I was browsing the net and somehow I ended up on Amazon. I decided to buy some dungeon tiles. Up to now we’ve been using A4 cardboard and a generic grid printed on ordinary paper in transparent sheet protectors with non-permanent markers as a battlemap. We’ll see whether I like it.
But while I was browsing around I noticed that Labyrinth Lord was available! I had recently stumbled upon a comparison of Labyrinth Lord and BFRPG (Basic Fantasy Roleplaying Game) on The Dwarf and the Basilisk and as I was reworking my monster list for M20 Hard Core I had been going through the monsters in Labyrinth Lord. And the Dwarf and the Basilisk also mentioned that the Indie RPG Awards have awarded Labyrinth Lord a runners-up position for Free Game of the Year 2007.
the Dwarf and the Basilisk also mentioned
I need to remind myself that the last time I used Labyrinth Lord was a mixed blessing (2008-04-20 Palace of the Silver Princess). Then again, I keep hoping that it’ll work better next time. And when I started my Kitsunemori campaign November 2006 we used GreyWulf’s M20 rules and they worked really well. So all in all I’m keep being fascinated by the retro games.
2008-04-20 Palace of the Silver Princess
As I reworked the M20 Hard Core rules I wrote down what my “monster creation” rules were, by the way:
Creation: Pick a name, assign a level, hit dice = level, hit points = 1d6 per level, magic defense = 10 + level, all attack bonuses = level, damage = 1d6 for ordinary claws, bites, and weapons, 2d6 for large maws, giant clubs, 3d6 for dragon bites and the like, AC = armor equivalent; pick special abilities as the level increases. Special attacks act like magic attacks against an appropriate defense. Monsters and non-player characters don’t have stats.
Thus, no strength bonus for damage, no dexterity or mind bonus for magic defense, no worries. Simple!
Maybe I should add HUMANS: HD: 1d6 AT: weapon +1 (1d6). Just to be sure.
Oh and how does GreyWulf manage to get his Gravatar into RPG Bloggers? Curious minds want to know. I looked at the feed sources and couldn’t find an image URL, a gravatar id, an email Address, nothing! Weird.
Anyway, I ordered Labyrinth Lord. From Amazon. Cool.
#RPG #Publishing
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I am King of the Wizards and used my mighty Wizard-Kingly Powers! Ha!
(Translation: I’ve no idea how or why either. But it sure it nice to see my face staring back at me 😄 )
I like the Monster Creation rules. Suitably Hard Core, suitably Microlite, and suitably old-school, all at the same time. Who needs a Monster Manual when you can just pick a Hit Dice, derive all the stats from that and give it a cool description right at the game table?
Talking of tables, it might be worth putting together a table of “standard” monster stats from 1-10 HD. In effect that’ll give you all the monsters you ever need (to level 10, anyhow) right there, ready to use. Nice.
– GreyWulf 2008-08-20 22:18 UTC
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More damn fine rules ! The table of standard monster stats is a good idea too.
We played a couple of sessions this week and, just like the M74 session the week before, they were great fun - it feels like we’re rediscovering something we lost along the way as game design ’progressed’ and we adapted our gaming to suit.
– Sean 2008-08-23 11:26 UTC
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I’m happy to learn that you had a good time! As my Monday game is slowly crawling towards the end, I’m starting to wonder what to play next and I’m trying to push for the M20 Hard Core rules together with the Wilderlands of High Fantasy.
– Alex Schroeder 2008-08-23 11:41 UTC
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A cool combination - I’ve been using the Judges Guild Ready Ref PDF for the random tables. We’re thinking of using the ’Points of Light’ setting guide that just came out for a campaign
– Sean 2008-08-24 07:22 UTC
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Ended up making up a little setting pocket-mod - posted it on the Campaign Setting page on the Microlite 20 site.
The NPC generator is a great little tool.
– Sean 2008-08-31 08:22 UTC