Tenkar's Tavern: Back Behind the Screen Today

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Back Behind the Screen Today - Wish Me Luck

It's been 15 years (almost to the day) since I've been behind the screen. Like many things, I've heard the experience is much like riding a bike - within minutes you have your balance and are back to comfortable ground.

The things is, the first time I rode a bike in nearly 15 years, no one told me it had no brakes until I was already picking up speed and going downhill. I wiped out in a junkyard at the end of the hill (and walked away to ride again nearly 10 years later). I hope today goes a bit smoother ;)

6 comments:

GeorgeFebruary 26, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Dude - you'll pick it right up and be awesome. Your knowledge of the rules and spirit of D&D is strong. Yoda would say "the Force is strong in this one."

By the way, I've been waiting for a day or two for you to get Follower #200 - so you can have a full host of minions.
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JimwiseFebruary 26, 2012 at 12:33 PM
You'll do awesome. You've got the passion that your very blog demonstrates daily, no more is needed. Rules are secondary.

Good luck!
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Dan LawsonFebruary 26, 2012 at 12:38 PM
I'm sure you'll be great! Your blog's been a fun read, so I'm sure your DMing will be equally fun!
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Erik TenkarFebruary 26, 2012 at 1:27 PM
thanks for the votes of confidence :)
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DienekesFebruary 26, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Never let 'em see you sweat!
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PatrickFebruary 26, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Corollary: Make them sweat. :D
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Add comment

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Back Behind the Screen Today - Wish Me Luck

6 comments:

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