tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post3278433871007115279..comments2024-03-29T00:32:33.920-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Do It Yourself DaysJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-17697014409824075112008-04-22T01:04:00.000-04:002008-04-22T01:04:00.000-04:00That's a really good way of putting it, Robert. I...That's a really good way of putting it, Robert. I feel the same way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-46028899483249231992008-04-20T15:27:00.000-04:002008-04-20T15:27:00.000-04:00Heh. I’ve been known to say this in defense of 3e:...Heh. I’ve been known to say this in defense of 3e: It showed me what I want by giving me what I thought I wanted. (^_^)Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-66031377731176293132008-04-20T15:07:00.000-04:002008-04-20T15:07:00.000-04:00Re: old school renaissanceI will say this in defen...Re: old school renaissance<BR/><BR/>I will say this in defense of 4e: the way that it has radically re-imagined <I>D&D</I> was a wake up call for me. I don't doubt that I'd have eventually returned to the roots of the game eventually anyway, but 4e's announcement hastened my return and gave me a clarity of purpose I might not otherwise have had. I get the feeling that I'm not the only one for whom this the case and while OD&D fans will always be a minority within a minority there are more of us now than there have been in years and that's amazing.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-91653563999598930102008-04-18T21:49:00.000-04:002008-04-18T21:49:00.000-04:00The line of HR historical supplements was one of t...The line of HR historical supplements was one of the few things from that "D&D era" that I really liked (and still reference).<BR/><BR/>WRT an old school renaissance, I think we're seeing the beginnings of it, now. Heck, just look at all the old school blogs and sites that are popping up. It's great.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-33788312764049669792008-04-18T15:27:00.000-04:002008-04-18T15:27:00.000-04:00"Likewise, he noted that OD&D was too 'vague and o..."Likewise, he noted that OD&D was too 'vague and often ambiguous' to bring in new players, many of whom were not 'familiar with medieval and ancient history, wargaming, military miniatures, etc.' that OD&D assumed."<BR/><BR/>Imagine if TSR had published oD&D supplements about medieval and ancient history. Not mechanics, but background. What if they published books that--instead of providing more mechanics--went into more depth about the different ways groups could play the existing mechanics. That explored the ambiguities rather than solve them. Design notes to explain the rationale behind the existing mechanics.<BR/><BR/>(Hmm...as I type this, I've started thinking about some of the Gygaxian Fantasy books that Gary edited. Also the Historic supplements for AD&D2e come to mind. And, of course, GURPS worldbooks.)<BR/><BR/>Frank did some great things with the D&D game, but despite following his orders to make it different from AD&D, his expansions were in large part the same <I>kind</I> of expansions that AD&D offered.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16733274876782876659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-24548764193203344252008-04-18T15:00:00.000-04:002008-04-18T15:00:00.000-04:00Good to see you, Philotomy. You're one of the guys...Good to see you, Philotomy. You're one of the guys who brought me back into the old school fold with your excellent posts on various forums and, of course, your OD&D Musings site.<BR/><BR/>Speaking for myself, I think you're exactly right about the maturation of RPG fandom. When I was a kid, I wasn't in a position to contribute to my hobby in any meaningful way and so I just took what was given me at the time and was happy with it. Now, though, I can't help but feel that we turned a corner somewhere and, rather than continue down that path, I'm going back around the corner to the hobby's original trajectory. I know for a fact that I'm not the only one who feels this way, so I don't think it's implausible to see full-fledge old school renaissance before long.<BR/><BR/>Fight on!James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-30142546340065505332008-04-18T12:51:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:51:00.000-04:00Great post, James; I agree with you, completely. ...Great post, James; I agree with you, completely. I, too, am enthusiastic about the hobby and the activity, there, separate from the concept of the "industry" and the "market."<BR/><BR/>I think several factors have come together at this particular time, including the OGL, the WWW, PDF, and POD. Also, there's the new edition looming, which makes gamers evaluate how they want to continue in the hobby (e.g. stay on the market-driven carousel, do their own thing, some combination, et cetera). And there's a pool of gamers who grew up with RPGs, and are now mature and in a position to contribute to the hobby and its community in a manner they may not have been capable of when they were younger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25124659695585830762008-04-18T12:02:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:02:00.000-04:00As one of those 'obsessive guys', I too have to ad...As one of those 'obsessive guys', I too have to admit that I am reminded of the old days with a lot of the current grass roots offerings now available. Too often, though, I feel like a kid in a candy store with only a few nickels to spend, those nickels now unfortunately representing my available time. Nevertheless, I can happily drop some of those nickels on OD&D and marvel at the new old school movement.Sham aka Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14329116400656617173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-41324975010019111342008-04-18T11:40:00.000-04:002008-04-18T11:40:00.000-04:00I think there are plenty of "indie" RPGs that are ...I think there are plenty of "indie" RPGs that are pretty exciting -- <I>Spirit of the Century</I> to cite one example -- but I wasn't speaking specifically about published RPGs so much as the network of really remarkable fan sites, forums, and projects out there nowadays. Old school <I>D&D</I> alone is probably more vibrant now than it's ever been, with several well-populated, thoughtful forums discussing its rules and gameplay. There's a brand new OD&D fanzine available through lulu.com, with more such projects in the works. <BR/><BR/>I find this all pretty exciting. It certainly reminds me of the days when guys with mimeographed sheets of house rules were the state of the art and we had a blast trying out all these crazy ideas. I think we'll be seeing more of that in the future, but more slickly produced and more collaboratively produced rather than being the singular vision of one or two obsessive guys. This is what I want out of gaming and I'm glad to be getting it.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-50271406327195133382008-04-18T11:28:00.000-04:002008-04-18T11:28:00.000-04:00Where do you judge "the hobby" to have the greates...Where do you judge "the hobby" to have the greatest activity and vitality?<BR/><BR/>Put plainly, do you drink the Indie-RPG Kool-Aid?Jay Duggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10181402451119462976noreply@blogger.com