D&D Basic Set part 19
Dungeon Mastering as a Fine Art: This section is a very short primer on what the DM needs to prepare to run the game. There’s not much to discuss here, but I thought I’d bring attention to it just because I love that[...]Read on >>
Galixina (1980): Science Fantasy RPG Waiting-to-happen
Tonight I rewatched Galixina from 1980. Have any of you viewed this film?It's heinous in every way, but it has charm.I admit I really don't like all this science fantasy stuff going around at the moment. I think it could[...]Read on >>
Syrivald seemed better off when I was on vacation. Part II
Cast of CharactersTim as Ashling a Elven Montebank, (Rouge, Magicuser type)Dwayne as Eoleander a Half Viridian/Elven FighterRusty Battle Axe as Syrivald Human Mage from the Order of Thoth.Henchmen recruited from the Tain[...]Read on >>
(Question) Hey Old-Schoolers…
It's Labor Day, not a lot going on, but I have a question for you. Going a bit tangentially off of Raggi's post here, what makes you pick one retro-clone, classical RPG, or old school "cousin" vs. another? For example,[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 18
Treasure: This section begins with a cursory explanation of the treasure tables, and also provides the exchange rates for the different types of coins. Electrum is given a concrete value for the first time here, being w[...]Read on >>
My First Hirst Arts Dungeon
[Mental note: I want to kill blogger. Grr! I've had this post freak out on my a couple times - FYI]Hi All,Here are some pictures of my first fieldstone dungeon. My build is based on approaches and ideas gleaned from two [...]Read on >>
On Alignment Changes From OD&D to Holmes Basic
Alignment undergoes a big shift from OD&D into the Holmes Basic Set and AD&D. Originally it was a simple three-way system of Law-Neutrality-Chaos, but by Holmes the concepts of Good and Evil have entered into th[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 17
Troll: In OD&D Trolls had an AC of 4, but now it has dropped to 6. They were Chaotic in OD&D, but now they are Chaotic Evil. As has become expected, the damage for the Troll’s claw/claw/bite attack routine ha[...]Read on >>
Miniatures: Otherworld Skeletons
As you know, I've been painting Otherworld goblinoids with reference to the AD&D Monster Manual. To take the odd break I've also painted the first set of Otherworld Skeletons and the occasional PC. Here are some pict[...]Read on >>
Miniatures: OW and GW Undead II and PCs
Here are some additional undead and PCs.I painted up a set of old GW armoured skeletons. Some weeks ago a commentor asked for a comparative shot with an Otherworld skeleton and here it is (sorry it took so long, life has[...]Read on >>
From the Attic: An interview with David Wesely
If David Arneson was one of the father of the roleplaying game David Wesely is the grand father. His Braunstein games inspired Arneson to create Castle Blackmoor which led to all that followed.Theory in the Closet interv[...]Read on >>
Syrivald seemed better off when I was on vacation. Part I
The quote of the evening occurred after a bunch of Claws of Kalis ambushed the party in the keep of the Hill Fort. After letting loose with a web spell that ensnared a Claw, another came out of hiding and shot him with a[...]Read on >>
BEHOLD! (Part 2): My Otherworld Hobgoblins
Here are my Otherworld Hobgoblins.Tomorrow I'll have some Undead and PCs.[...]Read on >>
Interview With Frog God Games, Part 2
Yesterday was the first part of our interview with Frog God Games, the new publishers of Swords & Wizardry (and Pathfinder products, to boot). Today, in Part 2, we cover a bit about writing for 4th edition D&D, a[...]Read on >>
Musings on Dungeons
The dungeon I am running at Gold Star Anime involves a new technique for me. In this post I talk about minimal dungeons and with the ruined Elven Temple I am applying the technique. So far it is going good and the playe[...]Read on >>
Basic D&D part 16
Owl Bear: Like many other monsters in Holmes, the Owl Bear’s attack routine has been simplified. Instead of two claw attacks that deal 1d6 damage each and a bite that deals 1d12, it now has three attacks that deal 1d8[...]Read on >>
BEHOLD!: My Otherworld Kobolds!
Here's my Otherworld Kobold Warband. You should be able to click twice for close-ups.Stay tuned in the next couple days for Hobgoblins and Undead!Enjoy.[...]Read on >>
Interview With Frog God Games, Part 1
Today and tomorrow, we'll be featuring a Q&A with Frog God Games, the new publishers of Swords & Wizardry (and they of the late most recent online hobby dust-up). I asked them about their associations with Necrom[...]Read on >>
Descent into the Depths of the Gold Star Anime Part II
Part ICast of CharactersBob – The Wizard, 3rd level Human Thothian MageSeth – Dunnigan, 4th level Dwarven FighterJohn – Hazar, 6th level Human ThugJohn (“the other John”)– Alaghazar, 3rd level Human Thothia[...]Read on >>
New (Old) Red Box Character Sheets (Yeah, I know it’s 4E)
Looks like some retro character sheets have been prepared to go along with the launch of the new (old) Red Box.Yes, I know 4e is heinous in every way but the character sheets and portraits are cool.http://www.wizards.com[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 15
Lizard Man: The lizard man seems to have lost its two claw attacks, now having but a single attack at 1d8 damage. If this is a weapon attack as the description implies, then I guess that Lizard Men are adapting to more [...]Read on >>
You are free now so go enjoy it.
The Do It Yourself ethos is a strong current among those who been playing, writing or refereeing older editions of the world's most popular roleplaying game. There been a fair amount of confusion generated by the recent [...]Read on >>
On Production Values
Yesterday’s little flap over the whole Frog God Games business got me thinking a bit about production values, specifically how I’ve regarded them over the years.Keep in mind I come partially from a Palladium heritage[...]Read on >>
Swords & Wizardry Big News
From here:August 24, 2010 - Poulsbo WAFrog God Games, the successor to Necromancer Games, is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Mythmere Games, headed by award-winning author Matt Finch, will be joining up w[...]Read on >>
I don’t want to be like tears in the rain
Monday our weekly Swords & Wizardry game got going again after a short hiatus. Looking over the state of my notes for the monthly Gold Star Anime game and my weekly game I decided that I need to blog about the weekly[...]Read on >>
On Ibis, City of Sorcerers – Part Six
Six more locations for Ibis (use the keywords below for the other posts - they're becoming too numerous to link). -- 25. Coffee House: The broad, single-story building sits between the University and the Souk, and attr[...]Read on >>
Frog God Games and Mythmere Games join forces
Some really good news here. The Nercomancer folks have been great to work with and NG's successor looks like it off to a fine start with the Slumbering Tsar series. Now one top of that we get a great announcement about S[...]Read on >>
Perhaps it is a good thing not being able to use the D&D Name.
The one thing that all retro-clones share is the inability to use the Dungeons & Dragons trademark as the title of the game. There are many in the OSR publishing community that would jump on it if it could magically [...]Read on >>
TSR1-INSIDIOUS: Interview With Creator Devon Hibbs
It's been an interesting stretch for Die Cast Games. Not long after their TSR1-INSIDIOUS module was released, there was a firestorm regarding their use of the term "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" on the front of their[...]Read on >>
Descent into the Depths of the Gold Star Anime Part I
Cast of CharactersBob – The Wizard, 3rd level Human Thothian MageSeth – Dunnigan, 4th level Dwarven FighterJohn – Hazar, 6th level Human ThugJohn (“the other John”)– Alaghazar, 3rd level Human Thothian Mage[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 14
Before I go on, I feel the need to point out that Holmes Basic is the first D&D rule set to have a monster’s stats grouped together with its description. God bless functional design!Gnome: In OD&D, gnomes coul[...]Read on >>
Zarmon’s Hammer, a minor artifact
This is a minor artifact I worked up for Jeff Rient's open call.Zarmon’s HammerZarmon was a great smith, maybe the greatest smith in the world, or perhaps in all the Motherlands. This is a point of dispute among sages [...]Read on >>
On Ibis, City of Sorcerers – Part Five
Six building descriptions for Ibis. Part One (Map) Part Two Part Three Part Four -- 1. House of Three Leopards: A wayfarer’s inn (map above), popular with traders, caravan guards and sailors. The inn is constructed [...]Read on >>
Solo D&D Playtesting
Most of my D&D time of late has been taken up with designing and playtesting my abstract solo game. (Fear not, Ultimate Sandbox enthusiasts, that project keeps chugging along.) I've played through a few sessions th[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 13
Dwarves: This entry wisely directs the DM to the Dwarf PC class for special abilities. Otherwise things match with OD&D, but with several things omitted. There’s no chance given now for higher-level Dwarves to ow[...]Read on >>
On Ibis, City of Sorcerers – Part Four
A few more streets today, and then in a few days I'll preview about half of the building locations. Part One (Map) Part Two Part Three -- D. Court of Spirits This open yard is filled with patches of slender white mushr[...]Read on >>
NOD Sandbox Format
I've posted about this kind of thing before, but now I'm starting to visualize how I want to format my sandboxes in future issues of NOD and future blog previews. My main concern is making the information 1) useful for a[...]Read on >>
Review of The Majestic Wilderlands & LotFP: Weird FRPG
At The Escapist here. (Very positive overall.)[...]Read on >>
We’re Pretty Lucky
Yesterday, as I was cleaning up my RPG collection (more on that tomorrow) I was thinking about all the different kinds of D&D I have on my shelf. I’ve got my old D&D Rules Cyclopedia sitting next to a copy of S[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 12
Chimera: In OD&D they could have an alignment of Neutral or Chaotic, but in Holmes Basic they are now Chaotic Evil. There’s also a small change to their damage dice. In Supplement I, the goat head is said to infl[...]Read on >>
Solo D&D Play
I have a habit of flitting about from project to project. One week I'm obsessed with writing a novel, the next I'm programming a text adventure, and the week after that I'm trying to write a mega-gamebook that provides l[...]Read on >>
On Ibis, City of Sorcerers – Part Three
This continues the preview of Ibis, City of Sorcerers. Part One (with map), Part Two C. The Souk The Souk is both a street and a market that stretches across the enter of Ibis, beginning in the accom-panying map, and e[...]Read on >>
Recap: My Gencon Labyrinth Lord Game
As you know I attended Gencon this year. This was my second Gencon and since I've been DMing for most of my D&D life I thought I'd try to run a game.I created a senario last year called The Burial Crypt of the Bandit[...]Read on >>
How not to use the OGL.
Die Cast Games released a module under the OGL with a cover featuring the art of Jeff Easley and designed to use with AD&D 1st edition. All good except for one rather big problem. They have Advanced Dungeons & D[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 11
MONSTERS: The monster section opens with some broad advice on using monsters in the campaign. It goes through how the monster entries are laid out, how the DM should stock his dungeon, provides some advice on using powe[...]Read on >>
Generations of Gamers (at least how I view it)
I been playing and refereeing roleplaying games since I was in Junior High School in 1978. I started with the Holmes Blue Book and quickly snapped up the AD&D hardbacks when they came out. I did not know about origin[...]Read on >>
D&D Basic Set part 10
MAGIC WEAPONS: The brief treatment of magic weapons given here in the combat section matches fairly well with the OD&D rules. We'll see if that's still the case when Holmes gets into more depth in the magical items [...]Read on >>
My Gencon Recap in Pictures
At this exact moment I have more pictures from Gencon than I do time to blog about them individually.I also caught a cold at the convention and feel rather crappy.So, here's Gencon 2010 in pictures:THE MAIN GATE THURSDAY[...]Read on >>
Others comment on Sandbox campaigns
Alexander Macris the CEO and publisher of Escapist has a column and is writing about his own approach to Sandbox campaigns. We chatted a bit and I was able to offer him the Southland chapter of Points of Light as a free[...]Read on >>
Gygax’s Minimalist Dungeon
The two main things that started me thinking about minimalist dungeons are the description of Blackmoor in Dave Arneson's First Fantasy Campaign, Tegel Manor, and this photo of Gary Gygax running Greyhawk.If you zoom in [...]Read on >>
