I was bouncing around YouTube tonight and I came across this awesome video where a guitarist does 100 classic guitar riffs in one take. It amazing to listen to, not just because he is very talented, but because the riffs are so much less than the songs they are a part of even though they are what "define" the songs in question.
100 riffs and I could identify at least half, and recognized to some extent nearly all of the other half. All that and I was left unsatisfied. Why? Because these riffs on their own lack the depth of the songs built around them.
I think that can be applied to RPG characters. In many ways we define them by their stats, but for them to actually come to life, to sing, those stats have to be part of something deeper.
The best stats in the world don't mean much if the character doesn't have some depth to go along with it. Or maybe I just heard the hooks of a hundred songs and now I want to listen to them all, as the hooks leave me feeling empty on their own.
Stats only seem to matter to me during character creation. Sure I get a bit disheartened if I have a few bad rolls, and excited if I get a max result, but two weeks later, I'm playing to my strengths, and the stats are only there to add some random element to a dice roll. From that point on, it's all about playing the whole character.
The Treasure Vaults of Lindoran (1980)
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From the Players' Introduction:
"Your party has come through the wilderness and mountains surrounding
Lindoran to seek after the fabulous treasures of an...
Where Did I Get These Spells From?
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I had a player who said bard songs and spells should be more research-based
than what im doing now. I also read Dolemnw...
Punch A Nazi Week - Dr. Plasma
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Today's Nazi comes from the stories of Boy King. Dr. Plasma isn't going to
put up much of a fight, but is a nasty support character. If you want to
make hi...
Stonehell: Getting the tip of your pole slimy
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Session 269 was played on 10/13/24
Morgana, wizard (Rob)
Borumar, Triton Thief (Josh)
Blotto, Goblin Fighter (Lanse)
Nick, Fighter 7 (Me)
Koltic, Cleric 7...
The Sunken Temple
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By Mr Pilgrim TomesSelf PublishedOSE"Expert Levels" A sunken cathedral on a
quiet mountain lake hides a long forgotten temple to Mathanoga, God of
Knowledg...
Still worth a very big smile: Pokémon Concierge
-
On the subject of positivity: *Pokémon Concierge* is still amazing. This
past Wednesday, Laura and I both wanted to watch something that would give
us ...
Handley-Page Hampton (1/144)
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This is one of Roman Troyen's (*PlanePrinter *on Patreon) 1/200 scale
designs, up-scaled to 1/144 and printed on my elderly Ender 3 in PLA.
It's a Han...
DF Felltower Update
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*It's been a week since I updated - just a very busy week of non-gaming
things.*
I had a little time to do some Felltower things today:
- updated the VTT....
Yep, I do draw maps
-
I know some of you have started to wonder, but yes, I still do occasionally
draw maps. I recently reread Olde House Rules' Mydwander (thanks to my pal
Jame...
Kickstart Your Weekend: 5e Witch Content
-
I mentioned before that one of the reasons I have not done a 5e Witch
class myself is that I have wanted to have some joy in discovery of
something new ...
Create a sandbox map in 7 easy steps (or 10)
-
I've written several posts on similar subjects; they are mentioned below.
This is a compilation of sorts.
You only need a piece of paper and pen to start -...
Into the MAC
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They warn you about the danger of being shredded by gunfire. Being
incinerated in a reactor meltdown. The brave pilots who burn up in drop
without seeing...
Bitterblossom: The Small-Press Supremecy...
-
Our hobby has always been a small-press thing. Even now, with modern,
corporate D&D, the pastime remains in the capable hands of the hobbyist,
empowered ...
Ride! Ride! Ride!
-
Only 24 hours left on the best work of visionary transhumanist science
fiction that’s also a medieval quest story that’s also beautifully
illustrated th...
Trail of Cthulhu 2e and Broken Empires
-
I try not to back funding projects (on Kickstarter and the like) that often
these days. This is because I backed a few in recent years that I now kind
of r...
Welcome new Greyhawk Fans!
-
With the publication of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide, there are doubtless
going to be a lot of new D&D players interested in my favorite setting, the
Wor...
The Werewolf Rule
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Ever since the nose-blind apes succeeded in driving them away, wolves have
carried their hatred in their guts, like a cold embryo.
Humans are slow, stu...
Warsmith's Words: Traitor Guard
-
Welcome back to the Vault! I've had a miserable snotty cold over the last
few days so I've hunkered down in the Vault and finished off a couple of
proje...
[BLOG] Year Eight: New Foundations
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The Hall of Mirrors stretches beyond the Two Infinities...This blog started
on 5 August 2016, making this part of the year a good time to take stock
and...
Psychotronic Gaming: The Basics
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Not too long ago I celebrated the 45th anniversary of me starting an AD&D
1e campaign. I started the campaign before I was a teenager and it is still
...
Knave Jammin’
-
Ben Milton, Mr. Questing Beast, is holding an adventure jam for the release
of the much-celebrated second edition of his game, Knave. Short form,
October...
Lancer: 1:35 Swallowtail Scratchbuild
-
Back in the day, I suggested that the best mech system is a mechanics-heavy
RPG system, but scaled up.* D&D 4E *seemed like a good candidate. Mech
system...
D&D Player’s Handbook 2024
-
Being an incomplete, visual review of the 2024 Player’s Handbook. I got a
copy of this almost entirely on the strength of the new cover art: (This is
the “...
Concerning the Future of Traveller
-
I have been a fan of Traveller for a long time and have bought various
books over the years from just about every Traveller licensee, as well as
from Ma...
The Mystery of the First Blackmoor Map
-
In this POST from a few years ago, I was concerned with the issue of scale
and distance in Blackmoor in the course of which I attempted to determine
the...
Got my Summer Art Acquisitions Framed
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[image: Got my Summer Art Acquisitions Framed]
This weekend was a bit of a catch-up/housekeeping period as I have gotten
around to purchasing more frame p...
Far Away Land 2nd Edition Kickstarter is Amazing
-
Fay Away Land RPG Ed. 2 is now Kickstarting! It funded quick and has 22
days remaining as of this post. It is a unique setting and RPG that reeks
of fun....
Grimdark vs. Eucatastrophe
-
Noisms has some interesting ideas in this post about his desire for some
depth to his grimdark, and turns to Gene Wolfe and Tolkien for relief.
Now, it ...
Musings on Sleep in OD&D – Is it Over-Powered?
-
Link to discussion
Let’s look at the sleep spell in Men & Magic:
>Sleep: A Sleep spell affects from 2–16 1st-level types (hit dice of up to
1 + 1), from...
It's been a bit
-
Hey everyone, I hope you are doing well! I've had a lot going on and
haven't had much time to blog lately. Heres a recap of gaming events and
other st...
Session #12 & Adventure Sites Compilation
-
Firstly, I wanted to let everybody know that Adventure Sites I by Coldlight
Press is now available as a free download on DriveThruRPG. It includes my
own...
Improvised Awful Lights Missions
-
Asking about The Awful Lights, a commenter asks:
*I'd love to hear about how this is run - with the Handler determining
mission location and objectives ...
Jim Ward's Adventure in Gygax's Wonderland
-
Last weekend at GaryCon, many of us raised a glass to the memory of Jim
Ward, who passed away just days before the convention. Ward was very
helpful to m...
The Economy Engine, v0.2
-
I made a thing. For D&D 3rd edition, so it might not be that interesting to
a lot of people. But I made it and I think it’s cool. The 3rd edition
Dungeon M...
*'s in SpaaaaaAaaaace
-
A lot of SF (including a certain 2D6 RPG grandaddy) deal with ancient
aliens taking humans from Earth and dropping them, fleas and all, on one or
more w...
Last move - to self-hosting!
-
As my vote regarding Substack in the “marketplace of ideas”, I’m moving to
self-hosting.
I’m now at (and hopefully staying for a long time at)
Blog: ht...
Time Rolls On
-
Today is December 31, 2023, in the mid-afternoon. In less than ten hours it
will be 2024. 2023 2023 was a good year. But all years are good years. Both
goo...
-
Heya folks, the 21st Salt Mine book, Import Export, has hit the digital
shelves! In the 21st book we follow Aaron Haddock-codename Stigma-as he
tries to ...
Moving On...
-
So, my D&D 5e experiment has blown up the lab in a puff of green smoke
leaving my face blackened like Wile E. Coyote after a failed roadrunner
Acme trap...
How to Keep Megadungeons Fresh
-
People often consider megadungeons boring. Not because the play style is
boring, but because they are in the same locale for a majority of the
campaign. If...
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...
This is an Important Game Mechanic
-
*"That's the GM's Regional Map from my AOWG. And it's a damned good
regional map. It's not a good map for a Simple Homebrew Campaign. It does
some s$&...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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
doi...
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...
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...
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 ...
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....
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...
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...
Stats only seem to matter to me during character creation. Sure I get a bit disheartened if I have a few bad rolls, and excited if I get a max result, but two weeks later, I'm playing to my strengths, and the stats are only there to add some random element to a dice roll. From that point on, it's all about playing the whole character.
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