Complex and Simple RPGs. Ok.
Playing wise (even it I haven't done much with the first one) I would say the most complex RPG I have is the Fifth Edition of Chivalry and Sorcery. I like the game, quite a lot, but it is a mountain to climb and character generation is not a fast process. Still it is a gorgeous game and I have such fond memories of earlier editions.
Simple of course goes to the classic B/X D&D, something I can more or less run on a dime.
This is very much a Peanut Butter and Chocolate moment for me. I have always been a fan of Brian Young's work on the Castles & Crusades Codex series and in particular his Codex Celtarum. I have also been really enjoying my re-introduction to Chivalry & Sorcery. So when I see there is a C&S book about Celts, written by Brian Young? Yeah, I have to have that!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cns5/the-celts?ref=theotherside
I have been dying to do more with this RPG, and this might just be the perfect book for me. I really can't think of single reason why I would not want to back this. One fo my favorite topics, by an author who is an academic and RPG expert on this this topic, for a game system I really want to learn.
Win. Win. Win.
While the faux leatherette looks really nice, I also like the one pictured above since it will go with all my other books.
So yes. Let's get this thing funded!
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the GoFundMe page for the funeral expenses of Jonathan Thompson.
Pinnacle Entertainment has now set up a bundle on DriveThruRPG to help aid in more of his family's expenses.
Jonathan M. Thompson Memorial [BUNDLE]
(not an affiliate link)
This bundle has close to 150 titles valued at $644.54, all yours for $25.
There is a wide variety here too. Old-school OSR, lots of Savage Worlds, even some Chivalry & Sorcery. Or, in other words, a lot of Jonathan's favorite games.
So please pick this up. Lots of great titles, and the proceeds go to help a grieving family.
I wasn't planning this one today, but I got some surprises in the mail.
Both of these will get full reviews later on.
Blue Flame, Tine Stars, or it's full title, Blue Flame, Tiny Stars: A Memoir of Early Experiences Playing the Holmes Edition of the World’s Most Superlative Role-Playing Game, is from Stephen Wendell and it recounts his experiences at the dawn of the RPG scene and with Holmes Basic in particular. I have flipped through it and it looks like a delightful read. It is available as Print on Demand and PDF.
Chivalry & Sorcery Basic Rules is also available as Print on Demand and PDF. It is a stripped-down, basic, version of the 5th edition of the Chivalry & Sorcery RPG. A great place for newbies to the C&S game.
Chivalry & Sorcery is my third of three games I want to use as my D&D 5 replacement, so I will have some characters and ideas for this game later on.
When it comes to RPGs emulating an authentic Medieval experience there are generally only two games that people go to; Pendragon and Chivalry & Sorcery. One could argue how authentic each of these are, but in general, they are far closer than D&D or anything else on the market.
Chivalry & Sorcery has been around nearly as long as D&D (1977 and 1974 respectively) and like many gamers my age we saw a lot of ads for it in the pages of Dragon Magazine, especially the Fantasy Games Unlimited 2nd Edition.
Currently, it is in its 5th Edition and is published by Brittannia Game Designs.
I am not going to review it today, but this is a gorgeous book. It is also a huge book at 600 pages.
I picked mine up from my FLGS a while back for some ideas on various campaigns, but now I am going to try it out on its own instead.
Brittannia Game Designs recently released the 5th Edition in a Print on Demand format AND a brand new "Basic Game."
The Basic Game is just about 80 pages and will cost you a whole $2.00. So well worth it for any D&D refugee.
I recently got my wife into the Showtime series "The Tudors," so maybe I could use that as an "in" for this game.
