Savaged Holiday Weekend Update

Wow.  I'm really liking the SW Deluxe PDF.  It seems much more digestible then the SW Explorer's Edition.

So, I've searched my account at RPGNow and see I've purchased some settings for Savage Worlds in the past, such as Day After Ragnarok and Winterweir and have some reviewer comps for others.  I'm in for a world of reading.

So, I'm aiming to alternate the Mini Reviews of the Free OSR RPGs with Savage Worlds reviews - I do need to finish work on the next part of the Savage Worlds Deluxe review.

Keep the suggestions coming.  Remember, I blame the White Haired Man!  ;)

Looking For Suggestions on Savage Worlds Settings

I haven't decided which system I'm going to use for sure this fall, but I'd like an idea of the available settings available for Savage Worlds.  Sure, I can find them on the web, but I'm looking for the opinions of those that have run or played in them.

Yes, I've been reading thru the Savage Worlds Deluxe PDF in my spare time this holiday weekend.  Can you tell? ;)

Was True20 Green Ronin's Attempt to Put Out a "Savage Worlds"-type RPG?

I ask this because I was very enthused about True20when it was released and the micro-settings that went along with it.  Of course, that was me with little Savage Worlds experience.  Now that I am reading Savage Worlds, I'm beginning to see some thematic similarities.

Now, I know neither one is the first attempt at trying to put out a "universal" RPG.  I do believe GURPS was  the first commercial success.  You could also peg the Hero System as one of the big boys.  The thing is, True20 and Savage Worlds try to make the universal aspect user friendly - the previous two games are  crunch heavy.

True20 seems to be the barely living dead these days, with Green Ronin's DC Adventures and Dragon's Age RPGs taking the front and center positions.  I thought I read somewhere that the rules designed for Dragon's Age are going to be Green Ronin's next "go to" ruleset.  Which kinda leaves True20 pushed to the curb.

Does anyone have experience with both True20 and Savage Worlds?  Are they both aiming for the same type of player base (although True20's roots in 3e may be seen as a strength for some and a curse for others)?  Any preference between the two?

Traveller is Coming to the iPhone Near You

I don't have a habit of clicking on ads, but when I saw one for Traveller-AR, I couldn't resist.  Apparently there is a company looking to release MMORPG based on the Traveller Universe and putting it on the iPhone.  Count me as "intrigued".

The concept could work, and the beta graphics look nice - but the proof is in the pudding, so I will reserve full judgement until it is closer to release.  I did, however, sign up for the beta.

Here's their video on YouTube:

New Additions to the Free RPG List

I'm thanking the Trollish Delver for these additions.  Witchcraft and Neverwhere I knew about but forgot.  Tales from the Wood and the Four Color System I have somehow missed in my web walking.

Witchcraft is from CJ Carella and uses the Unisystem

Neverwhere draws upon the writings of Neil Gaiman - 'nuff sais!

Tales From the Wood lets you play as creatures from the English Woodlands

The Four Color System is a free superhero RPG (cloning MSH)

The Free OSR RPG List "Mini Review" - Adventures Dark & Deep

Adventures Dark & Deep is a "what if" retro rpg. What if Gary Gygax hand't been force out of TSR? Unearthed Arcana and some of the issues of Dragon magazine gave hints as to Gary's vision of AD&D 2e, but we never got to see the project published, let alone completed.

With Adventures Dark & Deep we are given a possible version of what that would be, thanks to Joseph from the Greyhawk Grognard's Blog. I'll borrow from one of his forum posts at Adventures Dark & Deep and let him give a better summary then I just did:

The concept behind Adventures Dark and Deep (ADD) is a "what if?" scenario. Specifically, what would a 2nd edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons have looked like if Gary Gygax had stayed with TSR, and the game was developed along the lines he had been planning? The broad concepts were printed in Dragon magazine, and we saw some of it in 1985's Unearthed Arcana, but the coherent re-writing of the system, and the inclusion of intended new material, never happened. Gygax left the company, went on to develop many other games, and AD&D was taken in a very different direction in its published 2nd edition.

Adventures Dark and Deep is an attempt to reconstruct what such a 2nd edition would have looked like if Gygax had remained at the helm. New classes, including the mountebank, jester, mystic, savant, and bard, are included. Psionics is gone, as are monks and half-ogres. Assassins are relegated to optional status. Mages get to specialize in types of spells, with bonuses and accompanying detriments. Combat is streamlined and rationalized. The various spells, races, magical items, and classes from UA are integrated into the Players and Game Masters books, and all the creatures from the Monster Manual, Fiend Folio, and Monster Manual II are brought together into a single book, and more (and more variants) are added. Monsters have variable-type hit dice; larger, tougher creatures might use a d10 or d12 to determine hit dice, while physically weaker creatures might use a d4 or d6. In addition, the monsters are reorganized, making it easier to find a desired sort of creature by environment. A skills system is introduced, but one which doesn't undermine the coherence of the class-based system.

I don't have any special insight into Gygax's thought process regarding what a 2nd edition would have looked like, but I have studied what he's written about it, both in Dragon magazine and on various online fora over the years, and I think I've got a pretty good idea. It's a reconstruction, if you will, but it should make a ripping good game once its all set.


The presentation of the rules thus far is adequate (no bells or whistles), but it's the implementation of the rules where Joseph excels. This does feel more like a Gygaxian version of the 2e rules then the ones we were given. We'll never know exactly where EGG would have taken 2e, but this would have been a fine path.

Savage Worlds Deluxe - First Look

I don't know what I was expecting when I started virtually flipping thru the Savage Worlds Deluxe PDF, but I don't think it was this.  This isn't the SW EX edition, which is a nice, compact yet fairly plain - no, this edition has all the bells and whistles... I like it.

The presentation of the rules, physically (or is it electro-physically in a PDF) rivals that of Paizo.  It might even exceed them, but I'll hold off on declaring that for sure.

Now, maybe it's because I have a bit of a grasp of the rules in action after last weekend's playtest, but the presentation seems well written and understandable.  There's even little "notes from the editor" type stuff, to explain why something was added or removed, or why it is done a certain way.  It's a nice touch.

The artwork is very evocative without being "preachy".  Well, maybe preachy isn't the right term, but it doesn't need to be shocking to be effective.  It hits all the main genres and then some.

That being said, I could probably have done without the full page ads / art pieces for some of the genre / plot point adventures they are selling.  Right there in the first handful of pages too.  Eh, I still liked them.  Had no idea Space: 1869 was stepping into the Savage Worlds world.

Did I mention it has some very well done bookmarking?  A PDF without bookmarks, especially full length games, are pretty much only half done.  When I pay for something, I want it to be the best that it can be.  It looks like Pinnacle has done some good work here.

I'll get to the rules in the next part.  It's a holiday weekend, so don't hold your breath too much ;)

Saturday Afternoon DVD Mini Review - Solomon Kane

Let me be clear... I do not know much about Solomon Kane with the exception of what I read in the Savage Worlds Solomon Kane RPG.  Oh, and I really need to re-read the RPG, as I forgot pretty much all of his background except for the funny Pilgrim hat.

As a movie, it was pretty good.  Acting wasn't bad, script wasn't too hooky, ending was (like in most movies of it's type) lacking.  Still, it was pretty good.

Good enough to get my fiancée off the couch she was dozing on and get her sitting on the floor in front of the TV.  She was enjoying the fight scenes as much as I was.  Solomon is pretty kick ass.

As best I can tell, the film's story isn't based on any of the Solomon Kane stories the Robert E. Howard wrote, but it tells of Kane's origin.  It's an interesting take on redemption.

It has gotten me to further consider running a game using Savage Worlds, and the Solomon Kane RPG to boot.  Need to dig it out of the storage closet I think.

Of Savage Worlds and Solomon Kane

Last night before going to sleep (more accurately, early this morning) I picked up the PDF of the Savage Worlds Deluxe rules and promptly transferred it to my iPad for reading. I'll try to post some first impressions later today, but I like what I see so far (playing with the system last week sure didn't hurt in understanding the system either - thank you White Haired Man).

Earlier this week I read that Solomon Kane was never released here in the States, not even on DVD. I tracked down a DVD of it on Ebay that SHOULD play on my US Zoned DVD player. I'll find out later today and hopefully have a review.
edit: the DVD plays fine!

Oh, and thanks to the Trollish Delver's blog, I've realized I've missed a few more free RPGs. I'll post them later.

Time willing, I'll also start the capsule reviews of the Free RPG list...

YOU Make the Call...

Although I have a crapload of stuff I need to review already (I'm going to count LotFP Weird Fantasy and Vornheim as complete unless I am suddenly inspired) I am considering picking up the Savage Worlds Deluxe ruleset in PDF  to give it a real review.  What say you all?

As for the Free RPG lists I've put together, I'm thinking of adding a page to the blog that lists them all, with a three or four sentence description of each (and links to any reviews I may have done).  The links will remain on the main page, but the new page would give the reader a fairly quick summary of each to help decide if the DL is worth it to them.  A bit of work, so I'd do it piecemeal.  Again, any thoughts?

Actually, come to think of it, I should probably do a short blog post / mini-review on each in order.  Then include a link to that post on my Free RPG page.  Greg would finally stop hounding me to get around to reviewing Errant (he's hounding me for good reason - I'm easily distracted and it's long overdue ;)  This would take some time, but would it have value to the community?

Please, leave your thoughts after the beep... BEEEEEPPPPPP!

Here's Some More Free RPG Day Goodies!

Pinnacle put up their Savage Worlds 2011 Free RPG Day The Wild Hunt up for free in PDF on their site.  You can grab the free Savage Worlds Testdrive Rules while you are at it.

Stone Table Games has posted their Aspect starter rules and adventure Here There Be Demons.  You'll need to register for their forums to download.

The Tunnels & Trolls 2011 Free RPG Day release Rescue Mission is not yet available in PDF, but the printed copy is available for $2 for Flying Buffalo.  While you are at it, grab the 2008 Free RPG Day release from them.  With shipping (in the states) the 2 will cost you $7 shipped.

Found Some More Free Mapping Resources

Somehow, someway I stumbled across the blog grandexperiement over at LiveJournal.  I must have read the link on someone else's blog, clicked it, left it on my iPad and restumbled across it this morning.  Therein I found links to two nice mapping applications, the first tile based.

Pymapper looks to be an easy to learn, tile based mapper.  I don't ask for much, but this looks like it might deliver.

The other is ditzie.  It is web hosted, so your choice of OS shouldn't matter.  This seems ideal for PbP games, as the map can be updated online.  Pretty cool.

Adding the above to the map resources on the left...

When Google Goes Bad...

Every once in a while, someone posts the "would you believe the search phrase that someone used to find my blog?" type of post.  It's kinda like the Hot Elf Chick deal a few months back, but that was an attempt to make it work for us.

Today, I found not only a truly bizarre term was used to find this blog, but the term actually put my blog in 5th place on the 1st page of the search.  I just feel bad for the guy (I assume it's a guy) who landed here with the search phrase: "bluemen masturbation images" and got a blog post about Sorcery & Super Science's The House of Blue Men ;)

The Overlooked Blogs Collection - @Padre's

It's been a long time since I've done an overlooked blog post, and it's way overdue.  In any case, this overlooked blog post is for @Padre's.  You might remember Padre from the blog Grievous Injury, which I inadvertently help implode (well, Blogger's paid service for domain names imploded it, but I led Padre to the path ;)

Padre is an old school gamer in the true sense - the man plays DragonQuest.  Now, my personal experience with DragonQuest is limited - I own a copy of the second edition that I traded WEG's Junta for, and promptly filled it away with a bunch load of other RPG's from the era that I never got around to playing.  Still, Old School Gaming is similar in flavor no matter the system one uses.

Padre is not a shyte stirrer.  He actually thinks before he posts, go figure... heh.  I have a few things I can learn from the man myself it seems.

@Padre's is a new blog, but it's own old blog in truth.

Tell Padre I said hello :)

Sometimes it Just Doesn't Fit

In the current state of renovations at Tenkar's Residence (not the Tavern, which has had its own renovations recently), I've been looking to "get rid of stuff".  My sister and her husband had stored some stuff here before I had the need for "more space".

In recent days my son and I  delivered their grandfather clock and her wedding dress that was hanging in the closet I shall soon be demolishing.  Today, we had planned on bringing her her highboy.  Down a tight flight of stairs, out the stairs in front of the house, and into the back of my Hyundai Elantra hatchback (its a real cruising car).  As Maxwell Smart would say: "Chief, we missed it by 'this much'".  Needed another inch and a half of trunk space.  My son measured, but he didn't take into account the need for wiggle room.

What does this have to do with gaming?  The best (in my book anyway) RPGs leave the GM and the players some 'wiggle room' - rules that can bend without breaking.  The early editions (and clones) of D&D are this way, although I think 3e and 4e have much less space for wiggle.

"Wiggle room' allows the game system to adapt in minor ways to the needs of the users as opposed to forcing the users to full adapt to it.

In my case, lack of 'wiggle room' means my brother-in-law needs to cash in a favor and borrow a van from someone.  It better be soon too.  I'm going to be putting to flooring in those two rooms and I dont need to be moving his sucker back and forth damn it! ;)

I've Got About 5 Months To Plan an Online Campaign - Open For Suggestions

I figure I'm looking at the end of November, beginning of December for the start of my online game. Which of course means I will have 5 months worth of second guessing, changing, gamer's ADD and all other sorts of distractions between now and then. Why 5 months? Cause I'm getting married in just over 4 months. heh ;)

In any case, I need to decide on a system. While Savage Worlds was lots of fun last weekend, I don't see myself as having enough system knowledge to run it properly. Besides, they just came out with a new edition of the rulebook, just as I started to learn the old.

Tunnels & Trolls is a strong candidate, but with Fantasy Grounds lacking even a community written character sheet, I would probably find myself falling back on GameTable as the VTT. I really would like to get some value out of my Fantasy Grounds Ultimate license at some point.

Swords & Wizardry Complete is also a very strong choice. I could probably run it using the Labyrinth Lord ruleset for FG2. Wouldn't mind seeing the Bard class I wrote in action.

If you had asked me last year, I would have said Castles & Crusades, but the campaign I was playing in shows little sign of being revived. It's been revived once already, at the cost of most of the original players. I don't think Sak will be as successful a second time. C&C is a good system, with lots of support via Fantasy Grounds rules and modules. I just don't see it as my classic "go to" old school game anymore.

I could run LL, but from my perspective, S&W has it beat by a hair when it comes to how I'd want to run an OSR style game. Then again, there is the LL ruleset for FG2 ready and waiting.

As much as I like the FATE system, I've never actually played the FATE system, so what looks good on paper may not play out as well in real time gaming.

I think I'll need to work on some map creation skills on top of all of this. I know CC3 and Dunjinni are a bit beyond my skills (believe me, I've tried). I think I need to visit the Map Links to the left side and start playing with them a bit. That, and I'd like to find one that is OSX friendly. After switching to a Mac Mini for most of my computing last year, I really dread booting up the old Win 7 box.

Any ideas? Thoughts? Systems that I might have missed? I'm open to listening.

Productive Working Vacation So Far - Posted From Work

This week I'm on vacation - except for today. Tonight I have a retirement party to attend, and rather then drive into Manhattan tonight on my own time, I figured I'd just go to work for the day and hop a ride downtown to the party later. Needless to say, I dropped myself into a large pile of poo. Poo cleaning is almost done ;)

I've been painting and wallpapering for a few hours each day so far. Tomorrow morning may finish the wallpapering (if i'm lucky). I have some carpentry work I need to do on some archway molding, need to dismantle an ancient and insufficient closet, order new flooring and then instal the above.

I've also been trying to get some RPG reading in, and I'm hoping to catch Green Lantern tomorrow or Friday.

At least I can't say I've been wasting my time like usual ;)

Nine Years Ago Today...

Nine years ago today, I was promoted to the supervisory ranks of the NYPD.  I quickly realized it was more important to play the role of a boss that knew what he was doing then be a boss that was pretty unsure of himself and nervous as all heck out of fear of screwing things up.

Years of role playing, mostly from the DM's chair, sure came in handy in those early days.  It wasn't that I hadn't used those skill previously, on the streets as a cop in the South Bronx, but I hadn't tried using those skills on my fellow officers.  Those years of rolling dice have done me some great service over the years.

Of course, if I were growing up now, I'd be more likely to be honing my skills in MMORPGS or first person shooters.  I'm sure I'd find some use for those skills, but for me, I prefer the skill-set that D&D gave me.

Go figure.  D&D helped qualify me for life ;)

Mini Review - Tavern By The Sea (Tunnels & Trolls)

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to look at a new Tunnels & Trolls solo (I'm waiting on my 2011 Free RPG Day T&T Solo to arrive in the mail).  Today, we give you Tavern By The Sea, by Ken St. Andre and Andy Holmes.

Here's the interesting thing about Tavern By The Sea - there's a Mini-Adventure snuggled in the back of it. I love the T&T solo, but adventures for use by a party are few and far between.  Frargg--The Pirate Nest isn't huge (its about 6 pages long), but with the exception of Outlaw Press products, this is the first GM Adventure for T&T I can recall being released in... 20 years?  more?  The last was Isle of Darksmoke as far as I can remember.

Oh, apparently part of the 2011 Free Game Day release is a GM adventure.  Damn cool!  Seriously, if you want to put Tunnels & Trolls into the hands of more gamers, you have to give them a game they can play with others.  Want to add more solo players?  Bring in more players in general.

Where was I?

Ah, yes, Tavern By The Sea.  The solo by the same name is 20 pages of the total 32 pages (6 for the GM adventure, cover, ads, art are the rest).  For T&T 7.5e, and characters of 3rd level or lower.  You can use it with earlier editions of T&T, but from my experience the power curve in 7.5 is noticeably higher the 5.5 or earlier.  Don't say I didn't warn ya.

You can start a new character, and there is a twist in that you can roll a die to give your character a little background history.  Oh, and a house rule allowing the roll of 4d6, dropping the lowest (with TARO, dropping the lowest might not always be the best choice).

If I told you the solo doesn't take itself, or you, too seriously, would you be surprised?  I wasn't either.  Fun T&T soloing to be had.

Now if Ken and Rick could just get this stuff out even quicker ;)

Supreme Court Strikes Down California Violent Video Game Ban

The First Amendment of the US Constitution is an amazing little piece of law.  It now covers (or always covered, but now covers by ruling) video games.  I'd hate have seen Dragon Age or Fallout or even Fable restricted by some NC-17 rating, because in many ways they are just as violent as Call of Duty and GTA.  RPGs, by their roots and nature, are violent little beasts ;)

From the majority opinion:

Like the protected books, plays, and movies that preceded them, video games communicate ideas—and even social messages—through many familiar literary devices (such as characters, dialogue, plot, and music) and through features distinctive to the medium (such as the player’s interaction with the virtual world). That suffices to confer First Amendment protection. Under our Constitution, “esthetic and moral judgments about art and literature . . . are for the individual to make, not for the Government to decree, even with the mandate or approval of a majority.”