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Saturday, December 11, 2021

OSR Christmas, Day 3 - The Giving of the Gifts (DON'T Miss Day 4 Tomorrow - It Will Blow You Away!)


As regular readers likely know, this week has been a fairly busy news week, both on the blog-side and on the cast-side of things. As such, I didn't get an OSR Christmas post up yesterday (a livestream and new episodes of The Expanse and Wheel of Time didn't help either ;)

In reality, it is probably for the best, because tomorrow is going to be, quite likely, the most amazing day of OSR Christmas gifting in ALL of the years I've hosted OSR Christmas. Really. Don't miss it.

In the meantime, we have gifts from OSR Christmas Day 3 to gift, as well as remind folks that gifts from OSR Christmas Day 1 & OSR Christmas Day 2 remain unclaimed. Use the links above and see if you've missed something. Free loot may be yours!

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 3 Gifting!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

                   dogrodeo

        MCC "Seekers of the Un-K'Nown" PDF (anywhere in the world)

                 Jason Jenson

        DCC "Perils of the Sunken City" PDF (anywhere in the world)

                  shadowcat1313

        ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.

                  Mark Markham

Alright, those named above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernAT that Gmail thing with OSR Christmas Day 3 in the subject of the email. The rest of you need to click on the links for awarding the gifts for Days 1 and 2, because there is some Arduin and more waiting to be claimed.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Friday, December 10, 2021

News - TSR Voluntarily Dismisses Legal Action Against WotC Without Prejudice

I'm just sharing this for newsworthiness. I don't have any inside information as to WHY the dismissal was filed.

Nite, "without prejudice" means TSR reserves the right to file again in the future.






The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Why is TSR3 Filing Suit over Trademarks it has Already Abandoned or Surrendered?

I'll be short and simply include a bunch of links.

In less than 2 weeks, Star Frontiers will be an abandoned trademark, for failure to submit a Statement of Use:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276506/STAR-FRONTIERS

The Wizard logo? Surrendered 9/7/2021:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148334/mark

Dragon Medallion? Abandoned 7/28/21:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148524/TSR

The Game Wizards? Cancelation Pending 12/07/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124839/TSR-THE-GAME-WIZARDS

Blackmoor? Abandoned 8/18/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276510/BLACKMOOR

TSR as the OSR Logo many of us know? Surrendered 9/7/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124287/TSR

Classic Lizardman Logo? Registered, but not the Greg Bell version. This was redrawn by Jeff Dee

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124788/mark

Strangely enough, the actual letters "TSR" weren't filed until 8/19/21. Oversight or plain stupidity, I simply don't know.

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90884176/TSR

So, what's the angle TSR3 is working with this legal action? Are they hoping the court will give them the rights to trademarks they've already abandoned? Was this a preemptive action to prevent a filing by WotC? Is this simply a money grab?

Can a Trademark lawyer explain WTF is actually going on? Why defend trademarks you've already abandoned or surrendered?

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 


Wednesday, December 8, 2021

OSR Christmas, Day 3 - All Good Things Come in Threes (or on the third day)


Ah, there is nothing quite so sweet as seeing a community gift others within the community. OSR Christmas is special, not just for the gifts given, but for all of the potential gift receivers.

Before we get to the gifts being given away for OSR Christmas Day 3, we have gifts to give away for OSR Christmas Day 2.

OSR Christmas Day 2 Gifts

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

Rob Gustafson 

Back to BasiX HardCover Compilation by Throwi Games (US Only)

Ngo Vin-Hoi 

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible). 

Hyrieus 

IL

I need the above to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom. Put "OSR Christmas Day 2" in the Subject.

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 3!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

        MCC "Seekers of the Un-K'Nown" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        DCC "Perils of the Sunken City" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one none-US commenter.

You know the deal, comment below and indicate whether you are state-side or elsewhere in this wide world of ours. This post closes at 10 PM Eastern, 12/10/21. There will be a grand total of 13 days of gifting for OSR Christmas 2021, and if you want a chance to be gifted on each of those days, you need to comment on each OSR Christmas post.

We still have unclaimed gifts from Day 1...


The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

TSR3 Files "Complaint for Declaratory of Judgement" Regarding Trademark and Copyright Disputes with WotC

TSR vs WotC

Exhibit A

Indiegogo

See links above for the filing and Exhibit A.

Note that this filing is about trademarks and copyrights. It has NOTHING to do with the infamous "WotC Legacy Disclaimer". It has nothing to do with slander or libel.

I'm going to share the rest of the screenshots of Exhibit A:

It appears that the announcement of the "new" Star Frontiers title, shared on Facebook with the cover of the original release from the "old" TSR was the catalyst for the letter from WotC's attorney (as it was sent six days after the Facebook post in question.)

This begs the question: how much did WotC actually care about the apparent graphical trademark usurpation by TSR3, before TSR3 committed an unforced foul in using the original Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn cover to announce their reboot? Is this an "in for a penny, in for a pound" situation, where if you don't assert ownership of all, you could lose ownership of all? Also, this email was sent, right around the TSR3 social media meltdown. Was that too much for WotC to ignore? Again, an unforced foul.

From the filing itself, we get some insight into Evil Hat's abandonment of the Star Frontiers TM:

Interesting times ;)


The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 






Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Kickstarter - Batteries Low, Getting Dark - a Post-apocalyptic Adventure



A low- to mid-level adventure for your favorite post-apocalyptic setting.

I've always been a fan of Gamma World. It's the first RPG I bought after getting my AD&D 1e Core books back in the day. I was very confused about how Hit Points worked in Gamma World.

Now, I am NOT saying that the Batteries Low, Getting Dark - a Post-apocalyptic Adventure Kickstarter is written for Gamma World. What I AM saying, is that from all appearances, it should work with Gamma World 1e without a hitch. As always, YMMV ;)

This adventure was play-tested at the North Texas RPG Con in 2019 using the first edition of the Gamma World system. The stat blocks of Batteries Low, Getting Dark will be suitable for the play-tested system, or can easily be modified for other systems of similar genres. 

100% of the adventure is written. All maps and art have been completed. At the time of project launch, the work is midway through editing. My hope is that before the project ends, the book will be in or through layout.

The B&W, digest-sized, perfect bound book will be between 32 and 40 pages in length. The adventure features 40 plus encounter areas in total.

Unlike other adventures written by ThrowiGames for this genre, the book's layout will be built around the custom artwork of several artists. Each piece is at least half a page in size, and has been created exclusively for this adventure. 

Count me in. Heck, I backed this yesterday :) 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Monday, December 6, 2021

OSR Christmas - Day 2 - As the Good Books Says, More Gifts is More Better

Ah, there is nothing quite so sweet as seeing a community gift others within the community. OSR Christmas is special, not just for the gifts given, but for all of the potential gift receivers.

Before we get to the gifts being given away for OSR Christmas Day 2, we have gifts to give away for OSR Christmas Day 1.

OSR Christmas Day 1 Gifts

Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print (US Only) 

        gnupate 

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible)

        Jason Jensen

        IL 

 OSR patch (or two) and a sticker (anywhere)

        imredave 

I need the above to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom. Put "OSR Christmas Day 1" in the Subject.

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 2!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

Back to BasiX HardCover Compilation by Throwi Games (US Only)

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible). 

You know the deal, comment below and indicate whether you are state-side or elsewhere in this wide world of ours. This post closes at 10 PM Eastern, 12/8/21. There will be a grand total of 13 days of gifting for OSR Christmas 2021, and if you want a chance to be gifted on each of those days, you need to comment on each OSR Christmas post.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on AnchorYouTubeor wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 


Sunday, December 5, 2021

Getting into the Sweet-Spot for BX PC Gaming

Getting into the Sweet-Spot for BX PC Gaming
I'm far luckier than expected in that I was able to participate in my group's bi-weekly OSR game. Well that AND my Magic User earned enough XP to become an Enchanter (5th Level).

Now I clearly cannot speak for everyone, but my favorite levels are usually 5th to 7th level. Thing is, while I have played 5th level BX PCs before I don't think I've ever leveled up a PC to 5th level before. Those other PC's were higher level for one-off games and that is a different animal than "growing your own" straight-up from 7 x 3d6 down the line.

Now for an Enchanter that means I get to finally cast a 3rd level spell and get to cast a total of five (count 'em.....FIVE!) spells a day. My Enchanter (I should totally rename his sorry ass to "Tim") conceivably could cast Lightning of Fireball, assuming he knew those spell. Instead he knows Water Breathing.

Water Breathing.......sounds kind of crappy, but after reading the spell it is pretty bad-ass, just a little limited in usefulness. I'm more excited by the fact he's got a captured spellbook with Dispel Magic, which might be far more useful.

Now I expect that most here get the nuances, but there is probably at least one person here that isn't familiar with the slower rate of level progression in an OSR/BX game. I think I've been playing this PC regularly for at least a year and a half. Now as a low-level support PC I'm not often in the thick of things, although I have had to step up a few times and save the day (usually through a fair bit of luck!). Thing is, and this is for the new guy, a 5th level BX Magic User is a lot more on par with a 1st level BX Magic User, much, much closer than the differences in pretty much any other edition of D&D.

My guy is still running the same to-hit charts and saving throws. The difference between 4th & 5th levels? 1d4 hitpoints (well, 1d4+1 for me) and a single spell, albeit a 3rd level spell. The jump to 6th level, only another 20,000 XP from now, gets my guy the 1st increase in saves and to-hit matrix, not that I really want to be making saves or engaging in more direct combat.

Yes, progression is much slower in an OSR game, BUT...and this is a major draw for me, that sweet-spot of mid-level gaming is a lot longer than in other games. Now that my PC has access to 3rd level spells, even just one (up to three if my GM's custom Bracers of Spell Storing can hold third level spells....but I suspect they are limited to 1st & 2nd level spells) can change the dynamic considerably....."can" being the operative word.

Again, for the not-quite-familiar, the flexibility, adaptability, survivability....hell, just playability of BX (OSR) Player Characters aren't so much related to the numbers gained through regular level progression, but through the "smart" actions of the players at the table, and of course a fair bit of luck. Now I'd LOVE to be able to take all the credit for "making it" to 5th level, but I have a whole party of players that are responsible, along with their PCs.

I know, I know.....for 90% of the readers here this is old hat and you've probably not even made it this far. Earlier this week I was reading about *ahem* another edition and my eyes glazed over at the prospect of making and leveling up a PC. Since it's a matter of public record that I like HackMaster and believe me that game has a complicated build/leveling process, but that shit is enjoyable and a completely different thing, so aside from this throwaway comment, I'm not going there. 

I remember playing 3.5 and rolling up a PC, or leveling one, seemed to take hours. It took so damned long because if you did not optimize your build you were screwing your PC over and possibly your group as well. Now this was my experience and others might have different ones, but the simpler/easier choices of OSR PC creation & leveling up > complicated, "have to get it right" please read all the RPG books of the month-club to optimize later edition creation/level ups.

Now I'll probably loose my PC in the next couple of games....these things happen, but I'll just grab my 3d6 and be back in the swing of things soon enough.


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