tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post690454303415220473..comments2024-03-27T22:32:17.055-05:00Comments on Jeffs Gameblog: Demos & DistroJeff Rientshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-20312109695711795472008-11-20T19:07:00.000-06:002008-11-20T19:07:00.000-06:00I think the best and most obvious solution to the ...I think the best and most obvious solution to the god awful and generally unfair HP situation in low level D&D (as most people would want to play. The "deep in the poo" old school pulp and low fantasy fans may disagree obviously!) would be to ignore HP rolls at level 1 and use either max L1 HP + CON bonus for your class at level 1, or your CON score directly (no bonus HPs though!) if its higher.<BR/><BR/>I have said it before and I will say it again. The biggest reason D&D isn't more popular is because of how damn lethal it is to level 4 or so. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure millions of kids and young adults went in with visions of Aragorn or Conan or Red Sonja or He Man (other well known S&S characters go here!) only to bravely charge into battle against the evil foes they were there to defeat. Then the DM rolled a couple high rolls and they were dead in the first combat.<BR/><BR/>Most probably said "Ok this SUCKS" then went away, leaving the RPG genre forever.<BR/><BR/>When you have something that's honestly pretty weird and dorky to begin with, making it so even interested parties won't have much fun isn't a solid game design decision.<BR/><BR/>TSR sold a metric boatload of Basic sets in the 80s. Hell, probably more Basic sets were sold in that decade than there are active RPG players TOTAL today. (Tabletop and LARP. MMORPGs, chat based MUD style, and electronic games are in a different category.)<BR/><BR/>Hell, I love these things and I quit playing an RPG because of endless deaths. I was constantly dying and there were no benefits or rewards for trying to play it heroically so I eventually quit and refuse to EVER play the game again. (Of course the DM was an inexperienced novice whose answer to any sort of criticism is to yell and be a colossal douchebag as opposed to listening to anyone's opinion and that didn't help either...)Captain Rufushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00296697477771399357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-59199664113720661982008-11-20T10:10:00.000-06:002008-11-20T10:10:00.000-06:00I agree with the above posters that LL is definite...I agree with the above posters that LL is definitely the best choice for your purposes - simple, quick to make PCs and easy to run, free download & print version in distribution. Its use of Moldvay as a sort of template means that it reads much more accessibly than C&C - I like C&C and it has a nice 1e vibe, but like 1e it's not that easy for new players to get into. Plus it lacks some things like encounter tables and dungeon design advice in the core books (which are 2 books, together twice the size of LL).<BR/><BR/>The only issue I have with LL is that starting PCs can't afford good armour (unlike in Moldvay), yet as in Moldvay they have few hp and die at 0 hp, so it's even more lethal than Moldvay Basic. A minimalist solution is max hp at 1st level.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-8442549662321868162008-11-17T20:11:00.000-06:002008-11-17T20:11:00.000-06:00A shame nobody but me seems love Castles & Cru...A shame nobody but me seems love Castles & Crusades in my area (CT). It really is close to THE version of D&D I have always wanted. A couple more classes and some options for miniatures, mass combat, and dominions and it would be.<BR/><BR/>Maybe if they ever get that durn Castle Keeper's Guide made?<BR/><BR/>I really don't see the appeal in Labyrinth Lord or its cousin Basic Fantasy. Ive already got RC, BECM, and Moldvay/Cook after all.<BR/><BR/>I can (and do!) house rule them with some stuff from Advanced and D20 already.Captain Rufushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00296697477771399357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-69038236311244309232008-11-17T08:51:00.000-06:002008-11-17T08:51:00.000-06:00Regarding drop-in games, I've hit upon the sam...Regarding drop-in games, I've hit upon the same successful formula: adventures keyed to last as long as one play session with a handful of recurring elements to tie the whole thing together. It's very much more in keeping with the episodic nature of the early swords & sorcery pulp material. <BR/>Regarding systems, I've gone through all of the retro-clones and original stuff, and didn't find a perfect fit for the Robert E. Howardesque low magic game I've wanted to run until I just gave on them and started playing GURPS. Newbies catch on well if you supply them with premade characters and explain the basic mechanic of "Roll 3d6 and if it's under the number on your character sheet it's a success."Matt Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891067785725540392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-14396544671860377992008-11-17T08:44:00.000-06:002008-11-17T08:44:00.000-06:00I love the AD&D "system with moving parts...I love the AD&D "system with moving parts that don't quite fit together." But I'm not buying that such a system creates "dynamic tension." For players not familiar with those parts, what usually happens is them asking, "Uh, do I want to roll high or low here?" Again, AD&D is my system of choice, but I'm just sayin' . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-27539241982337343032008-11-17T01:29:00.000-06:002008-11-17T01:29:00.000-06:00You know why there aren't any retro stupid games i...You know why there aren't any retro stupid games in the distribution chain? Because right now, there aren't many RPGs *period* in distribution.<BR/><BR/>And I really believe that the lack of retro-stupid games is part of that problem. We need more games that grab you by the dice bag and make you want to play, right now.Mike Mearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18338840534913321057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-19496657836811829812008-11-16T22:25:00.000-06:002008-11-16T22:25:00.000-06:00Not that I have any problems with LL. A fine choi...Not that I have any problems with LL. A fine choice, the best of the three you've mentioned for your purposes.<BR/><BR/>But another great game to consider, that's definitely "retro stupid" and in "distro" is Tunnels & Trolls.Chris Tichenorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866673632888599928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-62000422225798089692008-11-16T21:09:00.000-06:002008-11-16T21:09:00.000-06:00LL definitely the way to go. A Westmarches campai...LL definitely the way to go. A Westmarches campaign is a fine thing to aim for and I really like your idea of fitting the entire adventure into one session. Kind of makes the game far more immediate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-29045969194871449752008-11-16T16:03:00.000-06:002008-11-16T16:03:00.000-06:00Any house rules or the like, or anything you'll ch...<B>Any house rules or the like, or anything you'll change from LL as written?</B><BR/><BR/>Yeah, I've got a few ideas in mind for house rules. I need to get cracking on a house rules document.Jeff Rientshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-77142675983803366972008-11-16T13:26:00.000-06:002008-11-16T13:26:00.000-06:00On the retro-stupid, there's still Palladium Fanta...On the retro-stupid, there's still Palladium Fantasy, which is fiddly, have lots of little bits with some friction, but is still pretty accessible. I really liked 1e, but 2e wouldn't be horrible for what you're suggesting.Zachary Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01166638173640517627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-5423797112657806582008-11-16T13:24:00.000-06:002008-11-16T13:24:00.000-06:00Sounds good, Jeff. I'm for C&C right now,...Sounds good, Jeff. I'm for C&C right now, but it sounds like LL hits all the key points. $16-18 isn't too bad for players to pick up a copy, either, if they so choose.<BR/><BR/>Any house rules or the like, or anything you'll change from LL as written?Zachary Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01166638173640517627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-60152449536292437422008-11-16T11:57:00.000-06:002008-11-16T11:57:00.000-06:00Sounds like a cool idea. Try not to over do the du...Sounds like a cool idea. Try not to over do the dungeon crawling though throw in a good mix of city, village, and wilderness adventures.tgdyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11131794824854021354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-7701519037151205012008-11-16T11:35:00.000-06:002008-11-16T11:35:00.000-06:00How are you going to handle PC death?With viking f...<B>How are you going to handle PC death?</B><BR/><BR/>With viking funerals, solemn vows of revenge, and starting over from O xp.Jeff Rientshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17493878980535235896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7652921.post-58303580408644772212008-11-16T11:05:00.000-06:002008-11-16T11:05:00.000-06:00Love the concept of the ongoing drop-in campaign. ...Love the concept of the ongoing drop-in campaign. It would be great if you can build a foundation and a bit of a reputation with enough players that you would always have a game and that there would always be room for one or two newbies and players who only were able to make it irregularily.<BR/><BR/>And I think Labrynth Lord is the best choice. It's also free for pdf download so the players could go home and check it out at depth.<BR/><BR/>How are you going to handle PC death?OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.com