+Richard LeBlanc is one of my favorite creators in the OSR corner of the hobby. His D30 Sandbox Companion is THE go to product on my gaming shelf when I'm short on adventure ideas. Rich knows his gaming stuff, knows his art, knows his layout... yes, he simply knows his shit and it shows.
Rich's New Big Dragon Games Unlimited is running a Kickstarter for a Classic Edition GM Screen. It's what you see above. I actually got to handle a beta version of the screen last June at NTRPG Con and I was very impressed. I can only imagine how much nicer it is with 8 more months of development.
But wait. Your not just getting 2 3-panel GM screens:
6-panel (12-page) BX Game Masters Screen (in two 3-panel pieces)
This is the most comprehensive GM screen ever created for BX editions of the original RPG and comparable retro-clones. The inside and outside faces of each screen will be printed on 15 pt. cover stock, and glued together to create 30 pt. thickness!!! Additionally, the entire screen will be protected with a UV coating for resistance to abrasion and staining. The exterior of this 6-panel (12-page) screen features artwork by the legendary artist Arthur Rackham, and content panels include all the pertinent information any Classic (BX/LL) GM needs to run their game, including:
-Experience point & spell level progressions for each character class
-Class-based combat & saving throw tables
-Class abilities & attribute adjustments
-Tables for Clerical turning and Thieves' abilities
-Variable damage by weapon; missile fire ranges; AC by armor type
-Step-by-step outlines for both turn sequence & combat sequence
-A simplified Treasure Types table
-Comprehensive cost lists for weapons, equipment, and animals
-Complete movement information (including dungeon, wilderness, airborne, and encumbered movement)
-Henchmen/hirelings, mercenaries & specialists (recruitment, requirements, salaries, and abilities)
-8-page GM Table Reference Document: This 8-page letter-sized piece includes all of the tables from the GM screens in a handle table-ready format. Features additional cover art by Arthur Rackham. Printed on a 60# uncoated cover stock and saddle-stitched.
8 Individual Card Stock Master Character Sheets (1 Generic Sheet + 7 Class-specific Sheets): Each of the 7 class-specific character record sheet contains the most pertinent information each player needs (e.g., notes on which types of weapons & armor may be used by the class, additional experience earned based on prime requisites, and special abilities like clerics' turning and thieves' abilities). In addition to the 7 classic character class sheets (cleric, dwarf, elf, fighter, halfling, magic-user, and thief), an 8th "generic" sheet is usable by any character class. Printed on an 80# uncoated cover stock.
Spells Record Sheet: This record sheet is usable by any spellcasting PC, and includes places to list each known spell's name, range, duration, and area of effect, as well as other pertinent notes. Printed on an 80# uncoated cover stock.
Character Record Log: This record sheet provides a place to write the information a GM needs for up to 6 PCs or NPCs, including the basics (name, class, hp, level, AC, etc.) as well as ability scores, saving throws, equipment/inventory, and other notes. Printed on an 80# uncoated cover stock.
4-page Cleric Spell Handout: The cover of this digest-sized piece notes spells gained by level, and the inside includes all the key information (e.g., range, duration, spell notes, etc.) for all the cleric spells contained in the classic red and blue rule books (plus a few additional core spells from other early editions). Printed on a 60# uncoated cover stock.
8-page Magic-user Spell Handout: The cover of this digest-sized piece notes spells gained by level, and the inside includes all the key information (e.g., range, duration, spell notes, etc.) for all the magic-user spells contained in the classic red and blue rule books (plus a few additional core spells from other early editions). Printed on a 60# uncoated cover stock and saddle-stitched.
That's a lot of stuff for your $43 investment and you get it all in PDF too. If print isn't your preferred media (or if your budget is tight) you can get the total package in PDF for a mere 7 bucks.
Did I mention I love the art used?
Not sold at $43.00 for a set of three screens. I gave my reasons back on the Facebook page, but the short and sweet of it is... looking at the card stock being used these screens may cost $5.00 if that each (shit, my DCC screens came out to pretty cheap. I sold them a bit higher as I had to pay for the art work and other expenses). I get it that you are doing other cool things, but what if I just wanted the screens and not all the record sheets I will never use. Anyway, I would buy a set if the cost point was lower.
ReplyDeleteHi James. We've heard similar questions about the backer levels, so we actually added an update early yesterday to give some insight about how we ended up where we did.
Deletehttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1483683179/classic-edition-gm-screen/updates
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DeleteIn addition to the 12% markup it takes to pay the project fees, and the costs associated with packing and shipping, the fourth paragraph of the update specifically addresses producing 2 distinct screens each with a 30 pt. thickness (compared to the standard single screen with a 15 pt. thickness produced by many others).
DeleteI'm with you on that. Priced themselves out of my business, I'm afraid. I'm all for paying creative people but this is a little much. I'll wait until they come down in price or simply make my own.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that. Priced themselves out of my business, I'm afraid. I'm all for paying creative people but this is a little much. I'll wait until they come down in price or simply make my own.
ReplyDeleteFuuuuuu....okay backed. Dumped a different non-OSR Kickstarter to make room (sorry, Kult, I'll wait for the retail version).
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the price factors in shipping. But I like stuff like this, and most GM screens by themselves tend to cost around $20-$30 these days, so the price doesn't seem too wonky to me.
DeleteBetween the price and the fact that it's not landscape format, I'm out.
ReplyDeleteI'm already in. Looking forward to holding it this summer.
ReplyDeleteI'm already in. Looking forward to holding it this summer.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately price lists and other tables are all things I would never use. Actually can't think of a reason to use a gm screen for D&D when almost any rule that comes up regularly is in my head already and the rest fall under rulings not rules, as they say.
ReplyDelete