Picking Thru the OCE (D&D 6th Printing) Box

I have been trying to pick a copy of the OCE (Original Collector's Edition) of Dungeons & Dragons for a while, but the prices were out of whack compared to what I could pay at Troll & Toad (or is it Toad & Troll).  In any case, I got my copy today, and I'm very happy with it.  The box is VG/FN but the books are all VF to NM.  What better way to end a month then by starting to read thru the original D&D rules.

I can already see that I'm glad I have a copy of Chainmail on the way, as there are many references to the rules that started it all.  Maybe Chainmail has a reference to the size die one rolls to determine HP.  From the example shown, the range rolled falls from 1 to 6, so a safe assumption could be made that 6 sided dice are rolled, but I have yet to see it spelled out.

Advancing beyond name level is explained, with the painful exception of experience points required beyond name level. 

The AC charts cover from 2 (plate and shield) thru 9 (no armor).  If magic brings the AC below 2 one can extrapolate easy enough, but it is a bit of an omission (at least in retrospect).  Hmm, or magic doesn't change the AC, just the base scores to hit, but that's the same thing but more complicated.

Saving Throws:  Everyone advancedon the same table, just at different rates.  Just like the Combat Charts.  But then shouldn't the charts have been set up in the same fashion?  Levels from top to bottom and save type from left to right would have worked just as well for the Combat Charts as they did for Saving Throws.  I know, Monday Morning Quarterbacking and all that jazz ;)

More reading ahead for me.  Later

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Progress Isnt Always Progress

It's pretty much the crux of the whole OSR argument. Has progress in the "science" of gaming really been progress, or is it just change. If it isn't broke, why fix it?

I'm feeling that way at work today. I'm in training for a computer system /software that will bring my job into the 21st century. As that century started 10 years ago, it's actually fairly quick for my job.

Only problem? The software is an outsourced buggy mess of poo. I can see what they want to do, and it might be great in the end, but the transition will be painful, buggy and flawed. Kinda like changing to a new edition of D&D ;)

Got my White Box today. I'll post a bit about it tonight.

B2 - You Sunk My BorderKeep!

I just received my TSR Silver Anniversary Boxed Collector's set from Ebay - still sealed in the original wrap.  Of course, the first thing I did was rip the sucker open! heh.

B2 is the first reprint I've looked at so far.  (My original copy of B2 is packed away "somewhere").  Damn but they packed a lot into a 28 page module back then.

I like the nice touch of including a 2 sided D&D reference sheet with perforations for "easy removal".  It always good to have a cheat sheet, especially for new gamers.  Lets see, the sheet has:

-Magic-User spell lists thru Third Level spells,
-Cleric spell lists for First and Second Level spells
(These lists are name only - no data, but its a cheat sheet, so that's fine)
-Saving Throw Table
-Equipment and Weapon Listing with prices
-Wandering Monster Tables for dungeon levels 1 to 3
-Cleric Turning Table thru level 3
-Die Roll For Character to Score a Hit, By  Opponent's Armor Class (To Hit Table) for Normal Man and Characters of 1-3
-To Hit Tables for Monsters thru 11 HD+

That's a friggin' nice cheat sheet.  A decent DM could run an adventure with just that sheet for reference.  Very well done.

Okay - Time to read some more.  Can't wait for my White Box to arrive.  Amazing what a little cash overtime can do.  (Besides, I need to "Grandfather" some purchases before the young lady receives full veto power ;)

Going Fourth With Holmes

Let's hit page 22 again.

As a guideline, it should take a group of players 6 to 12 adventures before any of their characters are able to gain sufficient experience to attain second level.  This guideline will hold true for successive levels.  So, 12 to 24 adventures (not sessions) before one will need to move on to AD&D?  Bad marketing move EGG.  Assimilate faster, just like the Borg. 

Bandit entry.  Every 30 bandits means a 4th level fighting man, every 50 a 5th or 6th, and every 200 a chance of a magic-user of 10th or 11th level.  At 300+ definitely a magic-user and a chance for a cleric.  No idea what level the cleric might be, but as the rules only cover up to third level, its kinda moot in all these cases.

Rust monster - destroys all armor and weapons, even magic ones, to rust instantly.  Wether you hit it, or it hits you.  Appears there is no save.  Does your metal armor's AC help protect you from the attack (it shouldn't)?

Damn, 1 in 10 magic swords are +3, just as likely as a +1 sword.  1 in 5 swords are cursed. Ouch!

Page 41 for this quote:

The game is intended to be fun and the rules modified if the players desire.  Time to homebrew and houserule!

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New Header, Same Great Taste

Greg, of the Synapse Design blog, just sent me the file for the great header you see above.  Took me all of 2 seconds to decide to use it after seeing it.

Thanks lad, you can drink for free.  Domestic only tho.  ;)

Sneaking up on 60 Tavern Patrons

Currently the Tavern has 57 Patrons / Customers / Google Connect Followers. When we hit 60 I have 2 PDFs to give away courtesy of RPGNow, so if you are a regular reader and aren't yet a Google Connect Follower, sign up and follow. At 60 2 random followers will get a PDF each.

Not sure which ones they are, so I'll add that info when I get home later. Still, a chance for free swag for reading what you read anyhow can't be bad ;)


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Third Peek at Holmes

I've gotten some excellent feedback and info on my previous two posts. I can't thank everyone enough.

Today I'm going to quote from the Preface.  Yes, I'm going to pick and choose certain pieces. 

This book is based upon the original work published in 1974 and three supplementary booklets published in the two year period after the initial release of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.  It is aimed solely at introducing the reader to the concepts of fantasy roleplaying and the basic play of this game.  To this end it limits itself to basics.  - I still don't see Storm Giants as "basic" but I digress ;)

This (the minimum necessary rules to conduct basic games) is absolutely necessary because the game is completely open ended, is subject to modification, expansion and interpretation according to the desires of the group participating, and is generally not bound by the conventional limitations of other types of games. - True words of wisdom buried in there

Players who desire to go beyond the basic game are directed to the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS books. - Wait, didn't the preface say something that this written to simplify D&D play?

Yes, I know TSR was a bit dysfunctional in it intentions for D&D and AD&D.  I do find it interesting that AD&D was found worthy enough to be BOLDED.

I'm very glad they mention that monsters use 8-sided HD.  When I started playing with just the AD&D PH and DMG, i thought HD was somehow HP.  Monsters were pushovers until we got a copy of the Monster Manual :)

Page 22 talks about scaling down high monsters to give a low level party a chance to defeat it.  Okay, I'll accept the Giants into the rotation now.

I just received the Moldavey Basic Set via Ebay.  I'll give that a few thoughts when I finish with Holmes.  Trust me, I still have some more thoughts on Holmes - I just need to gather them.  Hey, doing pretty well staying on target.  Heh

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Second Look at Holmes

This is going to be a piecemeal series, as I'm just posting crap as it occurs to me. Kinda like GADD blogging ;)

I can almost understand why Dragons are included in the monster section, as everyone loves to beat up on a "young" dragon and taking it's stuff. Besides, the name of the game is Dungeons & Dragons. But why the hell are Giants included? From Hill at 8 HD thru Storm at 15 HD, I can't see how a party could hope to defeat them. Besides, this is "Basic" D&D - killer DMs should be in the Expert Set, or the Advanced rules ;)

If they knew you were to "graduate" to AD&D after third level, might it have been easier to keep the class' HD in line with the new game? Oh, and perhaps stat bonuses too?

There are 4 references to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the first 7 pages... perhaps they could have lined the systems up a bit closer for compatibility? I mean, this was meant to lead one to AD&D.


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My First Look at Holmes

I just received a near mint Holmes Basic Rule Book. Never actually read one previously.

Some quick thoughts as I am away from my computer:

Why be a Fighting Man in the Holmes rules? A cleric with 15 con has the same HP, same armor, same thaco.

What ever happened to the promised Witch class for AD&D?




- Posted from my iPhone

OD&DITIES Goes Back on Hiatus

As detailed here, OD&DITIES Magazine is ceasing publication.  It was fun while it lasted.

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Long Island City Craft Beer Festival

There is only on thing better then a craft beer festival... A comped ticket to a craft beer festival. Damn skippy!

Alright, four days at GenCon probably beats a four hour beer tasting, but not by much ;)


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Sometimes the Best Review is No Review at All

Over the last 6 days I've been eligible to review one Gmail screen-plus worth of products from RPGNow.  I may have peeked at a dozen or so on the web, and actually grabbed 2 or 3 for later reading / reviewing.  So what about the rest?

They way I see it, if there is no chance that I will EVER use the product in any way, shape or form, I'm probably better off not snagging a copy.  Pathfinder stuff falls into that category, except for the modules, as they are easily converted and I still speak the language, if not the dialect.

4e stuff is out.  A pain to convert to anything that resembles OSR.  Ah well.

Most things that give out the "overpriced vibe" unless they look fricken awesome.  I'd hate to grab a reviewer copy of something that I suspect is over priced and find out that I was right.  Besides, I suspect reviewer copies are counted in the sales levels / awards (this is a guess only), and I don't want to boost the numbers of an item I expect to not justify its price in my eyes.

Most adventures for games I don't own the rules to.  There are exceptions.  Sometimes an adventure / module look so damn intriguing I'll buy the rulebook just to enjoy the adventure.

Foreign language products.  If it isn't in English, I won't touch it.  German language products are tempting, to see how far my college German can take me, but I suspect after the first page I'll give up ;)

Diorama products, as I have no space to display anything that I might actually produce from it.

So yes, I leave about 95% of what I am eligible to grab just where it is... but I'm getting fairly good at ensuring the other 5% is worthwhile, which ain't that bad ;)

Job Title of the Day

At today's promotion ceremony, the title of the day was Assistant Supervising Supervisor, outdoing his boss, the Supervising Supervisor. And I thought some of the AD&D level titles had some lame entries.

I feel bad for the above civilians that were promoted as hardened cops burst out laughing when they were announced.

Worse even then calling our Detectives Defectives ;)


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Bits N' Pieces as the Week Winds Up

Anyone know of any decet blogging software for the Mac?  I'm using Quamana at the moment, and while it isnt bad, it isnt the best I'm sure.  Figure I'd throw that at my fellow bloggers for some input.

I'm going to work on a quick iPad, Kindle, Kindle DX comparison postfrom personal experience.  Depending on what you are looking to get out of your device, each has its own, well served, niche.

Going to a beer tasting on Saturday, and thanks to my brother in law who is in the industry I'm going for free.  Only thing better then microbrew beer?  Free microbrew beer ;)  Maybe I better not post directly after returning from the event... heh

Oh, and my Detective is officially promoted to Sergeant tomorrow.  Congrats Maria!  Now that you are out of my office maybe you can stop dissin' on my blogging ;)

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PDFs on the iPad, Why I Don't Mention the View in My Reviews

I was looking at the tags on my blog posts, and I see the Kindle DX is still pretty high on the tag list... and I haven't used my DX since I got my iPad in late Spring. So, why a lack of iPad mentions? It's simple really... most (99%) PDFs work perfectly well on the iPad. They are certainly easier and more convenient then reading them on the computer screen. And yes, they look much nicer then the Kindle DX.

Which is why I tend to forget to mention how they look on the iPad. So for now on, if I don't mention how they look on the iPad, it is safe to assume they look great ;)


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Confessions of a Completist

I'm a bit of a completist.  I think many gamers are.  Some of us want more stuff for the sake of having more stuff.  Case in point, I ordered (and received) the D&D 4e Rules Compendium and Heroes of the Fallen Lands.  I yet to play a game of 4e, and beyond possibly playing thru the solo in the Starter Set, I probably never will... but the prices were right on Amazon.  I must say, I do like the size of the books.  Nice and thick, but smaller then regular gaming books at about 6 x 9, so reading in bed wouldn't be bad (of course, they would be even better in PDF, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish).

To balance out the 4e-ness of my recent purchaes, I found and bought (Buy it Now) a Holmes and a Metzner Basic Rule Books.  I already had a Metzner, but I figured an extra copy wouldn't be bad to have.  Now I think I'll search for some Tunnels and Trolls goodness and call it a nite ;)

(edit:  Between Ebay and the Flying Buffalo website I have a crapload of T&T solos on their way.  I feel better now, having balanced the 4e karma with some T&T Old School karma ;)

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The End of Summer, the Return of the Game

I was just thinking that in my High School and College years, the summer meant weeks of gaming 4, 5, 6 or sometimes 7 days a week. Front porch, backyard, dining room table or basement - we found ourselves places to play.

Now, at the ripe old age of 43, I'm happy the summer has drawn to a close so I can return to the once a month C&C game I play in via Fantasy Grounds.

Something tells me I need to find more time to play these days ;)




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Shadow, Sword & Spell - If it is Basic Where's the Advanced?

Shadow, Sword & Spell: Basic is an RPG set of rules for Humanistic Fantasy roleplaying.  In simplest terms, it means a game without elves, dwarves, hobbits and gnomes (actually, gnomes are missing from more then this set of rules, but that's an old issue).

I've just started digging thru the rules (as you can see, I'm digging thru a whole slew of rules at the moment... I need to focus).  The 12 degree system seems workable (after reading a handful of pages for opposed rolls, but I'm not sure how useful degrees of succes will be outside of combat, as an "impressionistic" approach is suggested (DM fiat or just wing it).

It looks like it should be a quick and enjoyable read.  Hopefully I can get it done before the end of the month and post a short review on it.  I am curios as to why this is "Basic", as it infers an Expert or Advanced edition.  Eh, just me picking nits again it seems.

In the meantime, here's the blurb from RPGNow.

In Shadow, Sword & Spell: Basic, you create a character embarking on an adventuring career. Some event or desire, drives you to thumb your nose at your lot in life and seek out a destiny of your choosing. Society holds no bounds for you and you choose the life you want to live. Why should the only wealthy be wealthy? Why should only the baron own his own land? You want that — and more — and by Azathoth’s Radiance, you will!

In Basic, your character adventures and grows, becoming not only stronger, but more influential. Over time, a character can acquire not only wealth but power. Your influence and fame enables you to command armies, rule a kingdom, influence society — but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Basic gets you to this point, if you survive it…

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It's Almost Time to Homebrew

Gaming is always a better experience with a nice cold one in hand, at least when I'm gaming from the privacy of my own computer via Fantasy Grounds. There is just something very relaxing as I nurse a single glass ( fairly large tho') throughout the night.

The return of cooler weather means not just the return of the C&C game I play in, but also the return of my opportunity to make some more home-brewed beer. Mmmmmmmm. Beer.

Anyhow, I need to figure out what the first batch of the season will be. I'm leaning towards using my Cooper's kit, although I will need to see what I have waiting.


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Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul - Free Quickstart

Seems like Supers have been all the rage this summer (wait, is summer over yet?). 

Spectrum Games has released Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul - Quickstart Preview at RPGNow.  Lets see, we had the Villains & Vigillantes new edition released (and the original edition re-released), Icons, DC Heroes... I'm missing another, aren't I?  In any case, there's a new Supers game on the block. 

If I only played the genre, my options would be endless ;)  It's free, so why not give it a peek?



From the Blurb:

Imagine, if you will, a superhero role-playing game that emulates how comicbooks actually work. When comic writers sit down to pen a story, they don't have a character sheet in front of them that defines precisely what the characters can do... how strong or agile they are, what skills they demonstrate, what the exact parameters of their powers are.

Instead, they give the characters what the story demands of them. If the story requires the power-armored hero to have stealth armor, he'll most likely have it on hand. Should it be critical that the hero with the magic amulet needs to generate a mystic shield, you can almost bank on her getting it. Does the hero with normal human strength desperately need to lift a gargantuan chunk of concrete off of his ally? Chances are, he'll be able to muster up the power to do so. It all comes down to what makes for a more entertaining story.

Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul, takes this fully into consideration by offering a game system that is open-ended and flexible, treating the players and Game Master like comicbook writers rather than just some people playing a game. The sky really is the limit... so why not soar through it like the hero you've always longed to be?

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