Hey all. Quick one.
I am over at Jason Vey's blog talking about the newest Conan movie. Anyone else see this? Come by and let me know what you thought.
http://overpricedpopcorn.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-marcus-nispels-conan-barbarian.html
Monday, April 2, 2012
B is for Basic Clones
I was going to do Bunnies and Burrows today, but I wanted to stick a little closer to my home turf for this one.
BTW if you like, check out Bunnies and Burrows. It really is a classic and a piece of RPG history.
But today I want to talk about Basic Clones.
In the OSR (Old School Renascence) a Basic Clone is a game that emulates the rules of Basic D&D, or about the time frame of 1978 to 1984. I talked about the D&D Basic Game last year and ACKS yesterday. In fact I talk so much about it here it has it's own label, Basic.
D&D Basic was always my favorite system for quick and fast play. D&D Basic has been long out of print and usually can only be found at places like Noble Knight Games or Ebay. So I was thrilled when the Basic clones began to come out.
Basic Fantasy is one of my favorites. It is a simple game that covers the Basic D&D feel, but incorporates ideas from the later Advanced D&D game. Namely is splits up race (elf, human, dwarf) and class (fighter, cleric, magic-user). In other words it was D&D like how I used to play Basic D&D anyway. It is flexible, easy to use and totally free.
Labyrinth Lord is the biggest and arguably the most popular Basic clone. It is closer to Basic D&D than BFRPG is, but for me it lacks a little of the charm. Not to say that LL isn't great, it is and both lovingly sits on my shelf.
Dark Dungeons is another Basic clone aimed at emulating the old Rules Cyclopedia. It is a good effort but feels a bit off to me. Can't quite figure out why though.
Last year I also talked about the Companion rules. When the B/X version of Basic came out we were promised a book called the Companion rules that would take characters from 14th level to 36th level. We did get one, but is was part of the BECMI version of Basic and thus not 100% compatible and you would have to be a HUGE D&D geek like me to even care about the differences. Or you have to be these guys, since they wrote their own.
B/X Blackrazor came out with his B/X Companion which I have talked about extensively here and is currently sold out. But it is a great book.
Another book is called the Companion Expansion by Barrataria Games. It didn't get the same level of hype as the B/X Companion, but it covers much of the same ground. I have not looked at them together to see how they cover similar topics, but they seem very compatible. You can get the PDF of Companion Expansion for free at DriveThruRPG and a print copy for 16 bucks at Lulu.
My love for Basic D&D and the Basic clones is what prompted me to make my new witch book, The Witch, for Basic Era Games. Look for that later this month!
BTW if you like, check out Bunnies and Burrows. It really is a classic and a piece of RPG history.
But today I want to talk about Basic Clones.
In the OSR (Old School Renascence) a Basic Clone is a game that emulates the rules of Basic D&D, or about the time frame of 1978 to 1984. I talked about the D&D Basic Game last year and ACKS yesterday. In fact I talk so much about it here it has it's own label, Basic.
D&D Basic was always my favorite system for quick and fast play. D&D Basic has been long out of print and usually can only be found at places like Noble Knight Games or Ebay. So I was thrilled when the Basic clones began to come out.
Basic Fantasy is one of my favorites. It is a simple game that covers the Basic D&D feel, but incorporates ideas from the later Advanced D&D game. Namely is splits up race (elf, human, dwarf) and class (fighter, cleric, magic-user). In other words it was D&D like how I used to play Basic D&D anyway. It is flexible, easy to use and totally free.
Labyrinth Lord is the biggest and arguably the most popular Basic clone. It is closer to Basic D&D than BFRPG is, but for me it lacks a little of the charm. Not to say that LL isn't great, it is and both lovingly sits on my shelf.
Dark Dungeons is another Basic clone aimed at emulating the old Rules Cyclopedia. It is a good effort but feels a bit off to me. Can't quite figure out why though.
Last year I also talked about the Companion rules. When the B/X version of Basic came out we were promised a book called the Companion rules that would take characters from 14th level to 36th level. We did get one, but is was part of the BECMI version of Basic and thus not 100% compatible and you would have to be a HUGE D&D geek like me to even care about the differences. Or you have to be these guys, since they wrote their own.
B/X Blackrazor came out with his B/X Companion which I have talked about extensively here and is currently sold out. But it is a great book.
Another book is called the Companion Expansion by Barrataria Games. It didn't get the same level of hype as the B/X Companion, but it covers much of the same ground. I have not looked at them together to see how they cover similar topics, but they seem very compatible. You can get the PDF of Companion Expansion for free at DriveThruRPG and a print copy for 16 bucks at Lulu.
My love for Basic D&D and the Basic clones is what prompted me to make my new witch book, The Witch, for Basic Era Games. Look for that later this month!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
A is for Adventurer Conqueror King System
Welcome to the April A to Z blogging Challenge for 2012.
My name is Tim Brannan and this is my blog, The Other Side. This month I am going to review Role Playing Games. I am going to give you my opinions, overviews, reviews and maybe even some fluff or crunch.
For my "A" post I want to talk about Adventurer Conqueror King System.
ACKS (as it is also known) is what is known as a "Retro Clone", that is it takes a modern rule system (the d20 SRD) and make it emulate an older game. In this case Basic/Expert era (1980-1982) D&D. I discussed Basic D&D during last years A to Z challenge.
ACKS though is more than that. Part of the game's premise is it has a definite beginning and end. In game play characters are limited to 14th level.
Unlike other "Basic" retro-clones (like Basic Fantasy or Labyrinth Lord), ACKS also uses a skill system and complete rules for running and maintaining a kingdom of your own. Typically these kind of rules have shown up in later "Companion" rules.
Depsite the fact that there is nothing here I haven't seen before, I really like ACKS. My son has been playing in a weekly ACKS game and I helped contribute to the Witch class in the upcoming Player's Companion.
Speaking of witches, my own witch classes from "The Basic Witch" and "Eldritch Witchery" are compatible with the ACKS witch. You can use the same spells, traditions and magic with all three. In fact having all three gives you a more complete class.
I have spoken about ACKS before here and here, but the one thing I haven't mentioned is that of the recent batch of retro-clones, ACKS is the best looking one.
Player's Companion promises to be very interesting and hopefully it will take the game to new areas.
Follow my posts for more games!
My name is Tim Brannan and this is my blog, The Other Side. This month I am going to review Role Playing Games. I am going to give you my opinions, overviews, reviews and maybe even some fluff or crunch.
ACKS (as it is also known) is what is known as a "Retro Clone", that is it takes a modern rule system (the d20 SRD) and make it emulate an older game. In this case Basic/Expert era (1980-1982) D&D. I discussed Basic D&D during last years A to Z challenge.
ACKS though is more than that. Part of the game's premise is it has a definite beginning and end. In game play characters are limited to 14th level.
Unlike other "Basic" retro-clones (like Basic Fantasy or Labyrinth Lord), ACKS also uses a skill system and complete rules for running and maintaining a kingdom of your own. Typically these kind of rules have shown up in later "Companion" rules.
Depsite the fact that there is nothing here I haven't seen before, I really like ACKS. My son has been playing in a weekly ACKS game and I helped contribute to the Witch class in the upcoming Player's Companion.
Speaking of witches, my own witch classes from "The Basic Witch" and "Eldritch Witchery" are compatible with the ACKS witch. You can use the same spells, traditions and magic with all three. In fact having all three gives you a more complete class.
I have spoken about ACKS before here and here, but the one thing I haven't mentioned is that of the recent batch of retro-clones, ACKS is the best looking one.
Player's Companion promises to be very interesting and hopefully it will take the game to new areas.
Follow my posts for more games!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
A to Z Challenge
Tomorrow begins the April A to Z blogging challenge.
This year I am doing it not just once, but twice.
I have signed up my other blog, The Freedom of Nonbelief, to the challenge as well.
I felt that my other blog could also gain from the exposure and it would help me collect my thoughts some on what I think that blog should be about.
So please join me over there as I go through the A to Z of atheism, skepticism and free thought.
Here at the Other Side, I am going to be doing the A to Z of RPGs. I am going to pick a game for each letter and talk about it. I am though having trouble with the letter I. I am thinking I should do In Nomine, but not sure yet.
I am open to suggestions!
If you are coming here from the Challenge, then please leave a link back to your own blog.
This year I am doing it not just once, but twice.
I have signed up my other blog, The Freedom of Nonbelief, to the challenge as well.
I felt that my other blog could also gain from the exposure and it would help me collect my thoughts some on what I think that blog should be about.
So please join me over there as I go through the A to Z of atheism, skepticism and free thought.
Here at the Other Side, I am going to be doing the A to Z of RPGs. I am going to pick a game for each letter and talk about it. I am though having trouble with the letter I. I am thinking I should do In Nomine, but not sure yet.
I am open to suggestions!
If you are coming here from the Challenge, then please leave a link back to your own blog.
Zatannurday: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying
We worked this the same night as Justice. Again, I am happy with this build and see it as a nice compliment to the DCA/M&M3 stats. Both have a place in my world.
Name: Zatanna
ID: Zatanna Zatara (public)
Affiliations: Solo d10, Buddy d8, Team d6 (Zee is not a team player, but she has teamed up with John Constantine, Hawkman and Batman)
Distinctions:
Most Power Magician in the World (she is. And all the supernatural baddies know it too)
Celebrity in the Spotlight (Everyone knows who she is and she likes that)
Shades of Grey (Zee sees more grey than most Supers, even ones in the Marvel-verse)
Power Sets
Magic/Sorcery d12
Magical Spells d12, Blast d10, Senses (magical) d10, Teleport d10
Limit: Must be spoken backwards
SFX: Tantric Healing (can reduce stress)
SFX: Area Attack
Specialties
Mystic d10 (pretty much knows it all)
Cosmic d10
Menace d8
Psych d8
Milestones
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
1xp You uncover some plot that is magical in nature.
3xp You discover some new magical tome or artifact.
10xp You defeat the main villain without magic.
Daddy Issues
1xp You meet someone from your father's past.
3xp You take trauma from one of your father's old enemies or friends.
10 xp You must send your father's soul back to the afterlife to defeat the bad guy.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Justice: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying
Earlier this week I mentioned I spent some time over the last month with Marvel Heroic Roleplaying. One of the first characters I though about was my paragon character "Justice".
The great thing about Justice is I have a great grasp on who this character is, what motivates her and what she wants to be. So a game like MHR is really a good fit. Plus is gives me the chance to compare her "Marvel" universe counterpart with her "DC Universe" counterpart.
For Issue 5 I spoke to my regular GM Greg, the guy likely to be the GM of any supers game I'll play in and my go to guy for Marvel questions, suggested an adventure where Kara travels to Madripoor. Kara is there as part of a delegation with one of her law professors. Her role here is of course to be quiet and learn. Bet you know how that is going to turn out.
Since we are going to focus on the drama here Greg wanted to give her a love interest, one of the local criminals (whose name escapes me at the moment, but I think it was Wolverine's son).
So with out further ado, here is Justice.
Name: Justice
ID: Astra Kal-El / Astra Kent (secret)
Affiliations: Solo d10, Buddy d6, Team d8 (Kara is still trying to figure out who she is and she is doing that on her own.)
Distinctions: Uncompromising (sees the world in mostly black & white; good guys and bad guys)
Heroic Ambition (wants to be a hero)
Struggling with Identity (is she Amazon? Kryptonian? something new? How can she fit into a human world?)
Power Sets
Amazonian Heritage d10
Superhuman Strength d10, Superhuman Durability d10, Superhuman Stamina d10
Limit: Exausting
SFX: Multipower
SFX: Second Chance (reroll)
(she is still coming into her power)
Kryptonian Heritage d8
Superhuman Senses d8, Flight (subsonic) d8, Blast (heat vision) d8
Limit: Kryptonite - Shutdown
SFX: Second Wind (move power up to d10)
SFX: Invulnerable (spend 1pp)
Specialties
Combat d10 (training from the Amazons and Bruce/Batman)
Cosmic d10
Crime d8
Science d8
Milestones
Just like Mom and Dad...
1xp You encounter someone that knew your father
3xp You defeat one of your father's or mother's old enemies.
10xp You join or leave a team that your parents were on.
"Justice will Prevail!"
1xp You save an innocent life
3xp You must make a choice between the Law and Justice
10 xp You choose to see justice done at the expense of your own personal happiness.
I think this describes her rather well to be honest. And it is something I could use to help drive the character in any other Supers game she might be in.
For Issue 5 I spoke to my regular GM Greg, the guy likely to be the GM of any supers game I'll play in and my go to guy for Marvel questions, suggested an adventure where Kara travels to Madripoor. Kara is there as part of a delegation with one of her law professors. Her role here is of course to be quiet and learn. Bet you know how that is going to turn out.
Since we are going to focus on the drama here Greg wanted to give her a love interest, one of the local criminals (whose name escapes me at the moment, but I think it was Wolverine's son).
So with out further ado, here is Justice.
Name: Justice
ID: Astra Kal-El / Astra Kent (secret)
Affiliations: Solo d10, Buddy d6, Team d8 (Kara is still trying to figure out who she is and she is doing that on her own.)
Distinctions: Uncompromising (sees the world in mostly black & white; good guys and bad guys)
Heroic Ambition (wants to be a hero)
Struggling with Identity (is she Amazon? Kryptonian? something new? How can she fit into a human world?)
Power Sets
Amazonian Heritage d10
Superhuman Strength d10, Superhuman Durability d10, Superhuman Stamina d10
Limit: Exausting
SFX: Multipower
SFX: Second Chance (reroll)
(she is still coming into her power)
Kryptonian Heritage d8
Superhuman Senses d8, Flight (subsonic) d8, Blast (heat vision) d8
Limit: Kryptonite - Shutdown
SFX: Second Wind (move power up to d10)
SFX: Invulnerable (spend 1pp)
Specialties
Combat d10 (training from the Amazons and Bruce/Batman)
Cosmic d10
Crime d8
Science d8
Milestones
Just like Mom and Dad...
1xp You encounter someone that knew your father
3xp You defeat one of your father's or mother's old enemies.
10xp You join or leave a team that your parents were on.
"Justice will Prevail!"
1xp You save an innocent life
3xp You must make a choice between the Law and Justice
10 xp You choose to see justice done at the expense of your own personal happiness.
I think this describes her rather well to be honest. And it is something I could use to help drive the character in any other Supers game she might be in.
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