tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11976787599942839702024-03-19T04:48:20.429-04:00Applied PhantasticalityGordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.comBlogger473125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-27968297752283739742024-03-15T18:01:00.002-04:002024-03-15T18:05:23.944-04:00Ides of March<p>
The controversies surrounding Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast and its dominion over recent, current, and imminent versions of <b><i>Dungeons & Dragons</i></b> leave little room for optimism for those of us who like earlier editions, later variants, and different role-playing games altogether, but I can't say it's surprising. I haven't trusted TSR since it published <i>Zebulon's Guide to Frontier Space</i> for <b><i>Star Frontiers</i></b> (and I ought to have distrusted them starting with the bifurcation of <b><i>D&D</i></b> and <b><i>AD&D</i></b>), but I've never trusted Wizards of the Coast with or without Hasbro's overlordship. As media personalities jump ship from <b><i>D&D</i></b> and launch their own vessels of variable seaworthiness, I think it's worth looking at the craft of great designers, young and old, who have been perfecting role-playing games without regard to, or interest in, Hasbro/WOTC's self-defeating nonsense. There are so many satisfying alternatives from the very beginning of the hobby to the present, and more are being created right now by actual independent game designers who actually play the games. The best part of role-playing is that it's a hobby. The best publishers of role-playing games are hobbyists themselves. The corporations don't care about hobbyists. In turn, we owe them nothing. We can do it ourselves.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-83583749588237741242024-02-11T14:15:00.001-05:002024-02-11T14:15:36.692-05:00Martian Crawl Classics Crowdfunding in Progress<p>
The <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fieisay/martian-crawl-classics-a-zine-quest-sourcebook-for-mcc-rpg">Kickstarter project</a> for <i>Martian Crawl Classics</i>, Tim Snider's alternative setting for <b><i>Mutant Crawl Classics RPG</i></b>, is in progress and obtainable for the reasonable price of $5.00 for the PDF and the option to purchase an at-cost, print-on-demand copy. Add-ons include the 0 level funnel <i>Dead in the Water</i>, the 1st level adventure <i>The Desk in Room 8-10</i>, and the 2nd level adventure <i>Phage from Below</i> at $5.00 each for the PDF and the same hard copy option. The deadline to back the project is 24 February 2024.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-55692033962243872112024-02-01T15:35:00.001-05:002024-02-01T15:35:07.333-05:00Random Fantasy Campaign Generator Example<p>
Here is the explication of my <a href="https://appliedphantasticality.blogspot.com/2024/01/random-fantasy-campaign-generator.html">Random Fantasy Campaign Generator</a> demonstrated with an example of its use. Suppose you wish to run some adventures that have no predetermined setting (or none you care to use), and you would like the world to grow as the characters explore it rather than spending countless hours beforehand building it from scratch. Where do you start? You start with the location of the very first adventure and gradually expand from there. You start with a roll on the Starting Place table.
</p>
<p>
<b>Starting Place</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 2, the adventure starts in a village. It could be the player characters' home village, or it could be a village they are visiting or through which they are passing on the way to their destination. In this case, we'll say the player characters are visiting a friend.
</p>
<p>
<b>Landmass</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 4, the village is located on a supercontinent. There may be islands, but most of the world's landmass consists of a single Pangaea-like supercontinent. This suggests that the world might be geologically younger than our planet Earth, and it might even have megafauna or dinosaurs (or weird variants thereof).
</p>
<p>
<b>Nearest Waterway</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 4, the nearest waterway is "Sea," which would mean a world-spanning super-ocean. So, our village is on the coast, which means fishing and trade are probably important to its economy.
</p>
<p>
<b>Nearest Geographical Feature</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 12, the nearest geographical feature is "Volcano." The villagers may believe the volcano is dormant, or they might not know it is a volcano. In the real world there are actual communities built in the craters of "extinct" volcanoes (e.g. Mt. Tabor in Portand, Oregon, U.S.A.), but we'll set our village at the base of the volcano at the edge of a bay since we established that it is a port. If the volcano were to erupt, there would be time for people in the village to react.
</p>
<p>
<b>Most Prominent Architectural Achievement</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 6, the village's most prominent architectural achievement is a library. In general, the impressiveness of a location's most prominent edifice depends on the location's size, prosperity, cultural priorities, and level of technology. Given that our location is a fishing village near a volcano on the coast of a supercontinent, perhaps we could make the library the only building that (miraculously) withstood a previous eruption. A village was gradually rebuilt from the ruins of the destroyed city, and it was decreed that no building shall ever rival the library in magnificence. The importance of the library has grown as a consequence, and scholars from near and far come to the village to study there.
</p>
<p>
<b>First Patron</b>
</p>
With a roll of 6, the player character's first patron will be a local official. In this case, it would be logical to make that local official the Head Librarian, a person of importance with vast knowledge. Regardless of the adventure's premise, it ought to be easy to think of way to link it to the Head Librarian's interests.
</p>
<p>
<b>Best Place for Rumors</b>
</p>
<p>
With a roll of 12, the best place for rumors in the village is the well. Sure, there may be gossip aplenty amongst the scholars at the library, but the rumormongering at the well is more reliable.
</p>
<p>
<b>Summary</b>
</p>
<p>
In a coastal village at the foot of a volcano, the adventurers have come to meet a friend who is connected with the Head Librarian of a famous library that is the sole remnant of an ancient city. The community well is the best source of information of a non-academic nature, as the hardworking villagers are honest folk and more cosmopolitan than most. All of this is taking place in a world dominated by a single supercontinent.
</p>
<p>
These initial details provide the ingredients for a larger world of interconnected places, cultures, and adventures that can be expanded as needed.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-1352730325365134062024-01-14T14:36:00.000-05:002024-01-14T14:36:19.138-05:00Random Fantasy Campaign Generator<p>
The Random Fantasy Campaign Generator can be used as a prompt to create a setting and situation for a party's first adventure, and, perhaps, the initial focal point of a new campaign world that will expand with the party's travels.
</p>
<p>
<b>Random Fantasy Campaign Generator</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Starting Place</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d4
</p>
1. Outpost<br>
2. Village<br>
3. Town<br>
4. City<br>
<p>
<b>Landmass</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d4
</p>
1. Archipelago<br>
2. Island<br>
3. Continent<br>
4. Supercontinent<br>
<p>
<b>Nearest Waterway</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d4
</p>
1. Stream<br>
2. River<br>
3. Lake<br>
4. Sea<br>
<p>
<b>Nearest Geographical Feature</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d12
</p>
1. Barrow<br>
2. Canyon<br>
3. Cave<br>
4. Desert<br>
5. Forest<br>
6. Hill<br>
7. Jungle<br>
8. Megalithic structure<br>
9. Mountain<br>
10. Plains<br>
11. Swamp<br>
12. Volcano<br>
<p>
<b>Most Prominent Architectural Achievement</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d12
</p>
1. Abbey<br>
2. Castle<br>
3. Fountain<br>
4. Granary<br>
5. Guildhouse<br>
6. Library<br>
7. Marketplace<br>
8. Mill<br>
9. Monument<br>
10. Palace<br>
11. Temple<br>
12. Tomb<br>
<p>
<b>First Patron</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d12
</p>
1. Abbot<br>
2. Alchemist<br>
3. Elder<br>
4. Guildmaster<br>
5. Innkeeper<br>
6. Local official<br>
7. Merchant<br>
8. Noble<br>
9. Sage<br>
10. Spy<br>
11. Trader<br>
12. Wizard<br>
<p>
<b>Best Place for Rumors</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d12
</p>
1. Castle<br>
2. Den of iniquity<br>
3. Dock<br>
4. Fountain<br>
5. Inn<br>
6. Guardhouse<br>
7. Marketplace<br>
8. Shop<br>
9. Stable<br>
10. Tavern<br>
11. Temple<br>
12. Well<br>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-70556135239067912522024-01-08T17:33:00.007-05:002024-01-08T21:08:28.318-05:00Reviewing Reviews<p>
There is a debate amongst some in the hobby—if not the industry—whether a review of a role-playing game is legitimate if the reviewer did not first play or run the game. The crux of the problem is this: Is it the game or the product that is being reviewed? Take chess for instance. One could review the rules of the game and the experience it produces as an activity, or one could review the physical components of the game such as the board and the pieces. Most role-playing game reviewers rely heavily on the latter because there is the added complexity that no two groups of gamers play exactly the same way. When they do address the rules (as opposed to the details of a rule book such as font, binding, type of paper, or quality/quantity of illustrations), they typically concentrate on how they <em>think</em> they will help or hinder the gameplay. Without experiencing the effect of the rules firsthand, they can only theorize whether a given rule is good or even necessary. And this will vary from gaming group to gaming group. One group might respond favorably to a game in which each player controls multiple characters whereas another might find it a nuissance. One group might consider an initiative rule to be novel and entertaining whereas another group might find it too time-consuming. All reviews are subjective. It is in their nature. I would merely suggest that reviewers draw a distinct line between a review of a role-playing game as a <em>product</em> versus a review of the same as an <em>experience</em>, because both are valid. Sometimes a rule looks better on paper than in practice, and sometimes the rules as written work better than you could have imagined. Too often I have made assumptions about a rule only to be proven mistaken at the game table. The proof is in the actual play. You can a) review the game itself, b) review just the physical product, or c) review the product and speculate about how it might work at the table. Just be clear about your approach.
</p>
<p>
[This article has been cross-posted <a href="https://creativereckoning.blogspot.com/2024/01/reviewing-reviews.html">here</a> in <a href="https://creativereckoning.blogspot.com/">Creative Reckoning</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-18588827651151730242024-01-06T22:55:00.006-05:002024-01-06T23:06:44.116-05:00Table: Secret Door Status<p>
Sometimes a location in an adventure has secret doors that will never be discovered by the player characters using conventional means. This can be made easier for player characters who are actively searching in the correct area by giving them <a href="https://appliedphantasticality.blogspot.com/2012/05/table-secret-door-clues.html">clues</a> or by bestowing a <a href="https://appliedphantasticality.blogspot.com/2012/05/secret-doors-2.html">bungling bonus</a>, but if you need something a little more obvious, you could roll on this table...
</p>
<p>
<b>Secret Door Status</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d12
</p>
1. Ajar.<br>
2. Ajar and secretly trapped.<br>
3. Cracked open.<br>
4. Cracked open and secretly trapped.<br>
5. Locked and obviously cursed.<br>
6. Locked and obviously trapped.<br>
7. Locked and showing signs of attempted entry.<br>
8. Locked and showing signs of successfully activated trap.<br>
9. Magically sealed with prominently displayed riddle.<br>
10. Shut and marked by previous intruder.<br>
11. Shut and obviously cursed.<br>
12. Shut and obviously trapped.<br>
<p>
N.B.: This can be used when creating an adventure location (such as a dungeon), but it's especially useful when applied to published adventures that might abound with dead ends and bottlenecks caused by the injudicious use of secret doors. Just make them impossible to miss.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-81731219415552405732024-01-03T12:08:00.005-05:002024-01-03T12:08:41.587-05:00Reactions Revisited Elsewhere<p>
The usefulness of reaction rolls and tables is the topic of <a href="https://pitsperilous.blogspot.com/2024/01/action-reaction-rolls-take-two.html">"Reaction: Action Rolls, Take Two..."</a> in <a href="https://pitsperilous.blogspot.com/">Pits Perilous</a>. There is wisdom in the comments, too.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-71987108106815377812023-11-05T09:22:00.006-05:002023-11-05T09:22:45.337-05:00Wisdom from Elsewhere 2023-11-05<p>
Reading books and playing actual role-playing games in person in relation to a self-awareness of one's own story is the topic of <a href="http://monstersandmanuals.blogspot.com/2023/11/rpgs-and-storytelling-against-nihilism.html">"RPGs and Storytelling Against the Nihilism of the Digital"</a> in <a href="http://monstersandmanuals.blogspot.com/">Monsters and Manuals</a>. This is a topic worth revisiting.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-18161156341376582712023-09-29T12:53:00.002-04:002023-11-03T16:33:17.680-04:00Where Does Experience Point?<p>
<strong>Question</strong>: If one chooses to use a form of character advancement wherein all player characters are granted an equal meta-rule improvement (such as experience points, attribute boosts, luck points, etc.) whenever they reach a benchmark (such as completing an adventure, accomplishing a mission, surviving a session, etc.), does it undermine the concept of rewarding player characters for clever play?
</p>
<p>
<strong>Answer</strong>: No. The meta-rule award satisfies the player for playing the character. The character's reward arises from the fictional setting itself as a result of the character's interaction with it. The player gets to see the benefits of levelling up, improving a skill, or gaining more ability to improve the odds, but the character gets to see the benefits of in-character choices based on whatever definition of success is important to the character, whether it's accruing wealth, building a reputation, gaining followers, attaining a position, solving a problem, promoting a social movement, exploring the unknown, telling new tales, or any other goal. The character's reward is what the <em>character</em> can perceive, not what only the <em>player</em> can perceive. Therefore, it is perfectly justifiable to allow player characters to improve at an equal rate with regard to meta-rule improvement, whilst basing their in-character advancement on their interactions with non-player characters and circumstances within the setting. Three characters who divide a treasure hoard three ways will be regarded very differently if one is a miser, one is a spendthrift, and one is a philanthropist. This is where experience points.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-89298404966124139202023-09-23T19:26:00.001-04:002023-09-23T19:26:14.064-04:00Luck and the Dice Chain<p>
I think it would be an interesting experiment to alter the Luck rules for <b><i>Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG</i></b> as follows: Instead of a Luck point giving the player character a +1 modifier to an action, it grants a +1d. After all, if Luck is Chance (and it is), shouldn't it have a random element itself instead of a direct modifier that subverts the very concept? Besides, the dice chain is one of the best ideas in <b><i>DCC RPG</i></b> and it is woefully underused.
</p>
<p>
I think I'll try it the next time I judge. A report will be forthcoming.
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-75002547505007058052023-08-31T00:00:00.003-04:002023-08-31T00:00:00.143-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 31<p>
<b>31. FAVOURITE RPG of all time</b>
</p>
<p>
Everyone's favorite role-playing game of all time is <b><i>All Time Fave: A Role-Playing Game</i></b>.
</p>
<p>
Someone ought to design that...
</p>
<p>
Or not.
</p>
<p>
This is certainly one of my <strong>least</strong> favorite RPGaDay questions...
</p>
<p>
And this concludes RPGaDay 2023. How did <strong>you</strong> do?
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-66352090917510406472023-08-30T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-30T00:00:00.147-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 30<p>
<b>30. OBSCURE RPG you've played</b>
</p>
<p>
I think there ought to be a role-playing game entitled <b><i>Obscure Role-Playing Game</i></b>, and I think I am the person who ought to create it. The title is always the most difficult part of the game design process for me, and here it is! It's perfect really. All I need are millions of fans to purchase it ironically.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-20406973615484044342023-08-29T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-29T00:00:00.156-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 29<p>
<b>29. Most memorable ENCOUNTER</b>
</p>
<p>
This question doesn't interest me, so I'll just focus on the featured word, "encounter," precede it with "random," and follow it with "table."
</p>
<p>
<b>Random ENCOUNTER Table (RPGaDay 2023 Edition)</b>
</p>
<p>
Roll 1d6
</p>
1. A fully clothed centaur (with briefcase).<br>
2. An enigmatic macroplanarian.<br>
3. A Floating Head of Lettuce (of Doom).<br>
4. A gourdian angel (primarily protects gourds).<br>
5. An octopus piloting a mecha.<br>
6. The Aquabats!<br>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-89226661405557961002023-08-28T00:00:00.009-04:002023-08-28T00:27:52.059-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 28<p>
<b>28. SCARIEST RPG you've played</b>
</p>
<p>
I can't think of a single role-playing game I have played that was consistently scary, but I can think of plenty of <em>instances</em> in many different games—as a player or as a GM—that were startling and/or eerie. But too much of any one thing in a game becomes a bore. In any role-playing game there ought to be humor as well as drama, action as well as horror (or suspense). What the ratios are depends on the situation, but there's no reason a comedy RPG can't have dramatic stakes, or a dramatic RPG can't have moments of slapstick. Likewise, sometimes the greatest terror happens in fantasy adventure RPGs, and sometimes the horror RPGs inspire resourcefulness and heroism. It's all based on the circumstances. And the players. And the GM.
</p>
<p>
But the role-playing game that I hope is the scariest in the best possible way is <b><i>Ghostbusters: A Frightfully Cheerful Roleplaying Game</i></b> (although <b><i>Og</i></b> and <b><i>Paranoia</i></b> are contenders).
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-6591174078823175592023-08-27T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-27T00:00:00.136-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 27<p>
<b>27. RPG you'd like a new EDITION of</b>
</p>
<p>
I think I would like to see a new edition of <b><i>Men in Black</i></b> adapted to <b><i>The D6 System</i></b> 2nd edition. (I would like to see a lot of things adapted to <b><i>The D6 System</i></b> 2nd edition.)
</p>
<p>
I would also very much like to see a new edition of the <i>Science Fiction Companion</i> for <b><i>Savage Worlds</i></b> (<b><i>SWADE</i></b>) as soon as possible. (It ought to have been the first companion to get a new edition after the publication of <b><i>SWADE</i></b>, in my opinion.)
</p>
<p>
Some new editions that are in progress (and that I am eager to acquire and play) are <b><i>Scales and Tales</i></b> 2nd edition and <b><i>Knave</i></b> 2nd edition. I am usually disappointed by newer editions of role-playing games, but I am feeling optimistic about these two.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-89755616360052359012023-08-26T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-26T00:00:00.145-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 26<p>
<b>26. Favourite CHARACTER SHEET</b>
</p>
<p>
Honestly, my favorite character sheet nowadays is the humble note card. I don't like clutter; I don't like small fonts; I don't like small spaces in which to record my information; and I don't like background images—all of which rules out most character sheets. Just give me note cards. It's one of the oldest methods of recording character information and it's still the most efficient.
</p>
<p>
One caveat, though: If you are the GM, make an example note card of primary character information for the sake of consistency. It's especially important for new players who may need help locating information. If the information is located in the same place for every player, they can help each other more quickly.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-67584581835193815262023-08-25T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-25T00:00:00.145-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 25<p>
<b>25. UNPLAYED RPG you own</b>
</p>
<p>
I have <strong>many</strong> unplayed role-playing games. (I might be a collector.) One of the many unplayed role-playing games in my collection I would like to play is <b><i>Scales & Tales</i></b> by Kevin Sherry. Available <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/252869/Scales--Tales">here</a>, a new edition is expected to be released in early 2024. See the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scalesandtalesrpg">scalesandtalesrpg</a> Instagram account for a wealth of <b><i>Scales & Tales</i></b> art.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-29789276832132043492023-08-24T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-24T00:00:00.145-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 24<p>
<b>24. COMPLEX/SIMPLE RPG you play</b>
</p>
<p>
The most complex role-playing game I am willing to play would be <b><i>Savage Worlds</i></b> or one of the classic <b><i>Basic Role-Playing</i></b> games from Chaosium (e.g., <b><i>Stormbringer</i></b>, <b><i>Ringworld</i></b>, etc.). Anything more complex is counterproductive to the kind of role-playing I enjoy. Life is too short for unnecessary complexity in gaming.
</p>
<p>
The simplest role-playing game I am willing to play would be almost anything as long as there is a random element and <em>everyone</em> gets to roll (or use whatever randomizer is used instead of dice). I want no part of "only the players roll" or "only the referee rolls." Both extremes are boring.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-17897497196020930492023-08-23T00:00:00.005-04:002023-08-25T12:40:32.200-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 23<p>
<b>23. COOLEST looking RPG product/book</b>
</p>
<p>
So, I'm supposed to visualize every role-playing game product/book I've seen in my life and declare one of them as the "coolest looking"? I haven't the time to concern myself with evaluating every role-playing item I have ever seen. Instead, I'll reframe the question as the "coolest looking RPG product/book that doesn't exist, but should" and declare it to be <b><i>The Blues Brothers</i></b>, a D6 role-playing game that only exists in my imagination (with forwards by Dan Aykroyd and Cab Calloway). It would look so cool that just holding it would cause a mild explosion, and when the smoke cleared you would be dressed in the style of Jake and Elwood.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIG2GIXuRih9N7owNCDtM-fNs-q3jhu9LdikAIEvW3K2W_EuAlSJtRp-QFF4zMFJN8sR42T6mMWwdSnjVVUyeA6MftspgvZZEuegCIoeZ8Vz16AZLa-I00uUj-p6K07SnN0znRAhdfeiCl1Yf97ZWhorGwKxICzUB7FVRzqYw0g4C80fa7b1KiuFnumg/s480/Halloween_2015_monochrome.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Gordon Cooper as Elwood Blues, Halloween 2015 (black & white photo). Self-photographed." border="0" width="320" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIG2GIXuRih9N7owNCDtM-fNs-q3jhu9LdikAIEvW3K2W_EuAlSJtRp-QFF4zMFJN8sR42T6mMWwdSnjVVUyeA6MftspgvZZEuegCIoeZ8Vz16AZLa-I00uUj-p6K07SnN0znRAhdfeiCl1Yf97ZWhorGwKxICzUB7FVRzqYw0g4C80fa7b1KiuFnumg/s320/Halloween_2015_monochrome.jpg"/></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-bUfOIzshInmz02Ul7MLRcviHY2DqiMGhUqiYHjoA38huQ2tIuH2ocYnKGj1pUqmcboys4sqftR7Yjo5osMH_V3W96BZHz3NECZrZheODTpJixx_OXQzcBYVzlgnMkuAEl7IdlKclo64MdRBG_H6nCirEXM8uBclXpSpDK5kKF24O8QywWHSyZ5z7oE/s475/Halloween_2015_color.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Gordon Cooper as Elwood Blues, Halloween 2015 (color photo). Photographed by Sooz." border="0" width="320" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-bUfOIzshInmz02Ul7MLRcviHY2DqiMGhUqiYHjoA38huQ2tIuH2ocYnKGj1pUqmcboys4sqftR7Yjo5osMH_V3W96BZHz3NECZrZheODTpJixx_OXQzcBYVzlgnMkuAEl7IdlKclo64MdRBG_H6nCirEXM8uBclXpSpDK5kKF24O8QywWHSyZ5z7oE/s320/Halloween_2015_color.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
<p>
[Second photo by Sooz.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-86816238795858018752023-08-22T00:00:00.009-04:002023-08-22T00:00:00.140-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 22<p>
<b>22. Best SECONDHAND RPG purchase</b>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPWprtCUx7n82nvos8Grujojy5B3xunvoVioaP-JzFeb45GeBYp-G88gf-rHUB6FL01fGN12JLhPYcByxYZ2B5lMmDrtyBEgZeZGgZqF0mzBJ8NxWBgPrnHlcAFjCJyGPjS0ZTN0d-jC8hbWLIXFy-79NTauZegqlzRbbbHIqKu-2Ikj4SR19ROThWo/s2592/Ghostbusters_RPG_boxed_set.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Ghostbusters role-playing game boxed set." border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPWprtCUx7n82nvos8Grujojy5B3xunvoVioaP-JzFeb45GeBYp-G88gf-rHUB6FL01fGN12JLhPYcByxYZ2B5lMmDrtyBEgZeZGgZqF0mzBJ8NxWBgPrnHlcAFjCJyGPjS0ZTN0d-jC8hbWLIXFy-79NTauZegqlzRbbbHIqKu-2Ikj4SR19ROThWo/s320/Ghostbusters_RPG_boxed_set.JPG"/></a></div>
<p>
The best secondhand role-playing game purchase I have ever made was a copy of the boxed set of <b><i>Ghostbusters: A Frightfully Cheerful Roleplaying Game</i></b>, complete, unpunched, and containing a Ghost Die in perfect condition. It was a miracle I found a copy, <em>and it was reasonably priced</em>. I had been kicking myself for not buying a copy when it was available in stores (I think because I was worried it was based more on the cartoon than the movie), and to find a complete, undamaged, affordable copy of the game after all these years was lucky indeed.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUhmZXi-0PFid8-HnOuimdcwXS-h0mZtkgc7IoxGcgHsH_850vOBBdnQTk0zajpETBzi7WeA6xJP2cu-BzpOYXamndy3zT9hhL__gh4B9MMGpu6JJqhzhY7s9FjG9YcKqYx00kvzz3Hju0PH1wOj-sn7ttASKGXP_ud-WwnRVwDq6OlkOuFWSsq9_-0M/s2592/Ghost_Die_original.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Original Ghost Die from the Ghostbusters role-playing game." border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUhmZXi-0PFid8-HnOuimdcwXS-h0mZtkgc7IoxGcgHsH_850vOBBdnQTk0zajpETBzi7WeA6xJP2cu-BzpOYXamndy3zT9hhL__gh4B9MMGpu6JJqhzhY7s9FjG9YcKqYx00kvzz3Hju0PH1wOj-sn7ttASKGXP_ud-WwnRVwDq6OlkOuFWSsq9_-0M/s320/Ghost_Die_original.JPG"/></a></div>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-16407574600787971342023-08-21T00:00:00.005-04:002023-08-21T00:00:00.159-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 21<p>
<b>21. Favourite LICENSED RPG</b>
</p>
<p>
It depends...
</p>
<ul>
<li>Favorite Robert E. Howard RPG: <b><i>Conan Role-Playing Game</i></b> (TSR)
<li>Favorite Fritz Leiber RPG: <b><i>DCC RPG</i></b> <i>Lankhmar</i> (Goodman Games)
<li>Favorite H.P. Lovecraft RPG: <b><i>Call of Cthulhu</i></b> (Chaosium)
<li>Favorite Michael Moorcock RPG: <b><i>Stormbringer</i></b> (Chaosium)
<li>Favorite Larry Niven RPG: <b><i>Ringworld</i></b> (Chaosium)
<li>Favorite DC RPG: <b><i>DC Universe</i></b> (West End Games)
<li>Favorite <i>Doctor Who</i> RPG: <b><i>The Doctor Who Role Playing Game</i></b> (FASA)
<li>Favorite <i>Flash Gordon</i> RPG: <b><i>Savage Worlds</i></b> <i>The Savage World of Flash Gordon</i> (Pinnacle Entertainment)
<li>Favorite <i>Ghostbusters</i> RPG: <b><i>Ghostbusters: A Frightfully Cheerful Roleplaying Game</i></b> (West End Games)
<li>Favorite <i>Judge Dredd</i> RPG: <b><i>Judge Dredd – The Role-Playing Game</i></b> (Games Workshop)
<li>Favorite Marvel RPG: <b><i>Marvel Super Heroes</i></b> (TSR)
<li>Favorite <i>Star Trek</i> RPG: <b><i>Star Trek: The Role Playing Game</i></b> (FASA); <b><i>Star Trek Role-Playing Game</i></b> (Last Unicorn Games)
<li>Favorite <i>Star Wars</i> RPG: <b><i>Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game</i></b> (West End Games)
</ul>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-79522864126850282372023-08-20T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-20T00:00:00.149-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 20<p>
<b>20. Will still play in TWENTY years time</b>
</p>
<p>
I would hope that I will still be playing <strong>all</strong> of my favorite role-playing games in twenty years time if I live that long. I'd rather not think about it. Let's concentrate on what we're playing <strong>now</strong> and what we'll be playing <strong>next</strong>, regardless of the interval of time.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-43361456888148071772023-08-19T00:00:00.002-04:002023-08-19T00:00:00.141-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 19<p>
<b>19. Favourite PUBLISHED adventure</b>
</p>
<p>
This question makes me tired. There are too many adventures for too many different role-playing games for me to have an answer. Plus there's the distinction between favorite published adventure <em>played</em> versus favorite published adventure <em>GMed</em>. I have neither the time nor energy to ponder the matter. And as I have mentioned before, my mode of thinking tends not to be hierarchical. I fail to see the point of it.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-69448060279164637742023-08-18T00:00:00.001-04:002023-08-18T00:00:00.135-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 18<p>
<b>18. Favourite RPG SYSTEM</b>
</p>
<p>
Some of my favorite role-playing game systems include:
</p>
<ul>
<li><b><i>Basic Role-Playing</i></b>
<li><b><i>The D6 System</i></b> (especially 2nd edition)
<li><b><i>Fudge</i></b>
</ul>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1197678759994283970.post-25556309907304367212023-08-17T00:00:00.006-04:002023-08-17T00:09:27.671-04:00RPGaDay 2023: Day 17<p>
<b>17. FUNNIEST RPG you've <strike>played</strike> read</b>
</p>
<p>
Instead of "funniest role-playing game you've played," I'll name the funniest concept for a role-playing game I've encountered. It's a tie between <b><i>Creeks & Crawdads</i></b>, the game of playing inept crustaceans in a post-apocalyptic future, and <b><i>Og</i></b> (including <b><i>Land of Og</i></b> and <b><i>Og: Unearthed</i></b>), the game of playing prehistoric people with an extremely limited vocabulary. I don't know how funny they are in action, but they're hilarious on paper.
</p>
<p>
N.B. This may overlap <a href="https://appliedphantasticality.blogspot.com/2023/08/rpgaday-2023-day-07.html">Day 7</a>.
</p>
<p>
[For more information on #RPGaDay (or #RPGaDay2023 specifically), read <a href="https://www.autocratik.com/2023/07/this-august-10th-rpgaday.html">this</a>.]
</p>
Gordon Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12907319916602597979noreply@blogger.com0