tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1483812572850805273..comments2024-03-29T07:58:31.156-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Dark TowerJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-81713814626573816102024-01-13T11:30:28.142-05:002024-01-13T11:30:28.142-05:00I am surprised that you have not done a memorial p...I am surprised that you have not done a memorial post about Jennell yet. Given her old school background and the interview you did a few years back.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25660990104523564522022-05-06T23:49:07.308-04:002022-05-06T23:49:07.308-04:00Goodman games is about to run a Kickstarter for a ...Goodman games is about to run a Kickstarter for a 5e/DCC update of this.Persimmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02966572602767972805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-85572018941589360832020-10-07T20:40:27.424-04:002020-10-07T20:40:27.424-04:00Does anyone know how to enter the dungeon. I thin...Does anyone know how to enter the dungeon. I think that the trap door in Mitra's temple is the entrance but I'm not sure. I'd appreciate any help.<br />Mystery Shopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15280972890253104929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-45960803267597025872009-02-03T03:39:00.000-05:002009-02-03T03:39:00.000-05:00Rectification at the soonest opportunity is strong...Rectification at the soonest opportunity is strongly recommended. My own original is in sad shape, and the Moon Designs edition is something I'm considering.Dwayanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07388657516129827977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-21088716843923654532009-02-01T19:50:00.000-05:002009-02-01T19:50:00.000-05:00Did I ever mention his wondeful sandbox campaign G...<I>Did I ever mention his wondeful sandbox campaign Griffin Mountain?</I><BR/><BR/>You have and I keep thinking I need to grab a copy of it for myself. I've seen it and read through parts of it, but have never owned it myself. I think I ought to rectify this situation at some point.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-18202869483027550992009-01-31T03:29:00.000-05:002009-01-31T03:29:00.000-05:00Interesting comparison between the originals and t...Interesting comparison between the originals and the 3e versions, S'mon. Thanks.Akrasiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734103159691571156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-78177580533099773702009-01-30T17:13:00.000-05:002009-01-30T17:13:00.000-05:00Sure, but those synthesizers in 1984 were one of t...Sure, but those synthesizers in <I>1984</I> were one of the signals that the times were changing. Dave left after that album. There were similar signs when TSR started making a transition. For a rather goofy analogy, I think it holds up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-89597982862781406162009-01-30T16:59:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:59:00.000-05:00devoid of synthesizersI get up and nothin' gets me...<I>devoid of synthesizers</I><BR/>I get up and nothin' gets me down...<BR/><BR/>Ringing any bells?Rachel Ghoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765944479141792643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-7088712226051238862009-01-30T13:59:00.000-05:002009-01-30T13:59:00.000-05:00>1st Edition is like Van Halen with David Lee R...>1st Edition is like Van Halen with David Lee Roth; devoid of synthesizers, their rock was pure. 2nd Edition is the same band with Sammy Hagar; much more radio-friendly, they scored a lot of hits, but left the old guard grinding their teeth and wondering<<BR/><BR/>Hot damn! Finally an analogy that we less intellectual grognards can grok! "...I'm at seaside sittin' just a smokin' and a drinkin' on ringsinde, on top of the world, ahhhh yeahhhh..."Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31456156430982240112009-01-30T12:27:00.000-05:002009-01-30T12:27:00.000-05:00I bought a pdf from rpgnow a while ago, you've...I bought a pdf from rpgnow a while ago, you've inspired me to print it out on my work printer. >;)<BR/><BR/>I already have a printout of the 3e version, also from rpgnow. I'll compare the two. <BR/><BR/>I previously compared the original and 3e versions of Thieves of Fortress Badabaskor; the 3e version suffered IMO from 3e stats giving excessively powerful monsters, and I've already seen this in Dark Tower 3e (in the wandering monster list, CR 1/2 skeletons sit alongside CR 16 Son of Set!). The 3e background notes also seemed different and not nearly as good as what you describe; which was the way with Badabaskor too. Partly it was squeezing it into Necromancer's version of the Wilderlands timeline. Partly I guess a modern idea that gods should be far further above PCs than in the old material.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-52106745919036775842009-01-30T11:04:00.000-05:002009-01-30T11:04:00.000-05:00I suppose my reaction to that phrase is to be blam...I suppose my reaction to that phrase is to be blamed on my present location in a marketing department. If I were pitching the module, or trying to convince an audience of its value, I would not state outright that it had no plot or purpose, even if this were the case. <BR/><BR/>Now, I understand that your intent is to shine upon the module a light that will reveal its old-school goodness, but sometimes the grognards among us fall back on fundamentalism to the extent where "plot" becomes a curse word. In response to the extremely railroady <I>Dragonlance</I> plotlines, we deem all modules with "story" to be inherently bad, when actually, a GM should have little difficulty removing the story framework from most of these modules and still providing his or her players with an engaging game.<BR/><BR/>Okay, so now I'm rambling, but I feel as if we get a bit reactionary at times, and this is reflected in the language we use when comparing the best "style" of our favorite game.<BR/><BR/>Here's my silly analogy for the day: 1st Edition is like Van Halen with David Lee Roth; devoid of synthesizers, their rock was pure. 2nd Edition is the same band with Sammy Hagar; much more radio-friendly, they scored a lot of hits, but left the old guard grinding their teeth and wondering why their band had to ruin itself by becoming popular.<BR/><BR/>I do enjoy this blog. Just don't tell my boss that I spend part of every morning reading it . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-80397624515062457042009-01-30T10:16:00.000-05:002009-01-30T10:16:00.000-05:00Lance,Care to elaborate?Lance,<BR/><BR/>Care to elaborate?James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86800313227163233682009-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:002009-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:00". . . there's no plot or purpose . . ."This is an...". . . there's no plot or purpose . . ."<BR/><BR/>This is an interesting choice of words (and one that says more about the blogger than the product, I suspect).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-92132874813530666822009-01-29T14:11:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:11:00.000-05:00Ah, one of my favorites, and one of my favorite "c...Ah, one of my favorites, and one of my favorite "comfort reads." It was part of my bathroom reading pile for years.<BR/><BR/>I think I ran games in it twice, but the one I remember details about was running it for several of my players in a booth at the Venice High School carnival (I was on the football team so we didn't get jumped and beat up later). I let them start characters at 8th level, and I think by the end of the day I had gotten about a dozen observers into gaming. <BR/><BR/>I think I have blocked out the other time I ran it - for my players regular, lower level characters. I think it ended in the blood bath James mentioned...<BR/><BR/>And man o man, Griffin mountain was an amazing piece of work. It oozed outdoor atmosphere. Paul J. was my gaming hero as a kid.Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-74767930627148819382009-01-29T13:18:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:18:00.000-05:00And don't forget the RuneQuest sister module t...And don't forget the RuneQuest sister module that Paul Jacquays penned with Rudy Kraft in 1980: The Legendary DUCK Tower. Have a look at the cover:<BR/><BR/>http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=56443&filters=0_0_1300<BR/><BR/>The module is a very good Gloranthan dungeoncrawl. It uses very well Gloranthan races and cults to create interesting factions in the abandoned Duck temple of Humakt.<BR/><BR/>Paul Jacquays is one of the giants of old school RuneQuest. Did I ever mention his wondeful sandbox campaign Griffin Mountain?Andrea Roccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698978113775905706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-17262278651859807682009-01-29T12:51:00.000-05:002009-01-29T12:51:00.000-05:00Actually, there were 2 newer forms produced. One ...Actually, there were 2 newer forms produced. One just as 3e was getting started and other done by Judges Guild (revamped under Necromancer Games) in collaboration with Goodman Games. The major changes appear to be correcting misspellings and updating stats. Otherwise, it's the same great adventure.Balrog62https://www.blogger.com/profile/10524223991891502964noreply@blogger.com