2012-02-18 Ode to Ode to Black Dougal

Ode to Black Dougal I just realized that one of my favorite old school D&D blogs has been silent for months. The last post is dated April 3, 2011. 😢

Ode to Black Dougal

Reading Ode to Black Dougal really made me appreciate the Basic/Expert edition of D&D by Moldvay, Cook & Marsh. Let me link to his awesome series, **B/X is my Favorite**.

Ode to Black Dougal

B/X is my Favorite – an overview of why B/X is the best
Why B/X Is My Favorite #1 – a complete system in 128 pages
Why B/X Is My Favorite #2 – unified bonuses & penalties due to attributes
Why B/X Is My Favorite #3 – strong archetype classes
Why B/X Is My Favorite #4 – Race = Class and meaningful level limitations, an extension of his Race = Class post
Why B/X Is My Favorite #5 – clerics have to prove their worthiness to their deity before getting a spell at 2nd level
Why B/X Is My Favorite #6 – fighters are good with all weapons
Why B/X Is My Favorite #7 – the Spellbook System, an extension of his B/X Magic-User Spellbooks post; the key is limiting the number of spells magic-users have access to
Why B/X Is My Favorite #8 – a tight power scale with a max of 14th level
Why B/X Is My Favorite #9 – complete but small subsystems for adventuring in dungeons and the wilderness
Why B/X Is My Favorite #10 – the Reaction Roll subsytem
Why B/X Is My Favorite #11 – it takes about 5 minutes to make a character
Why B/X Is My Favorite #12 (no blog post) – it is unapologetically gameist in nature - doors in dungeons are stuck closed. You need to roll to force them open. Why? Because the rulebook says so and it is fun.
Why B/X Is My Favorite #13 (no blog post) – the importance of retainers
Why B/X Is My Favorite #14 – the combat sequence
Why B/X Is My Favorite #14 & #15 – abstract narrative combat system with just enough to make tactics important
Why B/X Is My Favorite #16 – the BEST morale system EVER!
Why B/X Is My Favorite #17 (no blog post) – the examples of play: *”Black Dougal gasps ’Poison!’ and falls to the floor. He looks dead.”*
Why B/X Is My Favorite #18 (no blog post) – the roster of monsters; see Ten Favorite Monsters (B/X Only Baby!)
Why B/X Is My Favorite #19 – a character can only identify the exact type of item by testing it
Why B/X Is My Favorite #20 (no blog post) – intelligent magic swords
Why B/X Is My Favorite #21 (no blog post) – the entire “Dungeon Master Information” section - how to make a dungeon and how to make a wilderness
Why B/X Is My Favorite #22 – the first appearance of Save vs Abilities
Why B/X Is My Favorite #23 (no blog post) – a simple and very concise Spell Research system that is very important given the spellbook system (see the B/X Magic-User Spellbooks post mentioned above)
Why B/X Is My Favorite #24 (no blog post) – an endgame (see On the Loss of D&D's Endgame on Grognardia, Ancient Chinese Secrets on B/X Blackrazor)
Why B/X Is My Favorite #25 (no blog post) – three alignments and not good vs evil but instead law and society vs chaos and anarchy
Why B/X Is My Favorite #26 (no blog post) – Erol Otus; see The Feel of B/X