One of my favourite obscure article about AD&D.
2015/03/12
2015/03/04
2015/02/23
Oroborus
Oroborus is a new multi-genre roleplaying game. It is designed to be highly adaptible and emphasizes character development and imaginative roleplaying in any setting.
Oroborus is based around the idea that you don't need a lot of complex rules to create a powerful and detailed roleplaying system. A few simple, flexible mechanics cover a multiverse of possibilities.
Characters are developed through descriptive point allocation and an adaptive skill system that lets players have exactly the characters they want, tailored to the setting in which they are playing. All skills, including combat are resolved using a simple, universal system which handles comparative and qualitative skills with elegance. Oroborus offers rules which are simple enough for beginners, but with depth and flexibility for experienced players.
LINK
2015/02/15
2015/02/11
2015/02/10
I felt like a benighted soul when i saw this
A very obscure fantasy rpg....it seems that i will never manage to own every fantasy rpg published, this is an example of an item so rare that you'd better not desire if you don't want to get disappointed due to its unavailability.
2015/02/05
Here is too deep to look any further
I realize that my tendency is like that of an archaeologist, it has always been.
As time passes and i peruse other blogs, i can see that i behave pretty differently from my collegues, that is, i refuse to write about new and not-so-new OSR inspired games, such as Dungeon world for instance, but the same is true for many other games: i recently got a copy of Crypts & things and a copy of "Astonishing S&S of Hyperborea", but i left them aside after a couple of minutes.
Why? Certainly not because i disliked them or because i maintain they are without value.
I appreciate the effort that is to be found behind these labours of love, and they are often solid games which can provide hours of enjoyment.
The fact is, quite simply- that from my perspective- lingering over these games is not the correct approach, and in the end it is tantamount to a paradox.
Time is tyrant for everyone, and we are not aware of an immense portion of what was written, thought, and then published in the past as for fantasy role-playing games. The arrow of time for me points definitely to the past, and as long as the past remains not sufficiently understood we are vainly gesturing to one another and speaking a tongue we presume to know.
The past is the real treasure, not the future- at the very least, we can't treat the future as the most important thing in our hobby until we grasp all of the implications that the past represents.
In practical terms, i strongly believe that we must continue studying and pondering what was written in the past: only from that shore a light does shine which can guide us to our beloved harbor.
The solution to this dilemma is to recognize that there exist higher achievements
and that the games of our era pander to players with a low degree of curiosity and with few urges to explore more deeply our hobby.
Our disposition towards OSR suffers from a fundamental blunder.
Many among us get always greatly excited whenever a new OSR-inspired game hits the market, wondering what marvellous content it might have, almost craving for the novelty it could have (in terms of mechanics, ideas, and so forth),and in doing so each time we neglect the past, wherein these very new ideas have their glorious abode (whatever they may be, good or bad).
This attitude won't contribute to the augmentation of your knowledge of the old fantasy rpg "science", but instead it prevents you from digging deeper and to find for yourself precious, forgotten gems that lies, silent- only awaiting to be known.
But this knowledge won't be a sterile, intellectual kind of knowledge: it will empower anyone, opening new vistas as only the discovery of a game never-before-known can engrave on your spirit.
What is necessary is to curb the desire that pushes us forward, and try to never give our back to the past, which is still too uncharted.
Not that everything we need is behind us, but, as of now the most useful and meaningful tools reside there.
Turning backwards will prove to be once and for all the necessary step- because trifling gifts are shining in front of our faces, though the illusion is so strong and it's not going to vanish easily.
As time passes and i peruse other blogs, i can see that i behave pretty differently from my collegues, that is, i refuse to write about new and not-so-new OSR inspired games, such as Dungeon world for instance, but the same is true for many other games: i recently got a copy of Crypts & things and a copy of "Astonishing S&S of Hyperborea", but i left them aside after a couple of minutes.
Why? Certainly not because i disliked them or because i maintain they are without value.
I appreciate the effort that is to be found behind these labours of love, and they are often solid games which can provide hours of enjoyment.
The fact is, quite simply- that from my perspective- lingering over these games is not the correct approach, and in the end it is tantamount to a paradox.
Time is tyrant for everyone, and we are not aware of an immense portion of what was written, thought, and then published in the past as for fantasy role-playing games. The arrow of time for me points definitely to the past, and as long as the past remains not sufficiently understood we are vainly gesturing to one another and speaking a tongue we presume to know.
In practical terms, i strongly believe that we must continue studying and pondering what was written in the past: only from that shore a light does shine which can guide us to our beloved harbor.
The solution to this dilemma is to recognize that there exist higher achievements
and that the games of our era pander to players with a low degree of curiosity and with few urges to explore more deeply our hobby.
Our disposition towards OSR suffers from a fundamental blunder.
Many among us get always greatly excited whenever a new OSR-inspired game hits the market, wondering what marvellous content it might have, almost craving for the novelty it could have (in terms of mechanics, ideas, and so forth),and in doing so each time we neglect the past, wherein these very new ideas have their glorious abode (whatever they may be, good or bad).
This attitude won't contribute to the augmentation of your knowledge of the old fantasy rpg "science", but instead it prevents you from digging deeper and to find for yourself precious, forgotten gems that lies, silent- only awaiting to be known.
But this knowledge won't be a sterile, intellectual kind of knowledge: it will empower anyone, opening new vistas as only the discovery of a game never-before-known can engrave on your spirit.
What is necessary is to curb the desire that pushes us forward, and try to never give our back to the past, which is still too uncharted.
Not that everything we need is behind us, but, as of now the most useful and meaningful tools reside there.
Turning backwards will prove to be once and for all the necessary step- because trifling gifts are shining in front of our faces, though the illusion is so strong and it's not going to vanish easily.
2015/02/02
Heroes rpg (1979) for a few pounds
Today i bought Heroes rpg, which has been recently made available as a PDF, as you can read here.
It costs just £6, which is a very honest price considering what you get.
In fact, you get to download the ORIGINAL 1979 version in a beautiful 85 pages PDF document, which is amazing considering how difficult it is nowadays to find copies of it.
The game seems grim & gritty in terms of rules as far as the simulation of real medieval daily life is concerned, so if you don't tolerate a game without dragons and fireballs perhaps this game is not meant for you, but if you want to dive into a medieval campaign then this may be the rpg of your choice.
Expect a review of this game on my blog once i get acquainted with the rules and have the chance of testing it with my players, who are always fond of trying new games.
It costs just £6, which is a very honest price considering what you get.
In fact, you get to download the ORIGINAL 1979 version in a beautiful 85 pages PDF document, which is amazing considering how difficult it is nowadays to find copies of it.
The game seems grim & gritty in terms of rules as far as the simulation of real medieval daily life is concerned, so if you don't tolerate a game without dragons and fireballs perhaps this game is not meant for you, but if you want to dive into a medieval campaign then this may be the rpg of your choice.
Expect a review of this game on my blog once i get acquainted with the rules and have the chance of testing it with my players, who are always fond of trying new games.
2015/01/27
A splendiferous old fantasy rpg among us
You can currently found the complete edition of Chivalry & Sorcery: The Rebirth at RPGNOW following this link.
I downloaded it today, and what is awesome is that they provided as a FREE download not only the main rulebook but "Magick & Miracles" and "The Game master's handbook" as well, so what you can get absolutely fo free is the entire fourth edition of "Chivalry & Sorcery" fantasy role-playing game.
I downloaded it today, and what is awesome is that they provided as a FREE download not only the main rulebook but "Magick & Miracles" and "The Game master's handbook" as well, so what you can get absolutely fo free is the entire fourth edition of "Chivalry & Sorcery" fantasy role-playing game.
Sure, this is not the legendary 1st or 2nd edition, but if you have never tried this old fantasy rpg (published for the first time in 1977), you should really give it a try.
I regard Ed Simbalist as the greatest mind behind the rpg history, and if you are curious you can read what he himself thought and wrote about the differences between Dungeons & Dragons and Chivalry & Sorcery following this old post of mine.
If you don't download these three books for free, you know you are destined to hell in the afterlife.
The Balrog and the Finger of Death
Today i stumbled upon this wonderful article, and i couldn't have explained it better myself, because it contains many points that i agree to, especially the one concerning the almost-useless role of miniatures (i have never used them).
But the article touches other points that are of interest even nowadays, especially considering the direction that a game such as "Dungeons & Dragons" has taken since 3rd edition, namely, the excessive use of combat rules, that - again - shouldn't become more important than role-playing.
But the article touches other points that are of interest even nowadays, especially considering the direction that a game such as "Dungeons & Dragons" has taken since 3rd edition, namely, the excessive use of combat rules, that - again - shouldn't become more important than role-playing.
2015/01/20
Old school seems old sometimes
At times i feel as if i am in a solitary grotto, surrounded by books no one cares about anymore.
I tell young players that i just played 1st edition AD&D and they blink their eyes saying that in those times things were confused and complicated.
I should take notice more often that i actually live in the past, and that my comrades blogger do as well. So, in one sense it is true, we are the custodians of this hobby- we can teach youngster from where it all started, how it was like to play in the beginning, we are becoming historians even if we despise this word.
We are becoming historians as each year passes.
The conundrum is, is it worth persevering in playing old games?
We old schoolers usually flaunt our wealth, showing that we own, that we know and play old, vintage and rare-to-find games, but this parade doesn't usually raise interest in the public, particularly in the young public.
How to thwart these doubts and difficulties that sometimes arise?
Strenghtening our passion and ignoring the indifference shown by the general public who are playing new games? Maybe.
It's strange to always think about the past while the arrow of time goes in the opposite direction.
2015/01/19
Clark Ashton Smith: A Critical Guide to the Man and His Work
For just 5 dollars, you get the digital version of this 200 page book about the bard of Auburn.
You can buy the book here
You can buy the book here
2015/01/14
2014/12/29
The misleading history of our hobby
Whilst reading Pegasus magazine issue #8, i stumbled upon a pretty positive review written in July 1982 about the game "Beasts, men & gods" which was recently republished in its 2nd edition.
The reviewer goes so further as to say that BMG is "one of the better fantasy role-playing systems around today". Because the time was 1982, there already were several fantasy rpg's to which you could make a comparison (see here).
As for the magic system we learn that "it is extremely logical, and other systems would do well to examine this one".
The only shortcoming of the book seems to lie in the absence of an introductory adventure/scenario, as the reviewer stresses at the end of page, without forgetting to heartily recommend the game to the audience.
I admit that i've never played this game, but at the same time i am baffled by the lack of posts in the OSR blogs about it.
Being apparently a good fantasy rpg and given that it was re-released in our time for OSR enthusiasts (who should presumably rejoice when old fantasy games resurface in our epoch), to what one can ascribe this lack of interest?
The only reason i can think of is the usual one: lack of awareness about these games of niche, as i am realizing more and more while i read Designers & Dragons (link). I was so excited about such a book when i heard about it, i purchased it and though it covers a lot of useful information it entirely skips many fantasy games just because they didn't quite "hit" the market at that time.
It is such a pity. There are so many gaps to be found in even such a great book as Designers &Dragons above.
But as for Beasts, men & gods, i suspect that there is something more to blame. We are not living in the eighties now, and we all are globally connected.
The fact that an old fantasy game, albeit available doesn't rise interest or curiosity at the very least makes me wonder that at the bottom there is a sort of psychic lethargy underlying. One more time, the history of our hobby is neglected and i surmise it will always be. The RPG encyclopedia does a better job at covering all the rpg's published through the years than does Designers & Dragons. It is to no avail to list the big games and pretend that the story ends right there, because it is just not true.
The reviewer goes so further as to say that BMG is "one of the better fantasy role-playing systems around today". Because the time was 1982, there already were several fantasy rpg's to which you could make a comparison (see here).
As for the magic system we learn that "it is extremely logical, and other systems would do well to examine this one".
The only shortcoming of the book seems to lie in the absence of an introductory adventure/scenario, as the reviewer stresses at the end of page, without forgetting to heartily recommend the game to the audience.
I admit that i've never played this game, but at the same time i am baffled by the lack of posts in the OSR blogs about it.
Being apparently a good fantasy rpg and given that it was re-released in our time for OSR enthusiasts (who should presumably rejoice when old fantasy games resurface in our epoch), to what one can ascribe this lack of interest?
The only reason i can think of is the usual one: lack of awareness about these games of niche, as i am realizing more and more while i read Designers & Dragons (link). I was so excited about such a book when i heard about it, i purchased it and though it covers a lot of useful information it entirely skips many fantasy games just because they didn't quite "hit" the market at that time.
It is such a pity. There are so many gaps to be found in even such a great book as Designers &Dragons above.
But as for Beasts, men & gods, i suspect that there is something more to blame. We are not living in the eighties now, and we all are globally connected.
The fact that an old fantasy game, albeit available doesn't rise interest or curiosity at the very least makes me wonder that at the bottom there is a sort of psychic lethargy underlying. One more time, the history of our hobby is neglected and i surmise it will always be. The RPG encyclopedia does a better job at covering all the rpg's published through the years than does Designers & Dragons. It is to no avail to list the big games and pretend that the story ends right there, because it is just not true.
2014/12/23
Feeria (1996)
In a fantasy world, the children of the gods fought a titanic battle for dominance and survival.
In Feeria you will be a Son of Light or mighty hero of humans trying to survive in a world full of dangers while seeking ways to destroy once and for all the intrigues of the Dark.
Feeria includes rules for creating countless characters, with more than ten faerie races and many races as well as everything you need to play the first adventure after reading the rules.
LINK1
LINK2
LINK3
LINK4
2014/12/07
2014/12/06
Sword's path: glory (book I, 1982)
Well, "Sword's path: glory" is likely the most convoluted and math-heavy fantasy combat system ever developed, but i may be proven wrong since i have never read "The Riddle of steel", for instance.
Is it playable, after all? I don't know, but there surely are players willing to revel in this kind of difficult rule-systems. Unfortunately, i never really managed to get copies of the second book- and given that even on NK website it isn't available, i suppose my chances are very small.
And yes, i would definitely play this, had i the time and patience nowadays to absorb the rules.
It is no secret that i adore complicated fantasy rpg systems, and i'm sure that my acquaintance with Powers & Perils could help me a lot to comprehend this system.
http://dfiles.eu/files/y2ywrzbte
2014/11/18
Reich star (1991)
"In an alternate universe, history took a terrifying turn for the worse during World War II, with the Axis Powers conquering the globe. Nearly 200 years later the '"Third Reich" and the "Empire of Nippon" have spread their reach to off-world colonies far beyond our Solar System, enslaving the technologically inferior alien species they have so far encountered, and maneuvering their might against each other in an ever threatening Cold War. In the midst of this darkness many resistance groups have emerged to fight against the Nazi tyranny. The player characters belong to one of these groups, and fight to overthrow the Third Reich and restore freedom and democracy to Erde and her colonies."
Text taken from Wikipedia
2014/11/11
Bifrost part V - Magic
Magic in Bifrost rpg is extremely fascinating. At least, if you are spellbound by magic system such as those found in Chivalry & Sorcery rpg for instance, where the task is to try to capture the feeling of "real" medieval magick with all the convoluted tables and esoteric calculations.
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