First off, the podcast is here.
Second, been mulling over and starting to put together some rules for my own D&D heartbreaker. My idea is to basically make this a "kitchen sink" model. I am going be throwing in as much as I can from Original to 2E. However, I am going to use the OGL as a baseline.
But, I am also going to be throwing in house rules. All kinds of house rules. Rules I have garnered from friend and from the OSR blogsphere. And, that is the one issue. I plan to have a page, or more, thanking everyone for putting out their ideas. I know I will probably never be able to sell the thing, yet would there be any issue from anyone else if I did publish it? Even if I did thank the people, do I have to be specific? Or could I just have the page thanking all of my fellow bloggers for their helpful ideas?
I ask because there is a two or three page pdf out there in the OSR that had a bunch of house rules and it was specific on who and where the rule was from.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Showing posts with label game blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label game blogs. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thoughts for the OSR about D&D Next...
I know, two blog posts in one day, wow!
Anyway...
Earlier, I was reading some stuff Jeff posts over here. He makes an excellent point. Yes, there should be some sort of grinding for those who want a more "old school" feel to this new game. I know mnay would probably say, "Why not just go back and use the old stuff?" Good point again.
But, I can see much potential in the little bare bones play test put out by WotC. I can see hacking away at some of the stuff, like the HD mechanic and the extended and short rest. And, I can see bolting on bits and pieces from other games, making some kind of game that isn't quiet D&D Next, nor "old school."
I think there is a happy medium out there, and it might be D&D Next. How? Well, if you look at the play test, yes there isn't much there. But, that can be a very good thing. Use it how you want to use it. Get back to WotC and say, "Hey this is what I did and I liked it because of X." Or, "I didn't like this or this, this is how I houseruled it." You never know, it might help. Or, WotC might take your idea and throw it away. Who knows.
Personally, I am liking many aspects of this new iteration of the rules. There are somethings that are a little wonky, yet they can be smoothed over with either a house rule or maybe waiting until we get to the next "patch" in a few weeks.
One thing it has done is spur me towards re-thinking my own game world and how to integrate these rules into the rule systems that I use. I love the fact that they use the Caves of Chaos and can't wait for more..
One of the big things that helped was the idea of this small sandbox, the Caves. I plan on using it, to some extent, yet there needs to be a base, and people and allies and enemies and just that small little setting has me thinking and plotting more and more.
Of course, this is all my opinion...what do you all think?
Anyway...
Earlier, I was reading some stuff Jeff posts over here. He makes an excellent point. Yes, there should be some sort of grinding for those who want a more "old school" feel to this new game. I know mnay would probably say, "Why not just go back and use the old stuff?" Good point again.
But, I can see much potential in the little bare bones play test put out by WotC. I can see hacking away at some of the stuff, like the HD mechanic and the extended and short rest. And, I can see bolting on bits and pieces from other games, making some kind of game that isn't quiet D&D Next, nor "old school."
I think there is a happy medium out there, and it might be D&D Next. How? Well, if you look at the play test, yes there isn't much there. But, that can be a very good thing. Use it how you want to use it. Get back to WotC and say, "Hey this is what I did and I liked it because of X." Or, "I didn't like this or this, this is how I houseruled it." You never know, it might help. Or, WotC might take your idea and throw it away. Who knows.
Personally, I am liking many aspects of this new iteration of the rules. There are somethings that are a little wonky, yet they can be smoothed over with either a house rule or maybe waiting until we get to the next "patch" in a few weeks.
One thing it has done is spur me towards re-thinking my own game world and how to integrate these rules into the rule systems that I use. I love the fact that they use the Caves of Chaos and can't wait for more..
One of the big things that helped was the idea of this small sandbox, the Caves. I plan on using it, to some extent, yet there needs to be a base, and people and allies and enemies and just that small little setting has me thinking and plotting more and more.
Of course, this is all my opinion...what do you all think?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
5E, D&D Next, or whatever...
So, I woke up today to get my place ready to see my girlfriend, and I thought I have time to check on a few blogs. I scroll through my list--a very long list of blogs what can I say I have found many people with interesting ideas out there--and I come across Alexis and his Tao of D&D.
Yes, sometimes this guy bugs me, yes sometimes I applaud his efforts. But, todays post he pointed out something I had missed. A new Legends and Lore column. I also missed the original poll and was a little bummed. I thought the thing comes out on Wed. not Monday. Oh well.
The thing that gets me is more than a few bloggers are going on and on about how they don't want to be part of D&D Next or 5E or whatever you want to call it. I am kinda curious. I have signed up and waiting to see what happens.
Yet, there is something in the back of my mind when I read these other blogs. All of them decrying how WotC has lost its way and that company will never get back those people's money even if you bring back the 1E books--which they are doing and, yes I'm probably going to get them as well. How no matter what WotC does, their edition was the best and will never stop using the three little books or the glut that was 2E or 3E.
Guess what guys, you can still do that. WotC isn't going to come to your house, take away your computer and old editions and burn them in front of you and shout for show as they count the tears they collect from you. Play the game you guys want. If you are a DIY guy, maybe you will find something you like in D&D Next. Maybe you won't.
How about we just stop the speculation and beating of a horse that, never mind dead; it hasn't been spawned yet! Go back to your arguments about why infravision is broken or not, how to properly use Weapon Type vs. Armor or how effective/ineffective weapon speed factors are. Or rant about how WotC screwed the pooch, I'm not some holier than thou man myself. I sometimes rant about Type IV myself. When I first started this blog I ranted to them. Here. There is some anger there. Still feel that way from time to time.
In closing, look guys this is a game. We play it to have fun. Do what you want, play what you want. You can do that--last time I checked. If you need to get something off your chest, do it. But, maybe we can go on to do something else.
What do you say?
Yes, sometimes this guy bugs me, yes sometimes I applaud his efforts. But, todays post he pointed out something I had missed. A new Legends and Lore column. I also missed the original poll and was a little bummed. I thought the thing comes out on Wed. not Monday. Oh well.
The thing that gets me is more than a few bloggers are going on and on about how they don't want to be part of D&D Next or 5E or whatever you want to call it. I am kinda curious. I have signed up and waiting to see what happens.
Yet, there is something in the back of my mind when I read these other blogs. All of them decrying how WotC has lost its way and that company will never get back those people's money even if you bring back the 1E books--which they are doing and, yes I'm probably going to get them as well. How no matter what WotC does, their edition was the best and will never stop using the three little books or the glut that was 2E or 3E.
Guess what guys, you can still do that. WotC isn't going to come to your house, take away your computer and old editions and burn them in front of you and shout for show as they count the tears they collect from you. Play the game you guys want. If you are a DIY guy, maybe you will find something you like in D&D Next. Maybe you won't.
How about we just stop the speculation and beating of a horse that, never mind dead; it hasn't been spawned yet! Go back to your arguments about why infravision is broken or not, how to properly use Weapon Type vs. Armor or how effective/ineffective weapon speed factors are. Or rant about how WotC screwed the pooch, I'm not some holier than thou man myself. I sometimes rant about Type IV myself. When I first started this blog I ranted to them. Here. There is some anger there. Still feel that way from time to time.
In closing, look guys this is a game. We play it to have fun. Do what you want, play what you want. You can do that--last time I checked. If you need to get something off your chest, do it. But, maybe we can go on to do something else.
What do you say?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Yet another post about New Years and gaming...
Hello all...I have returned to write the blog. I have emerged from 2011 and I am glad it is over. I hope 2012 is better.
I will not be looking backwards as many blogs do. I will be looking forward. (And, hopefully we will see how well I can get the list done.)
Games I want to play:
Superheroes Unlimited
D&D, Basic-3.5 and even Pathfinder
4E (Yeah, I want to give it another go. I have most of the books, just running into the issue of who will run...)
A Whitewolf game of some kind
Starwars
A sci-fi game of some kind (Maybe Star Frontiers or Rifts)
Games I plan on running:
Continuing my 2E game
A Starwars game, maybe continuing with the game as it was last year.
A superhero game
My Journey game--more on that later
Maybe even trying to run a 1E game, using Temple of Elemental Evil as a base.
And, running a game or two on Google+ with perhaps the LotFP ruleset
And, that is all I can think of right now...
And, hopefully soon we will have another podcast up soon.
I will not be looking backwards as many blogs do. I will be looking forward. (And, hopefully we will see how well I can get the list done.)
Games I want to play:
Superheroes Unlimited
D&D, Basic-3.5 and even Pathfinder
4E (Yeah, I want to give it another go. I have most of the books, just running into the issue of who will run...)
A Whitewolf game of some kind
Starwars
A sci-fi game of some kind (Maybe Star Frontiers or Rifts)
Games I plan on running:
Continuing my 2E game
A Starwars game, maybe continuing with the game as it was last year.
A superhero game
My Journey game--more on that later
Maybe even trying to run a 1E game, using Temple of Elemental Evil as a base.
And, running a game or two on Google+ with perhaps the LotFP ruleset
And, that is all I can think of right now...
And, hopefully soon we will have another podcast up soon.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My 49th post!
Yeah, I know, this is the penultimate post before the 50.
There are many I wish to thank, and many who just wish I would get on with it. I think I will do the latter.
This might seem like a bit of a silly post, yet I think certain things should be celebrated. I know over at THAC0 forever, he just posted his 100th post, and that was after 3 years. I hope it doesn't take me that long to do mine.
Still looking through the LotFP:Deluxe box set. And, I really want to try and get the Grindhouse edition eventually. However, one thing I have already done is obtained the free pdf from his blog. I must say, looking over the spells, he has truly changed the game in an interesting way. Wizards no longer have the destructive spells of fireball and lightning bolt. And at first glance, that is a bad thing. Yet, if you think about it, two ideas pop into my head at least.
One is that this makes the wizard a little more "balanced" with the rest of the party. He no longer can out damage the fighter, with the exception of magic missile which still does a d4 of damage PER LVL! The other thing is that with spell research, if a wizard PC REALLY wants to get those spells into the game, he can find a way as long as the DM allows it. I would say don't do it. Unless there is a cost. Perhaps go back to the way the druid spell call lightning works in 2E. You need to have a storm going to summon up the lightning in the first place. Not saying do it, but that just came to me as I was writing.
Another thought comes from talking with a friend of mine. You heard him on the last podcast. My buddy Joe and I were talking about this game system. Well, I was telling him how great it is and he was giving me the stink eye, but you get the idea. The point is that this box set is very much a DIY kind of game. DMs can use as little or as much as they want. The rules are basic and easy to use. There are rules for making magic items and I for one have more than a few ideas for items that would have the feel of the "weird" that ould fit into the setting.
Now, the only issue is to try and convince the rest of my gaming group that this is a good idea. Some of them might shy away from the difficulty inherent in this system. Wizards are big power houses, fighters are the only ones who get better as they level, clerics are healers and "buffers." (To borrow from the lexicon of the MMORPG.) And, with no "stock" monsters, the DM must create monsters and creatures that are eldritch, macabre and unique.
I think with my next post, I will start giving a run down the box set, or at least rules and concepts that I like from the game in a more expanded way.
There are many I wish to thank, and many who just wish I would get on with it. I think I will do the latter.
This might seem like a bit of a silly post, yet I think certain things should be celebrated. I know over at THAC0 forever, he just posted his 100th post, and that was after 3 years. I hope it doesn't take me that long to do mine.
Still looking through the LotFP:Deluxe box set. And, I really want to try and get the Grindhouse edition eventually. However, one thing I have already done is obtained the free pdf from his blog. I must say, looking over the spells, he has truly changed the game in an interesting way. Wizards no longer have the destructive spells of fireball and lightning bolt. And at first glance, that is a bad thing. Yet, if you think about it, two ideas pop into my head at least.
One is that this makes the wizard a little more "balanced" with the rest of the party. He no longer can out damage the fighter, with the exception of magic missile which still does a d4 of damage PER LVL! The other thing is that with spell research, if a wizard PC REALLY wants to get those spells into the game, he can find a way as long as the DM allows it. I would say don't do it. Unless there is a cost. Perhaps go back to the way the druid spell call lightning works in 2E. You need to have a storm going to summon up the lightning in the first place. Not saying do it, but that just came to me as I was writing.
Another thought comes from talking with a friend of mine. You heard him on the last podcast. My buddy Joe and I were talking about this game system. Well, I was telling him how great it is and he was giving me the stink eye, but you get the idea. The point is that this box set is very much a DIY kind of game. DMs can use as little or as much as they want. The rules are basic and easy to use. There are rules for making magic items and I for one have more than a few ideas for items that would have the feel of the "weird" that ould fit into the setting.
Now, the only issue is to try and convince the rest of my gaming group that this is a good idea. Some of them might shy away from the difficulty inherent in this system. Wizards are big power houses, fighters are the only ones who get better as they level, clerics are healers and "buffers." (To borrow from the lexicon of the MMORPG.) And, with no "stock" monsters, the DM must create monsters and creatures that are eldritch, macabre and unique.
I think with my next post, I will start giving a run down the box set, or at least rules and concepts that I like from the game in a more expanded way.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Random thoughts while I can't sleep
I know, it is past 4 in the morning. I can't sleep yet. Far to much to do.
I am still working on a fantasy novel of mine.
I'm working on a 1st edition campaign that I hope will rock people's socks off.
And, currently I'm listening to the RFI podcast, which can be found here.
Some of my thoughts...
I am loving this guy's blog. I'm finding so much stuff from his blog to put in that my campaign folder has reached over a hundred pages. I just now found a god that he has been referring to again and again and again. After finding it, I love it and it is going into my campaign.
I like RFI. I also like the others, Save or Die and THACO's Hammer. All of these are great podcasts, mine is a pale imitation at times. (Yes, I will be getting a podcast up soon.) Something I like about them is they get me excited about gaming. About wanting to run a campaign. It could also be a bad thing when I get a campaign going, yet that is the nature of the beast.
And, I really, really, REALLY want to run a 1st edition AD&D campaign. This is the campaign I am working on right now, been working on it for some time. It will still need a bit before I finally get around to running the dang thing, yet that is also the nature of the beast.
And now, I am going to try and go to sleep.
I am still working on a fantasy novel of mine.
I'm working on a 1st edition campaign that I hope will rock people's socks off.
And, currently I'm listening to the RFI podcast, which can be found here.
Some of my thoughts...
I am loving this guy's blog. I'm finding so much stuff from his blog to put in that my campaign folder has reached over a hundred pages. I just now found a god that he has been referring to again and again and again. After finding it, I love it and it is going into my campaign.
I like RFI. I also like the others, Save or Die and THACO's Hammer. All of these are great podcasts, mine is a pale imitation at times. (Yes, I will be getting a podcast up soon.) Something I like about them is they get me excited about gaming. About wanting to run a campaign. It could also be a bad thing when I get a campaign going, yet that is the nature of the beast.
And, I really, really, REALLY want to run a 1st edition AD&D campaign. This is the campaign I am working on right now, been working on it for some time. It will still need a bit before I finally get around to running the dang thing, yet that is also the nature of the beast.
And now, I am going to try and go to sleep.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Life...
I know I haven't posted for awhile. Been busy working on a fantasy novel. I have also been ignoring gaming for the most part. (I haven't played much of the Temple game in the last two weeks and my friend's Fallout game at all.)
This is just the way of things. Life gets in the way of things.
However, that doesn't mean I am going to stop reading other blogs, or stop working on this one. The podcast should be up sometime next week. I will keep you gentle readers up to date on that.
Something I have noticed in the blogsphere is how annoying some people can be about their own ideas. I realize it is kind of silly to say that when my own blog has the name Rant in it. Yet, I try to understand where other people are coming from. There are others out there who have such a myopic opinion that they immediately say that if you don't agree with me, you are wrong. (I will not be acting like a tattle-tale, saying who is doing this or that. That is rather silly in my opinion and not what I set this blog up for.)
Also, I do realize that the blogs are someone's opinion and nothing more. AND, if you don't like it, don't read the rest of the article, blog or whatever and go on to the next one. Or, just stop reading them in general.
More to come later...
This is just the way of things. Life gets in the way of things.
However, that doesn't mean I am going to stop reading other blogs, or stop working on this one. The podcast should be up sometime next week. I will keep you gentle readers up to date on that.
Something I have noticed in the blogsphere is how annoying some people can be about their own ideas. I realize it is kind of silly to say that when my own blog has the name Rant in it. Yet, I try to understand where other people are coming from. There are others out there who have such a myopic opinion that they immediately say that if you don't agree with me, you are wrong. (I will not be acting like a tattle-tale, saying who is doing this or that. That is rather silly in my opinion and not what I set this blog up for.)
Also, I do realize that the blogs are someone's opinion and nothing more. AND, if you don't like it, don't read the rest of the article, blog or whatever and go on to the next one. Or, just stop reading them in general.
More to come later...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Opinion, something else everyone has
It all started with this. The this guy jumps onto the band wagon without actually reading the first posting completely. I think all he wanted was to vent about his own feelings towards the idea of IP's and how he thinks they are sucking the life out of the rpg market. He has a point, yet he is so vitriolic about it that he needs to relax. Then, Raggi chimes in with his own two cents.
What does all this have to do with me and where do I stand?
I stand in between them all. Where Steven S. Long stands. There are some good IP games out there. I own a few. There are some that aren't very good. I own a few. Yet, it will always be around because this is how the consumer market functions. The blogging community at large will always find a way to make some giant point out of something someone else said. It is the nature of these blogs.
It reminds me of the old saying that opinions are like a certain part of the anatomy, and they all stink. Some stink more than others and some people just need to relax.
In other news, I'm still trying to get my group together for the Star Wars Saga game. Need to try and get them together to make characters.
And, I'm thinking of doing something with both the podcast and the blog here. One is to "pimp" or at least recommend a podcast or blog. Today, I highly recommend the RFI podcast. Even if you aren't into 1st ed. D&D, it is a great podcast. The link is to their site. The site is a little behind. Or, go to iTunes and look for RFI podcast. If you see Book of Sorrows, download that one too. It is their actual play podcast.
As for gaming blogs, any of those to the right of my rants are good. I recommend Raggi's own LotFP. It is pretty good.
Farewell for now, and may evil be confused on the way to your house.
P.S.
I think Zak's blog over at D&D with Porn Stars helps to illustrate what I'm trying to get at, check it out!
What does all this have to do with me and where do I stand?
I stand in between them all. Where Steven S. Long stands. There are some good IP games out there. I own a few. There are some that aren't very good. I own a few. Yet, it will always be around because this is how the consumer market functions. The blogging community at large will always find a way to make some giant point out of something someone else said. It is the nature of these blogs.
It reminds me of the old saying that opinions are like a certain part of the anatomy, and they all stink. Some stink more than others and some people just need to relax.
In other news, I'm still trying to get my group together for the Star Wars Saga game. Need to try and get them together to make characters.
And, I'm thinking of doing something with both the podcast and the blog here. One is to "pimp" or at least recommend a podcast or blog. Today, I highly recommend the RFI podcast. Even if you aren't into 1st ed. D&D, it is a great podcast. The link is to their site. The site is a little behind. Or, go to iTunes and look for RFI podcast. If you see Book of Sorrows, download that one too. It is their actual play podcast.
As for gaming blogs, any of those to the right of my rants are good. I recommend Raggi's own LotFP. It is pretty good.
Farewell for now, and may evil be confused on the way to your house.
P.S.
I think Zak's blog over at D&D with Porn Stars helps to illustrate what I'm trying to get at, check it out!
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