That's why I wanted to draw your attention to a new one that I think many readers will appreciate: Wulfwald. It's a low-fantasy, old school RPG inspired by Anglo-Saxon myths and legends. I bought a print copy of the game a couple of weeks ago and love it. I'm in the midst of writing a review for it, which I hope to have finished before I leave for Gamehole Con next week. However, the sale only runs until October 17 and I wanted to alert everyone to it now, in the event I don't complete that review before I depart.
For only $5.95, you get all five rulebooks in PDF form, along with an electronic black-and-white regional map of the game world drawn by the late, great Russ Nicholson. At that price, I think it's more than worth it and I highly recommend it to anyone fascinated by early medieval Britain.
Wow. Thanks. As an Anglo-Saxonist, among other things, this is of interest! Thank you
ReplyDeleteI loves me some Anglo-Saxon Dark Age fun! Nothing like a good kenning to make me smile.
ReplyDeleteThis is a truly fantastic game, unique in both its setting and implementation, which is saying something nowadays. đ€
ReplyDeleteIs it just a class and level d20 system or something diffrent?
DeleteClass-and-level but much more low-powered than typical D&D and with lots of little tweaks.
DeleteYa compre. I had to wrangle with Avianca yesterday to change my wife's air transit, so the Wizard's Cabinet funnery during the Wolfshead purchase was unwelcome. Alas, bourbon and espresso can heal the impatient nerve.
ReplyDeleteThe thing looks wonderful and inspired, for the same price as a Sonic milkshake. Thanks for the recommendation, James.
I got the bundle because I liked the setting and idea.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wonder what I am missing: Where are the rules for combat/conflict? AC values for ascending and descending system seems messed up, sometimes adding to the score, sometimes subtracting (and vice versa in paranthesis).
What are the difficulties for casting? It says there are 3 difficulties, but how are they applied? Is ot a simple +1/+2/+3? That wouldn't be a big difference, so why go for low-powered spell effects?
Don't get me wrong, I'm an experienced D&D player and can easily fill the gaps, but if you don't know D&D or similar games, how do you play this game?
I think you're correct. Admittedly I bought the works for purposes of inspiration - now mixed with admiration - but I moved immediately to sample a few pages from each book like a Hilton Brunch dessert setting (I can get prime rib and eggs benedict at home; bring on those desserts before anyone else can take a swing at'em) and just now noticed a lack of combat guidance. The cherry tort is good, though.
DeleteIt’s system neutral, though obviously geared for a retroclone, or whatever. We all know how it works, right? AC, attack roll, damage, hit points?
DeleteI’m going to use a BRP % skill based system, however. Better suited for the vibe of the “missions”: stealth, intimidation, disguise, skullduggery mixed with badassery. That sort of thing.
I am pirating those three names for pack animals. Skullduggery, Mixedwith (a cruel mule joke, those clank the tankards at the Tavern) and Badassery.
DeleteOn the Lost Pages web page for Wulfwald it does state that 'it's not a retroclone: you bring your own rules, you don't need yet another booklet explaining how to roll to hit, save, or find a secret door' though this is less clear in the Wolfshead booklet where on page 4 it states that it should be considered alternate rules or a setting supplement and assumes a familiarity with basic D&D and retroclones without explicitly saying you need to bring your own rules.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, I also picked up the bundle of holding and then went and ordered the box set. Cheers, Grognardia...my wallet loves you.
Figuring out combat is easy enough, using any OSR or D&D. What I'm still unsure about is how exactly the magic difficulty is supposed to work. That's quite different from D&D.
DeleteHey, Mike. Sorry about the confusion with the magic rolls. I just checked the character book and magic book to see what the problem might be.
DeleteOriginally all the Wizard classes were going to have a roll to cast system, but in end only the Dwarf has to roll. The others either have magic that just works, or the victim gets a save.
I think in all the iterations and rewrites over the years that aspect got jumbled. All the casters have a note about what stat gets them a bonus for the magic roll in the character write up, but only the Dwarf needs it.
When I last ran it I used the stat and level bonuses as a penalty against NPC saves, for casters that don't have to make a casting roll.
Hey, thanks for clearing that up.
DeleteI guess I might let the other caster still roll simply to see if a crit or fumble happens, and otherwise use your method of modifiying the saving throw, if one is allowed.
Concerning the difficulty (1-3) of the Dwarf's Rune-casting, it's meant to be a simple +1/+2/+3 modifier to the roll, I assume?
I went ahead and bought the boxed set, mainly to get my hands on that beautiful map!
ReplyDeleteBest 6 bucks I've ever spent. It's so flavorful; the tweaks to the mechanics are neat; and I find the race/class combos very intriguing (as well as liking how it's treated as distinct combo steeped in the lore of the setting)
ReplyDeleteI am nearly sure the Tuesday matinee ticket for The Fellowship of the Rings was six dollars. I would put that up as a contender, maybe second behind a nose. Also there is a fantastic rum-raisin eggcream - a real one, circa 1956 - at a family spot in Windermere (Orlandoish) Florida. That thing is $5.96 tax paid. Third. Even has a proper straw.
Delete