tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post272742452121853799..comments2024-03-28T18:47:26.087-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: SwordbearerJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-495446945977878452012-07-28T23:11:10.854-04:002012-07-28T23:11:10.854-04:00FGU produced many excellent games: Swordbearer, Bu...FGU produced many excellent games: Swordbearer, Bushido, Flashing Blades, Villains and Vigilantes, to name but a few. Far superior to most of TSR's contemporaneous output.Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-69741505518995857052010-12-23T22:41:56.674-05:002010-12-23T22:41:56.674-05:00There is still a small group (including a mailing ...There is still a small group (including a mailing list) of Swordbearer fans at:<br /><br />http://rpgreview.net/swordbearerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-21488832242669808762010-04-21T00:37:55.768-04:002010-04-21T00:37:55.768-04:00I'm starting a new Swordbearer campaign this m...I'm starting a new Swordbearer campaign this month set in early medieval Britain - with a huge slice of fantasy added for extra bite.<br /><br />It's an outstanding game that's never lost its edge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-77136916278857589812009-06-28T02:27:58.101-04:002009-06-28T02:27:58.101-04:00Sounds like another must-read.Sounds like another must-read.Rachel Ghoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765944479141792643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-50300009269282397992009-06-25T14:18:15.693-04:002009-06-25T14:18:15.693-04:00I had the very same experience with both Swordbear...I had the very same experience with both Swordbearer and Runequest -- owned them, was fascinated by them, but never reffed or played them. (I think I've ripped off the magic system here and there, though.)<br /><br />One interesting thing about Swordbearer is that it may be the earliest RPG that dispenses with the Old School/Swords and Sorcery trope that adventuring is about gathering treasure. I mean, I think there was a mechanism for getting enough treasure to raise your social status, but the abstract nature of it made it much less compelling as a goal.Matthew Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905727799828366356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-33954554421827908732009-06-25T09:46:11.312-04:002009-06-25T09:46:11.312-04:00Nice! I still have copy of the FGU edition. Swordb...Nice! I still have copy of the FGU edition. Swordbearer was quite ahead of its time in many ways. I think a retro-clone would be a worthy project.buzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06243298798049780695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83608885412746010342009-06-24T20:22:48.527-04:002009-06-24T20:22:48.527-04:00This was probably one of the first games that for ...This was probably one of the first games that for me that truly connected the idea of wealth and social status and the role of the player-character in the larger community (instead of just someone passing through it). Even <i>Chivalry & Sorcery</i> didn't have as profound an effect (it was still too close to it's <i>D&D</i> roots to make much of a distinction).<br /><br />And I loved the Denis Loubet art. Still do.Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-55773903808106054602009-06-24T15:51:37.726-04:002009-06-24T15:51:37.726-04:00I was gaming back in the early 80s and remember se...I was gaming back in the early 80s and remember seeing ads for all kinds of games like Swordbearer in Dragon. But we didn't have a game store around, so the only non-D&D games I played 'til later on were Gamma World and Traveller. FGU stands out as a company that produced a separate RPG for <i>everything</i>, which was kind of funny. I have no idea if any of them were any good.Akivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17962605092009953080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67633022995641467102009-06-24T12:18:36.691-04:002009-06-24T12:18:36.691-04:00I thought about buying this on FGU's website. ...I thought about buying this on FGU's website. I loved Heritage minis! They were top drawer! I've still got some of the Star Trek line and some of their fantasy miniatures. They also had a great Lord of the Rings and Barsoom lines also.Chad Thorsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15084711824869449643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-24693909396319385402009-06-24T12:16:17.141-04:002009-06-24T12:16:17.141-04:00Great review as always, James. I have a copy of t...Great review as always, James. I have a copy of the Heritage edition, bought back in the day,and got it signed by Dennis Sustare at the NTRPGCon a couple weeks ago, whoot! Dennis said he thought it may have been a little ahead of it's time...;-)Pavinguirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00892559855298666904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-30438077061948575222009-06-24T11:15:53.938-04:002009-06-24T11:15:53.938-04:00I've nothing to add except to say great review...I've nothing to add except to say great review, as usual. :)KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76677791201916766302009-06-24T10:59:09.291-04:002009-06-24T10:59:09.291-04:00I felt the same as you, James. I bought the origin...I felt the same as you, James. I bought the original Heritage Games version - it was the graphic on the cover of the box that sold me - but was completely daunted by the system (which was almost completely incomprehensible to me, as my experience focused squarely [and solely] on AD&D up to that point). <br /><br />I've always regretted never running Swordbearer with my players, and have even considered picking up the PDF (thanks for the link!).<br /><br />MJBmactavishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863937666133661581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51369541142273479412009-06-24T10:42:53.036-04:002009-06-24T10:42:53.036-04:00Oh, and I also love that the group on the box cove...Oh, and I also love that the group on the box cover could easily be a Swordbearer adventuring party, unicorn included.letsdamagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02145102722055581254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-39046811491190648492009-06-24T10:40:12.254-04:002009-06-24T10:40:12.254-04:00I have the Heritage USA edition of this game as we...I have the Heritage USA edition of this game as well as FGU's "Dwarven Halls" supplement. Both are high-quality products well worth mining for ideas. I also love the art in both (Denis Loubet in the first, Liz Danforth in the second).letsdamagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02145102722055581254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-78150947112992348162009-06-24T10:38:00.249-04:002009-06-24T10:38:00.249-04:00I once had a copy of the Heritage games edition of...I once had a copy of the Heritage games edition of this game, and would like to have a replacement since it's long gone. I do have the FGU edition, but from my own memory, I liked the format of the Heritage edition better.Viktorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867648528753994863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-54522495742296711942009-06-24T10:16:41.336-04:002009-06-24T10:16:41.336-04:00Right-on, James!
I did get to run it a bit, and I...Right-on, James!<br /><br />I did get to run it a bit, and I found it to play pretty smoothly. But, yes, it is a treasure of ideas, to be certain.<br /><br />:DTimeshadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09952601433965644275noreply@blogger.com