tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post4183122338921288399..comments2024-03-28T23:59:18.362-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Ripping Off Ali Baba (Part 2)JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-1842855054001024552013-02-27T01:57:38.070-08:002013-02-27T01:57:38.070-08:00@ Anthony:
I've been having similar thoughts l...@ Anthony:<br />I've been having similar thoughts lately when reading Charlemagne's Paladins from TSR. Real, evocative place names and historical/legendary places and events are something special; it's a lot easier to interest players in Charlemagne or King Arthur as an NPC than Good King Madeupname.<br /><br />Thing is, I don't feel like D&D - at least the way I do it - is a great fit for historical gaming. High level characters get obscenely powerful compared to level 1 types populating the world, to the point where a high-level party with magical gear and spells can stand off against armies - and win. Traditional high-level D&D adventuring activities like planar travel and expeditions deep into the underdark dilute the historical world feel. <br /><br />Also, delving Roman fort ruins full of undead legionaries may have more of an authentic ring to it than generic fantasy ruins; but the fighter isn't likely to get a magic longsword or chainmail in one, since ancient Romans didn't have them.<br /><br />Looking back through the old HR sourcebooks for D&D, it's striking how much they had to change or remove whole classes and rewrite spell lists as well as equipment lists to get D&D to "do history", and even then it seems like the tip of the iceberg compared to the other implications of the system.Dasharrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17103163281983407005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-18788715421752333892013-02-26T08:34:07.440-08:002013-02-26T08:34:07.440-08:00@ Anthony:
You need a setting that gets your juic...@ Anthony:<br /><br />You need a setting that gets your juices flowing...though recently (and I'll have to ponder this a bit more) it seems like the more interested I am in a particular setting, the harder it is to get into it in actual play. Perhaps because my sessions have been so sporadic of late and I want to include SO MUCH of the setting and don't have a chance to get to every particular nuance. The background/setting info in 5AK is pretty extensive (compared to what I normally do) and includes specific mechanics that integrate the setting with the system. But I'm starting to wonder if it's too much.<br /><br />If you dig history, I'd strongly suggest using a historical game setting (lots of info and ideas, little effort needed). However, I would ALSO suggest focusing on a particular locale...say 12th century Poland or 10th century England (not the UK as a whole!)...there's just so much ground to cover, it can be overwhelming otherwise. Start small, and then build on your setting as your campaign progresses...if your PCs want to cross the English Channel to adventure in Mythic Normandy, for instance that gives you time to prepare a new region of exploration!<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-46274427571657696972013-02-26T05:58:57.121-08:002013-02-26T05:58:57.121-08:00Sounds like a great time! I'm really dying for...Sounds like a great time! I'm really dying for more details on the mechanics of your system. <br /><br />As for the pseudo-real world setting, it's funny that you mentioned Ars Magica's Mythic Europe in your first post about this session, because I've just been looking at it as a possible setting for a Labyrinth Lord campaign. I've been really underwhelmed of late with published high fantasy settings that exist in totally imaginary worlds. <br /><br />Rather, I've been feeling like I really need a setting that I can get excited about, and not just another generic fantasy world. I'm a history buff, so I see the opportunity to do a campaign based on a fantastical version of Earth's Middle Ages as an excuse to delve into history while getting my game on. I definitely believe this would get me more excited about a campaign, and would be something worthy of my precious free time.Anthony Simeonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04312134763577949405noreply@blogger.com