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Complete Gary Gygax Enworld Q&A, all on one page

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

If you’re interested in the history of D&D, one of your best resources is the long-running enworld “Ask Gary Gygax” threads. From 2002 to 2008, Gary Gygax answered a heck of a lot of fan questions. Unfortunately, there are over 500 pages in the Ask Gary threads, so if you’re looking for a specific anecdote, you have a lot of message board pages to click through.
For your Ctl-Effin’ convenience, I’ve compiled all of “Col. Pladoh’s” Ask Gary message board posts onto one (long) page.

Note: I edited Gary’s enworld posts into a book, Cheers Gary, for the Gygax Memorial Fund. At the request of the Gygax Memorial fund, I have removed this complete transcript of the Enworld Gygax Q&A. If you want to read his opinions, you’ll have to read them on enworld or await a second edition of Cheers Gary. I wish the Fund the best and hope they get the second edition printed soon.

Posted in fluff/inspiration, game design, legacy D&D, RPG Hub | 4 Comments »

treasure of the unicorn gold

Friday, April 29th, 2011

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Oct 1981

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Oct 1981

I lost my 1981 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, so I can’t make a scan of the bizarre real mystery it contains.

Among the usual contents of the magazine (fantasy and science fiction stories, mostly) was an ad for “unicorn gold”. I don’t remember the ad very well, but I don’t think it was clear about what it was for. I think it was one of those oblique buzz-creating ads, like the spots in the old Strategic Review magazines that just said “The Dragon is coming!!”

The Unicorn Gold ad caught my eye because it had messages written in runic. Because of a childhood misspent playing the Ultima games, I can sort of read runic script. I remember translating the runes – but I’ve now forgotten what they said. I feel like the dad in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. “I wrote them down so I wouldn’t have to remember!”

After my copy of the magazine was stolen, I went online to see if I could find any information about the ad. What was it for? Did anyone else remember it? And that’s when things got weird.

It seems that it was part of a promotion for a 1980 Steve Jackson RPG called The Fantasy Trip. One of the RPG products was called “Treasure of the Unicorn Gold”. As part of the advertising campaign, the book was part of a real treasure hunt: a real golden unicorn statue was buried somewhere in the United States. The RPG book contained hidden clues to its location, most of them oblique and many of them in heiroglyphics or other ciphers.

Here’s the thing: the publisher, Metagaming, went out of business before the contest ended. The golden unicorn was never found. The people who buried it have stayed silent about its location.

Here’s a story about a guy who went on a road trip to find the unicorn, and his solution for the puzzles. He didn’t find the unicorn, but he thinks he came close.

The unicorn statue is probably long gone – or, in the midst of Metagaming’s financial troubles, they never buried it at all. That would explain their later silence on the issue. But maybe it’s still buried, and some intrepid puzzle solver will find it some day.

I keep thinking about the ad in my lost copy of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I haven’t been able to find any scans of it online, or mentions of it in the lists of Golden Unicorn clues. What did that runic message say? Was it a clue, like the message on the back of the medallion in Raiders of the Lost Ark that tells searchers to subtract 1 kadam from the measurements given on the front?

There’s a fantasy for you. Maybe there’s a treasure still out there, buried somewhere in the United States, just waiting for someone who can find and read the map.

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Posted in news, other systems, RPG Hub | 10 Comments »

If you want to run an alchemist character, you probably want to roll on random tables

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Yesterday I proved (to my own satisfaction) that 4e alchemy doesn’t work, and suggested using Gamma World ammo rules as a fix. Today, let’s tackle problem 2: that 4e alchemy is not enough fun for the type of people who want to be alchemists.

There are two reasons to use alchemical items:
1) to fill out your party’s abilities with a few situational attacks, for instance burst attacks or attacks with a certain damage type
2) because you want to play a giggling experimenter, like Dragonlance gnomes or Warcraft goblins

The first group is pretty well served by the existing alchemy rules, which basically provide wizard-like powers to anyone who can throw a vial.

The second group is going to be disappointed by alchemy. It’s a predictable power level? I don’t mix anything? I won’t accidentally cause an explosion, from which I will emerge, comically sooty, and pronounce “IT WORKS!”? What kind of alchemy is this, anyway?

If ever there’s a character archetype who needs random charts to roll on, it’s the alchemist.

Let’s try this:

People with the Alchemy feat get access to a new encounter minor action called “Tinker”.
(more…)

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Posted in 4e D&D, advice/tools, RPG Hub | 3 Comments »

alchemy makes you go bankrupt

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

In this post, I set out to

  • propose that the 4e alchemy system is overpriced for its power;
  • prove it; and
  • offer a solution.

    Alchemy is not used

    I remember that in earlier editions, my D&D groups relished tossing holy water, and, even better, dousing enemies with oil and lighting them on fire. However, in my current group, no one seems very excited about the alchemy rules.

    Furthermore, I don’t think there have been a lot of message board posts, Dragon articles, or gamebook support of alchemy after its introduction in Adventurer’s Vault in 2008. People don’t seem very interested in the 4e alchemy implementation.

    My first intuition is that alchemy is overpriced: the cost for making a one-shot level 1 alchemical item is 20 gp! That’s a big chunk of change for a level 1 character, comparing unfavorably with “free” for at-will, encounter, and daily powers, so they’d better deliver. I decided to crunch the numbers and compare alchemical items against at-will attacks.

    CRUNCHING NUMBERS

    STEP 1: How much damage do alchemical items do?

    I’ll look at 3 representative items: holy water, alchemical acid, and alchemical fire. I’ll assume level 1 characters using level 1 alchemical items vs level 1 monsters. All these items attack Reflex with a +4 bonus, which is comparable to level 1 characters’ other attacks, and hits the average level 1 monster’s Reflex defense around 60% of the time. Damage expectation will be based on 60% of the damage scored on a hit plus 40% of the damage scored on a miss.
    (more…)

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    Posted in 4e D&D, advice/tools, game design, RPG Hub | 10 Comments »

    Heroes of Shadow – Vampire Review (Heroic Tier)

    Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

    As Paul mentioned in his last post, I played the new Vampire class last weekend. It is a fun class with a lot of flavor and some very nice mechanics. But don’t take my word for it; read below to see the PROPS and SLOPS of the Vampire class in the Heroic Tier:

    (Note: Though I am ashamed of myself for utilizing the PROPS and SLOPS system of ratings, I make no apologies!)

    PROPS:

    1. 2 Healing Surges!: If nothing else, giving the Vampire 2 healing surges is a ballsy move and should be commended on principle alone. However, it also opens up some fun options for cool mechanics, like a power that gives healing surges during battle and other powers that give extra benefits if you spend a healing surge. Plus, it is nice to have a class that actually makes you consider the Durable feat.
    2. At-Will Powers: These are great. Both thematic and mechanically interesting. Thematically, you’ve got your entrancing gaze type of deal, your blood (or other dark energy) sucking, and your brute force vampire strength. Mechanically, you’ve got a good mix of ranged and melee attacks, three powers that each target a different defense, a power that can be used as a melee basic attack, and a good mix of effects. Also, the Charisma power gets a bonus to hit to make up for the fact that it’s probably a secondary stat. Smart! Solid stuff!
    3. Child of Night: A lot of fun stuff, including some nice undead benefits. I like that vampires can survive in daylight by wearing heavy robes and clothing; a nice compromise that is much better than having to spend 50% of the time hiding in the sewers. Sometimes I love the priorities of D&D. Immortality, something that other heroes in D&D might spend their entire adventuring careers trying to obtain, the Vampire basically gets at level 1 (can be killed but doesn’t age)! Of course, mechanically this virtually doesn’t matter since most campaigns only span a year or two, if that. Good times. (more…)

    Posted in 4e D&D, RPG Hub | 4 Comments »

    a city map you can use

    Monday, April 25th, 2011

    I drew this map for two marathon sessions of picaresque gaming this weekend, and the players seemed to like it. You guys can use it if you want:

    If you’d like to print it, here’s a PDF version.

    Here’s a couple of things that happened in Setine over the course of the weekend:

    -Rory (playing the new Vampire class to the hilt) purchased the loyalty of enough guild beggars to attract the notice of Vomit, the leader of the beggar’s guild. Vomit looks to be gearing up for a turf war.

    -The cleric of St. Jimmy has gotten his ludicrous cult recognized as an official civic religion. Tenets of the religion include the fact that St. Jimmy has a volcano in his forehead and there are mermaids swimming in your well water. The business formerly known as Hank’s Hardware is now known as St. Jimmy’s Temple, Hardware, and Gifts.

    -Claire, the disgraced paladin, discovered the rotten core at the center of the Temple of Love. (The PCs subsequently stole the rotten core and fenced it for much less than it was worth.)

    -The Playhouse is performing a 15-minute-long onomatopoeic play by Bang the Wizard, in which an eladrin falls off a ladder. It sounds pretty artsy to me, but apparently it’s doing pretty well. Unfortunately, Bang didn’t read the fine print of the contract and accidentally signed herself into a five-year commitment.

    -The apprentice thief needs to plan a masterwork robbery in order to be promoted, and couldn’t be happier. On the other hand, the avenger is beginning to discover the nature of his god, and isn’t quite as happy about it.

    -Lord Percival spent a lot of his money on a horse, which he lost, and the rest of his money ended up in the pocket of his butler.

    Posted in 4e D&D, advice/tools, RPG Hub | 13 Comments »

    Synnibarr Sunday: paradrakes

    Sunday, April 24th, 2011

    “…a small amount of gamma radiation was released and mingled with the radiations emitted by the damaged drives and the power plant within Synnibarr. This caused the creation of the first drake-type creature, the paradrake.

    This creature was discovered by an Alchemist whose name is known only to his greatest creations – Lord Midnight and the 72-headed chameleon hydra. This Alchemist created several different species of hydras and drakes, intending to build a vast and powerful army. When he finished his last two projects, he found that the family of hydras were made all too well. They had learned that he was not overwhelmingly powerful after all, that inside he was actually quite weak. In a surprise attack, they dispatched their master and stole his books of knowledge.

    Using this acquired knowledge, the dominating hydras (known as the midnight sunstone hydras) granted the other hydras and drakes the gift of intelligence and established a strict social order. This order lasted for 26,000 years, before The Great Rebellion of the Drakes.”

    -The World of Synnibarr, introduction (page 2)
    Highlighted passages make you go YEAHH!

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    Posted in other systems, RPG Hub | No Comments »

    picaresque adventure pitch

    Thursday, April 21st, 2011

    Here are the rules for my upcoming picaresque one-shot 4e game, using my item quality rules:

    Welcome to Setine!

    Setine is a beautiful desert city of gardens, beauty, and riches. The gardens and beauty are nice, but you’d REALLY like to get your hands on the riches.

    Come to Setine with a level 1 character (or just show up and grab a pre-made character!)

     
    Special Poverty Rules

    Instead of the normal starting money (100GP) you start with 10 GP and a ragged set of clothes. You’re too poor to afford most normal equipment, but you’re in luck! For every piece of equipment from the Player’s Handbook, there is a “bad” version that costs 1/10 the price! Every piece of bad equipment comes with some flaw: bad weapons break on a natural 1, bad food has a chance to make you sick, etc.

    Room and Board

    Normally, D&D characters don’t have to worry about their next meal, but in Setine, you’re only a day or two away from starvation.

    The Golden Grapes: A fine inn in the respectable Silver District. 7 SP per night or 30 per week.
    The Ragman: A disreputable inn. Keep an eye on your possessions! Located in the beautiful Baths District, where all the streets are flooded with a foot of standing water. 7 CP per night or 3 SP per week.
    Sleeping on the streets: FREE! But you won’t heal or get your daily powers back.

    Traveling in the City

    When traveling between neighborhoods, you can either take the high roads or the back streets. On the high roads, the guards will let you through if you have appropriate clothing (normal clothes for middle-class neighborhoods, fine clothes for rich neighborhoods). If you take the back streets, you might run into a gang or other unpleasantness.

    Everything below here is optional! You don’t have to read it if you don’t want to!

    OPTIONAL: Backgrounds

    You can take one of the following 10 backgrounds, which give you unique advantages and disadvantages, or you can skip the backgrounds and come up with any backstory you want.

    Traveler: You’re not from Setine. You might be a sailor, merchant, con man, mercenary, or any other type of fortune seeker. You heard that Setine was paved with gold, but that doesn’t seem to be true in your neighborhood. Advantages: You speak the Southern language. Also, please tell me about the moneymaking opportunity that drew you to town. It might still work out! Disadvantages: You’re not from around here. -2 to Streetwise checks.

    Honest Guardsman: You work under incorruptible Captain Pike (“The Tarrasque”). You can barely survive on your guardsman’s salary. Advantages: Start with a free low-quality spear (breaks on a natural 1) and low-quality chain mail (breaks if you’re critically hit). You have access to patrol schedules, so you can always summon a guard patrol within a neighborhood. Half the guards are honest, and inclined to be friendly. Disadvantages: Half the guards are corrupt, and inclined to be unfriendly.

    Corrupt Guardsman: You work under good old Captain Falstaff (“The Wine Cask”). You make a little money on the side, but that’s the only way to survive on a guardsman’s salary. Advantages: Start with free chainmail and spear and guardsman uniform. You have access to patrol schedules, so you can avoid the guards within a neighborhood. Half the guards are corrupt, and inclined to be friendly to you. Disadvantages: Half the guards are honest, and inclined to be unfriendly.

    Guild thief: You’re a low-ranking member of the respected Thieves Guild. Advantages: Access to “safe houses” in each neighborhood, and a fence that buys at 2x the normal fence price. Disadvantages: Half the people and houses in their city pay their dues to the Guild, and you are not allowed to rob them.

    Guild beggar: You might be a pretend cripple or a plucky street orphan. You work for Vomit, the eccentric leader of the Beggar’s Guild. Advantages: Free access to the sewers (from every neighborhood except the Baths, where the sewers are underwater). You can beg (a minigame that can make you money). Disadvantages: You start with 3 GP instead of 10 GP.

    Struggling Artist or Student: You’ve been living in a garret working on your play/painting/translation/performance. If you could just get some rich backers, you could release it to the world and probably be a huge success! Advantages: If you can raise at least 300 coins, you could release your masterwork, which could pay you back ten times over if it’s a hit! Disadvantages: Success is based on your artistic skills.

    Orc: Orcs are commonly used as bodyguards and mercenaries. You’re between jobs. (For orc, use the stats of either half-orc or goliath). Advantages: +2 Intimidate. Free entry to the orc camp. Once a day, you can get 1-6 orc friends to help you on a job. Disadvantages: Poor orcs are generally regarded with suspicion, because when they’re hungry they smash things.

    Noble: You’ve sold your lands, pawned your heirlooms, and your friends are avoiding you. If you could just raise 5000 GP you could pay off your debts and get a fresh start. Advantages: Start with a set of fine clothes. You also have a masterwork weapon (+1 to hit), but it’s pawned. You can redeem it for 100GP. Disadvantages: Half the merchants in the city refuse to do business with you. Debt collectors are combing the city for you. If they catch you, prison is the best-case scenario.

    Disgraced Paladin: The Order of Tima (the “knights in white satin” are a pretty easygoing group of paladins devoted to courtly love. I don’t know what you did to get under their skin, but they’ve kicked you out of the Citadel of Love. Advantages: You start with your uniform, a fine suit of white clothes that gives you a +8 AC bonus as long as it is immaculately clean. Disadvantages: Becoming Bloodied or travelling through the filthy Baths district has a chance of dirtying your uniform.

    Illegal Necromancer: You’re a wizard or cleric who worships a certain god who is unjustly suppressed in these parts. You’ve been kicked out of your former church or wizard’s college for your progressive beliefs. Advantages: When you find a corpse, you can raise it as a level 1 skeleton or zombie helper. You can only have one helper at a time. Disadvantages: Necromancy is illegal; the guards had better not find out about your little helper.

    Posted in 4e D&D, fluff/inspiration, play, RPG Hub | 2 Comments »

    evidence that the mid-80s was a bad time to be a fantasy reader

    Thursday, April 21st, 2011

    I went into a used bookstore recently, and I saw these three 80’s fantasy novels:

    Sentenced to Prism


    Elf Defense


    Prince of Whales

    Well, it was a golden age if you liked pun-based fantasy. You also had Robert Asprin and Piers Anthony, who were sure to keep you rolling in the aisles.

    Posted in legacy D&D, RPG Hub | 3 Comments »

    Malcolm Gladwell vs. Ryan Dancey on the fate of TSR

    Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

    Mike Mearls, whose retrospective “Legends and Lore” columns always seem to be sidling towards a “We’re relaunching OD&D!” announcement, posted a link to an interesting Malcolm Gladwell TED Talk about the history of spaghetti sauce. Apparently, once upon a time, companies sought the One True Spaghetti Sauce Recipe, until a forward thinker discovered that people were different! And companies have achieved great success by splitting their product lines into different sauces catering to different tastes.

    It seems obvious when put that baldly, but it also seems to contradict another seemingly obvious story that’s central to the modern D&D mythos.

    There’s an analogy that’s commonly quoted to explain the death of TSR. I’ve seen it attributed to Ryan Dancey and Bill Slavicsek:

    “Picture it this way,” Slavicsek says, “it’s raining money outside and you want to catch as much of it as you can. You can either make a really big bucket or waste your time and attention by creating a lot really small buckets — either way, you’re never going to make more rain.” In plain English, TSR, by putting out a lot of product lines instead of supporting the main Dungeons & Dragons line, fragmented the marketplace.

    So the path to massive corporate success leads either through diversification or through consolidation. Which is it?

    Here’s something that Ryan Dancey said about the death of TSR:

    No customer profiling information. No feedback. No surveys. No “voice of the customer”. TSR, it seems, knew nothing about the people who kept it alive. The management of the company made decisions based on instinct and gut feelings; not data. They didn’t know how to listen – as an institution, listening to customers was considered something that other companies had to do – TSR lead, everyone else followed.

    On the other hand, Malcolm Gladwell says: “Assumption number one in the food industry used to be that the way to find out what people want to eat – what will make them happy – is to ask them. […] People don’t know what they want. A critically important step in understanding our own desires is to realize that we cannot always explain what we want deep down.”

    I think the takeaway from Gladwell’s quote is not that companies should ignore surveys (and message boards and blog posts); it’s that they shouldn’t be used as road maps. I think TSR was right to make a lot of decisions on instinct and gut feelings. No one would have filled out a survey and asked for D&D before it was invented.

    Perhaps the purpose of the customer survey is not to tell a company what to do: it’s to tell a company what NOT to do. While no survey can tell a company to “make D&D”, a survey could plausibly say “stop making Dragon Dice”.

    Posted in 4e D&D, game design, legacy D&D, RPG Hub | 11 Comments »

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