tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post8420294202340356815..comments2024-03-29T03:53:01.413-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: A Different ParadigmJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-89207722252190129272015-09-12T01:31:51.938-07:002015-09-12T01:31:51.938-07:00That's an interesting take on it. It looks lik...That's an interesting take on it. It looks like he wasn't able to figure out how to "do" patrons, which isn't surprising. I don't know anyone who got it before <i>76 Patrons</i> was released (and the Mongoose version, <i>760 Patrons</i>, is terrible, just the worst, showing that some people still don't get it). And to be fair, a lot of people still didn't get it. I didn't, really, until I started re-examining the rules as written in detail in the last decade or so.<br /><br />One thing that <i>Traveller</i> needs is a better written description of how the game is supposed to be <b>used</b>. My article is a part of that, actually, since I hope to use the Mongoose SRD to write my own edition.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-50825623107408267222015-09-11T16:18:49.336-07:002015-09-11T16:18:49.336-07:00@ Alexis:
I didn't have time to write my foll...@ Alexis:<br /><br />I didn't have time to write my follow-up post today which (I hope) would have taken the conversation in a slightly different track. Certainly the game "works" on a variety of levels, as is. <br /><br />I suppose, then, the next question would be, '"Why does JB bother starting this line of inquiry?" Well, I've got a bee in my bonnet about something, and I wanted to consider an alternative method of getting to my desired design destination, and hashing through these old letters gives me a possible starting point.<br /><br />Maybe I'll get a chance to write my follow-up tonight (after the family is asleep, i.e. at 2 or 3am).<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-27203872390696525622015-09-11T06:48:53.949-07:002015-09-11T06:48:53.949-07:00@ Faol:
Mmmm...DMDavid had a good/interesting art...@ Faol:<br /><br />Mmmm...DMDavid had a good/interesting article on Traveller, too. Check this out:<br /><br />http://dmdavid.com/tag/how-leaving-the-dungeon-left-a-big-void-in-role-playing-games/JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-51227793611529006992015-09-10T23:09:03.592-07:002015-09-10T23:09:03.592-07:00I think that this can be, at least potentially, an...I think that this can be, at least potentially, an interesting direction of inquiry. There are other possible ways to approach adventure/roleplaying games, and I think that it's worth exploring as many as possible. I discussed one specific alternate direction (one that has had some success) in my recent analysis of the assumed order of play in <i>Traveller</i>.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-87479732376701679382015-09-10T20:32:23.807-07:002015-09-10T20:32:23.807-07:00All right. Let's put on a shelf that in all p...All right. Let's put on a shelf that in all probability these "letters" from these people are memoirs and therefore full of probable fabrications, particularly given that both these men were sued by about thirty fellow players and students in Chicago the 70s who couldn't prove their case in court. We'll accept that history is made by the winners - who in 2004 can make up any story they like.<br /><br />I've heard these arguments for how the game should be played (Arneson's supposed buy xp rule) for something like 30 years now - and guess what? The game still isn't played that way. Why? Because players don't like it. Oh, some do; but most don't.<br /><br />The answer to your query is quite simple. Arneson's game would have died on the vine. In fact, it DID. Gygax, for all his failings, stole the right ideas. The ones we play with now. The ones that were popular. The ones people liked.<br /><br />I sure wish people would just let go. Let go. Can we stop rehashing the past and nitpicking the details and just get on with making the game better than either one of the 'gentlemen' imagined?Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-13653317519167840662015-09-10T15:23:26.414-07:002015-09-10T15:23:26.414-07:00@ Sean:
Strangely, none of the interests are &quo...@ Sean:<br /><br />Strangely, none of the interests are "build a stronghold" (or tower or castle or fortress of any type), making such a goal a personal one (I presume) rather than one worthy of XP gain. But spell research certainly falls into the hobby category.<br /><br />It's all very abstract...there are few hard/fast rules, more like a hat-full of suggestions, especially with regard to hobbies. The XP "system" presented requires a lot of discretion on behalf of the DM (and probably a lot of discussion/negotiation between the DM and the player). I'd like something a little more codified, myself...but it's a very interesting start.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-81435794847097361352015-09-10T13:47:11.654-07:002015-09-10T13:47:11.654-07:00So Athelstan the first level magic user only gets ...So Athelstan the first level magic user only gets exp from his treasure if he spends it on spell research or hiring an engineer to do the initial design work on his future wizard tower...Sean Robert Meaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273566549106707316noreply@blogger.com