The OSR in me never died.

Well after a few more sessions of 4th Edition I decided to bring out my LL/AEC setting and work on it again. Not that the 4th edition sessions went "bad" per say it's just they didn't go "well". I had to give up the reigns of the DM as well as I have a LONG day that involves waking up a 3:25 in the morning and then getting to bed at 100:00 at four days a week and the fifth is an 8 hour shift but the 71.5 mile drive one way is the killed plus the 25 minute bus ride, plus the almost a mile walk. See very little time for rules intensive RPGs. Funny I can still create for the LL/AEC as all I think of is the story and then the rules just allow me to just write them down in minutes. The 4th has some good qualities and really good story ideas but it still does not offer that "certain magic" that the OSR does. I just recently reconnected with a few Old Schoolers in the area and may see if they want to play some RPGs old school style.

D&D Essentials and other musings

So what's the opinion on this new cost efficient version of D&D? Any of you Old School Gamers have any interest in it at all? After looking at a few examples it appears to be the very same ol 4th edition just presented in a different format. I still see many 4th edition "purist" especially the ones I know freaking and fuming about the whole thing. I kinda like the small 6 x 9 inch booklets idea.

Possibly (but unlikely due to life and time constraints) one day I will try to write my RPG that is a mix of the old and new school.

Old school simplicity with the new school options.

Let's face it some of the rule restrictions and such in the world of old school gaming is just stupid. Level Limits being the most and racial class restrictions as well.

In the new school it's monster stats that are as long and complicated as character stats, too many hit points, too much math, way too many rules.

Someone needs to mend these with a really cool game that mixes the old and new in a simple way.

It might just be me (or somebody else with time and a life).

Cracks Forming?

Wow the essentials has quite a few 4th edition players and DMs paranoid! More on this on a later post.

Once again another session of 4th edition that went well EXCEPT that more that half of the party got bored. Once again through no fault of anyone at the table the combat went WAY too long.

I once again asked about the S&W and LL game that we played in the past and was told by another memebr guilty of falling asleep during 4th edition games MORE that anyone else that she did not really like the old school gaming for no real clear reason other than not alot of stuff that I can do and not alot of hit points. It was too easy to die in the old school games.

What? Only one PC died and he replaced his character in about 5 minutes as that's all it took to roll one up?

Later on my wife said the same thing? What?!?!?!? her character made it to second level?

Cracks are forming as we level up and combat no matter what get's more and more boring even though we can do some really cool stuff the slower less gamer-centric players get left behind in the dust of the complication. They get to made to feel stupid and slow as the gamer-centric players get the rules.

In the old days only the DM needed to know the rules and the players just played. In fact it was not until the 90s that I learned the rules. I started in 81 or so.

The Players

PLAYERS:
Tony - Per'en Moonbeam - Elven Cleric of Corellon
Larry - Travok Ironfist, Nala - Dwarven Invoker of Moradin, Dragonborn Fighter
Amy - Darlet of Ashton - Human Fighter
Tabby - Shyla - Elven Seeker
Jade - Wynne - Elven Rogue
Machelle - Piper, Piper II - Shadar-kai Assassin, Shadar-kai Warden

The New Game

Well the last 4th edition D&D game was a success. Everyone had fun and using the old school techniques it really went well. I decided to use the Dungeon Tiles that I had acquired and I must say they are an excellent product. Most of all the players are having fun. I have decided to use my monsters in order and stove pipe the dungeon forgoing a premade map. I will go over the details of the story so far in a later post.

Time to give up on the Old School (well mostly)

Well it looks like my group has won.

They just don't dig the old stuff, or will even try it. They have had good times but the OSR type of gaming just don't have the features they like.


SO I just have started only writing adventures for the 4th edition only and will put my OSR stuff on the shelf to collect dust.


Most of all are they having fun? Do I push the OSR and not play at all or run the games they want? I would rather game then not.

Old School Gaming the Album

Old School Gaming the Album

What music do you like during Fantasy gaming? Yes someone already posted something like this somewhere back awhile ago. BUT

List a few of your favorite artist, songs or Albums for gaming moods.

Here are a few of mine.

Lorena McKenitt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B7sH5QLyXY

Dead Can Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhVM930YXY

Danzig's Black Aria
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BBDDEC6562D9CC82

Tool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhjG47gtMCo


Iron Maiden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Snehl2bAk

LotR Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=408lJ0svE0Q

Braveheart Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wvapr8WvBs

Rob Roy Soundtrack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpN93TT8nT4&feature=PlayList&p=EC1E2301EC61B7DA&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=22


What are yours?

Now a message about Wine from Dr Steve Brule!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91dLiozxRY0