Tenkar's Tavern: Closing the Circle on Some Lapsed Gamers

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Closing the Circle on Some Lapsed Gamers

In two days I'll be running the third session of my ACKS campaign. I know it's hitting the right buttons as I'm able to visualize the encounters in my mind's eye just like I would with a good book. And like a good book, the characters seem alive and constantly surprise me. The blessing of a good group of role players at my virtual table.

I find it interesting and exciting that members of my old face to face RPG group have been following the relevant postings on this blog.

The group itself switched to MMORPGs like Everquest, DDO, Warhammer and Star Wars as the years past, and even has added a pair of Texans and a Washingtonian to what is now a multilayered gaming group. One thing in common? Everyone cut their teeth on D&D.

I think I might be able to drag them away from the latest Star Wars MMORPG one friday night and show them the fine wonders of gaming via Google+ or one of the other fine VTTs out there.

I just know that for me, Everquest and the rest just don't hold a candle to true role playing.

I'll see if I can return a few lapsed gamers into the fold ;)

1 comment:

David DorwardMay 17, 2012 at 5:41 PM
I've never been able to get past the tutorials on a MMORPG. They bore my socks off.

Meanwhile, I've very happy with face to face RPGs and have recently started a small G+ video group which currently rates as one of the best games I've played.
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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 ;)

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Closing the Circle on Some Lapsed Gamers

1 comment:

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