Tenkar's Tavern: Cheer Bear Retires

Friday, April 27, 2012

Cheer Bear Retires - Grumpy Dwarf Returns

Yesterday's experiment using "Cheer Bear" to comment on the latest Rule of Three was interesting, but I don't foresee a repeat.

I'll be back in "Grumpy Dwarf" mode for the next DnD 5e post-commentary. Some may not like the attitude, but in truth, when I had no issues with the original post, I said so.

As my hopes and desires for a successful release of DnD 5e / Next are being dashed on the cliffs of Failed Expectations and Impossible Goals almost weekly, I expect many more Grumpy Dwarf posts.

Once the Public Beta Test is released next month, I'm sure I'll be giving it my critical eye. Not to bash it, but to improve it. Oh, and of course to yoke what I can for use in the OSR. Assuming I find stuff worth yoking.

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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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Friday, April 27, 2012

Cheer Bear Retires - Grumpy Dwarf Returns

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