Tenkar's Tavern: Unearthed, But Best Forgotten? Castle Perilous from West Wind Simulations (1980)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Unearthed, But Best Forgotten? Castle Perilous from West Wind Simulations (1980)

My God! I rediscovered this earlier today. I remember the cover, but the contents I don't recall at all. Copyright 1980, this is one heck of a Fantasy Heartbreaker. At this point in my life, I don't think I could get myself to read it even if it was food for the blog.

15 of it's 70 pages are devoted to a short story, which means the rules fit into 55. But that's okay, as the author mentions they have books II to X awaiting printing and production. Somehow I don't think I'd be able to track those down even if I wanted to.

It just uses 3D6 for combat resolution. I can see some D&Disms in it as I flip around, but the system does seem fairly unique. It's just that I'm much less into charts at this stage in my life then when I came into this hobby 30 odd years ago.

4 comments:

Catacomb librarianOctober 2, 2011 at 4:41 PM
I have been trying to find this for a long time, i would be really grateful if you could tell us something more about this fantasy rpg.

I already heard from other fellows that the system is fairly unique, as you wrote.

We need more uncovering of forgotten gems like this!
ReplyDelete
Replies
TenkarOctober 3, 2011 at 9:11 AM
I'll see what I can do. No guarentees tho... my plate is fairly full at the moment. ;)
ReplyDelete
Replies
Catacomb librarianOctober 29, 2011 at 6:07 AM
if you want to sell your copy, or if you are willing to make photocopies and/or scans, i would be willing to pay the cost. let me know

bye
ReplyDelete
Replies
DrizzSeptember 11, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Anyone still looking? I just came across a copy in amazing condition!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

Swords & Wizardry Light - Forum

RPGNow

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Unearthed, But Best Forgotten? Castle Perilous from West Wind Simulations (1980)

4 comments:

Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition