Good Gaming Advice from Goblin Punch

April was a good month for blogging partly because April puts me in a whimsical frame of mind, but equally because I was on furlough due to the pandemic. For weeks I would devote my mornings to one or more of my blogs, and it was pleasant indeed. I resumed working at my job later in the month, and alas, I'm posting less frequently. Even now, I only have time to point readers to someone else's blog. Advice for OSR DMs is a nearly perfect summary of the style of fantasy adventure gaming I prefer. It's not the only style I like, but as far as level-up role-playing games go, this is exactly how I do it. (I'm flexible on 0-level funnels, though. Sometimes they are the right way to start a campaign; sometimes they're not.) Goblin Punch has plenty of other insightful articles like this one, so plumb its depths, spelunker!

Observations on My First Swords & Wizardry Session

A few days ago, I ran the second session of a new campaign, which takes place in an original setting I call "The Sundered Land" "Some Dread Land." I used Basic/Expert D&D rules with a mixture of Lamentations of the Flame Princess for our first session, but for the second session I switched to Swords & Wizardry White Box. Thankfully, my players didn't protest, and except for a few hiccups, it went smoothly. I really like the unified saving throw. It reduces unnecessary complexity, and enables a game designer to customize it as simply as adding a saving throw modifier. I like ascending armor class much more than I ever thought I would when something like it was introduced in 3e, and at least one of my players was overjoyed when I announced the change. (I should mention here that I have five players in this campaign. Two had never played a role-playing game before, two had never played an Old School game before, and one thinks she might have played 1e or 2e a long time ago, but isn't sure.) Anything that simplifies the process is good for both me and the players, as I think none of us like to get bogged down in details that distract us from the adventure at hand.

For a 1st edition AD&D and Basic/Expert D&D gamer, it was a revelation how better suited to my gaming style the Original Game and S&W White Box are. I like the absence of weapon proficiencies. That is a level of detail I never needed in my fantasy adventure game. There are no alignment languages, which is nice and sane. I like the unified weapon damage, as it requires no consultation of the rules and encourages weapon choice based on how players envision their characters. I like the unified hit dice system, as it reduces power inflation amongst player characters and monsters. I like the reduced attribute bonus range for the same reason. Most of all, I like the overall simplicity of the game and the vast blank space where I can create whatever I desire without bumping against another rule. That is what makes the Original Game so powerful. Swords & Wizardry White Box just executes it more elegantly. This is my edition of choice.

OSR Search Logo

Every good Web log of the Old School Renaissance needs a logo to link to OSR Search, or at least that's the conclusion I finally came to after seeing the excellent one at Zenopus Archives. So, here's mine. Someday I'll try harder.

I Will Maintain

For over two months I was able to post daily to Applied Phantasticality, but the exigencies of survival on the Prime Material Plane caught up with me at last. Since that previously unannounced resolution has been defeated, I have decided to implement a new one. I hereby resolve that I will post no less than 24 articles to this Web log per month. This is made all the more difficult since I shall soon be resolving to resume regular posting on my Fudge-centric Web log, too.

I have also taken the plunge into Google+, albeit in the manner of a thrashing non-swimmer. As you can see, I have added the Google+ widget that enables you to add me to your circles if you are so inclined. I guess I'd encourage all of my OSR-blogging comrades to add such a widget to enable all of us to communicate more easily, but I would do so with the following request: Please do not neglect your Web log (Blogger-hosted or otherwise) in favor of your participation in Google+. The Web logs are a vital resource to the OSR community and the gaming community at large. They offer ease of use, ease of reference, and are the gateway for many gamers who are re-discovering the lore of the ancients or are encountering it for the first time. Not everyone is able or willing to participate in Google+, so please don't wall them out. The Web log is a powerful medium. Take advantage of it.

Game on!

* Trans. of title: Je maintiendrai.

Striking a Blow for Gaming History

The Dungeons & Dragons PDFs are available once again (as previously noted), and this is cause for celebration in the Old School Renaissance community, but there is something else to celebrate for those of us who care about the roots of our hobby. Not only are PDFs of products from all editions being rolled out, not only are they improved in quality and functionality according to reports, but the product descriptions of the PDFs include their product history (at least for those I've seen). Product history, in this case, means not only the publication history of the product, but its significance in the history of D&D (and consequently the history of role-playing games). These product histories were written by Shannon Appelcline, author of Designers & Dragons, and they provide invaluable insight into the story of the industry and the hobby. If they at Wizards of the Coast wanted to convince me of their sincerity, this demonstration of respect for the game's heritage has done so. Whether or not I decide to use D&D Next, I am reassured that everyone's favorite flavor of D&D will remain available so gamers can make their own choice. Will this curb my appetite for OSR products including retro-clones? No, but it does mean I can mix and match with greater ease and reconnect with the products that brought me into this hobby.

Thank you, WOTC.

[Edit: It's amazing how a typographical error consisting of a single character ("." instead of ">") can foul up an entire post. In the future I'll preview my articles before scheduling them for posting at a later date. In the words of Agent 86, "Sorry about that, chief."]

Unleash the PDFs!

The town criers are crying out the news, and for the near future I expect the hubbub to drown out the discussion of other topics, but the news is big as far as the Old School Renaissance community is concerned. Yes, the rumors were true. Wizards of the Coast has made the Dungeons & Dragons PDFs available once again in their former lair at RPGNow.com as well as their own online store dedicated to D&D classics called, appropriately, dndclassics.com. The site boldly declares "EVERY EDITION AVAILABLE AGAIN," which should warm the hearts and lighten the money pouches of many members of the D&D diaspora. (I really might need to start a separate PDF wish list just to make things more manageable.) Will every grognard be appeased by this news? Well, no, of course not. We're talking about grognards. But many will be heartened, and Wizards of the Coast, many of us will agree, is doing the right thing by mending this particular palisade.

For my own part, I wish to thank Wizards of the Coast for unleashing the PDFs for the enjoyment and education of all role-playing gamers everywhere. Thank you!

[Edit: Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that B1 In Search of the Unknown, the classic Basic D&D module, is free for the opening week of dndclassics.com.]

(In case you missed it, and I'm sure you have, my regularly scheduled post is here.)

The Lost PDFs Return Again Possibly

We interrupt Applied Phantasticality and other arcane goings on to bring you this intriguing news courtesy of Rob Conley of Bat in the Attic.

Code word: dndclassics.com

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Internet-aided procrastination.

Old School Renaissance Logo

Yes, this is an Old School Renaissance Web log (and yes, I use the classical term "Web log"), so I thought it would be appropriate that it bear an OSR Logo. The one I chose was created by Stuart of Strange Magic, and I think it's a great design.