Tenkar's Tavern: Finding the Story Behind the Scene

Friday, April 6, 2012

Finding the Story Behind the Scene

I really feel drawn to this image. There is a story here, and I need to figure out what it is. Because when I do, it will be one heck of an image to give to my players.

This could work just as well in my upcoming ACKS campaign as it will in a pulp (HEX) game, or even Solomon Kane.

I'll be showcasing some of the art from Joe Wetzel's successful Stock Art Kickstarter project over the coming weeks, and I'll try an attack a small encounter or background to the art as I do post it (so far it is universally awesome in nature after my quick perusal).

This piece is by Malcom McClinton. (resolution was knocked down for the blog post)

2 comments:

JoeApril 6, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Malcolm gets an amazing level of detail in his paintings. This was supposed to be a background for placing some of the other monsters from the project. The idea was a backdrop of ruins.
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Erik TenkarApril 6, 2012 at 11:10 PM
Like I posted, there is a story here, waiting to be told... I just need to figure it out so I can tell it ;)

I'm extremely pleased with the art I've seen so far, Joe.

You assembled an amazing bunch of artists on this project. Well done :)
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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 6, 2012

Finding the Story Behind the Scene

2 comments:

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