Tenkar's Tavern: James Spahn - Hottest Titles 1-4 Over at RPGNow!

Saturday, February 28, 2015

James Spahn - Hottest Titles 1-4 Over at RPGNow!

I'm excited for +James Spahn and the OSR as a whole (and Swords & Wizardry in particular.)

If you thought, as I did, that James holding positions 1-3 on the RPGNow Hottest Titles list as of this past Monday was a thing beauty, holding the 1st-4th spots on that very list as of Saturday morning brings it to "eleven." (obligatory Spinal Tap reference)

For me, what is even more impressive, is that James' three White Box releases hold positions 1 through 3. I'll bet a week's pay that no one has held the first four spots at the same time.

If you want a chance to grab the White Box "Trilogy" of Barrel Rider Games releases in PDF for free you still have time. James is giving away such a bundle on the previous post. All you need to do is add a comment by 6 PM tonight, Eastern Time on the original post.

Congrats James!

6 comments:

JDsivrajFebruary 28, 2015 at 8:18 AM
I commented on the other thread and just ant to share here. Whitebox S&W was the first RPG my youngest son ever played, he couldn't even talk yet. He played a Pygmy who only spoke his native language.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Dyson LogosFebruary 28, 2015 at 10:21 AM
I'll have to run through my collection of old screenshots... I might have held the top 4 at one point when I first transferred my zines to RPGnow.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Nick P. CooperFebruary 28, 2015 at 12:04 PM
These would be great additions to my game.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Doctor FuturityFebruary 28, 2015 at 1:40 PM
Would these white box editions offer anything to players of S&W Complete? I'm curious....got some credit burning a hole in my pocket on rpgnow.
ReplyDelete
Replies

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 ;)

Swords & Wizardry Light - Forum

RPGNow

Saturday, February 28, 2015

James Spahn - Hottest Titles 1-4 Over at RPGNow!

6 comments:

Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition