Monday, April 21, 2014

My DCC Characters

Every other Tues at Whose Turn is it Games in Austin, TX I transform into the Elf warrior wizard, "Malifoi the Chaotic". That is, I did until he got turned to stone last session. Although I'm sure one day he'll be returned to flesh and continue his rise to power, fall into corruption.

Malifoi the Chaotic

Tomorrow, I'll be breaking the new funnel of death survivor and backup character "Gary".  A former Game Designer who is now A Witness to the Great Eagle. Gary, along with a vice cop (dead), disco dave (alive), auto-factory worker (dead) arrived on a bus from 1970's Lake Geneva, WI. Other survivors include a former lifeguard "Chester the Crimson Conjurer", a history teacher who styles himself "The Professor" another wizard.

Gary, Witness to the Great Eagle

My first character, "Bubba Two-step" turned out to be a thief. After a couple sessions decided I wanted to sling spells and so put him out to pasture.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Kickstart the City State

I should spend more time writing blog posts and less on Kickstarter...




I *so* don't need this. I have all the original stuff with extra maps.  Still, in at $40, totally reasonable price for softcover and all those digital maps. I'm sure to get all of them in print for $5 a pop. Totally passing on the miniatures. Got too many. Plus Wilderlands minis don't excite me.


City State of the Invincible Overlord, the first and one of the largest fantasy RPG city settings in gaming history, written by Judges Guild founders Bob Bledsaw and Bill Owen, defines sand-box roleplaying by giving information for over 350 shops, taverns, inns, palaces, barracks, temples, and the NPCs who inhabit them! City State of the Invincible Overlord was first released at Gen Con IX in 1976, along with Wilderlands Campaign Map I: The City State. The City State was written for the Judges Guild's Wilderlands of High Fantasy Campaign Setting but can be easily adapted and dropped into any setting.

Kickstart Metamorphosis Alpha

I should spend more time writing blog posts and less on Kickstarter...



In at $80. Long ago I got the Amazing Engine Alpha to Omega and it has inspired me to put various amounts of mutanty science into almost every game I run.  Totally worth having it's 1st edition and the progenitor of Gamma World, Mutant Future, and all the rest.  Wikipedia Metamorphosis Alpha


METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA is the first science-fiction role playing game. Originally released in 1976 by TSR (publishers of Dungeons & Dragons), it is now in its fourth edition, and is the predecessor of Gamma World and other science-fiction RPGs. The original 1976 edition of METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA is considered by many to be among the most important RPGs of all time. As Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, wrote in the book “Hobby Games: The 100 Best”:

“Furthermore it blends fantasy with weird and super science in a unique manner that is captivating to players with imaginations suited to such a startling mixture. METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA – in any edition – stimulates the imagination, encourages keen thinking, and breaks the mold of typical fantasy and science fiction roleplaying games. If that doesn’t make it one of the best hobby games ever, I don’t know what would.”

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Greyhawk Next or Mystara Next


I'm semi-excited about D&D Next. It seems to be a game I won't hate running and also be the game people expect to play (unlike S&W, LL, Rolemaster, heartbreaker of the week, etc.)  Although I give even odds that WoTC/Hasbro fuck it up, I'm still thinking about what campaign I'll start.

I had 20 immediate ideas...  Kind of paired down to two. The Word of Greyhawk or Mystara (or as I know it, BECMI World). Kind of reinforcing the point that D&D Next is actually "D&D Back to What Was an Awesome Game Before we Fucked it."*

Undecided. Any thoughts?


Greyhawk Next

Good
- Name sounds cool, it matters.
- It was the first (for me), I know it best.
- I've been able to run some of the classics, I still long for Giant/Drow/Queen series (although looking over it semi-recently it seemed less cool than I "remembered" it to be), ToH, Barrier Peaks. I also really dig U1-3, Sentinel & Gauntlet. But, those seem less GH iconic and can really put'm anywhere. btw breezing through A1-4 I thought "what like a piece of rail roady crap", am I wrong?)
- S&S style of course, and pre greyhawk wars and all that 2e crap. Although I've never really read any of that and this "From the Ashes" description makes it sound pretty cool.
- Get to use my new DragMag set of giant maps.

Bad
- Would nix my "Greyhack (Hackmaster 5e Greyhawk)" campaign idea.
- I've already done T1-4 (which is the lead in to G1-3), other smaller GH games.


Mystara Next

Good
- I've never run any Known World campaign, ever!
- I so want to run "X1 Isle of Dread", second module I ever owned.
- I spent too much money getting every damn Gazetteer and box set, other than Hollow World.
- Get to use my trail maps!

Bad
- Setting is kind of dorky/campy/silly. Starting with name and moving on to super stereotyped cultures to the point they invented dues ex machina to explain it all. [btw this silliness reinforced idea that Basic was for kiddies and AD&D was for sophisticated 14-15 year olds such as my self]
- Not really all that jazzed about any of the other B/X modules (proly cause I don't know them so well. After B1-B2-X1 seemed very story/rail roady. Any recommendations?), C/M/I are right out.


*/ btw I'm not just a 4e hater.  The fucking up of D&D started with 2e. The splatbooks, railroad modules written by wanna be novelists rather than game players/designers and the greedy, passionless mismanagement that led to TSR's deserved death.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

2014 NTRPGCon

It's spring! Blue-bonnets are blooming, birdsong fills the air, and butterfly's and it is again time to drive to Dallas for the orgy of old-school we know as NTRPGCon. June 5th through June 8th.  Booyah!



I've gone to many previous NTRPGCons. It is my favorite since moving to Texas.  So when registration opened yesterday, I did not dally and got right in on the good stuff.

B10 Night's Dark Terror Pt 1 & 2

ref: Steve Winter


"Night's Dark Terror" is a huge D&D adventure from 1986 that spans the Basic and Expert sets. The action starts at a remote castle under siege by goblins, moves into the wilderness of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, and delves into the mystery of the Iron Ring bandits and slavers. We won't finish this huge, classic adventure in one sitting, but we'll push as far along the trail as we can.

I've thoroughly enjoyed past NTRPG games with Steve. Very much looking forward to an epic adventure.


Rapscallions of Denethrix

ref: James Aulds


Come explore the Anomalous Subsurface Environment world in an open hex crawl based on whatever rumors you chose to follow, be it down into the belly of Mt Rendon or out into the Livid Fens. Pregens specific to the world provided, light hearted Gonzo Super-Science fun.


OMG ASE RMSO (rocks my socks off) double-plus good, jizzed my pants, etc. Only thing better than super-science, is gonzo super-science.


Aliens

ref: Allan Grohe


"Aliens: This Time It's War!" is a fast-paced and easy-to-learn miniatures war game set in the universe of Alien, Aliens, and Prometheus. You portray Colonial Marines trying to save the missing Hadley's Hope colonists of LV426. Children are very welcome to play. I supply the minis and terrain; bring your own d10s and Pulse Rifles! I run four different scenarios, which we can select from at the table: "The Reactor" (a good introduction to the game; escape-oriented), "Operations and Air Ducts" (another escape scenario, very challenging), "Rescue Newt" (recover the missing Newt and escape back to the elevators), or "Hunt the Queen" (a brutal scenario pitting Ripley and the Colonial Marines against the nigh-unstoppable Alien Queen). In space, no one can hear you scream!

Game over man! Finally fitting in this fantastic visceral mega miniature / board game.


Cattle Drive to Hell

ref: Steve Willett


It's fall at the Stinson Ranch near Lazarus and time to drive the beef to New Echota and the rail head. Eighteen-hundred of these fattened beauties should turn a nice profit barring catastrophic disasters along the way. It's going to take at least seven cowboys to handle a herd this size. It's a hard trail and there's always some loss of stock on the hoof and sometimes of men as well. Assuming the range boss is able to get his boss's herd to market, what awaits is not the New Echota to which you cowpokes are accustomed. The cattle are restless, folks look scared and it's not business as usual in this normally bustling city. There's a new gunslinger in town and his name is Darkness. Some say that's true, some say it's just people's fright findin' a target. Something sinister is here, y'all can feel it and Old Man Stinson ain't gonna turn no profit if the auction yard is shut down. Can you solve the mystery before the cattle starve or go mad? Can you solve it before you go mad?

Aces & Eights (awesome) / Call of Cthulhu (wgah'nagl fhtagn).  Six-guns and tentacles, I am so there! Really excited to play A&E, a game I have but have barely looked at cause it'll just make me sad that no one in my game circles wants to shot clock cattle rustling varmints. (some might want to be the varmints though).


Night in Wham-Ar Castle

ref: David Cook


The superstitious bumpkins of Wham-ar Village swear the local fortress is haunted but Lord Gard knows a war party of orcs drove his men off. With such craven troops he needs brave souls he can rely on to recover the the keep and secure the border once again.

More BX, which I don't get to play much at home. And another great referee. 



Annic Nova

ref: Mike Kelly





In the cold darkness of space a mysterious abandoned ship is discovered. The salvage rights alone are worth million of CR - will this wreck bring riches to the players or will they find something terrifying out in space. Find out in this - the oldest and most award winning SF RPG adveture ever published - Traveller is the most award winning RPG published in the 70s written by Mark Miller and first published in the early 70s..Classic Traveller – the best and oldest SF Role playing game comes alive in this adventure.

Ending 2014 NTRPGCon with some Serious Sci-fi, balancing out ASE's gonzo earlier in the week. I only wish we were rolling up characters at the table. Hell I'd sign up for a session that was *only* rolling up Traveller characters. It's that much fun / I'm that much of a nerd.



It's not too late for you to register for NTRPG Con 2014: Many great games are still open.  Confirmed guests include Jason Braun, Chris Clark, DARLENE, David 'Zeb' Cook, Jeff Dee, Jeff Easley, Kevin Hendryx, Jennell Jaquays, Tim Kask, Doug Kovacs, David 'Diesel' LaForce, Steve Marsh, Frank Mentzer, Erol Otus, Sandy Petersen, Lawrence Schick, Dr. Dennis Sustare, James M. Ward, Steve Winter.

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