Let's see.
I really like Swords & Wizardry. Scroll down the right side of this page and you'll find a quote from me about that very topic.
I REALLY like White Star. Is that a secret?
Apparently I REALLY like it because +James Spahn is my friend. Therefore, the posts about White Star Pocket Settings and the work I'm putting into it are for James' benefit and not because I'm fucking enthused to the point that I lie in bed brainstorming at night.
Here's a little secret. I enjoy writing about stuff that I like much more than I do stuff that I don't like. Imagine that.
White Star hits those special gaming pleasure zones for me. Ready to play out of the box and extremely easy to house rule without breaking. Oh, I really like to house rule. Ask any of my players. I don't do "by the book" very well.
So, if you are offended by my "Bully Pulpit" because I don't post the "right" posts (but you read The Tavern every day anyhow), go fuck yourself and get your own.
(negative enough for ya?)
OSR Commentary OnThe Mall of Doom For The Mutant Epoch Rpg
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"In the twisted, dark future of 24th century America, heroes are needed
more than ever. Do you have what it takes? Recruited to investigate the
disappeara...
5 hours ago
White Star is inspiring some FAL thoughts for me. Need to sort them out.
ReplyDeleteFuck negativity. Post what you like, talk about the games you love.
ReplyDeleteI totally dig how you enjoy Far Away Land even though it isn't the game for me. I come here to read what you like.
Don't let the trolls bother your enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Eric. I rarely read the comments section of anything any more simply because of the huge number of people in social media who have taken on a personal mission to take a contrarian position of anything and just shit all over it, and by doing so believe they are hip and cool when, in fact they're just assholes.
ReplyDeleteDon't let the jackasses puncture your enthusiasm. You think this system is interesting fun enough to spend your valuable time creating content for it which is the highest endorsement anybody can give a game in this hobby.
ReplyDeleteNow smoking: some losers ass.
ReplyDeleteNate - you made me laugh :)
DeleteHey, it's your blog man. I agree with you: folks who don't like what you have to say don't have to come here and read your words.
ReplyDeleteWas it Fox News who called you out?
ReplyDeleteI don't care for White Star from what I've seem of it (just not my thing) but you are 100% entitled to be enthusiastic about it for any reason (or no reason at all). It's your blog.
ReplyDeleteFrankly I'd like to see a lot less negativity on the internet - not more.
What....why its almost like this was a blog by one man about what he likes and doesn't like. SHOCKING!
ReplyDeleteWhite Star is getting a lot of positive responses from across many sources, so I think it's hard to single you out as being biased for some reason when clearly many people like this game. I'm waiting for the POD edition to show up on rpgnow myself, eager to finally check it out.
There's nothing on the right side of the page, at least for me...?
ReplyDeleteyou didnt scroll down enough ;)
DeleteWhy "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 (thank you Kickstarter) (edit) BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and will soon have some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep shipping shortly in my grubby hands awaiting a review..
I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls (and still waiting on dT&T to ship).
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 46, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)
Ah...I like S&W Complete best. OSRIC felt flavorless, just reference-bookish. LL seems pretty good if you like Basic but I already have Basic and I like the solo adventure and Elmore art in it.
DeleteThank Christ for some overwhelming Simple Joy for once. Pass the pleasure zone juice please, or the dusty concentrate . . . we work for forty goddamn years to provide security and comfort and all the trappings of success for our families, don't we?
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome to see a guy have bubbling enthusiasm like a kid again. I'm with Shadow above: White Star isn't my thing.
But seeing a few adults be joyous and revel in it is fantastic. Simple Joy. Just give me something simple, and joyous, for a change. Even better than big tits and bad morals . . .
-Rick
I see those as warnings to others (both would-be-investors and those considering starting Kickstarters) rather than putting them down simply for the sake of it.Of course, I could be wrong...
ReplyDeleteI only rip those that are well deserving of it.
ReplyDeleteGod, I miss the cardboard tables tho ;)