The Links are fixed!
Imagine a Supers Rule set that was easy to run and easy to play! Imagine making a character is less that a minute! Very few if any rules just story! Imagine being a Game Master not burdened by the rules and having the ultimate flow of story. It is possible.
The Rules
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzYaSvmA-OpUYVdyendvVlNHeG8
The Sheet
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzYaSvmA-OpUMnAyenFZbVJRVUU
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
D&D Next First Impressions: D&D is BACK!
Well so far I like it. The characters provided are a tiny bit simpler that a 2nd edition character so not too bad. It seems to have an old school feel about it. If they make the rules right and them LEAVE them alone and remake and make great modules they will get my money.
I need to see more class and character options though. Please bring back 3d6 in order with adjustments.
Make some more downloadable PCs.
Attributes have the D20 modifiers as well as the same to very close to hit modifiers. SO a starting character will have the +6 to hit and 1d12 +7 damage with an axe.
Hit Points are CON score plus class HD so characters start out quite able to survive. There are death saves when at 0 HP where if you get 3 in a row you recover or if you fail you take 1d6 damage to a max of your Con + level in negative.
Why does a Fire Beetle have a CHA of 7? Why even have attributes? Most look easy to kill but a few of them have very high Hit Points like an Ogre has 88HP, Owlbears 110HP, Trolls 132, and so on. What is with the huge HP inflation of the larger monsters? Makes them scary but really. In the elegant olden days we just had to hit dependant of hit dice and a set dice number to roll for damage.
Monsters are well laid out and not full paged although they do have attributes and such. The Stat Blocks would be better if you streamlined them even more. It would be nice to have to have the computer or a book to run a game because the encounter stat blocks were only a few lines like in the Blue Box or OE.
FOR Example: ORC AC16 HD1d8 Move30' Damage 1d10 (Weapon) XP20
Monsters get +1 to hit every 2 Hit Dice.
Treasure is XP x 1d6gp in treasure.
The best part is they have removes skills and feats in the D20 form and replaced it with Backgrounds that provide the skill roll bonuses. Such as a Commoner gives you Animal Handling +3, Commerce +3, and Folklore +3. I would assume they join up with the attribute roll which does not seem to be modified by level.
This looks like it is going to be an enjoyable version and I will have to say D&D is BACK!
I need to see more class and character options though. Please bring back 3d6 in order with adjustments.
Make some more downloadable PCs.
Attributes have the D20 modifiers as well as the same to very close to hit modifiers. SO a starting character will have the +6 to hit and 1d12 +7 damage with an axe.
Hit Points are CON score plus class HD so characters start out quite able to survive. There are death saves when at 0 HP where if you get 3 in a row you recover or if you fail you take 1d6 damage to a max of your Con + level in negative.
Why does a Fire Beetle have a CHA of 7? Why even have attributes? Most look easy to kill but a few of them have very high Hit Points like an Ogre has 88HP, Owlbears 110HP, Trolls 132, and so on. What is with the huge HP inflation of the larger monsters? Makes them scary but really. In the elegant olden days we just had to hit dependant of hit dice and a set dice number to roll for damage.
Monsters are well laid out and not full paged although they do have attributes and such. The Stat Blocks would be better if you streamlined them even more. It would be nice to have to have the computer or a book to run a game because the encounter stat blocks were only a few lines like in the Blue Box or OE.
FOR Example: ORC AC16 HD1d8 Move30' Damage 1d10 (Weapon) XP20
Monsters get +1 to hit every 2 Hit Dice.
Treasure is XP x 1d6gp in treasure.
The best part is they have removes skills and feats in the D20 form and replaced it with Backgrounds that provide the skill roll bonuses. Such as a Commoner gives you Animal Handling +3, Commerce +3, and Folklore +3. I would assume they join up with the attribute roll which does not seem to be modified by level.
This looks like it is going to be an enjoyable version and I will have to say D&D is BACK!
My pla...pla...pla...playtest won't download WAAAAAAAAAAA!
Damn people! Quit your bitching! Many hundreds of thousands of people (or maybe just 10-20 or so) are all trying to download the playtest all at once. No system can take that kind of load so your not going to get it right now. STFU and quit your bitching! DAMN!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Olde Realm Blog
I have started another blog concerning my RPG the Olde Realm. I started writing this game back in 1994 all on paper even before I had a computer. It's a strange fantasy genre called SWORDPUNK. Imagine the cyberpunk genre using only Renaissance technology and magic Kinda. Imagine huge cities of over a million people in a vast untamed world where life outside these cities is deadly. Where every city is ancient and old and is built on top of older cities going far underground and high into the sky. Castles of steel steam and stone. Like a giant Kowloon that spans for miles up and down! Where Elementium lights light the streets. Secret cults and murder most foul, corrupt nobles, and viscous streets. The game kinda accidentally fell into the "New Weird" genre before it was defined.
It's only in it's infant stage on the blog but look if you must.
http://theolderealm.blogspot.com/
It's only in it's infant stage on the blog but look if you must.
http://theolderealm.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Zines 101 – A Quick Guide to Zines
Let's start a Zine revolution.
Zines 101 – A Quick Guide to Zines
What is a zine?
A zine (pronounced “zeen,” like “magazine”) is a self-published, small circulation, non-commercial booklet or magazine, usually produced by one person or a few individuals. Zines come in all shapes, sizes, topics, and formats. Most zines are photocopied, but they can also be printed offset, like a magazine or newspaper. Zines range from handwritten and sloppy to cut-and-paste (text pasted on top of background images) to artsy with handmade touches to produced on a computer with a professional looking layout. Zines may incorporate screenprinting, linoleum cuts, and hand-stitched bindings. Most zines have print runs of a couple dozen to a few hundred copies.
In a zine, you might find typos, improper grammar, and brilliant or radical or just plain honest ideas that you don’t normally see in Time, Newsweek, or People. A zine can be about whatever subject its creator decides upon, or it may contain a variety of subjects and writing styles within the same issue. Zines can include personal essays, political discussions, fiction, craft or do-it-yourself advice, articles about music or movies, comics, poetry, reviews – anything under the sun, really. Zines are personal and idiosyncratic. The best thing about zines is this: There are no rules.
Where can I find zines?
Zines and other underground publications are hard to find or unavailable in stores, although you may be able to find zines in some libraries or at independent bookstores (especially in larger cities). The best way to find out about zines is through word of mouth and networking. There are several publications that review zines, giving ordering information for the zine as part of their review. There are also several online communities where zine publishers network and promote their zines. A few of these are listed at the end of this handout.
The best way to get a copy of a zine is to order it directly from the publisher, who will mail it to you. The asking price of a zine is usually a couple of dollars, to cover costs for printing and mailing. You should check with the publisher for his/her preferred method of payment, which may be cash, stamps, or PayPal. If you are sending cash in the mail you should always hide it well by concealing bills in sheets of paper. Zine publishers usually do not accept checks as payment. Some publishers may also be willing to trade a copy of their zine for a copy of yours.
Another common way to buy zines is through a distro (a zine distributor). Zine distros are usually managed by one person or a small group of people. They buy zines from publishers at a discount and then resell them. Many distros have online catalogs. Buying from a distro is a good way to get several zines at one time. Zine distros may also accept check, online, or credit card orders. Keep in mind, however, that zine publishers (who are usually losing money anyway) get a much smaller cut when you buy their zine from a store or distro.
Why publish a zine?
To see your work in print. To share what you created. To encourage others to be creative. To find and connect with other people who have similar interests. To get mail. To make new friends. To create the publication you always wished existed. To share information. To educate. To change people’s minds. To teach yourself something new. To get something off your chest. To make yourself a better writer or artist. The reasons for publishing a zine are as diverse and unique as the individuals who create zines.
How do I make a zine?
There is no “wrong” way to make a zine. Your zine can be anything you want it to be; it can look any way you want it to look; it can include anything you want it to include.
There are several ways to approach making a zine. A good place to start is to think about what you want your zine to contain. You may want to read other zines first, to see what other people are doing. You may want to decide on the look and feel of your zine first – what size will it be, will it be handwritten or made using a computer – because that can affect how you proceed. Or you may want to jump in and start writing or drawing, and then decide on the look of the zine based on the content.
Depending on how you decide to design your zine, you may need access to some of these supplies: Sharpies, pens, pencils, typewriter or computer with a word processing program, scissors, glue stick, Exacto knife, scanner, ruler, clip art, tape, paper trimmer, stapler. Most likely you will need access to a photocopier.
A few tips on making your zine:
• Give yourself a half-inch margin around the edges of the paper, to avoid having text or images cut off by the photocopier. Page numbers are also helpful (both to your readers and to you – when you start collating).
• Black and white originals with bold lines turn out best on a photocopier. Color pictures, text on top of a colored background, or intricate shading may not turn out well, depending on the quality of the copier.
• Be sure to give yourself time to edit your work. Don’t be afraid to step back from your zine for a little bit. Give it room to breath so that you’ll be happy with the finished product. Once you are really satisfied, then print it.
• The more you do yourself, the cheaper things get. Shop around and explore options; find the best quality for your time and money.
• A zine can be a great place to explore and express your feelings and to say things that you have always wanted to say, but once something is printed and distributed, there is no way to recall it. There is always the possibility that every person you know could see what you have printed. You should believe in and be able to stand up for what you print. The person who creates the publication is ultimately responsible for everything printed.
• Don’t forget to include contact information! However, you should consider getting a post office box for correspondence and a separate email address for your online correspondence. The world is a dangerous place, and it is a good idea to protect your privacy. A pen name can help, but if you are making money off your publication and will be accepting checks, that can get tricky.
While you are creating your zine, you will need to plan the layout. The total number of pages you’ll need to plan content for depends on the size of your zine. If you’re creating a full-size zine (8½” x 11” printed on both sides), your page count needs to be divisible by 2. If you are creating a half-size, or digest size, zine (8½” x 11” folded in half), the page count needs to be divisible by 4. Each piece of paper will have four page segments – two pages on each side, with a margin (blank space) in the middle. Cut this in half and you’ve got a mini-size, or quarter-size, zine (in other words, eight page segments on each full-size sheet of paper).
Here are a few zine templates, to illustrate: Once your zine is finished, head to the photocopier. For small-scale zines, photocopying is usually the most economical way to go. Some machines can collate your copies for you; otherwise, you’ll have to collate by hand. After making your copies, you can fold and staple (or use other binding methods). Then you’re ready to distribute your zine!
What do I do with my zine after it’s published?
Now that your zine has been published, you need to get readers. One way to find readers is to send your zine to publications and websites that review zines. A few of the more popular ones are listed here; more are listed at www.undergroundpress.org/others.html. Be sure to include your contact information and the price you’re charging.
• Broken Pencil, PO Box 203, Stn P, Toronto ON, M5S 2S7, Canada, www.brokenpencil.com
• Punk Planet, 4229 N. Honore, Chicago IL 60613, www.punkplanet.com
• Xerography Debt, Davida Gypsy Breier, PO Box 11064, Baltimore MD 21212, www.leekinginc.com
• Zine World, PO Box 330156, Murfreesboro TN 37133, www.undergroundpress.org
You can also promote your zine in a variety of online communities, such as:
• Zinesters at Yahoo Groups (groups.yahoo.com/group/zinesters/)
• Zine Scene (zine_scene.livejournal.com) and Stolen Sharpie (stolensharpie.livejournal.com) at Livejournal.
You may want to send your zine to one or more distros for consideration. Be sure to visit the distro’s website or contact the distro’s owner to see what kinds of zines they sell, whether they’re currently taking new zines, and requirements or other details. A good list of distros, with links to their websites, can be found at ZineWiki (www.zinewiki.com).
Where can I find more information?
Stolen Sharpie Revolution is a do it yourself (DIY) guide to zines and zine publishing, including tips about photocopying, binding, layout, zine etiquette, dealing with distros, etc. $4 from Fall of Autumn, PO Box 254, Manhattan IL 60442, www.fallofautumn.com.
ZineWiki, www.zinewiki.com, is an open source encyclopedia about zines, zine distros, and other related topics.
Zine World’s website, www.undergroundpress.org, has event listings, a list of zine libraries and infoshops, how-to articles, and links to many other resources.
Zinebook, www.zinebook.com, has articles on zine history, legal issues, how-to advice, and more.
This resource was published by Zine World, with information compiled from Matt Holdaway’s A Student Guide to Zines
and Alex Wrekk’s Stolen Sharpie Revolution. Last updated: June 2007.
Zines 101 – A Quick Guide to Zines
What is a zine?
A zine (pronounced “zeen,” like “magazine”) is a self-published, small circulation, non-commercial booklet or magazine, usually produced by one person or a few individuals. Zines come in all shapes, sizes, topics, and formats. Most zines are photocopied, but they can also be printed offset, like a magazine or newspaper. Zines range from handwritten and sloppy to cut-and-paste (text pasted on top of background images) to artsy with handmade touches to produced on a computer with a professional looking layout. Zines may incorporate screenprinting, linoleum cuts, and hand-stitched bindings. Most zines have print runs of a couple dozen to a few hundred copies.
In a zine, you might find typos, improper grammar, and brilliant or radical or just plain honest ideas that you don’t normally see in Time, Newsweek, or People. A zine can be about whatever subject its creator decides upon, or it may contain a variety of subjects and writing styles within the same issue. Zines can include personal essays, political discussions, fiction, craft or do-it-yourself advice, articles about music or movies, comics, poetry, reviews – anything under the sun, really. Zines are personal and idiosyncratic. The best thing about zines is this: There are no rules.
Where can I find zines?
Zines and other underground publications are hard to find or unavailable in stores, although you may be able to find zines in some libraries or at independent bookstores (especially in larger cities). The best way to find out about zines is through word of mouth and networking. There are several publications that review zines, giving ordering information for the zine as part of their review. There are also several online communities where zine publishers network and promote their zines. A few of these are listed at the end of this handout.
The best way to get a copy of a zine is to order it directly from the publisher, who will mail it to you. The asking price of a zine is usually a couple of dollars, to cover costs for printing and mailing. You should check with the publisher for his/her preferred method of payment, which may be cash, stamps, or PayPal. If you are sending cash in the mail you should always hide it well by concealing bills in sheets of paper. Zine publishers usually do not accept checks as payment. Some publishers may also be willing to trade a copy of their zine for a copy of yours.
Another common way to buy zines is through a distro (a zine distributor). Zine distros are usually managed by one person or a small group of people. They buy zines from publishers at a discount and then resell them. Many distros have online catalogs. Buying from a distro is a good way to get several zines at one time. Zine distros may also accept check, online, or credit card orders. Keep in mind, however, that zine publishers (who are usually losing money anyway) get a much smaller cut when you buy their zine from a store or distro.
Why publish a zine?
To see your work in print. To share what you created. To encourage others to be creative. To find and connect with other people who have similar interests. To get mail. To make new friends. To create the publication you always wished existed. To share information. To educate. To change people’s minds. To teach yourself something new. To get something off your chest. To make yourself a better writer or artist. The reasons for publishing a zine are as diverse and unique as the individuals who create zines.
How do I make a zine?
There is no “wrong” way to make a zine. Your zine can be anything you want it to be; it can look any way you want it to look; it can include anything you want it to include.
There are several ways to approach making a zine. A good place to start is to think about what you want your zine to contain. You may want to read other zines first, to see what other people are doing. You may want to decide on the look and feel of your zine first – what size will it be, will it be handwritten or made using a computer – because that can affect how you proceed. Or you may want to jump in and start writing or drawing, and then decide on the look of the zine based on the content.
Depending on how you decide to design your zine, you may need access to some of these supplies: Sharpies, pens, pencils, typewriter or computer with a word processing program, scissors, glue stick, Exacto knife, scanner, ruler, clip art, tape, paper trimmer, stapler. Most likely you will need access to a photocopier.
A few tips on making your zine:
• Give yourself a half-inch margin around the edges of the paper, to avoid having text or images cut off by the photocopier. Page numbers are also helpful (both to your readers and to you – when you start collating).
• Black and white originals with bold lines turn out best on a photocopier. Color pictures, text on top of a colored background, or intricate shading may not turn out well, depending on the quality of the copier.
• Be sure to give yourself time to edit your work. Don’t be afraid to step back from your zine for a little bit. Give it room to breath so that you’ll be happy with the finished product. Once you are really satisfied, then print it.
• The more you do yourself, the cheaper things get. Shop around and explore options; find the best quality for your time and money.
• A zine can be a great place to explore and express your feelings and to say things that you have always wanted to say, but once something is printed and distributed, there is no way to recall it. There is always the possibility that every person you know could see what you have printed. You should believe in and be able to stand up for what you print. The person who creates the publication is ultimately responsible for everything printed.
• Don’t forget to include contact information! However, you should consider getting a post office box for correspondence and a separate email address for your online correspondence. The world is a dangerous place, and it is a good idea to protect your privacy. A pen name can help, but if you are making money off your publication and will be accepting checks, that can get tricky.
While you are creating your zine, you will need to plan the layout. The total number of pages you’ll need to plan content for depends on the size of your zine. If you’re creating a full-size zine (8½” x 11” printed on both sides), your page count needs to be divisible by 2. If you are creating a half-size, or digest size, zine (8½” x 11” folded in half), the page count needs to be divisible by 4. Each piece of paper will have four page segments – two pages on each side, with a margin (blank space) in the middle. Cut this in half and you’ve got a mini-size, or quarter-size, zine (in other words, eight page segments on each full-size sheet of paper).
Here are a few zine templates, to illustrate: Once your zine is finished, head to the photocopier. For small-scale zines, photocopying is usually the most economical way to go. Some machines can collate your copies for you; otherwise, you’ll have to collate by hand. After making your copies, you can fold and staple (or use other binding methods). Then you’re ready to distribute your zine!
What do I do with my zine after it’s published?
Now that your zine has been published, you need to get readers. One way to find readers is to send your zine to publications and websites that review zines. A few of the more popular ones are listed here; more are listed at www.undergroundpress.org/others.html. Be sure to include your contact information and the price you’re charging.
• Broken Pencil, PO Box 203, Stn P, Toronto ON, M5S 2S7, Canada, www.brokenpencil.com
• Punk Planet, 4229 N. Honore, Chicago IL 60613, www.punkplanet.com
• Xerography Debt, Davida Gypsy Breier, PO Box 11064, Baltimore MD 21212, www.leekinginc.com
• Zine World, PO Box 330156, Murfreesboro TN 37133, www.undergroundpress.org
You can also promote your zine in a variety of online communities, such as:
• Zinesters at Yahoo Groups (groups.yahoo.com/group/zinesters/)
• Zine Scene (zine_scene.livejournal.com) and Stolen Sharpie (stolensharpie.livejournal.com) at Livejournal.
You may want to send your zine to one or more distros for consideration. Be sure to visit the distro’s website or contact the distro’s owner to see what kinds of zines they sell, whether they’re currently taking new zines, and requirements or other details. A good list of distros, with links to their websites, can be found at ZineWiki (www.zinewiki.com).
Where can I find more information?
Stolen Sharpie Revolution is a do it yourself (DIY) guide to zines and zine publishing, including tips about photocopying, binding, layout, zine etiquette, dealing with distros, etc. $4 from Fall of Autumn, PO Box 254, Manhattan IL 60442, www.fallofautumn.com.
ZineWiki, www.zinewiki.com, is an open source encyclopedia about zines, zine distros, and other related topics.
Zine World’s website, www.undergroundpress.org, has event listings, a list of zine libraries and infoshops, how-to articles, and links to many other resources.
Zinebook, www.zinebook.com, has articles on zine history, legal issues, how-to advice, and more.
This resource was published by Zine World, with information compiled from Matt Holdaway’s A Student Guide to Zines
and Alex Wrekk’s Stolen Sharpie Revolution. Last updated: June 2007.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
On the Other SIde of the GM Screen: Playing Pathfinder
Oh I get it!
Now that I have finally played a few times and not ran Pathfinder why my players were kinda ticked when I wanted to convert to LL because I did not have enough prep time.
They flat out did not want to loose their cool characters and all the skills and powers.
I started playing with some old schoolers recently because I just lost the spark to run anything. I wanted to play. GM burnout you know! I was somewhat disappointed that with this old school group Pathfinder was the only game being played. Damn. I made a Wizard who was a Necromancer.
Not the best idea when I discovered that there were two LG Dwarves in the party who hated UNDEAD and Druid! I was not evil just LN and believed that Necromancy could be used as a tool to serve mankind.
But damn all that clunk when playing Pathfinder is really cool. The little extras they added from 3.5 just really rocks from a player's perspective.
Damn!
Here I go with the gamer ADD and insane flip flopping but I have not had that much fun playing in a very long time!
It's also the company as well. These players are a really good group (not that my group was bad we just are stagnant IMHO). They are what you would call nearly professional gamers. Best of all the DM is this multitasking dude who is running us through Temple of Elemental Evil mixed seamlessly with the Pathfinder setting. Awesome...
Except I now Have found out I will be working nights on a turnaround for some ungodly undetermined amount of time making about 80+ hours a week. Thank god I am hourly!
Oh well the GM is going to go all the way through Scourge of the Slave Lords and Against the Giants. I hope I will be done with the turnaround!
ANON
Now that I have finally played a few times and not ran Pathfinder why my players were kinda ticked when I wanted to convert to LL because I did not have enough prep time.
They flat out did not want to loose their cool characters and all the skills and powers.
I started playing with some old schoolers recently because I just lost the spark to run anything. I wanted to play. GM burnout you know! I was somewhat disappointed that with this old school group Pathfinder was the only game being played. Damn. I made a Wizard who was a Necromancer.
Not the best idea when I discovered that there were two LG Dwarves in the party who hated UNDEAD and Druid! I was not evil just LN and believed that Necromancy could be used as a tool to serve mankind.
But damn all that clunk when playing Pathfinder is really cool. The little extras they added from 3.5 just really rocks from a player's perspective.
Damn!
Here I go with the gamer ADD and insane flip flopping but I have not had that much fun playing in a very long time!
It's also the company as well. These players are a really good group (not that my group was bad we just are stagnant IMHO). They are what you would call nearly professional gamers. Best of all the DM is this multitasking dude who is running us through Temple of Elemental Evil mixed seamlessly with the Pathfinder setting. Awesome...
Except I now Have found out I will be working nights on a turnaround for some ungodly undetermined amount of time making about 80+ hours a week. Thank god I am hourly!
Oh well the GM is going to go all the way through Scourge of the Slave Lords and Against the Giants. I hope I will be done with the turnaround!
ANON
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