Let me start with this is not a pissing contest. It’s not meant to drive people to buy things. This is just a list of suggestions of material that, directly or indirectly, have been a part of gaming from the beginning.
I will be listing not only the well known, like the white box or brown box, but the other gaming aids, books that influenced the original D&D creators and links to articles on the web that cast light on the many aspects of the hobby that many of us grew up with and for those just trying out the material for the first time.
You don’t have to buy any particular version of anything. Rather than buy a book printed in the early ‘70s and high priced as a collectible buy a recent edition that may have additional content and save money for another item. Or even pdfs. Many older sources are freely available on the web and can be downloaded from Gutenberg and other classic fiction and non-fiction books from Lord Dunsany, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs to historical material, ancient maps and more. The bookshelf can be virtual as well as physical.
The hobby grew itself in much the same manner until the mid-late ‘80’s when the trouble began between the ‘hobby’ and the ‘industry’, so there will not be much in the way of historical material covered past the end of the ‘80s, only newly created material (house rules, conversion notes, etc).
I hope this helps and if I miss something or have been misinformed about something please leave a comment.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Let's Go Way Back Mr. Peabody-Back To The Future
The terrain beyond the immediate surroundings of the dungeon area should be unknown to all but the referee. Off-hand adventures in the wilderness are made on the OUTDOOR SURVIVAL playing board (explained below). Exploratory journeys, such as expeditions to find land suitable for a castle or in search of some legendary treasure are handled in an entirely different manner.
And so begins the first instance I know of of 'kit bashing' an rpg game system, and the original at that. The product mentioned above is this:
OUTDOOR SURVIVAL (1972)
Designed by Jim Dunnigan & Tom Shaw
Development by Don Greenwood
This game produced by Avalon hill was mentioned as “recommended equipment” in the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set. Two of the three books in the set reference this game as needed for wilderness encounters (see picture below). The game was the best-selling title in Avalon Hill's history. The connection to D&D being a factor most likely. Outdoor Survival was first sold in 1972 and continued to be produced through 1985. It was often sold in National Park gift shops as well as the hobby stores.
Outdoor Survival is a game of wilderness survival skills. Lost and alone, you must survive and escape all that Mother Nature has to offer. With 5 different scenarios from inexperienced hikers lost in the woods to a rescue party trying to find a lost person. You will have to deal with animals, weather, finding food, water, and surviving sickness to prevail.
The Boxed set contains the following:
• two-sided sheet, digest-sized, titled "OUTDOOR SURVIVAL / Get playing QUICKLY -- read this card FIRST"
• two-sided sheet (folded into fourths, to produce a digest-sized object), titled "Rules of Play / OUTDOOR SURVIVAL"
• 23-page digest-sized booklet, titled "a primer about WILDERNESS SKILLS for players of the game -- OUTDOOR SURVIVAL"
• four roughly digest-sized, identical yellow sheets titled "Life Level Index Chart". They are one-sided (the backs are blank),
• set of five double-sided, digest-sized sheets. Each contains a "scenario", 1 through 5, titled "Lost", "Survival", "Search", "Rescue", and "Pursue"
• roughly 9"x11", one-sided, glossy, full-color sheet, titled "MAP BOARD MOVEMENT CHART"
• large, fold-out, thick cardboard map
• heavy-stock paper sheet holding eight sets of punch-out counters
• one six sided dice is required to play
This game is great in and of itself and for anyone who hasn't heard of it it makes a nice addition to an OD&D collection for a taste of how gaming was borrowing in the beginnings from its surroundings.
This was how I learned to game...borrow bits and pieces from everywhere-I remember even having an old style sand 3 minute egg time (a miniature hour glass) that I would drop in the middle of the table when a major time sensitive action would occur (getting everybody to climb up to a window to escape an Orc raiding party was an excellent use for it).
Do you know of any items like this, sanctioned or otherwise, that were used in the early days or that you use even now? Post them in the comments.
(Edit: I'm going to go ahead and include this in my BUILDING YOUR BOOKSHELF series. It just seemed a natural. :)
And so begins the first instance I know of of 'kit bashing' an rpg game system, and the original at that. The product mentioned above is this:
Designed by Jim Dunnigan & Tom Shaw
Development by Don Greenwood
This game produced by Avalon hill was mentioned as “recommended equipment” in the original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set. Two of the three books in the set reference this game as needed for wilderness encounters (see picture below). The game was the best-selling title in Avalon Hill's history. The connection to D&D being a factor most likely. Outdoor Survival was first sold in 1972 and continued to be produced through 1985. It was often sold in National Park gift shops as well as the hobby stores.
Outdoor Survival is a game of wilderness survival skills. Lost and alone, you must survive and escape all that Mother Nature has to offer. With 5 different scenarios from inexperienced hikers lost in the woods to a rescue party trying to find a lost person. You will have to deal with animals, weather, finding food, water, and surviving sickness to prevail.
The Boxed set contains the following:
• two-sided sheet, digest-sized, titled "OUTDOOR SURVIVAL / Get playing QUICKLY -- read this card FIRST"
• two-sided sheet (folded into fourths, to produce a digest-sized object), titled "Rules of Play / OUTDOOR SURVIVAL"
• 23-page digest-sized booklet, titled "a primer about WILDERNESS SKILLS for players of the game -- OUTDOOR SURVIVAL"
• four roughly digest-sized, identical yellow sheets titled "Life Level Index Chart". They are one-sided (the backs are blank),
• set of five double-sided, digest-sized sheets. Each contains a "scenario", 1 through 5, titled "Lost", "Survival", "Search", "Rescue", and "Pursue"
• roughly 9"x11", one-sided, glossy, full-color sheet, titled "MAP BOARD MOVEMENT CHART"
• large, fold-out, thick cardboard map
• heavy-stock paper sheet holding eight sets of punch-out counters
• one six sided dice is required to play
This game is great in and of itself and for anyone who hasn't heard of it it makes a nice addition to an OD&D collection for a taste of how gaming was borrowing in the beginnings from its surroundings.
This was how I learned to game...borrow bits and pieces from everywhere-I remember even having an old style sand 3 minute egg time (a miniature hour glass) that I would drop in the middle of the table when a major time sensitive action would occur (getting everybody to climb up to a window to escape an Orc raiding party was an excellent use for it).
Do you know of any items like this, sanctioned or otherwise, that were used in the early days or that you use even now? Post them in the comments.
(Edit: I'm going to go ahead and include this in my BUILDING YOUR BOOKSHELF series. It just seemed a natural. :)
Jim Ward Needs Our Help
It's been a long day so I'm going to cheat here.
Check here and here for ways to help rpg pioneer Jim Ward and his family with medical expenses.
Sorry for the brevity but my eyes are bleeding and I just found this out.
My thoughts go out to Jim and his family. Without these guys the world would be a lot less interesting place to live.
Check here and here for ways to help rpg pioneer Jim Ward and his family with medical expenses.
Sorry for the brevity but my eyes are bleeding and I just found this out.
My thoughts go out to Jim and his family. Without these guys the world would be a lot less interesting place to live.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
REVIEW: NOD #1
I ran across Matt Stater’s LAND OF NOD blog while searching for OSR material and must say that if all of his work is as good as the first issue of NOD then Matt is assured a steady readership.
From its clean layout to the professionalism of the writing Matt has assembled an excellent resource for use with just about any Old School FRPG.
The bulk of this issue is composed of a sandbox hex crawl entitled THE WYVERN COAST. And although it is very much its own setting my first thoughts were of a friend and fellow DM picking up one of the early Harn packs. It has that ‘this is familiar yet I’ve not seen this before’ feel (always good in a hobby where so much has already been done).
(From his storefront)
In this first issue of NOD, you can explore the Wyvern Coast, a sandbox hexcrawl with over 190 encounters. There are six new classes, three new races, a random village generator, a dozen new deities, new monsters, and more! Compatible with most Old School game systems.
This first issue is available for free download:
http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com/p/free-downloads.html
The current issue is #4 with #5 not far behind.
Issues 2-4 are available at http://stores.lulu.com/jmstater in both print and e-book editions.
I highly recommend checking out the first issue and then visiting his blog and storefront for more gaming goodness.
From its clean layout to the professionalism of the writing Matt has assembled an excellent resource for use with just about any Old School FRPG.
The bulk of this issue is composed of a sandbox hex crawl entitled THE WYVERN COAST. And although it is very much its own setting my first thoughts were of a friend and fellow DM picking up one of the early Harn packs. It has that ‘this is familiar yet I’ve not seen this before’ feel (always good in a hobby where so much has already been done).
(From his storefront)
In this first issue of NOD, you can explore the Wyvern Coast, a sandbox hexcrawl with over 190 encounters. There are six new classes, three new races, a random village generator, a dozen new deities, new monsters, and more! Compatible with most Old School game systems.
This first issue is available for free download:
http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com/p/free-downloads.html
The current issue is #4 with #5 not far behind.
Issues 2-4 are available at http://stores.lulu.com/jmstater in both print and e-book editions.
I highly recommend checking out the first issue and then visiting his blog and storefront for more gaming goodness.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
OSR News
Trollsmyth
What Are the Attributes of an Old-school Game?
Countdown to Game Time
Defining "Old School Attributes." You Can't.
Lord of the Green Dragons
EDITORIAL: Innovation Versus the Merry-Go-Round of the Mind
Quickly, Quietly, Carefully
Classics Appendix N
Paul's Blog
OSR Presence Grows at Conventions
What Are the Attributes of an Old-school Game?
Countdown to Game Time
Defining "Old School Attributes." You Can't.
Lord of the Green Dragons
EDITORIAL: Innovation Versus the Merry-Go-Round of the Mind
Quickly, Quietly, Carefully
Classics Appendix N
Paul's Blog
OSR Presence Grows at Conventions
ROLE PLAYING FOR KIDS-Part 4
Here's four games for the younger player that are best of all, free :)
THE GAME OF HATS
http://www.lulu.com/content/293204
The fun part about The Game of Hats is that the players bring hats to the table. Everyone starts with three hats and earn more through play. They place points in their Hats, add use a Hat's powers by adopting its persona. Very simple system using, uh, hats. PDF: Free.
CLOWN COPS
http://www.memento-mori.com/other/games/cops.html
Play a former clown who is now employed as a special kind of police officer. Your beat is the quaint neighborhood of Palookaville (a.k.a. Clown Town), an area almost entirely populated by Clowns, Mimes and other circus performers. Very simple system using boxes of animal crackers, glasses of milk, rubber bands, six-sided dice, clown makeup and clothing, noisemakers, balloons and other fun stuff. Online (HTML): Free.
SUPER PETS
http://www.harlekin-maus.com./games/superpets/superpets.html
Play superpowered animals like Wonderdog, Gleek and Krypto- – regular animals with amazing super powers. Very simple system using six-sided dice and a bag of "doggie treats", called Stinky Treats during play. You will be eating these, so you may substitute something else that tastes a little off, like garlic-stuffed olives or plain rye crackers. Online (HTML): Free.
SHADOWS
http://www.harlekin-maus.com/games/shadows/shadows.html
You play yourself and your malicious shadow; a game based on narration – and the urge children have to get themselves in trouble. Your shadow is an invisible person or monster who always wants you to get in trouble. The game always starts with the Players' Characters asleep somewhere; they are all then startled by a sound. What happens after that is up to the Players, and helped along by the GM. Very simple system using six-sided dice and tokens. Online (HTML or PDF): Free.
THE GAME OF HATS
http://www.lulu.com/content/293204
The fun part about The Game of Hats is that the players bring hats to the table. Everyone starts with three hats and earn more through play. They place points in their Hats, add use a Hat's powers by adopting its persona. Very simple system using, uh, hats. PDF: Free.
CLOWN COPS
http://www.memento-mori.com/other/games/cops.html
Play a former clown who is now employed as a special kind of police officer. Your beat is the quaint neighborhood of Palookaville (a.k.a. Clown Town), an area almost entirely populated by Clowns, Mimes and other circus performers. Very simple system using boxes of animal crackers, glasses of milk, rubber bands, six-sided dice, clown makeup and clothing, noisemakers, balloons and other fun stuff. Online (HTML): Free.
SUPER PETS
http://www.harlekin-maus.com./games/superpets/superpets.html
Play superpowered animals like Wonderdog, Gleek and Krypto- – regular animals with amazing super powers. Very simple system using six-sided dice and a bag of "doggie treats", called Stinky Treats during play. You will be eating these, so you may substitute something else that tastes a little off, like garlic-stuffed olives or plain rye crackers. Online (HTML): Free.
SHADOWS
http://www.harlekin-maus.com/games/shadows/shadows.html
You play yourself and your malicious shadow; a game based on narration – and the urge children have to get themselves in trouble. Your shadow is an invisible person or monster who always wants you to get in trouble. The game always starts with the Players' Characters asleep somewhere; they are all then startled by a sound. What happens after that is up to the Players, and helped along by the GM. Very simple system using six-sided dice and tokens. Online (HTML or PDF): Free.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
ROLE PLAYING FOR KIDS-Part 3
This time we take a look at a father’s blog post about playing his first game of D&D with his daughter
Then The Dragonkin Podcast, a podcast specifically for and about young gamers. Host Sam Chupp, author of Changeling as well as many other games and publications, talks with young gamers and to adults about how to encourage and play with young people.
Also Marvel Super Heroes (Classic) for parents who might be interested in a super heroes game instead of a fantasy style game to start with.
My Daughter Just Played Her First D&D Game.
http://xbowvsbuddha.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-daughter-just-played-her-first-d.html
DRAGONKIN PODCAST
http://dragonkin.bearsgrove.com/
Marvel Super Heroes (Classic)
http://www.heroplay.com/features/rules/marvel.php
I hope these prove useful.
Then The Dragonkin Podcast, a podcast specifically for and about young gamers. Host Sam Chupp, author of Changeling as well as many other games and publications, talks with young gamers and to adults about how to encourage and play with young people.
Also Marvel Super Heroes (Classic) for parents who might be interested in a super heroes game instead of a fantasy style game to start with.
My Daughter Just Played Her First D&D Game.
http://xbowvsbuddha.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-daughter-just-played-her-first-d.html
DRAGONKIN PODCAST
http://dragonkin.bearsgrove.com/
Marvel Super Heroes (Classic)
http://www.heroplay.com/features/rules/marvel.php
I hope these prove useful.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The OSR
Those 3 little letters seem to have started a firestorm. I have never seen so much written about something as simple as a game you choose to play. Let's look at it another way:
"I play Chutes and Ladders"
"Man, that is so lame, how can you play that old piece of crap. Get with the program. Monopoly is clearly the superior game. Get your head out of your ass"'
Ummm...is it just me or is that stupid.
It has gotten to the point where you can't have an open conversation anymore about gaming without a fist fight breaking out over what somebody else plays.
I've argued the points myself and it's just a waste of breath. People are going to play what they want. Stop harassing each other over it.
I'm old school but that's just me. Doesn't mean I hate someone for playing newer games. And when I say old school it doesn't mean everything from the old days was my cup of tea either. I have never cared for d100 games or skills based games. I came from the mash up of OD&D / AD&D 1e and will always prefer that form of play.
And now with the edition wars it just seems that gaming is tearing itself apart. Much talk of the 'industry' being in trouble is easy to see when they keep trying to treat tabletop like pc/console gaming. I don't need 4 Player Handbooks and then a new version every few years.
Rules light is the way to the future, It's just the world we live in. When you look back even to gaming history it wasn't the most rules heavy system that won out but the one that could be played with the least amount of rules. And that was before the internet and acceleration syndrome.
A lesson WotC should learn before it's too late.
"I play Chutes and Ladders"
"Man, that is so lame, how can you play that old piece of crap. Get with the program. Monopoly is clearly the superior game. Get your head out of your ass"'
Ummm...is it just me or is that stupid.
It has gotten to the point where you can't have an open conversation anymore about gaming without a fist fight breaking out over what somebody else plays.
I've argued the points myself and it's just a waste of breath. People are going to play what they want. Stop harassing each other over it.
I'm old school but that's just me. Doesn't mean I hate someone for playing newer games. And when I say old school it doesn't mean everything from the old days was my cup of tea either. I have never cared for d100 games or skills based games. I came from the mash up of OD&D / AD&D 1e and will always prefer that form of play.
And now with the edition wars it just seems that gaming is tearing itself apart. Much talk of the 'industry' being in trouble is easy to see when they keep trying to treat tabletop like pc/console gaming. I don't need 4 Player Handbooks and then a new version every few years.
Rules light is the way to the future, It's just the world we live in. When you look back even to gaming history it wasn't the most rules heavy system that won out but the one that could be played with the least amount of rules. And that was before the internet and acceleration syndrome.
A lesson WotC should learn before it's too late.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wow
Ok, sorry for the slack production of late. Between trying to get a first draft together of Forsaken Souls, preparing a transcript on an online version of Normality (which I think will be dubbed Normality 2.0-TrollHunter) and extricating butt sore fanboys out of my ass with my +5 keyboard of fanboy slaying it's been crazy. And my cat won't let me sleep...being a bratty brat is not a good path to the love little one :).
Anyway, working on finishing a string of posts then it'll be doctor bound this week.
Hold on.
Anyway, working on finishing a string of posts then it'll be doctor bound this week.
Hold on.
Monday, October 11, 2010
PALEOBLOGGING LITE-HIGHLIGHTING OLDER POSTS OF IMPORTANCE FROM BLOGS
Something I picked up from Rob MacDougall (who in turn picked it up from Snarkmarket) I thought was a good idea because we can't always catch everything when it's fresh.
Greyhawk Grognard: AD&D's Lost Second Edition
GROGNARDIA: Gygax on Tolkien (Again)
Old School, New School and Gygaxian Naturalism (or not)
Running a D&D Campaign in 1974
(be certain and get the first part here)
OD&DITIES fanzine issue archive, published and reproduced here by permission from R.E.B. Tongue
Greyhawk Grognard: AD&D's Lost Second Edition
GROGNARDIA: Gygax on Tolkien (Again)
Old School, New School and Gygaxian Naturalism (or not)
Running a D&D Campaign in 1974
(be certain and get the first part here)
OD&DITIES fanzine issue archive, published and reproduced here by permission from R.E.B. Tongue
Sunday, October 10, 2010
CHOICE CUTS-BEST OF ETERNAL KEEP ROLE CALL
Because there are so many excellent blogs out there I though I would drop in an occasional 6 pack of ones that stood out to me. A sampler, if you will, of all that is happening in the rpg blogosphere.
So, without further ado:
How D&D Essentials Changed 4E...forever!
http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/how-dnd-essentials-changed-4e-forever
Gaming Groups: Away From The Gaming Table...
http://flynnwd.blogspot.com/2010/10/gaming-groups-away-from-gaming-table.html
WotC's D&D Red Box Commercial Rips Off Dungeon Majesty
http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/10/wotc-commerical-rips-off-dungeon.html
(I liked the comments section on the above post-some good points from all sides)
Freeport + Pirates of the Spanish Main
http://wastedlandsfantasy.blogspot.com/2010/10/freeport-pirates-of-spanish-main.html
Tolkiens & Dragons
http://www.lordkilgore.com/tolkiens-dragons
Tolkein and D&D
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2010/09/tolkein-and-d.html
So, without further ado:
How D&D Essentials Changed 4E...forever!
http://www.neuroglyphgames.com/how-dnd-essentials-changed-4e-forever
Gaming Groups: Away From The Gaming Table...
http://flynnwd.blogspot.com/2010/10/gaming-groups-away-from-gaming-table.html
WotC's D&D Red Box Commercial Rips Off Dungeon Majesty
http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/10/wotc-commerical-rips-off-dungeon.html
(I liked the comments section on the above post-some good points from all sides)
Freeport + Pirates of the Spanish Main
http://wastedlandsfantasy.blogspot.com/2010/10/freeport-pirates-of-spanish-main.html
Tolkiens & Dragons
http://www.lordkilgore.com/tolkiens-dragons
Tolkein and D&D
http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/2010/09/tolkein-and-d.html
Friday, October 8, 2010
ROLEPLAYING FOR KIDS-Part 2-Wizards of the Coast’s Introduction
From the current home of Dungeons & Dragons comes this free starter for young people.
(From the download page)
Dungeons & Dragons for ages 6 and up - To help promote their upcoming novel Monster Slayers, Wizards of the Coast has put together Monster Slayers: The Heroes of Hesiod, a stripped-down version of Dungeons & Dragons that's fast, fun, and playable by adventurers as young as six. Best of all, it's completely free!
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4dnd/monsterslayers
Reviews have been mixed but being free it gives someone a chance to see what all is available-and it is free :)
(From the download page)
Dungeons & Dragons for ages 6 and up - To help promote their upcoming novel Monster Slayers, Wizards of the Coast has put together Monster Slayers: The Heroes of Hesiod, a stripped-down version of Dungeons & Dragons that's fast, fun, and playable by adventurers as young as six. Best of all, it's completely free!
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4dnd/monsterslayers
Reviews have been mixed but being free it gives someone a chance to see what all is available-and it is free :)
Monday, October 4, 2010
THE IMPACT OF THE OSR ON THE INDUSTRY
A lot is being made of whether or not the OSR is having any kind of economic impact on the industry as a whole. Many think it to be a niche market in a niche market. That the majors are where all the purchasing is going on and that the OSR has no financial future.
I will submit only one comment on that statement:
Do you think that Wizards would take the time and effort to issue what they have described as a 'retro' product, placed that product in a red box and put the original cover to that red box on its front if they didn't feel they were losing market share to the OSR and independent gaming in general?
Each OSR publisher on its own may be only selling a few hundred copies of any given item, but add all that up and you find numbers that are enough to scare the CEO in his sleep.
Keep in mind the heyday of selling 150,000 units are long past in the industry. Now 5,000-15,000 is more realistic. And added together the OSR / Independent scene starts to look awfully close in the rear view mirror.
The OSR represents the hydra to me. There are many games, using different systems to accomplish the same thing-to bring back a form of gaming that doesn't feel like you have signed up for a calculus class that plays like wargame light.
Don't get me wrong. I have no burning desire to destroy any particular version of any game. But when I think role playing I think AD&D. That was my game and the one played the most with my friends. Sure, some Ringworld and Twilight:2000 and others slipped in. But it was AD&D where we spent our time, money and imaginations. It's different for everyone, but it unites a seemingly disconnected group.
Myself, I'm becoming a bigger Microlite fan by the day. The sheer variety of materials and what can be done with it is astonishing. Look at a M20 compilation sometime and see what I mean. And the system isn't foreign to younger players while allowing the flexibility to create anything for the older players. 2 pages of basic rules. Now THAT is tight design. A fully fleshed out game built on the system can easily fit in 32 pages and that includes everything and details. That's impressive. Others are doing fine work too and I look forward to spotlighting all of the work over at The Dragon's Eye as I wind my way through the multi-layered path of Old School and OSR gaming.
So pick a rule set, grab some dice, a few friends and have fun. Because if you're not having fun you're not doing it right. :)
I will submit only one comment on that statement:
Do you think that Wizards would take the time and effort to issue what they have described as a 'retro' product, placed that product in a red box and put the original cover to that red box on its front if they didn't feel they were losing market share to the OSR and independent gaming in general?
Each OSR publisher on its own may be only selling a few hundred copies of any given item, but add all that up and you find numbers that are enough to scare the CEO in his sleep.
Keep in mind the heyday of selling 150,000 units are long past in the industry. Now 5,000-15,000 is more realistic. And added together the OSR / Independent scene starts to look awfully close in the rear view mirror.
The OSR represents the hydra to me. There are many games, using different systems to accomplish the same thing-to bring back a form of gaming that doesn't feel like you have signed up for a calculus class that plays like wargame light.
Don't get me wrong. I have no burning desire to destroy any particular version of any game. But when I think role playing I think AD&D. That was my game and the one played the most with my friends. Sure, some Ringworld and Twilight:2000 and others slipped in. But it was AD&D where we spent our time, money and imaginations. It's different for everyone, but it unites a seemingly disconnected group.
Myself, I'm becoming a bigger Microlite fan by the day. The sheer variety of materials and what can be done with it is astonishing. Look at a M20 compilation sometime and see what I mean. And the system isn't foreign to younger players while allowing the flexibility to create anything for the older players. 2 pages of basic rules. Now THAT is tight design. A fully fleshed out game built on the system can easily fit in 32 pages and that includes everything and details. That's impressive. Others are doing fine work too and I look forward to spotlighting all of the work over at The Dragon's Eye as I wind my way through the multi-layered path of Old School and OSR gaming.
So pick a rule set, grab some dice, a few friends and have fun. Because if you're not having fun you're not doing it right. :)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
ROLE PLAYING FOR KIDS
More and more the question of children playing rpgs and whether it is a good idea or not keeps landing on the table. In the early days of gaming it was thought that somehow playing these games would encourage children to believe in alternate worlds and religions and do psychological damage or worse. Religious organizations saw the games as a straight path to Hell, believing the games encouraged Satan worship and demonology (so much so that TSR removed many references in their product as an appeasement to parents and groups alike).
Now, 30 years after the hobby began, a re-evaluation has taken place. The positive aspects of role-playing have come to light, so much so that there is now a sizable rpg that is Christian based, as parents are now encouraged to bring children into the rpg hobby.
This series will cover opinion pieces and resources for parents, schools and church's to get the most from this playground of the imagination. I gladly solicit any input or feedback and will try to answer to any concerns one might have. My position is that I believe there is a definite need for children to play 'make believe' and that given the proper tools it can be a healthy and rewarding experience. I hope this series is helpful in promoting the hobby in a positive way and if not providing all the answers will help one learn where to look.
Here's a good place to start:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031701794.html
Now, 30 years after the hobby began, a re-evaluation has taken place. The positive aspects of role-playing have come to light, so much so that there is now a sizable rpg that is Christian based, as parents are now encouraged to bring children into the rpg hobby.
This series will cover opinion pieces and resources for parents, schools and church's to get the most from this playground of the imagination. I gladly solicit any input or feedback and will try to answer to any concerns one might have. My position is that I believe there is a definite need for children to play 'make believe' and that given the proper tools it can be a healthy and rewarding experience. I hope this series is helpful in promoting the hobby in a positive way and if not providing all the answers will help one learn where to look.
Here's a good place to start:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031701794.html
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