For these D&D PDFs I will review the content as it is with the intended version in mind. I'll also look at these in terms what you can get out of this for any other version of D&D. Finally I'll look PDF conversion itself.
Deities & Demigods (1e)
Deities & Demigods was the first Hardcover D&D book I ever purchased. So it is fitting then it is the first of the re-release (1/22/2013) of the D&D PDFs that I have purchased.
First of this is book is an update on the old OD&D Gods, Demigods and Heroes. Presented here are the gods (greater and lesser), demigods and heroes of 15 pantheons. Included are: American Indian Mythos, Arthurian Heroes, Babylonian Mythos, Celtic Mythos, Central American Mythos, Chinese Mythos, Egyptian Mythos, Finnish Mythos, Greek Mythos, Indian Mythos, Japanese Mythos, Nehwon Mythos, Nonhumans' Deities, Norse Mythos, and Sumerian Mythos.
There is plenty of information for build your world myths and the multivesre around your world. This also features the first update to known planes that appeared in the Player's Handbook.
The layout is somewhat like a Monster Manual, which is unfortunate. I can say that back in 82-83 that is exactly how we used it.
The art is now classic in my mind, with some of the biggest names in D&D/TSR at the time.
If you are playing newer editions then all the gods you know about had their start here in this book. All the other deities books are sequels to this one.
The PDF is clean and easy to read. There has been some post-scan cleanup on it so the pages appear very white and not scanned in white.
I feel as good about my purchase today as I did 30 years ago.
D&D Basic Set Rulebook (Basic)
If you are like me then this is it. THIS is what D&D was. Sure I had read a friends Holmes/Blue-book Basic set and I knew of AD&D through the Monster Manual. But this is the D&D book that started it all for me. This is the one that set fire to my imagination.
This is a complete set of rules. Character creation through to 3rd level. Monsters, treasures, dungeons. Everything that ever was or will be D&D had it's start right here (more or less). Honestly this book is not worth 5 stars here. It is worth 6 out of 5.
I almost would say that if I could only play one version of D&D ever, then this might be the one. It lacks the complexity of AD&D or 3e, but anymore I see this as a feature.
64 pages plus cover. Marbleized dice and crayon not included.
D&D RPG Starter Set "Quickstart" (4e)
Everything you need to start playing D&D 4e except for people, dice and some monsters.
You have heard a lot about this game to be sure, but the proof is always in the playing. At the incredibly low price of Nothing you can see how the most current version of D&D (as of this writing) plays.
H1 Keep on the Shadowfell & Quick-Start Rules (4e)
The first module of the great Orcus/Raven Queen campaign for 4e. The module itself tries to harken back to another Keep; The Keep on the Borderlands, but the feel here is very, very different. There is a lot more going on and it can feel very combat heavy and even a touch predictable. But that is fine for a 1st adventure. Everyone is still too busy figuring out moves and markingins and surges to worry whether or not rumor X or rumor Y turns out to be true.
The big feature of this module though is also the quick start play rules. There is lot here that can help the new 4e player and DM. So it you are at all curious about 4e then give this one a look.
Adventurer's Vault (4e)
Tons and tons of magic items for your 4e games. Broken up basically the same way they always have been. Armors, Weapons, Swords, Potions, Wands, Rods, Staves, and Miscellaneous. At 250+ pages with multiple items per page this is a packed book and there is something here for everyone.
Looking at this with an eye towards other editions, you could convert these to 3e without much difficulty. Other editions have more or less the same items (or similar ones) in edition specific books (The Book of Marvelous Magic comes to mind). But still a good selection for the money and a must have for the serious 4e player.
The art is top notch and the PDF is straight from the digital source file.
Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil (3e)
The 3rd edition update to the classic Gygax intro adventure.
Return to the The Temple of Elemental Evil has a new generation of characters returning to the Village of Hommlet (where time seems to have stood still) to investigate the new uprising of evil.
Designed obviously to appear to adults who were kids when the original T1 and ToEE came out, it looses none of it's appeal.
Regardless what version of the game you play, if you ever played the original ToEE then pick this up.
If you have never played or run the original, but are a fan of the 3rd game, then certainly pick this up.
This is one of those adventures that should be republished for every edition of D&D. Great to start with and run some 1st level characters through but dangerous enough to merit coming back to at a later time.
Besides who doesn't want to go up against ultimate evil, stare in into it's ugly face and say "come get some!"
This PDF is in great shape.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Yeah...looks like pure cheese, but I'll go see it.
Opens tonight at midnight.
http://www.hanselandgretelmovie.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansel_and_Gretel:_Witch_Hunters
Opens tonight at midnight.
http://www.hanselandgretelmovie.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansel_and_Gretel:_Witch_Hunters
We lost two good men out there
Two longtime bloogers are hanging up their...gloves? shoes? what is a good analogy here? closing their laptops? keyboards...
Anyway. Two blogs are shutting down at least for the time being.
Tommy Brownell of The Most Unread Blog on the Internet. Ever. is closing shop due to a massive hard drive failure.
http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-end.html
I enjoyed Tommy's reviews and always looked at them as the games I should also be reading.
He does plan to keep it up so his posts will remain.
Sword & Shield is going on a hiatus.
http://swordandshieldrpg.blogspot.com/2013/01/hiatus.html
In enjoyed the old-school vibe from this blog and Fenway5's/Christopher's take on various topics. Hope to see this blog back sometime in the future, but I will continue follow his other blog Heroes & Other Worlds.
It is always too bad when a blog leaves the scene, at least in this case we got a chance to say good bye.
Anyway. Two blogs are shutting down at least for the time being.
Tommy Brownell of The Most Unread Blog on the Internet. Ever. is closing shop due to a massive hard drive failure.
http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-end.html
I enjoyed Tommy's reviews and always looked at them as the games I should also be reading.
He does plan to keep it up so his posts will remain.
Sword & Shield is going on a hiatus.
http://swordandshieldrpg.blogspot.com/2013/01/hiatus.html
In enjoyed the old-school vibe from this blog and Fenway5's/Christopher's take on various topics. Hope to see this blog back sometime in the future, but I will continue follow his other blog Heroes & Other Worlds.
It is always too bad when a blog leaves the scene, at least in this case we got a chance to say good bye.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A game without combat
So I am reading this new book and it is really good with interesting characters and a great, well developed world and background.
But there is nothing really in the way of combat.
This got me thinking. How would you do a game based on a property that has very little in the way of combat or even conflict.
A good example (but not the book I am reading) is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Great series of books, but not big with the "killing things and taking their stuff" though in HHGTTG there are some "Goals". "Did I get on the right ship?" "Do I know where I am going?" "Do I have my towel?"
So what are your favorite combat-less systems?
But there is nothing really in the way of combat.
This got me thinking. How would you do a game based on a property that has very little in the way of combat or even conflict.
A good example (but not the book I am reading) is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Great series of books, but not big with the "killing things and taking their stuff" though in HHGTTG there are some "Goals". "Did I get on the right ship?" "Do I know where I am going?" "Do I have my towel?"
So what are your favorite combat-less systems?
White Dwarf Wednesday #49
Ian Livingstone comments on the Orwellian overtones, or lack thereof, of today's gaming. Honestly it seemed like a weak linking to me. It's 1984 and you need to say something about 1984. Interestingly enough I read 1984 just the year prior. Never really thought there was much for RPGs in it. Computer gaming yes, but not TTRPGs.
Up first is Shuttle Scuttle by Thomas M Price. This is the mentioned multi-system adventure. This one supports Traveller (natch), Space Opera and Laserburn. I'll admit, I have never heard of Laserburn and I am sure it is not one I forgot. Now as a general rule I love multi-system products. I like them for their own value but also for the insight they give on conversions. The adventure is 4 pages, so not a bad deal really.
Open Box has reviews. Up first is the Monster Manual II for AD&D by TSR. Megan C. Evans gives it a 7/10 stating that there too many high level monsters and no "good" aligned monsters. Up next Marcus Rowland reviews a couple of solitaire adventure books by Puffin Books/Steve Jackson, Starship Traveller and City of Thieves. They get 9/10 and 8/10 respectively. We get some Traveller expansions by GDW,
Supplement 12 - Forms and Charts, Supplement 13 - Veterans and Adventure 9 - Nomads of the World Ocean. Again Andy Slack is on Traveller duty, but he gives the first two a rare 2/10 and 3/10 claiming that most of this is available elsewhere. Adventure 9 gets a more respectable 9/10. Jon Sutherland takes on the classic Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes. Though he doesn't seem to think so giving it and it's adventure, The Jade Jaguar, a 4/10 and 3/10.
Critical Mass has a bit on the book The Neverending Story. The upcoming movie is mentioned, but honestly could anything prepare us for Limahl?
Chris Felton has Clay to Marble: Construction in AD&D. A neat little article with guidelines for constructions times. I seem to recall reading this years ago since some of this sounds very familiar.
Thurd the Barbarian goes up against the evil Necromancer. Not sure if this is the Necromancer from #35 or not. ;)
Dave Morris has some variant rules for RuneQuest in Runes in the Dungeon. Skills groups and other rules to help build D&D-like characters. In particular I like the "witch" rules. I would expand it into a 120 page book, but that is just me. RuneRites is up next with various questions and answers.
StarBase has more fleets for your Traveller game.
Letters covers mostly praise for Irillan and the new look of WD.
The Key of Tirandor Part 1 is a new campaign for levels 6-9 by Mike Polling. This part is five pages and includes 6 PCs. It looks quite interesting to be honest.
There is more of The Goblin Cult of Kernu for RuneQuest, but like I mentioned before it is interesting enough and flexible enough to use in D&D.
Travellers is next trying to fit in any and every sci-fi in joke and reference it can. I am not sure I can even find the story here to be honest. There is though an 2000 AD comic feel to this one.
Super Mole is back as an RPG "gossip" column. Normally I like these sorts of things. Much for the same reasons I like previews in the movie theaters, I like to know what is coming up. Reviewing a 30 year old gossip column though is odd to say the least. What is interesting is not what was going to come out, but what didn't. Though there are some bits that are interesting. Such as Rose Estes leaving TSR. There is a bit about Mayfair vs. TSR and the eventual fate of what will become the loved BECMI sets. Mole does not predict I at all.
Fiend Factory features Insect World this month with the Skullcatcher, Giant Praying Mantis, Giant Moth and the Golden Beetle. Serviceable, but nothing special.
Treasure Chest covers Illusions and Illusionists. I can't help but feel a lot of work was being put in to making the Illusionist interesting and cool and having it all sort of fall flat. I did have an Illusionist character back in the day. As much as I liked the guy I still felt and feel that he was really nothing more than a weak Wizard. Obviously I thought the Witch was a better choice as a class. I think I was even getting all my materials together at this point for my very first witch class.
The survey results from #45 are in. Long story short, most people like most things about WD. There are not a lot of surprises here really. Microview and Counterpoint were the lowest rated articles. Of the recent features, The Dungeon Architect was #1, followed by Irilian, the Town Planner, Dealing with Demons and The Necromancer. Lew get's his revenge.
Issue 44 had the best art work proving once again that near-nudity sells. Dragon and Imagine are the two other magazines most often read/bought in addition to WD. AD&D, RuneQuest and Traveller are the top 3 games played. Followed by D&D, T&T and Call of Cthulhu. Home computer ownership is about 50/50 and most of the ones that do own them do play games on it. 98% of the readership is Male and the median age is (was) 15. Yeah. That was me.
Gobbledigook gets deep. And we end with the normal small ads/classifieds and ads.
A good issue. Not an inspired one to be sure, but solidly good.
We are going into the 50s now where my memories of them are less solid. I was not reading WD much into and past 1984. I was solidly into Dragon at this point, but I still enjoyed WD and picked it up again in 1987 or so with some of the back issues going back to the 60s.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Happy Hallows Day!
Today is the day that Ever After by Kim Harrison is released.
I really enjoy these books. Rachel is growing not only as a witch, but a character. She is not making the same dumb mistakes she was making in "Dead Witch Walking". Though this time she has to solve a problem she made for herself. And damn. Is that not the coolest looking cover?
I don't do Pinterest, but there is a collection of all the cool Hollows covers from Kim Harrison's site. It's kind of cool to see so many different versions of Rachel and Ivy.
Maybe I mentioned this or not, but I alternate between reading a Hallows book and a Dresden Files one. I just finished the very awesome Cold Days and now Ever After is up. Yeah me!
Of course this causes interesting thoughts in my head. What would it be like if Harry and Rachel ever had to take on a case together? Totally different worlds yeah, but maybe that is part of the problem. Their realities are bleeding into each other. How would they react to each other? Violence seems to be the likely answer. What would Ivy think of Thomas? Jenks of Toot-toot? Trent of Mab or Marcone? The possibilities of mayhem are almost too delicious to ignore!
Given that all the Hallows books' titles are plays on Clint Eastwood movie titles it is tempting to use something like "Le Streghe" aka "The Witches". The movie was made of five different stories, so I could do five different games where Rachel and Ivy find themselves. Hmm.
Ok. Here we go. Rachel and Ivy are on a run. They fight some bad guy and get some weird artifact. The artifact jumps them to different realities where they have to encounter different witches.
I could use some stats I have already put together for some of the games.
So I have Unisystem for their crossover to Willow & Tara's universe. The start of Cortext Plus for Smallville Crossover to meet up with Zatanna and OVA for some other crossover, maybe Witch Hunter Robin. I would HAVE to do the Dresden Files RPG for that one and then one more game.
I'd do Harry Potter but Hermione is already involved in her own crossover.
I'd do Harry Potter but Hermione is already involved in her own crossover.
Could be a lot of fun with the right people.
Damn You WotC for giving me what I want!, Part 2
And one of the other rumors I mentioned the other day is now to be revealed.
As many have already guessed the D&D pdfs are back at DriveThruRPG.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=44&affiliate_id=10748
As of this writing they have 85+ PDFs up for various versions of D&D, Basic through 4e.
There is even a new sub-site called D&D Classics, that has "Red Box" trade dress and all the pdfs.
You can even get a copy of module B1: In Search of the Unknown for free!
I don't see any POD yet, and no idea if that will happen, but the ability to finish off my collection with pdfs is still really nice.
All the reviews from when the pdfs were originally on DTRPG are still there. So nothing has been lost.
I think this is a good move for WotC to be honest. I am hoping to see much more.
As many have already guessed the D&D pdfs are back at DriveThruRPG.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=44&affiliate_id=10748
As of this writing they have 85+ PDFs up for various versions of D&D, Basic through 4e.
There is even a new sub-site called D&D Classics, that has "Red Box" trade dress and all the pdfs.
You can even get a copy of module B1: In Search of the Unknown for free!
I don't see any POD yet, and no idea if that will happen, but the ability to finish off my collection with pdfs is still really nice.
All the reviews from when the pdfs were originally on DTRPG are still there. So nothing has been lost.
I think this is a good move for WotC to be honest. I am hoping to see much more.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Going to Class
Not much to report today.
Staying away from computer to be honest. It's a day off for me and I don't want to even be remotely tempted to take a peek at any work related material.
Though one thing I am doing for work is taking an online course through Coursera.
What I am taking is called a MOOC, or Massive Online Open Course.
I am taking the one on Science and Super-Heroes.
https://www.coursera.org/course/scientificthinking
It starts today and it should be fun.
Rarely do I get to find something that marries my professional education interests and my hobbies.
Staying away from computer to be honest. It's a day off for me and I don't want to even be remotely tempted to take a peek at any work related material.
Though one thing I am doing for work is taking an online course through Coursera.
What I am taking is called a MOOC, or Massive Online Open Course.
I am taking the one on Science and Super-Heroes.
https://www.coursera.org/course/scientificthinking
It starts today and it should be fun.
Rarely do I get to find something that marries my professional education interests and my hobbies.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Damn You WotC for giving me what I want!
People are going to find it much harder to complain about WotC in the future.
They released the Premium 1st Ed AD&D Hardcovers last year and soon Unearthed Arcana will join those ranks.
And we have the 2nd Ed Premium Edition reprint on the horizon. (Thanks to Tenkar's Tavern for the WotC links)
There are other rumors about other things WotC may be doing in the near future. Including rumors about product support for older editions.
Plus D&D 5/Next is shaping up to be very, very old school inspired.
Wizards of the Coast are making it very hard to cast them as the Evil Empire anymore.
They released the Premium 1st Ed AD&D Hardcovers last year and soon Unearthed Arcana will join those ranks.
And we have the 2nd Ed Premium Edition reprint on the horizon. (Thanks to Tenkar's Tavern for the WotC links)
- Player's Handbook (wotc)(amazon)
- Dungeon Master's Guide (wotc)(amazon)
- Monstrous Manual (wotc)(amazon)
There are other rumors about other things WotC may be doing in the near future. Including rumors about product support for older editions.
Plus D&D 5/Next is shaping up to be very, very old school inspired.
Wizards of the Coast are making it very hard to cast them as the Evil Empire anymore.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Zatannurday: Alouette Cosplay, Part 2
I talked to her a bit on Facebook and she is really sweet and great.
And look what I got!
'To Tim: "Thank you for Saturday!" Alouette'
How cool is that! This is going up in my game room!
She has some more prints for sale on her Facebook, DeviantArt and Storenvy pages:
http://www.facebook.com/AlouetteCosplayPage
http://alouettecosplay.deviantart.com/
http://alouettecosplay.storenvy.com/
I love her Catwoman and Batwoman costumes. But of course Zatanna is my favorite!
(Her Catwoman is really, really close though...)
I am now thinking that I need a wall of these. You know like you see in restaurants where celebs sign pictures of themselves when they have been there. I could do all the superheroes that have appeared in my games and get them from cosplayers. My game gets decorated and I help support their costuming!
Cause remember. Cosplayers make cons more enjoyable for everyone. I drag my wife to cons and she looks forward to seeing all the costumes. She acted like a total fangirl when she saw "Rose" from Doctor Who.
Thanks Alouette!
OH and LIKE her Facebook page too!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Ohmigod! It's Totally 80s Friday!
At the beginning of the week I was talking about the OSR of Computers where I was interested in going back to buy a computer I had owned back in the day for nothing but nostalgia. I instead just went out an got an emulator. Now I just need to transfer the ROM from the machine in my parent's basement (I guess I still have some stuff there).
This train of thought kept going all week, and now I have come full circle. Looking for games not from the 80s, but set in the 80s. Not as many as I wanted to be honest. Here are the ones I got and enjoyed the most. It's not all of them, and not even all the ones I would potentially like, but the ones I bought.
D20 Decade: The 1980s
It is difficult not to compare this to Damnation Decade or Solid! in terms of capturing the feel of a decade.
For starters this is for the d20 Modern RPG, which I am not even sure is still being supported by anyone. That all being said, there is a lot of great stuff in this book. There are some pages spent on modifying the d20M skills, in particular how Computers worked then. That and the new Perform (Break Dance) and Perform (Free Style Rap). No Perform (Gymkata!) though. Of particular use to any 80s-based game is the list of common items we take for granted today that just wasn't there then. Easy stuff like Smartphones, but other not so obvious things like Caller ID. Sure there were cellphones, but they were huge and the batter life was only a couple hours. Chapter 1 covers the 80s. At 20% of the book content is really worth the price of the book. It is a great overview of 80s tech, culture and pop psychology. Its not a history book, but it shouldn't be either. Even at 30+ pages somethings are going to be missing; but this is the 80s writ large, not Master's Thesis.
Chapter 2 covers the "Imaginary 80s", an 80s that never was. Among the new races there is also a list of other games you can look into to help you out. With the OGL they could have simply included what they wanted from many of those games, but I thought it was kind of neat to include them. Speaking of the new races, they are really new. Some are twists on familiar concepts, but others are new and all fit the 80s to a tee. My favorite might be the Arcadians (Video game fey) or the Spetsnazski, the Russian Super Soldiers. Cause the only thing more fun than Nazi Weird Science is Russian Weird Science. The Crow Folk and High Solstice Sidhe could work just as well in a Pathfinder game. There are also about 16 new occupations for your 80s character. There are also, surprisingly, 144 new feats! Going past those for a bit there are also 5 new Advanced classes. If you were wondering when the Miami Vice influences would appear then take heart with the Blue Equalizer, which let you play any sort of 80s "Super Cop". Perfect foil for the Drug Lord Advanced Class. These are followed by a few new spells.
The last part, Confetti, has a few bits for the GM for adding 80s flavor to their game. These are also useful for any 80s game.
There is fairly good list of resources both non-fiction and fiction, and a good list of movies, TV shows and graphic novels.
Final the OGL where everything is released as Open Gaming Content. Very nice.
Ok, so this is a really cool idea and a lot of work went into these 164 pages.
They did a great job with this, but I am not without some quibbles.
I am not going to mention anything missing from the 80s. Trying to squeeze an entire decade into a game book is hard and something is going to get left out. If it's not there and you remember it add it on your own. Though missing *something* about a Valley Girl seems a bit like a huge omission to me.
The art is all over the place. Most is fair, but none of it is great.
The layout has a number of issues. The background on the pages is not great. In most cases it is only just there, in others the "page number block" obscures some text. It's the 80s, where are the pastels?
I have mixed feelings about even mentioning it since I have seen newer products of theirs and they look great. This one is an early effort.
Going back to my totally unfair comparison to Damnation Decade, I think it would be interesting to see this updated to something like True 20 (which is at the time of this writing just as dead as d20 Modern) with better layout.
Despite all that I can't help but really, really like this product. At 6 bucks it is a great buy.
4 out of 5 stars.
Cartoon Action Hour
Cartoon Action Hour: Season 2
I reviewed CAH in depth before and if you spend anytime here at all you will know my fondness for this game. This not an 80s emulation game, but an 80s cartoon emulation.
The biggest news though I have heard is that Season 3 is on the way. Looking forward to that!
5 out of 5 stars.
World of Darkness: New Wave Requiem
It's Totally Vampires! Playing in the 80's never looked so good. While I don't follow many of the new WoD titles, this supplement is great. It brings back all sorts of memories and it is nice to see a shift in mentality from the paranoid 90's (birthplace of V:tM) and the weird 2000s. Nice to get back to a time when greed was good, sex was not safe and drugs were everywhere. We can't go back to the 80's but we can pretend to. The art, like all the art in WW's books, is fantastic.
I want a print of that Erik Jones book cover for my game room.
This is one of my favorites really. Not just about the 80s but from the new WoD. Put on some Bauhaus and give this one a go.
5 out of 5 stars.
So anyone know of other good 80s games?
This train of thought kept going all week, and now I have come full circle. Looking for games not from the 80s, but set in the 80s. Not as many as I wanted to be honest. Here are the ones I got and enjoyed the most. It's not all of them, and not even all the ones I would potentially like, but the ones I bought.
D20 Decade: The 1980s
For starters this is for the d20 Modern RPG, which I am not even sure is still being supported by anyone. That all being said, there is a lot of great stuff in this book. There are some pages spent on modifying the d20M skills, in particular how Computers worked then. That and the new Perform (Break Dance) and Perform (Free Style Rap). No Perform (Gymkata!) though. Of particular use to any 80s-based game is the list of common items we take for granted today that just wasn't there then. Easy stuff like Smartphones, but other not so obvious things like Caller ID. Sure there were cellphones, but they were huge and the batter life was only a couple hours. Chapter 1 covers the 80s. At 20% of the book content is really worth the price of the book. It is a great overview of 80s tech, culture and pop psychology. Its not a history book, but it shouldn't be either. Even at 30+ pages somethings are going to be missing; but this is the 80s writ large, not Master's Thesis.
Chapter 2 covers the "Imaginary 80s", an 80s that never was. Among the new races there is also a list of other games you can look into to help you out. With the OGL they could have simply included what they wanted from many of those games, but I thought it was kind of neat to include them. Speaking of the new races, they are really new. Some are twists on familiar concepts, but others are new and all fit the 80s to a tee. My favorite might be the Arcadians (Video game fey) or the Spetsnazski, the Russian Super Soldiers. Cause the only thing more fun than Nazi Weird Science is Russian Weird Science. The Crow Folk and High Solstice Sidhe could work just as well in a Pathfinder game. There are also about 16 new occupations for your 80s character. There are also, surprisingly, 144 new feats! Going past those for a bit there are also 5 new Advanced classes. If you were wondering when the Miami Vice influences would appear then take heart with the Blue Equalizer, which let you play any sort of 80s "Super Cop". Perfect foil for the Drug Lord Advanced Class. These are followed by a few new spells.
The last part, Confetti, has a few bits for the GM for adding 80s flavor to their game. These are also useful for any 80s game.
There is fairly good list of resources both non-fiction and fiction, and a good list of movies, TV shows and graphic novels.
Final the OGL where everything is released as Open Gaming Content. Very nice.
Ok, so this is a really cool idea and a lot of work went into these 164 pages.
They did a great job with this, but I am not without some quibbles.
I am not going to mention anything missing from the 80s. Trying to squeeze an entire decade into a game book is hard and something is going to get left out. If it's not there and you remember it add it on your own. Though missing *something* about a Valley Girl seems a bit like a huge omission to me.
The art is all over the place. Most is fair, but none of it is great.
The layout has a number of issues. The background on the pages is not great. In most cases it is only just there, in others the "page number block" obscures some text. It's the 80s, where are the pastels?
I have mixed feelings about even mentioning it since I have seen newer products of theirs and they look great. This one is an early effort.
Going back to my totally unfair comparison to Damnation Decade, I think it would be interesting to see this updated to something like True 20 (which is at the time of this writing just as dead as d20 Modern) with better layout.
Despite all that I can't help but really, really like this product. At 6 bucks it is a great buy.
4 out of 5 stars.
Cartoon Action Hour
Cartoon Action Hour: Season 2
I reviewed CAH in depth before and if you spend anytime here at all you will know my fondness for this game. This not an 80s emulation game, but an 80s cartoon emulation.
The biggest news though I have heard is that Season 3 is on the way. Looking forward to that!
5 out of 5 stars.
I want a print of that Erik Jones book cover for my game room.
This is one of my favorites really. Not just about the 80s but from the new WoD. Put on some Bauhaus and give this one a go.
5 out of 5 stars.
So anyone know of other good 80s games?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Email blues
So I was talking to a few people this week and today about email.
One thing that came up is that is hard to figure out what someone's email is supposed to be unless you do some digging and very difficult without a Google+ account.
So to that end I created an "email me link". I used an image to help stop at least some of the spammers.
You can click on it and email me now if you like.
Just another service provided to you, the readers of the Other Side!
One thing that came up is that is hard to figure out what someone's email is supposed to be unless you do some digging and very difficult without a Google+ account.
So to that end I created an "email me link". I used an image to help stop at least some of the spammers.
You can click on it and email me now if you like.
Just another service provided to you, the readers of the Other Side!
Slight Rant: Answer your D@#% email
Sorry slight rant here.
Publishers: It is common courtesy that if you get an honest inquiry about one of your products you answer or at least acknowledge the email.
The end result is I don't buy your product. And some of you are small enough that you can't afford to ignore your customer base.
Not naming names, but seriously. Customer support.
I have sent out emails to four different companies over the last week or so. Heard nothing back from any of them. One I can forgive, the others? Well to be honest they don't have enough business to be too busy to ignore potential customers.
If we have learned anything from the various Kickstarter non-starters then it is keep in communication with your potential and actual customers. This business is too small to ignore people.
Rant over.
Publishers: It is common courtesy that if you get an honest inquiry about one of your products you answer or at least acknowledge the email.
The end result is I don't buy your product. And some of you are small enough that you can't afford to ignore your customer base.
Not naming names, but seriously. Customer support.
I have sent out emails to four different companies over the last week or so. Heard nothing back from any of them. One I can forgive, the others? Well to be honest they don't have enough business to be too busy to ignore potential customers.
If we have learned anything from the various Kickstarter non-starters then it is keep in communication with your potential and actual customers. This business is too small to ignore people.
Rant over.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
White Dwarf Wednesday #48
This one of the cooler WD covers. Brought to us by Alan Craddock I for years thought it was a Chris Achilleos.
Ian Livingstone talks about bring out some RPGs to play with the family this Christmas, wondering what Granny might think of Orc stomping.
Up first is Open Box with a ton of items. For AD&D we have UK1: Beyond the Crystal Cave, EX1: Dungeonland and EX2: The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror. For D&D X3: Curse of Xanathon. Jim Bambara likes the modules for the most part giving them 9/10, 9/10, 9/10 and 7/10 respectively. Andy Slack tackles the new version of the Traveller basic rules. This is the cover I remember most about the mid 80s. It is also the version of the Traveller I never tried having ended with the Blue Book. He gives it an 8/10 overall, but still states that neophytes are better served with one of the other sets. Jon Sutherland takes on the two Call of Cthulhu adventures (and they are called Adventures now, not Scenarios). Death in Dunwich and The Arkham Evil. He gives them 7/10 and 8/10 respectively saying these are not for fool hardy players used to hack and slash. Finally we have the Autoduel Champions and Car Wars Reference Screen. Autoduel gives us Car Wars for Champions. Marcus Rowland gives them 8/10 and 6/10.
The book reviews focus on the then recent batch of sci-fi/fantasy books. The Complete Book of SF and Fantasy is one that jumps out at me. I think I owned this at one point, but the title is so generic I could have owned something very similar. There is also a review of Moorcock's Dancers at the End of Time, which I have not read. A couple of Trek books are also covered including what is likely to have been the first time I had ever heard of what is now known as Slashfic, called Kirk-Spocking here.
Lew Pulsipher's Lew's Views is back this month and covers Gods, Magic and FRP battles. He discusses the nature of Gods and Magic in fantasy battles.
Rick Priestly has an article on using Giants in Warhammer. There are some interesting and mostly game agnostic rules about giants getting drunk. I might try these out.
The Dark Brotherhood is an alternate system for Assassins in AD&D by Chris Felton. I remember reading this way back when and it influenced the assassin guilds I had made for my game. The Brotherhood (no relation I am sure since I was big into acronyms then and wanted it to spell out BEAST) and the Red Assassins were two rival guilds in my games. I never made characters in either guild sign contracts.
Counterpoint discusses boardgames derived from books. The big ones are discussed; LotR, Dune, Call of Cthulhu and Asimov's books and the varying degrees of success they achieved.
Ian Bailey has some RuneQuest crunch and fluff for us in the form of Crom Cruach, a Goblin Cult. It is interesting enough to use anywhere.
Tracing Errors is this issue's Microview article and Gareth Williams covers how to find and debug errors in your programming.
Letters covers level limits in AD&D, Marc Miller and Thomas Price praising the coverage of various Traveller articles.
Marcus Rowland covers computers in Traveller. By this time the concept of what a computer could do had changed in the world since Traveller had been published. Computers had always been one of Traveller's weakest area in terms of future tech. This article helps, but doesn't quite get it there. My smart phone laughs at the idea of 1 ton batteries powering a computer for only 12 hours.
RuneRites has a double feature for us today. Monsters and a new scenario. The monsters are listed (nothing jumps out at me), we break for a Thrud the Barbarian strip and head into the scenario. The Lone and Level Sands is dual stated for AD&D AND RuneQuest. New monsters are given both RuneQuest and AD&D stats (or at least where you can get them).
Fiend Factory returns the favor and converts the RQ demons from the last few issues into AD&D demons.
Treasure Chest follows with some demon related spells for D&D/AD&D.
The Travellers get into more trouble. And the Victoria Gazette is another attempt at a news article. No jokes this time, just straight news.
Classifieds and Small ads follow. Gobbledigook shows us how to handle Illusionists.
Ads end the issue including full page ones for James Bond, Games Fair 84, Games Workshop and TSR for the Monster Manual II.
In general I feel that once again the layout and general design of the magazine was turned up a bit. The page count is now up to 52 and still only 75p.
You can get a better look at that cover art here:
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
New Classes from Barrel Rider Games
I love new classes. I love all sorts of new options. So when the chance comes around to get my hands on a new class, especially if it is for my current favorite version of D&D (Basic/Expert) or clone (Labyrinth Lord/Basic Fantasy).
So I have been picking up a few from Barrel Rider Games, http://barrelridergames.com/
Barrel Rider Games (and I will admit I love this name) is in the biz (so far) of producing a new class for a buck. Not a bad biz to be in really. There is always a new class that can be made, there is demand and people will part with a dollar pretty easy.
In nearly every case you get a class, some art (usually just cover art), descriptions, and the LL compatibility license and the OGL. Also, I am afraid to admit they are usually missing the Saving Throws table and sometimes how the class gains To Hit rolls. This is not a huge deal for most of them since it usually pretty obvious what they should be, it would still be nice if they had them.
Here are few I have tried out.
The Bounty Hunter
In many ways the Bounty Hunter (class) is a better class for "Basic" Era Games than the Assassin is. The Assassin has a history in the "Advanced" Era and it has it's place, but a game aimed at simpler rules might not be it. That is why the Bounty Hunter (this book) is a good choice for Labyrinth Lord or any other Basic-era compatible game.
Like all the books from Barrel Rider Games this book presents a class, reasons why it can be used, and the associated skills and tables. The Bounty Hunter (class) then is part thief, part assassin and part tracker/ranger. Honestly it might well be the best of all the BRG classes.
Also, though, like the other classes, this one is missing some key information. Namely this book is missing the saving throw tables and to hit tables for the Bounty Hunter. I would suggest using the thief tables in both cases.
Other than that, this is a solid class.
The Undead Slayer
I love undead and all the classes and trappings that go around them; so slayers and necromancers are great in my book.
This class is a very specialized one, against other monsters it has the fighting prowess of the a thief (which isn't bad), but it shines against Undead. I felt the powers it received were fine, I think I would have started them at lower levels to be honest. The feel of this class is akin to the ranger. It has some sneaking ability, some magic and bonuses to fight undead.
If the Cleric is modeled off of the Hammer-era Van Helsing, then this class is more along the lines of a Captain Kronos.
The class might be a little under powered in some respects to be honest. But that is only a read-through and the proof would be in the playing. For example it does have some thief abilities that would aid a party in non-undead adventures.
In earlier reviews of products from Barrel Rider Game I mentioned that I didn't see the Labyrinth Lord Compatibility License. That was an error. It is very clear on the same page as the OGL. This book has it.
I also mentioned that in some of the other classes that I could not find the to-hit and saving throw progression for the classes. I also could not find it in this one. There is only about a page and half of text and about a page of tables. I am sure I would have seen it. I suspect that the undead slayer uses the Clerical to hit and saving throw tables.
I would like to try this class out sometime. I think it would work well in the right kind of adventure. Care though needs to be given that it does not interfere with the cleric's role of hunter of the dead.
The Assassin
I don't expect a lot for a buck. Can't buy a bottle of Mt. Dew or a cup of coffee for a buck anymore. But you can buy a class.
This is the classic "1st Edition" class for Labyrinth Lord, but should be compatible with any number of other Old School RPGs.
You get a cover page (oddly formatted, but hey), fours pages of the class and the OGL statement.
The class has what you would expect, tables for advancement and assassinations. Also there is a bit on the use of poisons.
There are, unfortunely a few things missing.
In the missing must haves there is no saving throw advancement tables and no to hit advancement tables. I would use the Thief for these.
In the missing like to haves there is nothing on new weapons unique to the assassin. Nothing for example about the garrote, the time honored classic of all assassin weapons. This is almost a missing "must have" to be honest.
So it has a lot of potential, but the publisher really needs to fix these omissions.
The Dragon
Again, I don't expect a lot for a buck. Barrel Rider Games though gives you a whole class for a buck.
This one is a bout Dragons as a class/race. Not Dragonborn or Dragonfolk, but full blown dragons.
Now my first thought is these characters could be unwieldy in a group of adventurers or even overpowered. That is best left to the Labyrinth Lord to decide really.
The book is five pages: Cover, 2 pages for the class, and 2 pages for the OGL.
This one does have the Labyrinth Lord compatibility notice.
There seems to be a bit missing though.
For starters there is no "To Hit AC" tables for the Dragon. Nor are there any Saving Throw tables.
Kind of need these in order to play the character. In this case I don't have any suggestions.
I would have liked have seen a little on how to play this character class and what motivates them to adventure.
Smith and Scholar
This book is only a buck and it is very simple. But don't let "Simple" translate into "not worth it". This book is filled with ideas for all the Basic/LL core classes. They are billed as professions, but if you are familiar with the old 2nd Ed "Kits" then these are very similar.
There are 6 per class and all provide some background, history and some mechanical bonus for the character. There is no balance issue from what I can see if everyone in the game opts for one or if there is some sort of DM-enforced obligation attached. For example the Exorcist Cleric should be obligated to investigate any claim of possession he/she hears. The other Professions can work the same way.
These are set out as flavor, but I think in the right hands these can really brighten up what would be an ordinary game into something very interesting.
They have other books that I have not tried yet as well. The Barbarian, the Swashbuckler, Half-Orc, Half-Elf and Dark Elf.
I say give them a look.
So I have been picking up a few from Barrel Rider Games, http://barrelridergames.com/
Barrel Rider Games (and I will admit I love this name) is in the biz (so far) of producing a new class for a buck. Not a bad biz to be in really. There is always a new class that can be made, there is demand and people will part with a dollar pretty easy.
In nearly every case you get a class, some art (usually just cover art), descriptions, and the LL compatibility license and the OGL. Also, I am afraid to admit they are usually missing the Saving Throws table and sometimes how the class gains To Hit rolls. This is not a huge deal for most of them since it usually pretty obvious what they should be, it would still be nice if they had them.
Here are few I have tried out.
The Bounty Hunter
In many ways the Bounty Hunter (class) is a better class for "Basic" Era Games than the Assassin is. The Assassin has a history in the "Advanced" Era and it has it's place, but a game aimed at simpler rules might not be it. That is why the Bounty Hunter (this book) is a good choice for Labyrinth Lord or any other Basic-era compatible game.
Like all the books from Barrel Rider Games this book presents a class, reasons why it can be used, and the associated skills and tables. The Bounty Hunter (class) then is part thief, part assassin and part tracker/ranger. Honestly it might well be the best of all the BRG classes.
Also, though, like the other classes, this one is missing some key information. Namely this book is missing the saving throw tables and to hit tables for the Bounty Hunter. I would suggest using the thief tables in both cases.
Other than that, this is a solid class.
The Undead Slayer
I love undead and all the classes and trappings that go around them; so slayers and necromancers are great in my book.
This class is a very specialized one, against other monsters it has the fighting prowess of the a thief (which isn't bad), but it shines against Undead. I felt the powers it received were fine, I think I would have started them at lower levels to be honest. The feel of this class is akin to the ranger. It has some sneaking ability, some magic and bonuses to fight undead.
If the Cleric is modeled off of the Hammer-era Van Helsing, then this class is more along the lines of a Captain Kronos.
The class might be a little under powered in some respects to be honest. But that is only a read-through and the proof would be in the playing. For example it does have some thief abilities that would aid a party in non-undead adventures.
In earlier reviews of products from Barrel Rider Game I mentioned that I didn't see the Labyrinth Lord Compatibility License. That was an error. It is very clear on the same page as the OGL. This book has it.
I also mentioned that in some of the other classes that I could not find the to-hit and saving throw progression for the classes. I also could not find it in this one. There is only about a page and half of text and about a page of tables. I am sure I would have seen it. I suspect that the undead slayer uses the Clerical to hit and saving throw tables.
I would like to try this class out sometime. I think it would work well in the right kind of adventure. Care though needs to be given that it does not interfere with the cleric's role of hunter of the dead.
The Assassin
I don't expect a lot for a buck. Can't buy a bottle of Mt. Dew or a cup of coffee for a buck anymore. But you can buy a class.
This is the classic "1st Edition" class for Labyrinth Lord, but should be compatible with any number of other Old School RPGs.
You get a cover page (oddly formatted, but hey), fours pages of the class and the OGL statement.
The class has what you would expect, tables for advancement and assassinations. Also there is a bit on the use of poisons.
There are, unfortunely a few things missing.
In the missing must haves there is no saving throw advancement tables and no to hit advancement tables. I would use the Thief for these.
In the missing like to haves there is nothing on new weapons unique to the assassin. Nothing for example about the garrote, the time honored classic of all assassin weapons. This is almost a missing "must have" to be honest.
So it has a lot of potential, but the publisher really needs to fix these omissions.
The Dragon
Again, I don't expect a lot for a buck. Barrel Rider Games though gives you a whole class for a buck.
This one is a bout Dragons as a class/race. Not Dragonborn or Dragonfolk, but full blown dragons.
Now my first thought is these characters could be unwieldy in a group of adventurers or even overpowered. That is best left to the Labyrinth Lord to decide really.
The book is five pages: Cover, 2 pages for the class, and 2 pages for the OGL.
This one does have the Labyrinth Lord compatibility notice.
There seems to be a bit missing though.
For starters there is no "To Hit AC" tables for the Dragon. Nor are there any Saving Throw tables.
Kind of need these in order to play the character. In this case I don't have any suggestions.
I would have liked have seen a little on how to play this character class and what motivates them to adventure.
Smith and Scholar
This book is only a buck and it is very simple. But don't let "Simple" translate into "not worth it". This book is filled with ideas for all the Basic/LL core classes. They are billed as professions, but if you are familiar with the old 2nd Ed "Kits" then these are very similar.
There are 6 per class and all provide some background, history and some mechanical bonus for the character. There is no balance issue from what I can see if everyone in the game opts for one or if there is some sort of DM-enforced obligation attached. For example the Exorcist Cleric should be obligated to investigate any claim of possession he/she hears. The other Professions can work the same way.
These are set out as flavor, but I think in the right hands these can really brighten up what would be an ordinary game into something very interesting.
They have other books that I have not tried yet as well. The Barbarian, the Swashbuckler, Half-Orc, Half-Elf and Dark Elf.
I say give them a look.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Justice is Returning
I have been really, really negligent in keeping up with posts on my supers character Justice. In fact it looks like the last time I posted about her was March.
That's just not right.
So I do plan on posting some stats. But in the mean time here is something to keep you entertained.
A commission from my friend David Reynolds of ShadowGirls fame.
Not sure what the Penguin's name is yet. But I do know she finds him in her father's Fortress of Solitude.
As for Stats, I am hoping to do some FASERIP/Marvel/4C, Super Babes, Villains & Vigilantes and some Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul.
EDITED TO ADD: David is taking commissions again. http://my.deviantart.com/messages/#/d5rjqrc
That's just not right.
So I do plan on posting some stats. But in the mean time here is something to keep you entertained.
A commission from my friend David Reynolds of ShadowGirls fame.
Not sure what the Penguin's name is yet. But I do know she finds him in her father's Fortress of Solitude.
As for Stats, I am hoping to do some FASERIP/Marvel/4C, Super Babes, Villains & Vigilantes and some Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul.
EDITED TO ADD: David is taking commissions again. http://my.deviantart.com/messages/#/d5rjqrc
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The OSR of Computers
I am of the age that my involvement in RPGs began at the same time as my involvement in the burgeoning home computer market.
Indeed, my games were from TSR and my computers are from TRS. As in the old TRS 80 and Tandy Color Computer.
Most of my first attempts at programming were ways to help, improve or other wise supplement my D&D experience. This went on for a number years. In fact I upgraded past (ie got rid of) my CoCo3 right around the same time I moved to 2nd Ed AD&D.
It should then be no big surprise then that while I am trolling eBay for old RPG materials I am also looking at old Color Computer stuff.
Which is really dumb. I have owned at least three or four of these things over the years. I have computers sitting in my office unused that are 1000s of times better every respect.
Yet. Here I am. Looking at these toys off my youth.
Maybe an emulator is the way to go. I have a computer I could rebuild I am sure.
Indeed, my games were from TSR and my computers are from TRS. As in the old TRS 80 and Tandy Color Computer.
Most of my first attempts at programming were ways to help, improve or other wise supplement my D&D experience. This went on for a number years. In fact I upgraded past (ie got rid of) my CoCo3 right around the same time I moved to 2nd Ed AD&D.
It should then be no big surprise then that while I am trolling eBay for old RPG materials I am also looking at old Color Computer stuff.
Which is really dumb. I have owned at least three or four of these things over the years. I have computers sitting in my office unused that are 1000s of times better every respect.
Yet. Here I am. Looking at these toys off my youth.
Maybe an emulator is the way to go. I have a computer I could rebuild I am sure.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Zatannurday: Movie! For Real this time
Maybe not by that name, but certainly something very, very similar.
It is going to be directed by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth and others) and currently called Dark Universe.
It would feature many of the JL Dark characters as well as some from the the DC/Vertigo Books of Magic series. Currently we are set to see both Zatara and Zatanna.
Now remember talk is cheap and no where is that more true than in Hollywood. I am not sure if this will see the light of day or not, but here's to hope!
And here are some links. They are all pretty similar.
- http://latino-review.com/2012/11/01/exclusive-senor-fenix-futures-locke-key-powers-revivial-jj-abrams-guillermo-del-toro/
- http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/07/guillermo-del-toro-talks-dark-universe-his-dc-comics-supernatural-heroes-movie
- http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/174315-guillermo-del-toro-confirms-dc-comics-project-dark-universe
- http://www.newsarama.com/film/del-toro-justice-league-dark-movie-in-development.html
- http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/08/del-toro-drops-more-details-about-dark-universe-his-dc-comics-film/
Friday, January 11, 2013
Dragonborn Books
My son loves Dragonborn. He plays Skyrim because there is a "dragonborn" in that. He wanted to get all the Doctor Who episodes on DVD that feature the Draconians, and in every game we play that is the character race he wants.
Well...not every game has them. But there are a lot of great third-party publishers that feel the same way.
Good thing for me I know about Goodman Games.
They have two products out, The Complete Guide to Dragonkin (for 3rd ed) and Hero's Hanbook Dragonborn (for 4th ed).
The Complete Guide to Dragonkin
This book is the older of the two, so let's do it first.
76 pages, covers, OGL. Pretty packed really. A brief intro and some background on dragon-kin and how they are all connected to each other (an interesting touch). This assumes that a lot of different races inter-bred with dragons like humans, orcs, goblins and of course kobolds. So we have a variety of bloodlines; half-dragons, dragon-touched and "wyrm-bred".
The Half-Dragon Racial Template is presented and the associated powers. If you are playing 3.x/Pathfinder and want to play a "Dragonborn" character then this is a great book. It predates the Dragonborn in 4e and the Dragon bloodline sorcerer in Pathfinder, so a Pathfinder update would be nice to have, but still this is a solid book.
There is a lot in this book. It even covers how these races view, and sometimes worship, the dragons they are related to. There is a chapter on Dragon magic which includes new spells and "dragon egg sculpting".
There is not much in the way of news monsters, but I think that is fine. There is a Dragon/Kobold crossbreed that works well as an antagonist. Especially if your players tend to laugh when you throw kobolds after them.
I compare this book rather favorably to their Complete Guide to Fey. It was because I owned that book that I felt comfortable picking up this one. I was not disappointed.
Hero's Hanbook Dragonborn
99 pages, GSL, covers. There is a quite a lot in this book. While Goodman Games could have used a lot from their previous book (The Complete Guide to Dragonkin) this one has a completely different approach. Dragonborn are well established in D&D4, so none of that material is repeated here. Instead the book covers different clans and variations of Dragonborn. There is also a lot of crunch to go with the fluff. Frankly Dragonborn need a lot more "fluff". Unlike all the other fantasy races, Dragonborn/Dragonkin are really a creation of D&D. Sure there have been other types in the past, but even in the early days of the game their origin is purely a D&D one. That gives this book a lot of room to run.
There is also a nice collection of items to help give this race a sense of history. Plenty of powers for Dragonborn characters, options and magic items. If you are like my son and love to play Dragonborn in 4e then this is a great book to have.
This book though suffers from the fate all 3rd party GSL books suffer and that is the material is not in the character builder.
In the process of reading these books I became aware of other ones, not by Goodman Games though.
One of the first is from Barrel Rider Games, The Dragon and it is only a dollar.
Again, I don't expect a lot for a buck. Barrel Rider Games though gives you a whole class for a buck.
This one is a bout Dragons as a class/race. Not Dragonborn or Dragonfolk, but full blown dragons.
Now my first thought is these characters could be unwieldy in a group of adventurers or even overpowered. That is best left to the Labyrinth Lord to decide really.
The book is five pages: Cover, 2 pages for the class, and 2 pages for the OGL and the Labyrinth Lord compatibility notice.
There seems to be a bit missing though. I would have liked have seen a little on how to play this character class and what motivates them to adventure.
Fehr's Ethnology: Dragonblood is another one for Pathfinder by Purple Duck Games, a name I have grown to like.
This one is pretty good really. Nice art, clear easy to read text and 7 pages of content (1 full page art, 1.5 of OGL and ads for 10 total pages). Simple race rules with not a lot of fluff, but a lot of crunch. There are some alternate racial characteristics and some feats. There are class suggestions and suggestions on play. For 10 pages it is really packed full. My son has been using this in our 3.x game now for a bit and we like it the most out of the many free options we have also found. At $1.25 it is an absolute steal.
Well...not every game has them. But there are a lot of great third-party publishers that feel the same way.
Good thing for me I know about Goodman Games.
They have two products out, The Complete Guide to Dragonkin (for 3rd ed) and Hero's Hanbook Dragonborn (for 4th ed).
The Complete Guide to Dragonkin
This book is the older of the two, so let's do it first.
76 pages, covers, OGL. Pretty packed really. A brief intro and some background on dragon-kin and how they are all connected to each other (an interesting touch). This assumes that a lot of different races inter-bred with dragons like humans, orcs, goblins and of course kobolds. So we have a variety of bloodlines; half-dragons, dragon-touched and "wyrm-bred".
The Half-Dragon Racial Template is presented and the associated powers. If you are playing 3.x/Pathfinder and want to play a "Dragonborn" character then this is a great book. It predates the Dragonborn in 4e and the Dragon bloodline sorcerer in Pathfinder, so a Pathfinder update would be nice to have, but still this is a solid book.
There is a lot in this book. It even covers how these races view, and sometimes worship, the dragons they are related to. There is a chapter on Dragon magic which includes new spells and "dragon egg sculpting".
There is not much in the way of news monsters, but I think that is fine. There is a Dragon/Kobold crossbreed that works well as an antagonist. Especially if your players tend to laugh when you throw kobolds after them.
I compare this book rather favorably to their Complete Guide to Fey. It was because I owned that book that I felt comfortable picking up this one. I was not disappointed.
Hero's Hanbook Dragonborn
99 pages, GSL, covers. There is a quite a lot in this book. While Goodman Games could have used a lot from their previous book (The Complete Guide to Dragonkin) this one has a completely different approach. Dragonborn are well established in D&D4, so none of that material is repeated here. Instead the book covers different clans and variations of Dragonborn. There is also a lot of crunch to go with the fluff. Frankly Dragonborn need a lot more "fluff". Unlike all the other fantasy races, Dragonborn/Dragonkin are really a creation of D&D. Sure there have been other types in the past, but even in the early days of the game their origin is purely a D&D one. That gives this book a lot of room to run.
There is also a nice collection of items to help give this race a sense of history. Plenty of powers for Dragonborn characters, options and magic items. If you are like my son and love to play Dragonborn in 4e then this is a great book to have.
This book though suffers from the fate all 3rd party GSL books suffer and that is the material is not in the character builder.
In the process of reading these books I became aware of other ones, not by Goodman Games though.
One of the first is from Barrel Rider Games, The Dragon and it is only a dollar.
Again, I don't expect a lot for a buck. Barrel Rider Games though gives you a whole class for a buck.
This one is a bout Dragons as a class/race. Not Dragonborn or Dragonfolk, but full blown dragons.
Now my first thought is these characters could be unwieldy in a group of adventurers or even overpowered. That is best left to the Labyrinth Lord to decide really.
The book is five pages: Cover, 2 pages for the class, and 2 pages for the OGL and the Labyrinth Lord compatibility notice.
There seems to be a bit missing though. I would have liked have seen a little on how to play this character class and what motivates them to adventure.
Fehr's Ethnology: Dragonblood is another one for Pathfinder by Purple Duck Games, a name I have grown to like.
This one is pretty good really. Nice art, clear easy to read text and 7 pages of content (1 full page art, 1.5 of OGL and ads for 10 total pages). Simple race rules with not a lot of fluff, but a lot of crunch. There are some alternate racial characteristics and some feats. There are class suggestions and suggestions on play. For 10 pages it is really packed full. My son has been using this in our 3.x game now for a bit and we like it the most out of the many free options we have also found. At $1.25 it is an absolute steal.
WIPs
So I have a few works in progress right now, but nothing I have worked on yet this new year.
I am trying to get organized and find some things I can get out to you all fairly quickly.
Some smaller things, things less involved than the witch.
Among these smaller things are a Houri Prestige Class for 3.x/Pathfinder. But it hasn't quite jelled.
A few D&D4 items that may or may not see the light of day.
And some others.
Gotta get better organized this year. My hard drive death a few months back really killed me.
I am trying to get organized and find some things I can get out to you all fairly quickly.
Some smaller things, things less involved than the witch.
Among these smaller things are a Houri Prestige Class for 3.x/Pathfinder. But it hasn't quite jelled.
A few D&D4 items that may or may not see the light of day.
And some others.
Gotta get better organized this year. My hard drive death a few months back really killed me.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
More Kickstarters. And I can't believe this first one
Couple more Kickstarters. This first one has to be seen to be believed.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/917876657/republishing-the-world-of-synnibarr
That's right! Synnibarr is BACK! If you don't know what Synnibarr is then maybe you are not as Old School as you thought you were. ;)
In case you don't then here is the review that is almost as famous as the game itself.
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4762.html
But I have to hand it to Raven c.s. McCracken. He keeps right going and his love for his magnum opus is apparent. Enough that he is currently $3,000 over the goal.
Read the Kickstarter page. Everything you need to know about how this game will turn out is there.
In other news.
There is also a new Castles & Crusades book coming out, Castles & Crusades Codex Celtarum.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/676918054/castles-and-crusades-codex-celtarum
I have some mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand it looks fantastic. It reads like it will be a ton of fun and I know it will be a top notch book. I also love Celtic myth and I have wanted to have an old schoolish style D&D Celtic game for years.
Which brings me to the other hand. That was what I was going for in my game Éire.
Éire was going to be produced by Elf Lair Games, but Jason (rightfully so) does not want to make any product that might compete with Troll Lord. I get that. I have things I could do myself that I don't because I don't want to step of the toes of other designers I am friends with or companies I have relationships with.
One of those companies is Cubicle 7. While I have never worked for the company, I have worked with most of their employees on one game or another over the years. They are also producing their own Celtic themed game.
I like both Troll Lords and C7 I know they will make great games and I look forward to them. There is of course room for all these games in the market, including mine, but desire to get it out there is less.
My goal when putting out something isn't very market driven, it is "me" driven. I put out the stuff I want to play. I think others will like it too, but that isn't what fuels my fires. Codex Celtarum is very, very likely to scratch the D&D-as-a-Celt-Game itch I have.
I have known about this one for a while really. Some of Éire made it into The Witch and Eldritch Witchery in fact. So if I do choose to resurrect Éire it might take a different form. But who knows.
In any case I am looking forward to Codex Celtarum and plan on supporting Troll Lords in this.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/917876657/republishing-the-world-of-synnibarr
In case you don't then here is the review that is almost as famous as the game itself.
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4762.html
But I have to hand it to Raven c.s. McCracken. He keeps right going and his love for his magnum opus is apparent. Enough that he is currently $3,000 over the goal.
Read the Kickstarter page. Everything you need to know about how this game will turn out is there.
In other news.
There is also a new Castles & Crusades book coming out, Castles & Crusades Codex Celtarum.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/676918054/castles-and-crusades-codex-celtarum
I have some mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand it looks fantastic. It reads like it will be a ton of fun and I know it will be a top notch book. I also love Celtic myth and I have wanted to have an old schoolish style D&D Celtic game for years.
Which brings me to the other hand. That was what I was going for in my game Éire.
Éire was going to be produced by Elf Lair Games, but Jason (rightfully so) does not want to make any product that might compete with Troll Lord. I get that. I have things I could do myself that I don't because I don't want to step of the toes of other designers I am friends with or companies I have relationships with.
One of those companies is Cubicle 7. While I have never worked for the company, I have worked with most of their employees on one game or another over the years. They are also producing their own Celtic themed game.
I like both Troll Lords and C7 I know they will make great games and I look forward to them. There is of course room for all these games in the market, including mine, but desire to get it out there is less.
My goal when putting out something isn't very market driven, it is "me" driven. I put out the stuff I want to play. I think others will like it too, but that isn't what fuels my fires. Codex Celtarum is very, very likely to scratch the D&D-as-a-Celt-Game itch I have.
I have known about this one for a while really. Some of Éire made it into The Witch and Eldritch Witchery in fact. So if I do choose to resurrect Éire it might take a different form. But who knows.
In any case I am looking forward to Codex Celtarum and plan on supporting Troll Lords in this.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
White Dwarf Wednesday #47
NOTE: Looking for the Beginnings Blogfest Post? Go here.
White Dwarf Wednesday today takes us all the way back to Issue #47 from November 1983. The first thing we should notice is this combination Bushido/Iron Maiden cover. That's pretty much 1983 in a nutshell right there. We also get our first add for Talisman, a game I never played.
Ian Livingstone talks about analysing the reader feedback given in the Reader Strikes Back. He also praises Alan Craddock for the cover of WD 44 stating it is the most popular cover so far. Wonder why.
Up first is the Demonist class for D&D by Phil Masters. This class, a sub-class of the Cleric summons up demons to do it's will. The class in not bad and there are some new spells. While the class is neat, I doubt I'll use it.
Open Box has four books this week. FGU's Privateers and Gentlemen gets a respectable 9/10 from Ian Waddelow. He enjoys how it can be played as a pure RPG or a pure War Game or some combination of the two. The Asylum and Other Tales for CoC from Chaosium is next. Jon Sutherland is also not cheap with the praise, saying not to be put off by the price (£7.95) and gives it a 9/10 as well. I talked a little about Star Fleet Battles last week, well this week (and in 1983) the topic is Fighters and Shuttles from Task Force Games for SFB. Jim Sizer gives it a 7/10 liking the increased numbers of ships and the 5 scenarios, but not liking that some combat is not made easier. Chaosium is up again with The Big Rubble about the ruins of Pavis for RuneQuest. Oliver Dickinson likes it and gives the best parts 10/10, most of the areas 8-9/10 and some only 5-6/10.
Critical Mass details some more books including masters Asimov and Clarke. I find this article harder to review. There are a couple of reasons. One, the books are dated. I mean anything I review here has been reviewed hundreds of times in the last 30 years. Also the article itself, the layout, makes it look like one huge paragraph. Maybe my eyes are getting old.
Zine Scene is next and it is described as an occasional article dedicated to the "street level" news of going ons in RPG and fandom. I am sure this has a lot to do with adding Mike Lewis to the set of editors.
Interestingly enough there is some news in here about other Zines opening up. I guess WD didn't consider them as competition at all. They shouldn't, but I am not sure I ever recall seeing such "openness" in Dragon.
There is a two page article about Goblins in RuneQuest. It's an interesting read. Interesting because is sounded very familiar to me. I am sure I had read this one back in the day and my goblins of today can trace their lineage back to this.
Letters is next with general praise and asking for clarifications.
Starbase is up with a bunch of Aliens for Traveller. Anyone use these in a Traveller based "Bug hunt"?
The last part of Irilian is posted with a big map and brief adventure. I am not sure if any updates were ever made to this city or not. But there really should have been. What I would like now is too take all six parts and do a retrospective on them. Maybe later.
RuneRites has Morale. Neat, but nothing I could use back then.
Kwaidan is next and it is a big deal. Big because for the first time have an adventure for Bushido. The RuneQuest/D&D/Traveller lock is broken! Ok yeah we have had some others, but to me this is a bigger deal.
Treasure Chest goes Dorian Grey on us and gives us a great painting for the Necromancer character that everyone hated. Well. I liked it, but it raised a fuss.
Fiend Factory gives us some mini-monsters for D&D. The Diabolo is kinda neat if you think of it as a devil-kobold cross breed. The Trollkin, is a combination of brownie and troll and one I used a couple of times. The others, the Trist, Krowks (demonic crows) and Gromits (Wallace no where to be seen). I took this article an ran with it creating my own "Trobbits" which were a cross between a troll and a, um, er, halfling. I should post those sometime.
Pitbits is another news column. With "Demogorgon" as editor and "Orcus" as Advertisement Manager. :rolleyes:
We get some Thrud and some Travellers. Gobbledigook was up there somewhere; head butting an orc.
Ending up with the small ads. There seems to be more items for sale in this one. People unloading their collections. The first wave of gamers moving on? Who knows.
Ads for the James Bond 007 game, Battlecars and Knight Hawks.
There is an ad for a "Truly British" Victorian Adventure game to appear at Games Day 83. Anyone know what that was for?
We have been fluctuating between 44 and 48 pages (counting covers) for a bit now, but we seem squarely stuck on 48 now.
In 1983 I don't know it yet, but we are leaving the Golden Age behind. Maybe those gamers in the small ads knew this and sold off their copies of RuneQuest, Traveller and White Box D&D knowing that the hobby was about to change again. Nah. They didn't know anymore than I did really. I was clueless, sitting there waiting for the next supplement or module, listing to my cassette copy of Chart Action '83 from K-Tel. I had no reason to know either. My 13/14 year old self doesn't care what my 43/44 year old self has to say.
Ian Livingstone talks about analysing the reader feedback given in the Reader Strikes Back. He also praises Alan Craddock for the cover of WD 44 stating it is the most popular cover so far. Wonder why.
Up first is the Demonist class for D&D by Phil Masters. This class, a sub-class of the Cleric summons up demons to do it's will. The class in not bad and there are some new spells. While the class is neat, I doubt I'll use it.
Open Box has four books this week. FGU's Privateers and Gentlemen gets a respectable 9/10 from Ian Waddelow. He enjoys how it can be played as a pure RPG or a pure War Game or some combination of the two. The Asylum and Other Tales for CoC from Chaosium is next. Jon Sutherland is also not cheap with the praise, saying not to be put off by the price (£7.95) and gives it a 9/10 as well. I talked a little about Star Fleet Battles last week, well this week (and in 1983) the topic is Fighters and Shuttles from Task Force Games for SFB. Jim Sizer gives it a 7/10 liking the increased numbers of ships and the 5 scenarios, but not liking that some combat is not made easier. Chaosium is up again with The Big Rubble about the ruins of Pavis for RuneQuest. Oliver Dickinson likes it and gives the best parts 10/10, most of the areas 8-9/10 and some only 5-6/10.
Critical Mass details some more books including masters Asimov and Clarke. I find this article harder to review. There are a couple of reasons. One, the books are dated. I mean anything I review here has been reviewed hundreds of times in the last 30 years. Also the article itself, the layout, makes it look like one huge paragraph. Maybe my eyes are getting old.
Zine Scene is next and it is described as an occasional article dedicated to the "street level" news of going ons in RPG and fandom. I am sure this has a lot to do with adding Mike Lewis to the set of editors.
Interestingly enough there is some news in here about other Zines opening up. I guess WD didn't consider them as competition at all. They shouldn't, but I am not sure I ever recall seeing such "openness" in Dragon.
There is a two page article about Goblins in RuneQuest. It's an interesting read. Interesting because is sounded very familiar to me. I am sure I had read this one back in the day and my goblins of today can trace their lineage back to this.
Letters is next with general praise and asking for clarifications.
Starbase is up with a bunch of Aliens for Traveller. Anyone use these in a Traveller based "Bug hunt"?
The last part of Irilian is posted with a big map and brief adventure. I am not sure if any updates were ever made to this city or not. But there really should have been. What I would like now is too take all six parts and do a retrospective on them. Maybe later.
RuneRites has Morale. Neat, but nothing I could use back then.
Kwaidan is next and it is a big deal. Big because for the first time have an adventure for Bushido. The RuneQuest/D&D/Traveller lock is broken! Ok yeah we have had some others, but to me this is a bigger deal.
Treasure Chest goes Dorian Grey on us and gives us a great painting for the Necromancer character that everyone hated. Well. I liked it, but it raised a fuss.
Fiend Factory gives us some mini-monsters for D&D. The Diabolo is kinda neat if you think of it as a devil-kobold cross breed. The Trollkin, is a combination of brownie and troll and one I used a couple of times. The others, the Trist, Krowks (demonic crows) and Gromits (Wallace no where to be seen). I took this article an ran with it creating my own "Trobbits" which were a cross between a troll and a, um, er, halfling. I should post those sometime.
Pitbits is another news column. With "Demogorgon" as editor and "Orcus" as Advertisement Manager. :rolleyes:
We get some Thrud and some Travellers. Gobbledigook was up there somewhere; head butting an orc.
Ending up with the small ads. There seems to be more items for sale in this one. People unloading their collections. The first wave of gamers moving on? Who knows.
Ads for the James Bond 007 game, Battlecars and Knight Hawks.
There is an ad for a "Truly British" Victorian Adventure game to appear at Games Day 83. Anyone know what that was for?
We have been fluctuating between 44 and 48 pages (counting covers) for a bit now, but we seem squarely stuck on 48 now.
In 1983 I don't know it yet, but we are leaving the Golden Age behind. Maybe those gamers in the small ads knew this and sold off their copies of RuneQuest, Traveller and White Box D&D knowing that the hobby was about to change again. Nah. They didn't know anymore than I did really. I was clueless, sitting there waiting for the next supplement or module, listing to my cassette copy of Chart Action '83 from K-Tel. I had no reason to know either. My 13/14 year old self doesn't care what my 43/44 year old self has to say.
Beginnings Blogfest
The theme of this blogfest is to talk about why you started blogging in the first place.
I actually have two reasons, but the first was to start out as a design blog/journal for my work on Eldritch Witchery and The Witch. I was going to talk about what I was doing, the playtests and the writing process.
I did do all of that, though not to the level I thought I was going to do. Instead reason number 2 took over.
I used to be very active in online message boards. I spent a lot of time on Planet AD&D, Eden's Boards and various boards for other systems. I was also involved a lot in RPG.net and the Kitten Board forever. Boards are fun, but rules over what you can post vary. D&D boards don't want to hear about my Unisystem stuff, and visa versa. Some boards have very strict mods while others don't.
With blogging I got to post what I wanted, the way I wanted to post it.
If I wanted to spend a week on vampire movies or anime or stats for various witches in various game systems, I can.
Getting to know other bloggers was just a really nice and totally unexpected benefit.
I hope that doing this has improved my own writing and opened up a new avenue of social networking for me.
Note: White Dwarf Wednesday will appear later today.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Meanwhile at Hero Press...
What the hell is this thing???
I have no idea. Neither does Tim over at Hero Press. But if you do it could be worth something.
Worth a copy of Icons or "'With Great Power...' The Stan Lee Story".
He is sponsoring a contest to name and flesh out this monster as part of his 6th anniversary of blogging.
So go over there and ... dare I say it...give him a hand!
I have no idea. Neither does Tim over at Hero Press. But if you do it could be worth something.
Worth a copy of Icons or "'With Great Power...' The Stan Lee Story".
He is sponsoring a contest to name and flesh out this monster as part of his 6th anniversary of blogging.
So go over there and ... dare I say it...give him a hand!
Monday, January 7, 2013
DriveThruRPG Sale
We have not had one of these in a while, but DriveThruRPG is holding a January sale.
Their "New Year, New Game" promotion with select games at 40% off.
Among the games listed here are a just a few of my favorites:
There are plenty more.
AND if you use this code:
You gain an additional 15% off.
Their "New Year, New Game" promotion with select games at 40% off.
Among the games listed here are a just a few of my favorites:
- Albion - not Ghosts of Albion, but equally as fun!
- Aletheia - have had it for a bit and really need to play it.
- Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul - really fun comic game
- Conspiracy X 2.0 is the best Modern Conspiracy game there is.
- Diana: Warrior Princess - ever wonder what future archeologists will say about the late 20th/early 21st Century? Wonder no more!
- Icons - a great FATE based Supers RPG.
- Leverage - one of the cooler Cortex+ systems out there.
- Little Fears: 10th Anniversary Edition - great creepy game. The original rules for Little Fears. My review.
- Mutants & Masterminds 3.0 - I have talked about how great this game is a lot here.
- Myth & Magic: Player's Guide - looks a bit like 2nd ed AD&D. I have a review going up soon.
- Primeval RPG Core Rulebook - based on the English TV show about rifts in Time and Space. Compatible with their Doctor Who system. My review.
- QAGS - See my review for this one!
- Shadowrun: 4th Ed. 20th Anniversary Core Rulebook - The cyberpunk meets the future meets magic game. Reminds me of going of to college.
- The Victory System - the only one on the list that I didn't know much about. It is by Dakkar Unlimited and I have known Dakkar for years, so I am willing to try it out based on that alone.
- Traveller Main Rulebook - I have enjoyed Traveller in the past even when it frustrates me. I will give Mongoose a lot of credit for cleaning it up so much.
- Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition - this nearly 530 page tome is a MUST BUY for any fan of the Vampire game. 40% off the PDF is a great savings.
- Villains and Vigilantes - my first ever Supers game. Glad to see this one back as well.
There are plenty more.
AND if you use this code:
happynyng2013
You gain an additional 15% off.
New Kickstarters
Maybe later.
All of these are already backed.
First up is an update to the Ron Edwards classic Sorcerer.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/847190685/sorcerer-upgrade
And what I described as the Kick-Starter of the Year, the new Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/994700393/deluxe-tunnels-and-trolls
Not sure if I am going to pledge in either yet, but both are games I have enjoyed in the past and I am happy to see them get some cash for some high end production value.
There is also the new FATE Core rules.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evilhat/fate-core?ref=home_leanback
That one is so ridiculously funded that it doesn't need my help really. It is even linked on the front page of the Kickstarter home page. But you have to give Fred and Evil Hat credit (and kudos) for having such a successful campaign. Plus for a buck you have access to the draft rules right now and a physical book for only 30 bucks. Also, and lets be honest, cybernetic Kung-fu gorilla on the cover? How can that not be cool?
The trouble with all three of these games is I don't need anymore games. But there they are, out there, taunting me.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Known by the company you keep
Then my book is in some pretty good company here.
Not trying to indicate any compatibility here at all. But they all sure do look good together.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Zatannurday: DC Nation
Today is the day we get new DC Nation shows and that means new Young Justice.
The clips from the website feature all sorts of cool things and the return (and sometimes for the first time in this show) of some familiar faces. The ones I am looking forward too are Slade, Apache Chief (what! He was cool in Super Friends and this version looks awesome), Doctor Fate and of course Zatanna!
It will be fun to see 20-something Zee given the recent (semi-recent) version of her in Justice League Dark #0.
New YJ also mean new Green Lantern (which has gotten better) and new DC Shorts, which I am really looking forward too. Sadly the Subuffs aka SBFF aka Super-Best Friends Forever will not be back.
We are getting new Thunder and Lightning and Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld.
This is never a bad thing.
Just a couple more hours...
Friday, January 4, 2013
Star Trek RPGs, Part II
I feel the need to make this "Wrath of Something" or "Into Dorkness" jokes.
Anyway, last year (snerk) I was talking about Star Trek RPGs. Well fellow blogger, sci-fi fan, all around good guy (with a GREAT name) Tim over at Hero Press posted these gems today.
http://www.heropress.net/2013/01/fleamarket-friday-gaming-where-no-die.html
First we have the Pre-Order for the Traveller based Prime Directive.
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/traveller/core-rulebooks-accessories/traveller-prime-directive.html
I am not sure what you all know about Prime Directive, but it is almost a thing onto itslef. It is based on the TOS era Star Trek, but it goes in a different direction all together. Now the purist in me used to reject this. Especially when the later movies and TNG began to air. But these days I find it much more appealing. Plus, like I said, Prime Directive is now almost a thing into itself with a rich history, while not quite as equal to Trek, it is still fun.
As many of you know from my White Dwarf Wednesday I have a history with Traveller, something I want to rectify someday. Could Prime Directive be the game for me? At the current exchange rate that would be $50 or so. So I might wait to see after it out in PDF.
Another game that gets mentioned to me is Where No Man Has Gone Before.
http://www.abillionmonkeys.com/trek
I don't know much about it at all save that most people seem to like it.
Maybe this is the year I find my Sci-Fi RPG.
Anyway, last year (snerk) I was talking about Star Trek RPGs. Well fellow blogger, sci-fi fan, all around good guy (with a GREAT name) Tim over at Hero Press posted these gems today.
http://www.heropress.net/2013/01/fleamarket-friday-gaming-where-no-die.html
First we have the Pre-Order for the Traveller based Prime Directive.
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/traveller/core-rulebooks-accessories/traveller-prime-directive.html
I am not sure what you all know about Prime Directive, but it is almost a thing onto itslef. It is based on the TOS era Star Trek, but it goes in a different direction all together. Now the purist in me used to reject this. Especially when the later movies and TNG began to air. But these days I find it much more appealing. Plus, like I said, Prime Directive is now almost a thing into itself with a rich history, while not quite as equal to Trek, it is still fun.
As many of you know from my White Dwarf Wednesday I have a history with Traveller, something I want to rectify someday. Could Prime Directive be the game for me? At the current exchange rate that would be $50 or so. So I might wait to see after it out in PDF.
Another game that gets mentioned to me is Where No Man Has Gone Before.
http://www.abillionmonkeys.com/trek
I don't know much about it at all save that most people seem to like it.
Maybe this is the year I find my Sci-Fi RPG.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
I Don't CAPTCHA
One of the more useful or annoying tools on the internet is CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA.
If you have been here for a while you can guess I am not a fan.
While I do find it interesting from a programing perspective and I find the bots used to foil them just as interesting. My "real-world, everyday" dealing with it is not wholly positive.
I don't use it myself. I honestly don't get enough spam or bots to make it worthwhile.
I have run into cases where I was commenting on a blog and for the life of me could not get the CAPTCHA. If I am reading a blog with my glasses off then forget it, there is no way I am going to figure it out.
It really sucks and it's too bad really because the one of the biggest joys of blogging is being able to comment on others' blogs and getting comments.
There is an interesting post on this over at Clay Baboons.
I am not sure how many comments CAPTCHA has actually killed. In my case it killed one, maybe two, comments I would have made.All the the same, I'd rather turn it off here and maybe deal with some spam. I get emails on every post made, so I can usually delete the spam long before others see it.
What are your thoughts on this? My rough guess that it is about 50/50 on the blogs I visit.
If you have been here for a while you can guess I am not a fan.
While I do find it interesting from a programing perspective and I find the bots used to foil them just as interesting. My "real-world, everyday" dealing with it is not wholly positive.
I don't use it myself. I honestly don't get enough spam or bots to make it worthwhile.
I have run into cases where I was commenting on a blog and for the life of me could not get the CAPTCHA. If I am reading a blog with my glasses off then forget it, there is no way I am going to figure it out.
It really sucks and it's too bad really because the one of the biggest joys of blogging is being able to comment on others' blogs and getting comments.
There is an interesting post on this over at Clay Baboons.
I am not sure how many comments CAPTCHA has actually killed. In my case it killed one, maybe two, comments I would have made.All the the same, I'd rather turn it off here and maybe deal with some spam. I get emails on every post made, so I can usually delete the spam long before others see it.
What are your thoughts on this? My rough guess that it is about 50/50 on the blogs I visit.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
White Dwarf Wednesday #46
Happy New Year everyone! Welcome back to the Other Side and my weekly feature White Dwarf Wednesdays. Every Wednesday I take an issue of White Dwarf and run through it both with an eye towards what the issue meant to me then and what it means in the scope of my gaming today.
This Wednesday we are going back to October 1983 and Issue #46.
Let's start with the cover. An improvement over last week I think. Futuristic flying city with jet fighters. Cool idea. I wonder if this was supposed to be taking place in 2013!
We have the usual pages of ads including a new one for Battlecars from Games Workshop.
Our editorial this month comes once again from Ian Livinstone. He discusses the latest landmark reached by White Dwarf, 20,000 copies per month. He credits this to the rise in the RPG hobby, which at the time was nearly 10 years old and the inclusion of WD in WHSmith stores.
First up in the articles we have Phil Palmer trying to bring some logic to wandering monsters. This is territory that has been well covered. I am not even sure if games today even talk about wandering monsters anymore. I still use them out of habit, but they have to make some sort of sense. I am not sure if it was reading this article that got to me to that point, or it just seemed logical.
Open Box is next with the RuneQuest Companion as reviewed by Oliver Dickinson. He gives it an 8/10. Mentioned as the first of the series, I'll have to go back and check to see if they kept up with that. The next item up is the re-issue (as they call it) of FGU's Chivalry & Sorcery. Marcus Rowland gives it high marks all around with an overall score of 8/10. I am a touch surprised that no one has tried to retro-clone this game. And finally the Sanctuary Board Game from local guys (local to me now that is) Mayfair Games. It gets a 7/10 from Allan E. Paull.
Critical Mass has some reviews of new books. One that always grabbed my attention, but I never read was "Golden Witchbreed" by Mary Gentle. I have to say that going back over these Critical Mass articles have made me want to go back and revisit some of the classics of my youth. It is 100% nostalgia, but I know I missed some good ones from back then.
Counterpoint is back with a new board game, Dragonhunt. These articles were always very detailed affairs. Which begs the question. Was there a greater connection to RPGs and Boardgames in England than here in the US or was I just not that interested in Board Games?
Part 3 of the 3 part Dealing With Demons focuses on the Demonic Nobility. There is a lot of good advice here for any game that has demons. The demons themselves do not inspire me, but they are certainly usable.
Phil Masters has some world governments for Traveller.
Lew Pulsipher goes over some non-fiction sources for use in RPGs.
Letters has a letter complaining about the cover for WD 44. 30 years later we still haven't gotten the chainmail bikini worked out of our system. A later asking people to leave D&D for "newer and better" games. And some alignment squabbles.
Part 5 or 6 of Irilian is up. I don't recall this one as well but there is a ton of detail.
Play by Mail is the subject of Microview. Using the computer to handle the PBM turns and then print out and send the GM responses to everyone. This is a rare window on a time when we knew computers would change everything, we just didn't exactly know how. While I would say that at least 80% of WD is still usable today, with 10% of the remainder either needing updated or in use already. The last 10% or so is something like this. Artifacts of the hobby that have been left in the past. PBM would be a foreign concept to many new players and the idea that you would print out something and mailing it makes very little sense. This is also one of the cases where computers have really improved the experience in my opinion. A Play By Message Board (PBMB) does allow for the same sort of interaction that MMORPGS only sort of do, but also the ability to connect to other players around the world. Google+ Hangouts are the current ultimate evolution of these.
Thrud the Barbarian gets hungry and the Travellers leave hyperspace.
Fiend Factory has been lacking a bit for me lately. The crazy monsters are thankfully something of the past, but now I find I miss the creativity that came along with them. This one features a collection of woodland monsters and an associated mini adventure. We get some intelligent plants like the Ivyix, Crimson Carpet, the Puffbal Plant and the Acrophids which are a bit like Triffids. We also get the Vily (woodland spirits) and Dame Vertes (green lady), which are a sisterhood of protectors.
RuneRites has some combat related ideas for RuneQuest.
Lew Pulsipher devotes a page to a single spell, but to be fair it is a big one. The Hellwalk Spell sends victims to a pocket universe where they must defeat monsters. It's a neat idea and one that would work with any game system or edition. In D&D4 terms this would be more of a Ritual than anything else.
There is an odd page, Pirate Eye, that is attempting some humor. I like gamer and geek humor as much as the next guy, but this one seems too out there for me. Maybe it is too British and I am not grounded in the same culture. There are bits of news here too. I guess it is trying to come off as a gossip column for gamers.
Though I will admit that the use of Steve Jackson was amusing. As in "Steve Jackson-not-of-Car-Wars" and "not-this-Steve Jackson".
Some small ads and Gobbledigook. More ads. An ad and sign up for Games Fair '84 featuring E. Gary Gygax. Color ads for RunwQuest and for the new Star Frontiers set, Knight Hawks.
All in all this issue didn't wow me. I enjoyed Irilian as usual, but the rest didn't do much for me. Ah well. There is next issue!
Let's start with the cover. An improvement over last week I think. Futuristic flying city with jet fighters. Cool idea. I wonder if this was supposed to be taking place in 2013!
We have the usual pages of ads including a new one for Battlecars from Games Workshop.
Our editorial this month comes once again from Ian Livinstone. He discusses the latest landmark reached by White Dwarf, 20,000 copies per month. He credits this to the rise in the RPG hobby, which at the time was nearly 10 years old and the inclusion of WD in WHSmith stores.
First up in the articles we have Phil Palmer trying to bring some logic to wandering monsters. This is territory that has been well covered. I am not even sure if games today even talk about wandering monsters anymore. I still use them out of habit, but they have to make some sort of sense. I am not sure if it was reading this article that got to me to that point, or it just seemed logical.
Open Box is next with the RuneQuest Companion as reviewed by Oliver Dickinson. He gives it an 8/10. Mentioned as the first of the series, I'll have to go back and check to see if they kept up with that. The next item up is the re-issue (as they call it) of FGU's Chivalry & Sorcery. Marcus Rowland gives it high marks all around with an overall score of 8/10. I am a touch surprised that no one has tried to retro-clone this game. And finally the Sanctuary Board Game from local guys (local to me now that is) Mayfair Games. It gets a 7/10 from Allan E. Paull.
Critical Mass has some reviews of new books. One that always grabbed my attention, but I never read was "Golden Witchbreed" by Mary Gentle. I have to say that going back over these Critical Mass articles have made me want to go back and revisit some of the classics of my youth. It is 100% nostalgia, but I know I missed some good ones from back then.
Counterpoint is back with a new board game, Dragonhunt. These articles were always very detailed affairs. Which begs the question. Was there a greater connection to RPGs and Boardgames in England than here in the US or was I just not that interested in Board Games?
Part 3 of the 3 part Dealing With Demons focuses on the Demonic Nobility. There is a lot of good advice here for any game that has demons. The demons themselves do not inspire me, but they are certainly usable.
Phil Masters has some world governments for Traveller.
Lew Pulsipher goes over some non-fiction sources for use in RPGs.
Letters has a letter complaining about the cover for WD 44. 30 years later we still haven't gotten the chainmail bikini worked out of our system. A later asking people to leave D&D for "newer and better" games. And some alignment squabbles.
Part 5 or 6 of Irilian is up. I don't recall this one as well but there is a ton of detail.
Play by Mail is the subject of Microview. Using the computer to handle the PBM turns and then print out and send the GM responses to everyone. This is a rare window on a time when we knew computers would change everything, we just didn't exactly know how. While I would say that at least 80% of WD is still usable today, with 10% of the remainder either needing updated or in use already. The last 10% or so is something like this. Artifacts of the hobby that have been left in the past. PBM would be a foreign concept to many new players and the idea that you would print out something and mailing it makes very little sense. This is also one of the cases where computers have really improved the experience in my opinion. A Play By Message Board (PBMB) does allow for the same sort of interaction that MMORPGS only sort of do, but also the ability to connect to other players around the world. Google+ Hangouts are the current ultimate evolution of these.
Thrud the Barbarian gets hungry and the Travellers leave hyperspace.
Fiend Factory has been lacking a bit for me lately. The crazy monsters are thankfully something of the past, but now I find I miss the creativity that came along with them. This one features a collection of woodland monsters and an associated mini adventure. We get some intelligent plants like the Ivyix, Crimson Carpet, the Puffbal Plant and the Acrophids which are a bit like Triffids. We also get the Vily (woodland spirits) and Dame Vertes (green lady), which are a sisterhood of protectors.
RuneRites has some combat related ideas for RuneQuest.
Lew Pulsipher devotes a page to a single spell, but to be fair it is a big one. The Hellwalk Spell sends victims to a pocket universe where they must defeat monsters. It's a neat idea and one that would work with any game system or edition. In D&D4 terms this would be more of a Ritual than anything else.
There is an odd page, Pirate Eye, that is attempting some humor. I like gamer and geek humor as much as the next guy, but this one seems too out there for me. Maybe it is too British and I am not grounded in the same culture. There are bits of news here too. I guess it is trying to come off as a gossip column for gamers.
Though I will admit that the use of Steve Jackson was amusing. As in "Steve Jackson-not-of-Car-Wars" and "not-this-Steve Jackson".
Some small ads and Gobbledigook. More ads. An ad and sign up for Games Fair '84 featuring E. Gary Gygax. Color ads for RunwQuest and for the new Star Frontiers set, Knight Hawks.
All in all this issue didn't wow me. I enjoyed Irilian as usual, but the rest didn't do much for me. Ah well. There is next issue!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Welcome 2013!
Here we are! 2013! Let's get the new year started off right with some gaming.
Today I have to help my oldest make a Buffy RPG character, level up the DragonSlayers and find an adventure for their next trip.
Should be a great year.
Today I have to help my oldest make a Buffy RPG character, level up the DragonSlayers and find an adventure for their next trip.
Should be a great year.
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