Answering the Random Wizard...

This seems to the be the latest thing going around so...

 

(1). Race (Elf, Dwarf, Halfling) as a class? Yes or no?
I am not opposed to race as class mechanics.  Hell, I started with Moldvay in the summer of 1980.  On the other hand, I also enjoy the variation of race separated from class that came with AD&D and I recently discovered Swords & Wizardry: Complete and that is going to be a big influence on my fantasy gaming from here on out.  Short and sweet, no.

(2). Do demi-humans have souls?
Of course.  Every sentient being has a soul.

(3). Ascending or descending armor class?
BOTH - Swords & Wizardry.

(4). Demi-human level limits?
I will know when someone gets to that point.  I am thinking they will continue to advance but suffer some sort of higher XP requirement or something.

(5). Should thief be a class?
Yes.  A thief is a specialist but not the only character that can sneak, hide, etc; but they are more proficient at those types of activities.

(6). Do characters get non-weapon skills?
Yes, they get whatever is appropriate to their race, class, and background.  I try to shy away from a long list of ever expanding skills.

(7). Are magic-users more powerful than fighters (and, if yes, what level do they take the lead)?Certainly.  Just think of some of the spells coming down the line for magic-users.

(8). Do you use alignment languages?
No.  I could fly with stuff like a Demonic or Angelic tongue but NEVER one based purely on alignment alone. 

(9). XP for gold, or XP for objectives (thieves disarming traps, etc...)?
I am leaning towards no XP for gold.

(10). Which is the best edition; ODD, Holmes, Moldvay, Mentzer, Rules Cyclopedia, 1E ADD, 2E ADD, 3E ADD, 4E ADD, Next ?
The truth is that whatever edition you are playing and enjoying is the best edition.  For me, I have to say that Moldvay is the best - not because of rules or anything else similar - because it was there at my introduction to the hobby.  Yes, I have a soft spot for Moldvay, Holmes, and AD&D because of the late nights my buddies and I spent rolling dice and exploring dungeons until we had to succumb to slumber.  

Bonus Question: Unified XP level tables or individual XP level tables for each class?
Individual tables allow the "weaker" characters to advance faster than the "stronger" characters and serves as a better balancing factor than a unified XP table.

[Mobile Post] Swords & Wizardry: Complete Arrived

After I posted about getting Swords & Wizardry: Complete through a trade, my wife arrived home withe package in hand.  I have not done an extensive read through yet but my first impression is that Swords & Wizardry: Complete is a near perfect match for the hybrid D&D/AD&D game my buddies and I played in our youth. I will write more as I read more...

Swords & Wizardry: Complete Arriving Soon...

I have downloaded several of the retro-clones but I have never purchased a print copy.  Through a book trade with a fellow blogger I have a copy of Swords & Wizardry: Complete on the way.  I had attempted to get a copy but I could not find one because it was all sold out everywhere.  Then I stumbled on to the chance to trade some of the works by a few of the Appendix N authors and a few of my unused gaming items for a copy.  Pretty excited about checking it out since I downloaded all of the Swords & Wizardry pdfs to help with a project I am working on.  A print copy will make it much more convenient. 

To The Stars! (Ideas for a Back to the Dungeon Sci-Fi Variant)

I have been a contributor to the neo-clone rpg over at Back to the Dungeon! for several different versions of the rules.  Now that Eric seems pretty satisfied with the rules, the focus has shifted to expanding the basic game.  Some of the areas for expansion include both of our campaign settings, variant rules, epic levels, modules, and a host of other topics.  One of my favorite ideas is a compatible science fiction game that uses as many of the base rules as possible with only the changes necessary for the science fiction genre.  Eric and I floated several ideas back and forth during some text messaging - I have expanded on some of them - and the basic ideas are listed below. 

Rules
Obviously, strip out the fantasy elements from the BttD RPG and then replace the appropriate sections with science fiction elements.  My goal is a generic sci-fi game that serves a role similar to D&D as a generic fantasy game.

Introduction

The introduction should start by explain that science fiction was one of the early genres to be featured in role-playing games following the success of D&D and other early fantasy games.  Maybe make a mention or two of other example games such as Traveller or Star Frontiers.

Races
Of course, Humans will be available for play.  *maybe the humans should have no attribute adjustments but the careers might modify the attributes?*  I am thinking that the best option may be to offer only humans in the base rules while alien races will be available in the setting descriptions.  There could also be mutant humans with psionic or other powers and Robot or Android characters.

Attributes & Generation
The original six attributes will most likely be used with the possible exception of replacing Wisdom with Will.  Attribute score generation should include a point distribution method along with the random die method. 

Classes (Careers?)
Some of the classes available for play might include:

Ace, Mercenary, Mystic, Scientist, Smuggler, Soldier

That is just a small list to serve as an example.  There should be many options available in the basic rules while the settings will offer even more.  I think an attempt should be made to have the careers be more fluid and open-ended than classes. 

Talents
While Back to the Dungeon has no specific skill rules, To the Stars will need to include them.

GM Stuff
Tables for generating planetary details like atmosphere, political climate, tech levels, religious climate, etc.  A short section on using both games - Back to the Dungeon and To the Stars - together in a crossover.

The Setting
There should be many and each one different in ways.  Each galaxy could be inspired by the basic premise of well known science fiction properties;  use the root idea as the base and then expand in different and original ways.  One galaxy could be based on Star Trek, another on Star Wars, another on BSG, and so on. 

Other Areas
Other topics that should be detailed in the rules include credits, equipment, a simple ship to ship combat system, military service, the different styles or genres of science fiction (50's, space adventure, hard science, etc.), adventure ideas, time travel, travelling to other worlds & dimensions, psionic powers, organizations, and more that I most certainly failed to mention so far.

It's a start...





 

The Walking Dead Season 4 Comic Con Trailer

Waiting patiently...

Behind the Scenes...

I do not have a lot to report but here are the latest things happening in the background that will most assuredly lead to some posts in the future.

 

Escape from Camp Blood: I am still jotting down ideas but would really like to get some serious work done on this board game.  The truth is, I do not have a tremendous amount of serious board game experience so the going has been kind of rough.  Eric at Memories of the Mayfly has been tremendously helpful with providing insight and ideas but I just have not had any solid ideas yet.  It will come along eventually but in the meantime I want to say "Thanks, Eric" and hope that the game starts to take shape soon.  It kind of sucks to be stuck in brainstorm and research mode with no real progress to show.  Soon, I hope to have something for us to make available for download.

 

Swords & Wizardry: After a bit of investigation I believe that I have settled on Swords and Wizardry for my standard retro-clone of choice; as in, games that stick pretty close to the older editions of D&D.  I think S&W does a fabulous job of it and I am working on a project right now with Venger that should be completed later this year.  The DCC RPG is still my all time favorite neo-clone type of game for all of the little changes it makes in the rules.

 

Toldara: I have two ongoing projects for my campaign world.  First, I need to complete the B/X campaign handbook; who knows, maybe I will whip up a S&W version also?  Second, I need to update the map with some geographical changes and additions.

 

USR:  I am still working on the zombie apocalypse adaptation of the USR system.  Most of my work has consisted of background and setting material because USR tends to fade into the background.  The biggest change is in the name of my project.  The name, OUTBREAK, is already taken by a small press rpg and also used for the title of a supplement to another game.  I have decided to either use REMNANTS or REMNANTS OF HUMANITY. 

 

In case you were wondering what has been going on behind the scenes, there it is...     

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fixing an Omission] K is for Karnin

A to Z 2013 is long over but I just figured something out - my "K" post was blank.  I do not know if it got eaten by the Blogger Gremlins or if I just screwed it up in my haste to get everything ready.  I got kind of lucky because I still have a copy in Word.  Without further delay, here is the monster entry version for the Karnin, a canine race from the world of Toldara.

 

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K is for Karnin

Karnin are another option for a PC race from the Toldara campaign.  The Karnin have much in common with the Anshus but the similarities have not resulted in harmony but rivalry and competition between the two cultures; much like the Dwarf & Elf wars that are in the histories of several campaigns I have played in.  It seemed to be a common event in the 80s.  I am not 100% sure that the Karnin are going to be a playable race in the B/X campaign so I am providing them as a monster entry in B/X format.

Karnin

Armor Class:       6                                                         No. Appearing:    1-6 (5-40)

Hit Dice:               1+1                                                    Save As:                 Fighter 1

Move:                   120’ (40’)                                          Morale:                 9          

Attacks:                2 claws/ 1 bite/ 1 weapon            Treasure Type:     U

Damage:              1-4/1-4/by weapon                         Alignment:            Lawful

Karnin are canine humanoids standing almost seven feet tall.  They can be found most everywhere and have a deep respect for the natural order of things and believe it is their duty to be resourceful instead of wasteful.  Karnin are open to visitors in their realms and can make powerful allies.  For every 18 karnin encountered there will be one leader (level 3-8: 1d6+2) and who may have magical items.  To check for possible magical items, multiply the leader’s level by 5.  The result is the percentage chance for that leader to own a magical item from any one particular subtable.  Roll separately for each subtable, and check all the magic subtables.  Karnin feel a general animosity towards Anshus and will be on alert in their presence.  Individual members of these two races may become friends but these two cultures will most likely never experience more than short, sporadic moments of peace between them.    

 

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Still not quite "perfect" but it is getting there...

 

Old Toldara Map

 

I was setting up my old desktop PC for my children to use during summer break and I ran across some old documents.  One of them was the old map for my Toldara campaign. The map below is for just one of the continents. Alex has a different map for another continent; I will let him post his up on his own blog at some point.  My map is below.

 

This is just a rough idea and it is far from final.  I am not too crazy about my world map skills but I thought I would post it up and see if anyone had any thoughts on how to pretty it up or any other suggestions or feedback. 

 

Map link: Old Toldara

A Post Worth Sharing

I just found Venger's Old School Gaming Blog yesterday and I browsed through many of the posts to see what I had missed since it began back in March.  I enjoyed the reading but Venger really brings the awesome in the following post:

 

Parallel Universe D&D

 

Go check it out!

Card Based RPG Systems

Note: I am making one quick addendum to the once a week post comment I made.  I have tried waiting and I just do not think that is going to work.  I think it will be once a week minimum plus whenever the mood strikes.  I really enjoy the act of blogging and I do not think I want to impose a strict once a week only mandate.  

 

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Shortly after it was released, I received the Dragonlance: Fifth Age Dramatic Adventure Game as a gift.  I was really interested in the idea of a role-playing game that used cards instead of dice during game play.  I thought the cards were pretty slick and I enjoyed messing around with them.  I really enjoy the bits of information on the history and timeline of Krynn included in the game.  I did pick up 2 or 3 of the boxed supplements for the game but that was about it.  I only played it once while I was stationed in Korea and it just did not click with that particular group of people.  I kept the game for several years but I eventually unloaded it in one of my game purges over the years.  I never did pick up the related Marvel Super Heroes game but I hear that it was pretty neat.

 

 

Everway was another game that ditched the dice to use cards for game play and it was published a year earlier than the Dragonlance game.  I never did buy this game or even get a chance to look through the contents of the box; the only thing I saw was some of the card images.  I remember being intrigued by the ads and the look of some of the cards included in the game.  I only saw Everway a few times at the game stores I go to and never did get around to buying the game.  I have noticed that some of the online used game retailers have it available.  I may have to purchase this game to check it out some time for no other reason than to satisfy my curiosity. 

 

 

I am far from an expert on card-based role-playing games.  I know there has got to be more games - whether professional or amateur press - using cards instead of dice during game play than the two I mentioned above.  I have heard that Deadlands and Castle Falkenstein both use cards but I have not played either one.  Does anybody reading this know?  Do you have any thoughts on the games?  I guess I am just a little surprised that there are not more card-based role-playing games out there.  It seems like you could do some neat stuff with the cards - even a traditional deck - like pairs, trump, off suit penalties, and the list could go on.  I have been thinking along these lines lately and I may have to post up some ideas at some point...