 1 number.

    I think Hickman is far more known for novels that gaming so that probably explains why very few have heard of it.

    As for interacting on your blog, I enjoy it. It just all depends on if you post things when I stop by and if I have something to say about it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is the first I've heard of USR and Hickman's system; cool beans and thanks!

    Call me an old man, but Moldvay will always be considered the best of the best by me. Nothing I have ever read tops it for simplicity and coherence of principle. However, I am always up for a challenge to that throne; I will check out both of these systems if possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can not go wrong with Moldvay! If WOTC would reprint the B/X rulebooks together in one hardbound version I would be all over that.

      Delete