This week in Gaming

[tcpip]

Well, I reviewed the AD&D1e Players Handbook at RPG.net and war broke out because I dared give it 1/5 for substance. In the past days I've also reviewed A3: Assault on the Aerie of the Slavelords, the Megatraveller Rebellion Sourcebook, A2: The Secret of the Slavers Stockade and U2: Danger At Dunwater.

I've also set myself a "hard deadline" of finishing at most of the first draft of my Dragonlords RPG by the end of today and have spent several solid days working on the manuscript. It's currently hovering around 25,000 words - much shorter than it needs to be - and I'm pretty happy with what has been done thus far. It feels right thus far. Also I need playtesters - lots of them - and I want plenty feedback as well. On a related note, can someone sell me on The Burning Wheel. I'm trying to like this game, but it just isn't moving me.

caseopaya did another fine job as GM of Little Fears last Friday. On Sunday the retro-group finished the high-cheese AD&D A3 module. Tuesday's game has changed (due to narrative reasons) from Megatraveller to Traveller: The New Era. Have also managed to deal with two scenes of the HeroQuest Glorantha pbem that I manage, play through one the Rolemaster Hyborea scenes and the initial investigative encounters of a d20 Call of Cthulhu game - particularly great setting this one; the civil war and war of independence in the Congo.

News that does not relate to my interest in the crossover between fantastic literature, tactical wargames and improvised radio theatre will have to wait for a subsequent post :-)

Comments

[anthanum.livejournal.com]

I need to organise some people up this way into a semblance of a gaming group. Missing my geek time :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

If you get desparate I could slot you into one of the pbems...

[mundens.livejournal.com]

So, what's this Dragonlords thing then?
Maybe we can get some people play-testing over here?

We have a local BBS at www.nzrag.com where such things could be discussed !

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Ahh Dragonlords. A RPG based using the world of Greg Costikyan's "Barbarian Kings" (I have the OK from Greg and Jim Dietz of Jolly Roger Games). I consider "significant influences" in the game to be RQ, DQ and RM.

I would love some NZ input, because, well kiwi gaming rocks. Send me a private email and we'll organise more...

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

Still want me to do and Illustration on the 'Dragonloards' theme?

Also let's do dinner again soon.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yes and yes... Dinner sometime next week? Wednesday?

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

I reviewed the AD&D1e Players Handbook at RPG.net

...which is much like poking a wasp's nest, but I'm sure you knew that going in ;-)

I had many happy years with 1st Ed, but I have absolutely no desire to go back, for pretty much the same reasons you've covered in the review. 3rd Ed works much, much better, even if they never did clear up the 'level' confusion...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

...which is much like poking a wasp's nest, but I'm sure you knew that going in ;-)

Yeah, I kind of did expect it. But I also hoped for some better arguments from the AD&D1e defenders, apart from "balance" and "market sucess"...

Perhaps there just isn't any.

Of course, if I was reviewing the PH in 1980, the rating would be much, much different.

3rd Ed works much, much better, even if they never did clear up the 'level' confusion...

Indeed. It is a much better game. D&D has improved significantly over the decades. I don't see why this should be considered a problem for some.

[mikey-ob.livejournal.com]

You have provided a clearly written and fair assessment of a rulebook from an old RPG system system from a contemporary gamers relative context.

I would like to see you write a review af AD&D where you provide an analysis of the components of the system and their infulence - both negative and positive - in the development of RPG systems over the 29 or so years since it's release. Why things worked and why other mechanics are discarded.

[discordia13.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'de agree with the review on this one. 1st ed hasn't aged well, but the design of the books of that era were brilliant - they were in a lot of ways a lot like comic books. Fairly shallow, but you were paying for the art.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You have provided a clearly written and fair assessment of a rulebook from an old RPG system system from a contemporary gamers relative context.

Thank you. That was exactly what I intended to do.


I would like to see you write a review af AD&D where you provide an analysis of the components of the system and their infulence - both negative and positive - in the development of RPG systems over the 29 or so years since it's release. Why things worked and why other mechanics are discarded.

A good idea; I've been thinking about writing such a column piece for rpg.net

BTW, love the icon. I sold a virtually new 'blue cover' Basic D&D set last year...

[curufea.livejournal.com]

D&D proponents are almost relgiously obsessed with being apologists for it. Including lashing out at those "in the fold" who give bad reviews.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

There is many, many things for which the roleplaying industry owes AD&D1e a lot of credit. The design of a good, lasting, game system is not one of them.

[one-horse-town.livejournal.com]

As well as those religiously obsessed with Runequest, for example. *wink*

It's the Forever War of roleplaying. Joe Haldeman would be proud.

Matters of religion...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Mike Carr's frank admission in the Forward of the Player's Handbook:

"This remarkable loyalty is a great factor in the game's explosion of popularity, and Dungeons & Dragons has become a gaming cult, as avid D&Ders have ceaselessly 'spread the gospel'..."

[lardarsegreg.livejournal.com]

So, what exactly do you play?

Or should I instead be asking what exactly you don't play...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hey, longtime no see...

Ummm... Currently playing;

Rolemaster, Little Fears, d20 Call of Cthulhu.

And I wish my DragonQuest GM would get a move on as well; and I really should get my Lunar Duck up and running for a RuneQuest game.

Currently running;

AD&D (oh, the irony), RuneQuest, HeroQuest, Traveller

Hmmm... Those games are pretty mainline aren't they?

[tentacularone.livejournal.com]

Hello. Whenever you get to that stage, I've got a few groups that could playtest out here (US). Just let us know. Looking forward to basking in your brilliance.

[tentacularone.livejournal.com]

Hello there. Whenever you get to the playtest stage, I've got at least one group that's always ready for fresh meat. Let us know.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Excellent; I'll send you some material this weekend.

[phasmaphobic.livejournal.com]

1) Burning Wheel: Tell me what you do like about it (if anything), and what you don't. I will try my best to be unbiassed yet supportive in ways to promote it =)


2) Little Fears: I LOVE this book, but have yet to run it. It seems kind of... intimidating. Do you have any writeups of the game you experienced? I'd love to read, and get some pointers/hints/ideas for the future.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Like
----
- Lifepath
- Skills
- Resources
- Beliefs and Instincts
- Artha
- In-game democracy
- Core mechanic (needs elaboration)

Disklike
--------
- Attribute names (yes, trivial to change)
- Minimal skill descriptions and test examples
- Duel of Wits (social conflicts just aren't played out like that)
- Artha (yes, in both columns. Too crunchy)

Neutral
-------
- Martial conflict
- Sorcery
- Shades

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Goddam it, I've just got to do that write-up for Little Fears...

[crowroadaw.livejournal.com]

I've been thoroughly enjoying your AD&D reviews. I think you're mad for doing it, mind you, but they - and the meltdowns they cause - make for great reading. :)

Can't help on Burning Wheel. I don't get passionate love it provokes either.

Little Fears, on the other hand, is awesome.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kind words. Of course part of it is inspired by the fact I'm currently playing AD&D1e and part of it is because I made a commitment to review my collection and well, it hadn't been reviewed.

I must say I sort of expected some reactions, but I simply had to give an honest and considered opinion on the games according to contemporary standards.

Little Fears is seriously good fun...

[droog64.livejournal.com]

On a related note, can someone sell me on The Burning Wheel. I'm trying to like this game, but it just isn't moving me.
I'm gearing up for a BW game and it's looking good. I'll give you some more feedback soon, when we've played a few sessions.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Excellent, I look foward to it...

Also, my regular nag.. Last session of Arthurian HeroQuest? ;-)