Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Old School/New School?!?

Now, as I have stated before, I am a Dungeons and Dragon geek from way-back. I have loved the concepts of those games ever since I saw one of those books, though it was much later until I was able to play. I used to read through my much loved Fiend Folio (shown to the left) and assorted Monstrous Manuals, on winter nights, and my heart would swell with thoughts of adventure.

These games should be all about imagination. Promoting the players and the Dungeon Master (Game Master, Labyrinth Lord or Whatever) to create a world, and those who live in it, with a basic framework of rules to keep things in order.

Many people think you have to be "smart" to play tabletop rpg's (not realizing how many adventuring parties are wiped out by stupidity), or that you need to be a math wiz. This is untrue, as some of the BEST gamers I have met had all manner of learning disabilities (ADHD, Dyslexia, etc) or otherwise had a hard time in school.

The math aspects of these games cannot be ignored though. Most of the earlier game systems (such as Basic D&D) were "rules lite" games, that were fairly straitforward. But later games added layer upon layer of rules, transforming a narrative/storytelling guide into a math quiz, and the character sheet into an SAT exam. It is this process that was so skillfully lampooned by the wonderful tabletop rpg Hackmaster, and related products.

I personally prefer lighter rules, as I like to handle unforseen events in the story with "horse sense" and storytelling rather than cunsult a network of tables. Though I realize that not every DM can do this well. I'm just special that way I guess...


Retro Clones
Recently, I have become enamoured with the concept of "Retro Clone" rpg's. These are independant publishers taking advantage of the Open Gaming Movement to create there own versions of Dungeons and Dragons more like earlier versions of that game. Rather than waiting for a larger game company to produce a game that they like, these folks are doing it themselves, largely out of sheer love of it.

Many of these retro-clone games are very well put together. The revised systems are professionally assembled, and the artwork has the same mixed quality of all those old game books from my childhood (like in the fiend folio). I personally recommend the following games:

Labyringth Lord (Goblinoid Games): For that Basic D&D feel. Great for kids!

Osric (Goblinoid Games): 1st Edition AD&D style.

Basic Fantasy RPG: Sort of a mix of Basic and 1st Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Real classy stuff overall.


And Lastly...
An Interview with "Venger" the incompitent bad guy from the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Funny (But Horrible) Musical

Below is a short created by the talented author of the webcomic Looking For Group. Its about all of those player characters in online video games that just want to Kill Kill and Kill! I dont play those games (as I would become addicted), but I know that many of the more immature D&D players can lean this way.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tales of Tethys

The possibilities concerning tales told in Tethys are enormous. It is a world full of passion, ferocious beasts (and ferocious people), lost wonders, and a vibrant, though in some ways precarious environment.
As a storytelling excercise, I will be posting deeper details on this far future version of Venus. Details on cities, tribes, ruins and individuals will all be included.

For those of you new to Tethys, further detains might be found here (though with a brief synopsis below). It is a far future, terraformed version of the world of Venus, now collapsed into primitive form. It is a land haunted by genetically engineered dinosaurs, homebrew animals, prodigeous plant life and really tough humans.
A great deal of effort was made to terraform Venus, though those who did so are long dead, the means by which they did it still remain. The ancient devices used to maintain livable conditions still function, and are maintained by ancient golems who savagely defend their treasures. For details on the mysteries of Terraforming Venus, look here.

Tethys is a hot, wet world, with daytime temperatures averaging around 80 degrees, with highs of 110 degrees being common towards mid-day. Night temperatures are less ferocious, with early highs in the 60-70's range, dropping into the 40's towards mid-night cycle. The long day and night cycle of Tethys (each being 243 Gaian/Earth days long) has resulted in a fierce environment.

Most of Tethys consists of shallow seas and islands, but there are two prominent continents:
Ishtar (at the top of the map, about the size of Australia)

Aphrodite (at the right of the map, somewhat smaller than Africa).

Phoebe and Labda, though continents in their own right are far swampier. Though they do host abundant life.

DISNEY & DRAGONS: D&D in Fantasyland

Many times, in recent years I have encountered would-be players of Dungeons and Dragons whose sole experience with the fantasy genre h...