tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post7479338999481756132..comments2024-03-28T04:29:32.814-04:00Comments on The Lands of Ara: Most Anticipated OSR Products of 2011Carter Soleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01286436801953647693noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-17349371945131031642011-01-10T22:54:37.773-05:002011-01-10T22:54:37.773-05:00What many don't realize is that gathered aroun...What many don't realize is that gathered around that great table in Valhalla, where there are no lawyers, accountants or CEOs, only mead and tall tales, they have granted us the greatest gift of all-our own table of infinite size that everyone is welcome at.<br /><br />I didn't think gaming could ever be this fun again and I would like to thank not only the originators but those in recent times who freed us to create and build our own worlds and share them with others, and the creators of those new worlds.<br /><br />This rocks! :)xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814063435676111475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-80159079697976314832011-01-09T01:57:49.171-05:002011-01-09T01:57:49.171-05:00"In the end, it is not my goal to be creative..."In the end, it is not my goal to be creative or original per se (thank the gods!), only to have a great time playing my game of choice once every couple of weeks."<br /><br />Amen, brother.Alexeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04962792394148711578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-23757513063581510272011-01-08T19:43:35.604-05:002011-01-08T19:43:35.604-05:00@Spawn: You're preaching to the choir here. ...@Spawn: You're preaching to the choir here. I agree; I have not yet become tired of all the classic (or "retread") stuff either, and I also agree that our last session was spectacular.Carter Soleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01286436801953647693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-36772151779343098232011-01-08T15:51:37.603-05:002011-01-08T15:51:37.603-05:00I am looking forward to Zak's Vornheim City Ki...I am looking forward to Zak's Vornheim City Kit. The art alone is worth it (although I wish it wasn't in the A5 format, I'd love a bigger book).<br /><br />As for the originality-schmoriginality debate, in the last year my main goal with Old School gaming has just been to play the basic system (LL + AEC) as written (more or less) and really understand how the game is played. When I played as a kid my friends never really got all the mechanics down, ignored a lot of it, and played one-offs most of the time. So we were always at low levels, and rarely had extended campaigns, especially since we rotated DMing. Because of that:<br /><br />I still feel that the basic mechanics are interesting, the game with find traps with 1d6, hobgoblins, burning oil bombs, etc. is interesting. I don't feel that I've exhausted that "retread" stuff yet.<br /><br />And I think this points to something in the OSR that sometimes irritates me. There are folks that never stopped playing and many of those produced these clones and have their own campaign worlds that are hyper-intricate. I sometimes hear them poo-poo people that want (or need) to use modules. Well, I believe there is a segment of the OSR that actually wants the help in figuring out how to run games. These are newer players. The OSR needs newer players.<br /><br />Of course, ChicagoWiz then eventually backs down and admits he's derivative. And of course Raggi comes in and says he's not original, he wants the same old stuff. But in LotPF he made a point of not having a standard monster list like MM. He thinks that most creatures should be unique to the setting, and weird (or esoteric if you use his Random Generator book). As a result the PCs have no "Orcs" to encounter, and so they really have no idea how dangerous their opponents are. Folks have noted that knowing the general strength of some of the standard fare monsters allows the PCs to strategize attacks (or decline encounters) which makes for smart play. Point being, Raggi is just being his typical argumentative self, while basically still driving for more "originality". (Still this a far more interesting discussion than 'porn' or 'gender' or 'art'.)<br /><br />Our last session, where we totally whacked the hobgoblin army at Stonehell, was the smartest play I think I've ever been involved in, in any RPG. Maybe that puts me on par with a 7th grader in terms of D&D tactics, but that's where I'm at and I'm having a hell of a lot of fun within the existing (non-)constraints of the system.<br /><br />The end.Spawn of Endrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10431848914619887998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-33426928933928958182011-01-08T14:43:22.166-05:002011-01-08T14:43:22.166-05:00@AD&D Grognard: I agree completely! I feel v...@AD&D Grognard: I agree completely! I feel very lucky to have tuned into this diverse and vibrant community this past year or two.<br /><br />@Geordie: I like your list; now that you mention it, Planet Algol, Warriors of the Red Planet, and UWoM are on mine,too.Carter Soleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01286436801953647693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-59434496749275798452011-01-08T13:03:15.767-05:002011-01-08T13:03:15.767-05:00In no particular order, my list is:
1. Ancient Va...In no particular order, my list is:<br /><br />1. Ancient Vaults and Eldritch Secrets - both the vs. Monsters and Mini-Six versions appeal to me.<br /><br />2. Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG - I REALLY like the rules I've read so far.<br /><br />3. Warriors of the Red Planet - Al will do a great job, I like the stuff he produces.<br /><br />4. Redwald - it's the best Whitebox fantasy variant I've yet to read and offers something new.<br /><br />5. Planet Algol - I live in hope !<br /><br />6. Urutsk: World of Mystery - as above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8038823840472916624.post-90705209499260548912011-01-08T12:17:08.319-05:002011-01-08T12:17:08.319-05:00I think there is room for everyone. That's wha...I think there is room for everyone. That's what I like about the current OSR / Indie movement. You wanna play straight old school? Done. Lots of excellent material around.<br /><br />And on the other end is complete conceptual gaming that many claim are not even games.<br /><br />We are not constrained by a CEO / CFO and a board of directors telling us how many units we have to move. We make what we love. You like orcs with guns? We got it. You like weird fantasy? Check. <br /><br />The list could go on. I am very excited by the people who are not only keeping the traditional approaches alive but the people breaking new ground. IT'S FUN AGAIN! For the first time in YEARS.<br /><br />All POV are valid. Play what you love and love what you play.<br /><br />And if this year is better than last year my head is gonna explode! :)xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814063435676111475noreply@blogger.com