Saturday, October 2, 2010
It's Time to Give Away Stuff - The Tavern Has Hit 60 Followers!
Lets see, time to break out the dice!
d3 and a d20 = d60 :)
Rolled a 48 and a 18.
Psikonetic gets a PDF copy of Fantasycraft
kalpesh sorthiya gets a PDF copy of SplicerRPG
Games provided by OneBookshelf / RPGNow / DrivethruRPG
The winners can email me at tenkarstavernATgmailDOTcom and I'll send you the code to redeem your prize. Congrats to both!
(get in touch by next Saturday, October 8th, or the prize will be passed on to someone else)
Tunnels & Trolls - What's in My Bag?
My package arrived from FlyingBuffalo yesterday. I was a little disappointed at the size, as I had the mental image of 5 books and the 2007 Free RPG Day adventure taking up far more shipping space then they actually did. I was fine after I popped the sucker open tho: 4 Corgi double adventure books and the City of Terror (and the above mentioned 2007 Free RPG day adventure).
I think I'll be working on getting a complete set of T&T adventures, theres is something fun about rolling dice and progressing your chartacter, even if it is solo. The included abreviated rules include spell lists thru 9th level, so you really could play these without even referring to the T&T rulebook. I'll be surfing the net looking for a write-up that details all the changes between editions, although it appears everything is backwards compatible for the most part.
As a side note, the Corgi books were printed back in 1986, so they are classics already ;)
Powered by Qumana
Friday, October 1, 2010
To Review, or Not Review... That is the Question
Part of the reason has been a shortage of actual releases that I have an interest in. If there is no chance i'd ever use the piece, why waste my time and that of the publisher. I do have one or two reviews that I might get to this weekend. Time will tell.
The rest of the reason? I'm simply having way too much fun going thru my classic ebay purchases. When I get my package from Flying Buffalo full of Tunnels & Trolls goodness, watch out world! Heh
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Picking Thru the OCE (D&D 6th Printing) Box
I can already see that I'm glad I have a copy of Chainmail on the way, as there are many references to the rules that started it all. Maybe Chainmail has a reference to the size die one rolls to determine HP. From the example shown, the range rolled falls from 1 to 6, so a safe assumption could be made that 6 sided dice are rolled, but I have yet to see it spelled out.
Advancing beyond name level is explained, with the painful exception of experience points required beyond name level.
The AC charts cover from 2 (plate and shield) thru 9 (no armor). If magic brings the AC below 2 one can extrapolate easy enough, but it is a bit of an omission (at least in retrospect). Hmm, or magic doesn't change the AC, just the base scores to hit, but that's the same thing but more complicated.
Saving Throws: Everyone advancedon the same table, just at different rates. Just like the Combat Charts. But then shouldn't the charts have been set up in the same fashion? Levels from top to bottom and save type from left to right would have worked just as well for the Combat Charts as they did for Saving Throws. I know, Monday Morning Quarterbacking and all that jazz ;)
More reading ahead for me. Later
Progress Isnt Always Progress
I'm feeling that way at work today. I'm in training for a computer system /software that will bring my job into the 21st century. As that century started 10 years ago, it's actually fairly quick for my job.
Only problem? The software is an outsourced buggy mess of poo. I can see what they want to do, and it might be great in the end, but the transition will be painful, buggy and flawed. Kinda like changing to a new edition of D&D ;)
Got my White Box today. I'll post a bit about it tonight.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
B2 - You Sunk My BorderKeep!
B2 is the first reprint I've looked at so far. (My original copy of B2 is packed away "somewhere"). Damn but they packed a lot into a 28 page module back then.
I like the nice touch of including a 2 sided D&D reference sheet with perforations for "easy removal". It always good to have a cheat sheet, especially for new gamers. Lets see, the sheet has:
-Magic-User spell lists thru Third Level spells,
-Cleric spell lists for First and Second Level spells
(These lists are name only - no data, but its a cheat sheet, so that's fine)
-Saving Throw Table
-Equipment and Weapon Listing with prices
-Wandering Monster Tables for dungeon levels 1 to 3
-Cleric Turning Table thru level 3
-Die Roll For Character to Score a Hit, By Opponent's Armor Class (To Hit Table) for Normal Man and Characters of 1-3
-To Hit Tables for Monsters thru 11 HD+
That's a friggin' nice cheat sheet. A decent DM could run an adventure with just that sheet for reference. Very well done.
Okay - Time to read some more. Can't wait for my White Box to arrive. Amazing what a little cash overtime can do. (Besides, I need to "Grandfather" some purchases before the young lady receives full veto power ;)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Going Fourth With Holmes
As a guideline, it should take a group of players 6 to 12 adventures before any of their characters are able to gain sufficient experience to attain second level. This guideline will hold true for successive levels. So, 12 to 24 adventures (not sessions) before one will need to move on to AD&D? Bad marketing move EGG. Assimilate faster, just like the Borg.Bandit entry. Every 30 bandits means a 4th level fighting man, every 50 a 5th or 6th, and every 200 a chance of a magic-user of 10th or 11th level. At 300+ definitely a magic-user and a chance for a cleric. No idea what level the cleric might be, but as the rules only cover up to third level, its kinda moot in all these cases.
Rust monster - destroys all armor and weapons, even magic ones, to rust instantly. Wether you hit it, or it hits you. Appears there is no save. Does your metal armor's AC help protect you from the attack (it shouldn't)?
Damn, 1 in 10 magic swords are +3, just as likely as a +1 sword. 1 in 5 swords are cursed. Ouch!
Page 41 for this quote:
The game is intended to be fun and the rules modified if the players desire. Time to homebrew and houserule!
New Header, Same Great Taste
Thanks lad, you can drink for free. Domestic only tho. ;)
Sneaking up on 60 Tavern Patrons
Not sure which ones they are, so I'll add that info when I get home later. Still, a chance for free swag for reading what you read anyhow can't be bad ;)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, September 27, 2010
Third Peek at Holmes
Today I'm going to quote from the Preface. Yes, I'm going to pick and choose certain pieces.
This book is based upon the original work published in 1974 and three supplementary booklets published in the two year period after the initial release of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. It is aimed solely at introducing the reader to the concepts of fantasy roleplaying and the basic play of this game. To this end it limits itself to basics. - I still don't see Storm Giants as "basic" but I digress ;)
This (the minimum necessary rules to conduct basic games) is absolutely necessary because the game is completely open ended, is subject to modification, expansion and interpretation according to the desires of the group participating, and is generally not bound by the conventional limitations of other types of games. - True words of wisdom buried in there
Players who desire to go beyond the basic game are directed to the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS books. - Wait, didn't the preface say something that this written to simplify D&D play?
Yes, I know TSR was a bit dysfunctional in it intentions for D&D and AD&D. I do find it interesting that AD&D was found worthy enough to be BOLDED.
I'm very glad they mention that monsters use 8-sided HD. When I started playing with just the AD&D PH and DMG, i thought HD was somehow HP. Monsters were pushovers until we got a copy of the Monster Manual :)
Page 22 talks about scaling down high monsters to give a low level party a chance to defeat it. Okay, I'll accept the Giants into the rotation now.
I just received the Moldavey Basic Set via Ebay. I'll give that a few thoughts when I finish with Holmes. Trust me, I still have some more thoughts on Holmes - I just need to gather them. Hey, doing pretty well staying on target. Heh
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Second Look at Holmes
I can almost understand why Dragons are included in the monster section, as everyone loves to beat up on a "young" dragon and taking it's stuff. Besides, the name of the game is Dungeons & Dragons. But why the hell are Giants included? From Hill at 8 HD thru Storm at 15 HD, I can't see how a party could hope to defeat them. Besides, this is "Basic" D&D - killer DMs should be in the Expert Set, or the Advanced rules ;)
If they knew you were to "graduate" to AD&D after third level, might it have been easier to keep the class' HD in line with the new game? Oh, and perhaps stat bonuses too?
There are 4 references to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the first 7 pages... perhaps they could have lined the systems up a bit closer for compatibility? I mean, this was meant to lead one to AD&D.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
My First Look at Holmes
Some quick thoughts as I am away from my computer:
Why be a Fighting Man in the Holmes rules? A cleric with 15 con has the same HP, same armor, same thaco.
What ever happened to the promised Witch class for AD&D?
- Posted from my iPhone
Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition
-
OSR Session Report III - Midnight at Tanière de Loup, an OSR WWII Mini-Adventure Using Operation White Box & Bloat Games's SURVIVE THIS!! Vigilante City - Core Rules - 'So it's been a long while since we got together for our super game event using Operation White Box & Bloat Games's SURVIVE THIS!! Vigilante City - Core ...57 minutes ago
-
OSR: Alloy Wizard, Civic Wizard, and Potion Wizard - These classes are intended for my Loxdon College game. They (along with an assortment of other wizards) will accompany the Brawler, Duelist, Thief, and D...3 hours ago
-
GURPS Space Bundle of Holding - Maybe there will be a Dungeon Fantasy Bundle of Holding next. Who knows?9 hours ago
-
A Statement From Vought International (Spoilers) - The Boys social media presence continues to be top notch. In response to the (in-universe) social media bombshell at the end of last week’s episode, Heroga...10 hours ago
-
Esekar Sector - The Esekar Sector is a small region on the remote edges of Known Space, named after the brightest star within its boundaries. It is located near the fronti...10 hours ago
-
Why D&D? - Very often - Monday's post is an obvious example - I will post an idea on the blog for a campaign I'd like to run or a book I'd like to write, and people...11 hours ago
-
Class Struggles: Castles & Crusades - Core and Player Archive - It has been a while since my last Class Struggles post. Since I featuring D&D this month and focusing on Castles & Crusades, in particular, this week I th...14 hours ago
-
Judges Guild - Of Skülls änd Scräpfäggöt Green - From the web: "The official GenCon X (1977) D&D tournament dungeon. Details the village of Scräpfäggöt Green and surrounding area. Includes tournament r...17 hours ago
-
I Played King of Dragon Pass - (in response to the comments in this post) and I was not that good at it, and then did ok. But then got bored. But I learned a lot and now have much more s...19 hours ago
-
The Darkness of Kasta - By Angelos Kyprianos Spiral Lane Productions OSR Level ? A strange incident invokes fear and doubts in the people of Kasta, a remote town that suffered gre...20 hours ago
-
The Life and Travels of Obmi - I make no bones about the fact that Lord Obmi the dwarf is one of my favorite characters in the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting. His combination of cunni...1 day ago
-
Lasers - "... one of the surest ways to injure or kill an adversary is to subject him or her to a large dose of kinetic energy; the simplest way to deliver that e...1 day ago
-
Burdens - Burdens are one of the more significant additions I'm playing with in *Primeval Bastionland*. They're inspired by Fatigues from *Mausritter*, which in tur...1 day ago
-
Miskatonic Monday #122: Pickman’s Action Figure - Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for *Call of Cthulhu* under the Miskatonic University Library Associati...2 days ago
-
d100 Absolutely True About All Murder Hobos Forever - A nice depiction of Nergal from way after bronze age - region mix of roman, mesopotaimian and other culture. The dog is...2 days ago
-
Forthcoming Númenor book and some thoughts on the Second Age of Middle-earth - I’ve always found the Second Age of Middle-earth intriguing. One reason is that, unlike the First and Third Ages, it is not a period during which any ...3 days ago
-
The Power of Positivity/The Half Year Review - Welcome back to the Vault! Today's post is a made of two halves, but bear with me. By pure chance I met an author this weekend; a lovely chap called Mar...3 days ago
-
Finding spells is better than choosing them - D&D is probably my favorite RPG nowadays - mostly in the OSR versions, but even 5e sometimes. But one of the things I dislike the most about it is picking ...5 days ago
-
Périlleuses contrées: Fangenoire (Blackmarsh in French) - While I enjoy getting the revenues I get from my sales as Bat in the Attic Games. The biggest reward is getting to share my material and doing in it a wa...5 days ago
-
Reflection and Formation - There are many broad functions that rules can have. Here is one: representing the details of a broader fictional world. The fictional world might not work ...6 days ago
-
Review: Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness - Finally I was able to watch Doctor Strange 2. Due to the pandemic I've been avoiding going to the movies, and sometimes waiting for stuff to come to stre...6 days ago
-
Loving the Dungeon Bummers... - Something I love about old-school gaming is how character centric everything is. Dungeons exist because the players need someplace cool to explore; and m...1 week ago
-
Why Dragons Should Never Lose - Back in the 'aughts, WotC had a forum set up for folks to discuss D&D. I yoinked this little tidbit from one of the user profiles on that old (and eithe...1 week ago
-
Helvéczia: Journal de Campagne, 3 - We resumed play this past week, joining the company still within the farmstead where those that remain of the seven knaves are restrained or incapacitate...1 week ago
-
The NTRPG Con 2022 Victorious game: Part 1 - At the beginning of the session we passed out envelopes to each of the seven players. They were told to open them and look at the 2 playing cards within. I...1 week ago
-
Desert War in 1:150 Scale - For no particular reason, except my customary inability to stick to a project, I thought I'd try printing some desert stuff in 1:150 scale (10mm) just...1 week ago
-
Missing google drive files & reorganization - Hey everyone, recently google drive changed the way permissions are done. Because of this I am continually getting requests for previous files from post...1 week ago
-
Orcs and Beastmen, Part 1 - *Note: Oddly enough, Bar Chakka was part of my very first draft of Centerra, back in 2010. Centerra has changed a lot in the last 12 years, but two mos...1 week ago
-
Mega-Dungeon Map Design Sprints with Henry - *Update - 13 June 2022 at 7:18pm*: Well, just like my lost big posts during Kellri's Module Challenge, blogger crapped out and I lost this huge post de...2 weeks ago
-
Text Folding Tool for Referee Notes - Organizing campaign notes is frustrating. My preference would be to keep all my hobby material in an analog format, but it’s not practical. A campaign is a...2 weeks ago
-
[BEYONDE] Expedition to the Dungeons of Torda - *Play report from the Dungeons of Torda, one of the more famous delves of Transylvania. Three levels, high verticality, questionable “non liner” elements...3 weeks ago
-
Education, Fleshing out a System - A little over I year ago I posted on the value of an education system in your old school game. What follows is some further exploration of the idea and...4 weeks ago
-
Wyrdwood Adventures, ep12 - The following is a solo adventure I am running using White Box FMAG, the Perilous Wilds, Freebooters on the Frontier and Into the Wyrd and Wild. I use my o...4 weeks ago
-
Freebie HackMaster/OSR Mini Adventure - [image: Freebie HackMaster/OSR Mini Adventure] When I get an opportunity to share some gaming goodness from friends of mine, or former acquaintances....he...5 weeks ago
-
On Ecology Completed - So that happened. Bestial Ecosystems created by Monster Inhabitation is out. I'm getting better at it. There was something off about the softcovers, so...5 weeks ago
-
Plugging Away - As of a month ago I'm now working again on a part-time basis (three days a week). In January I walked away from a position I'd held for over 20 years bec...1 month ago
-
Back in the Day: Playing The Never Used Rules - As most everyone who finds this obscure blog knows I started playing OD&D in 1977 and switched to AD&D 1e in 1979 and have been playing 1e ever since....1 month ago
-
E'a, Chronicles of a Dying World - David M. Fitzgerald's *E'a: Chronicles of a Dying World *is one of the more obscure digest-sized unofficial supplements to early D&D, little known even...1 month ago
-
Random Research - This post was prompted by two players having questions that required NPCs to do research. One PC is a cleric, the other a paladin. They worship different...2 months ago
-
Ivan Reitman, 1946-2022 - I didn't want too much more time to pass before posting something here in tribute to filmmaker Ivan Reitman, who the world lost unexpectedly on Saturday,...4 months ago
-
Saving Throw for Evey Lockhart - Fans of Trilemma Adventures: one of our own needs our help. Evey Lockhart is the writer and designer of weird, sad, queer old-school stuff that you’re pr...4 months ago
-
Vox Machina: Good for a Few Laughs - TL;DR: it’s ok. How’s that for brief? Ok, seriously, it’s got some fun moments, but isn’t nearly as clever as it thinks it is. Better? Dig...4 months ago
-
Julius Moessel (1871 - 1957) - [image: Julius Moessel - Symphony in Hell, No. 2, 1940's]Symphony in Hell, No. 2, 1940's [image: Julius Moessel - Symphony in Hell (No.3)]Symphony in He...5 months ago
-
Growling Mage Tavern - The other day I used Frog God Games *Journey Generator*. There was a set of tables to create an inn or tavern. So I rolled up one because you can never ...5 months ago
-
Clean Your Room - Looking back at my little blog here. That last post… wow, I was having fun playing WOW Classic! That was August of 1999 and I was having a blast… it was ...6 months ago
-
People of the World, Spice up Your Life - I have seen the *Dune*. It’s good, but, like all “content” now, too long. The forms of many designs are quite nice (love the costumes of the imperial de...7 months ago
-
This Blog has Moved! - I’ve moved this blog to a self-hosted one, on the same server running my old-school gaming forum, this blog will … Continue reading →1 year ago
-
Encounter Critical news?!? - So rpg bad boy Venger Satanis has bought the rights to the best game that isn't D&D.1 year ago
-
Silent Night (The Salt Mine 16) Cover reveal! - Heya folks, got a new cover in for Silent Night (The Salt Mine 16) and thought I should share.1 year ago
-
What's wrong with megadungeons? - I ran across a megadungeon article from last July. I know, I am a little behind, as I was dealing with my cancer when it came out. In the blog, DM David ...1 year ago
-
-
My RPG Zine Trilogy is on Kickstarter! - I can't believe I didn't post about it here! The Dead are Coming, Screams Amongst the Stars and Running Out of Time are on *Kickstarter right now!* Thes...1 year ago
-
Maximum HP 004, one week to go - Just one week to go for Maximum HP issue #004, the undead. We are pushing through stretch goals and wracking up contributions for the best issue yet. We...1 year ago
-
Steve Jackson Interview - James Maliszewski recently did an interview with Steve Jackson over on his Grognardia blog. Steve chats about the beginnings of The Fantasy Trip and upcomi...1 year ago
-
The Hero’s Journey 2nd Edition, Campbellian roleplaying at its best! - (this review done using the reviewers own purchased copy) I have been a James Michael Spahn fan since he wrote his Swords & Wizardry Companion. His writing...1 year ago
-
Undermountain Map Origins - As documented on the Ruins of Undermountain sales page, "TSR didn't actually use Ed Greenwood's original maps," at least not in their entirety. This post d...2 years ago
-
A Campaign Begins for Newbies - Like many of you, the affects of the Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted how hundreds of millions of us fellow mutants interact and function in our jobs, co...2 years ago
-
WB:FMAG Total Print Sales - Hello Folks, The last time I did a quick sales report was in September 2018. I pulled reports from Amazon, Lulu and DrivethruRPG from October to current fo...2 years ago
-
The Minotaur for Old-School Essentials - *Minotaur* *Requirements:* Minimum STR 9, Minimum CON 9 *Prime Requisite:* STR and CON *Hit Dice:* 1d10 *Maximum Level:* 8 *Armor:* Leather, including shield...2 years ago
-
The Mauve Plague, Gravy Urns, and Batlace Frills: News from the Hill Cantons - And now the News... In a statement beamed from the Oracular Society today *Morafans the Rickmaster*, the Psychosocial Health Minister of the Overking, ha...2 years ago
-
WIZARDS OF POHJOLA - Init +0 Melee Atk • sword or dagger +1 (1d5 or 1d3) Ranged Atk • hot iron sparks +3 (1d4+2 to two targets within 20' but not closer than 5') AC 14 HD 12d...2 years ago
-
Strange, Dangerous, and Inhuman: The Fey and Fairie - When I was a boy I loved fairy tales. Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, Rumpelstiltskin - I devoured all of it. My fascination that there was a strang...2 years ago
-
Merlynd the Magician: A Remembrance of Don Kaye, TSR's Co-Founder Now Available - LINK to Description and Ordering: https://www.tlbgames.com/collections/the-red-book-line/products/merlynd-the-magician2 years ago
-
The Withered Crag custom print version for sale again - Just re-enabled the direct sales button for the custom print (classic style detached cover) version of F4 The Withered Crag, and also for F3 Many Gates of...2 years ago
-
Dungeons & Dragonmead Fall Schedule - *As you know, I run public classic Dungeons & Dragons games at **The Loaded Die**/Metro Detroit Game Night's Board Game Nigh at **Dragonmead**, in Warren...2 years ago
-
-
D&D Sling Damage vs. Large Targets - In many early editions of D&D, weapons were assigned two damage values: one for small/medium targets (i.e. man-sized) and one for large targets (giants and...2 years ago
-
James A. Smith, Jr. Memorial Video - A beloved father, devoted friend, and D&D Dungeon Master extraordinaire. We miss you! To view video, click here Memorial Video Note - The original video...3 years ago
-
Let's Talk About Pacing! - The idea, I think, is that the RPG is ultimately about the long game. Even rolling back to the early days of Basic & Expert, the goal of the player was...3 years ago
-
Profane and Profound Prep Part 2 - This is part 2 of my work to edit my magic items for a DMsGuild release, along with adding cursed items along the way. Here is part 1. Bone of a Saint 8000...3 years ago
-
SHORT BREAK. - I'm going to take a break for a week or so and will start up again in the New Year. Thanks for reading and we'll start with Level 6 when I get back.3 years ago
-
Iain Lovecraft, 3D Sculptor - Nope, it's got nothing to do with Cthulhu. I just did a video conversation with Iain Lovecraft, who designs 3D miniatures and terrain. If you're not doin...3 years ago
-
New website! - Slowly but surely, all the content here will make its way — in updated form! — to my new website: timbannock.com. For fairly obvious reasons, that site wil...3 years ago
-
Please Update Your Link! - If you're seeing this, it means your link to the Greyhawk Grognard blog is out of date. Please update your link to www.greyhawkgrognard.com (RSS feed is h...3 years ago
-
How can We Destroy this Campaign World? - d12 1. You must trick a bard into strumming the *Chords of Fate* on the *Lute of Annihilation* 2. Legends tell of thermonuclear weapons beneath megadungeo...3 years ago
-
Mord Mar - Session 6 - We weren't able to play Mord Mar last week, due to a family funeral. This week we played on Monday for the first time, due to kids returning to school and ...3 years ago
-
A Small, Quiet Plea - There has been a great deal of discussing political agendas, social grievances, and personal attacks within the little corner of gaming that is my hobby....4 years ago
-
Don’t Sleep It’s Broken - Expanding/editing my comments from What Makes Something Broken G+ thread: “Broken”, for me, is anything that makes normal character choices, tactics, or ro...4 years ago
-
Swords & Wizardry Light-Themed Birthday Party - Last month, my wife and I helped our oldest to celebrate his birthday in style. Ever since 2013, we have hosted a themed birthday party for our now-15-ye...4 years ago
-