Thursday, September 4, 2008

Reviews

I have a small number of products I plan to review over the next few weeks, after which I have no more grist for that particular mill. So, if you'd like me to review additional books, games, and supplements of interest to old schoolers, what would you recommend? What's come out over the last years or so that I ought to use as a springboard for my discussion of the old school philosophy of game design and play?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

30 comments:

  1. Goodman Games has come out with some 1E modules, as well as Pied Piper Games (Bottle City, Dark Druids, etc.). Might be interesting to do a comparison of C&C with D&D...

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  2. I reviewed Bottle City and The Original Living Room from Pied Piper some time ago. I'd love to see more PPP material, but it comes out at a snail's pace. I should look into Goodman's 1e modules, though.

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  3. Within the next 3 months or so, Silver Gryphon Games will be releasing Vox Draconis, a game that is inspired heavily by old-school RPGs but also takes a few pages from the newer schools of thought.

    I'm the author, so I can even score you a free print copy if you're interested.

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  4. Speaking of C&C, have you seen StarSIEGE? Information seems to be sparse, and I at least would like to know more.

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  5. I'm a big fan of Castles and Crusades...I know, blasphemy, but it's my game of choice. I'd love to see a review of any C&C related material. Or maybe that's not quite what you were looking for? How about any of the stuff that James Mishler produces?

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  6. I too think highly of C&C and would be interested in reading reviews of supplementary materials for that game.

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  7. Reviews of the more recent OSRIC supplements, such as Brave Halfling Publishing's materials would be welcome for me. I have not had the opportunity to check them out yet, but I am reasonably interested.

    --Melan

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  8. Oh yeah. And I would be very interested in your take on the new Castle Zagyg boxed set, if you are picking it up. I have heard mixed news - both very favourable and disappointed.

    --Melan

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  9. Well, the newest version of Tunnels & Trolls (7.5) was recently released by Fiery Dragon. It's a game that has stuck very close to its roots over the past 33 years.
    -Eric

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  10. How about reviewing those Otherworld Miniatures that you picked up recently? Let me know if you would like to see some more samples.

    Richard

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  11. I recently found a German blog by a guy that writes adventures for Labyrinth Lord (http://glgnfz.blogspot.com/) published by Brave Halfling Publishing.

    I'd be interested in a review for CLA1: Fortress of the Mountain King, for example.

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  12. I'm the author, so I can even score you a free print copy if you're interested.

    I am always interested in "free." :) More seriously, I know nothing of this project, but if you think there's enough old school vibe to it that it's something I might enjoy, I'd certainly be glad to read it.

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  13. Speaking of C&C, have you seen StarSIEGE? Information seems to be sparse, and I at least would like to know more.

    I have not yet seen it, but I will admit to being curious myself.

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  14. I'd love to see a review of any C&C related material. Or maybe that's not quite what you were looking for? How about any of the stuff that James Mishler produces?

    I've already favorably reviewed a couple of James Mishler's products and I'll be reviewing more in the near future. I really like AGP's products and James's approach to the Wilderlands.

    I don't have much knowledge of C&C beyond the Castle Zagyg project and the two rulebooks. I rather like C&C as a "middle school" approach to gaming; it's not perfect for my purposes, but it's probably better for people who want a taste of the old school without enrolling on a permanent basis.

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  15. Reviews of the more recent OSRIC supplements, such as Brave Halfling Publishing's materials would be welcome for me. I have not had the opportunity to check them out yet, but I am reasonably interested.

    I am as well, but they're hard to come by in my neck of the woods. I can mail order them, which I should probably do anyway, but I keep forgetting to do so.

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  16. Oh yeah. And I would be very interested in your take on the new Castle Zagyg boxed set, if you are picking it up. I have heard mixed news - both very favourable and disappointed.

    As soon as I can get a copy of the thing, I'll slate it for review. So far I haven't seen it and I find ordering from Troll Lord directly to be a bit of a pain.

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  17. How about reviewing those Otherworld Miniatures that you picked up recently? Let me know if you would like to see some more samples.

    Actually, I'm planning to review my purchases soon. I was just waiting for a friend of mine to finish painting them -- I am terrible at it myself -- so I could include an image of my pig-faced orcs in all their glory.

    As for samples, I am always interested in seeing more; these are the miniatures I've been waiting to buy since I was a young man. I fear you have me hooked now :)

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  18. Well, the newest version of Tunnels & Trolls (7.5) was recently released by Fiery Dragon. It's a game that has stuck very close to its roots over the past 33 years.

    T&T has never really been my thing. I believe Jeff Rients is a big fan, though; he'd be a far better person to give it a fair review than I would.

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  19. I'd definitely like to see an "OSRIC Roundup" for a several recent-ish releases (I've really only been keeping up with the XRP products myself), ditto for the GG 1e books.

    If you have it, it might be interesting to compare/contrast GG's Castle Whiterock with Castle Zagyg, too (I don't have the former, will be posting my own review of the latter in another day or two---it's taking me longer than planned but will hopefully be worth the wait).

    Allan.

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  20. I had no trouble ordering Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works directly from Troll Lord Games. It was delivered very quickly.

    I also recently purchased a copy of Castle Whiterock. I've only begun to take a look at it.

    It will be a while before I can authoritatively compare and contrast the two works. All I can say for the moment is that CZ:UW seems very, very old school. In fact, it's the oldest school by default.

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  21. How about reviewing some of the Necromancer Games modules like Rappan Athuk? Or is that too old?

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  22. I'd definitely like to see an "OSRIC Roundup" for a several recent-ish releases (I've really only been keeping up with the XRP products myself), ditto for the GG 1e books.

    This is a good idea, although I must admit that I'm a bit behind on which publishers are actually producing OSRIC material, beyond XRP.

    If you have it, it might be interesting to compare/contrast GG's Castle Whiterock with Castle Zagyg, too (I don't have the former, will be posting my own review of the latter in another day or two---it's taking me longer than planned but will hopefully be worth the wait).

    I'd love to do this, but, as of yet, I own neither boxed set. More's the pity, since it's a grand idea.

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  23. I had no trouble ordering Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works directly from Troll Lord Games. It was delivered very quickly.

    Hmm. Perhaps their shipping has improved considerably since the last time I tried dealing with them.

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  24. How about reviewing some of the Necromancer Games modules like Rappan Athuk? Or is that too old?

    No, they're not too old; I'd love to review some of them. The big problem is finding them, since I never bought them when they were released and many are now pretty scarce.

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  25. If I asked really nice would you review my CDD netbooks?

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  26. There was a review on RPGnet recently of an OSRIC book called Monsters of Myth, from the First Edition Society. That review wasn't quite as informative as I like, and I'm not clear on what perspective it's coming from, either. I'm intrigued enough that I'd definitely like to hear your opinion.

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  27. I'm intrigued enough that I'd definitely like to hear your opinion.

    I did a review of it back in June, I believe, if you check my archives.

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  28. Ah! I found it! May, it turns out. Thanks, this is just the sort of information I wanted.

    It also seems to be evidence that you've been rolling up some psionic powers, what with all the answering-my-request-four-months-before-I-actually-request-it.

    You really ought to be more careful with that, by the way, as it sets unreasonable expectations for future performance.

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  29. How about Jason Vey's Spellcraft & Swordplay? I'm rather interested interested in that, particularly in comparison with Swords & Wizardy.

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  30. How about Jason Vey's Spellcraft & Swordplay? I'm rather interested interested in that, particularly in comparison with Swords & Wizardy.

    I'd gladly review it if a copy came my way, but it's a bit pricey sight unseen, given that I'm not sure I'll get any use out of it beyond reviewing it.

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