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Showing posts from November 27, 2016

Great feats of mankind vs. RPG feats (3rd and 4th Edition of D&D)

Welcome traveler. Take a seat by the warm fire and leave your burdens outside in the darkness. The year 2000 it was a major milestone at the rpg community. The major reason behind this was the open license of wizards of the coast. By that time I believe that the company of the most famous rpg in the planet wasn’t aware of the consequences of their own actions. It was and still is an avalanche of ideas and opinions. I feel it is similar to Greek myth of Prometheus. So the titan decided to steal the fire from the Olympian gods and gave it to humankind. His decision was followed by a chain of events leading eventually to the much desired human civilization.  As I continue my grumblings, another milestone was the introduction of the feats. But what are feats exactly? And why it took 14 years of the famous company to fade them back at the background as an optional rule? Using Oxford dictionary Feat is: An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength. Let’s t

An Open Letter to 5th edition of D&D: Part 1

Τον τελευταίο χρόνο μπόρεσα να μελετήσω και να γράψω κανόνες γύρω από το αγαπημένο μας παιχνίδι. Το να μελετάς συστήματα και να γράφεις κανόνες είναι μια πρακτική δημιουργίας όπως το να γράφεις ιστορίες. Μέσα σε αυτό το ταξίδι όμως ανακαλύπτεις την ομορφιά των γραναζιών ενός συστήματος. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι τους περισσότερους δεν τους ενδιαφέρει πως τρέχει ένα σύστημα αλλά μόνο το ορατό αποτέλεσμα. Τις προηγούμενες εβδομάδες μελέτησα το Adventures of Middle Earth and The One ring rpg systems και τα 2 από την Cubicle 7. Το ΑΙΜΕ είναι ουσιαστικά των TOR αλλά για την 5 η έκδοση. Σε προηγούμενες αναρτήσεις μπορείτε να δείτε τους κανόνες που πρότεινα βασιζόμενος σε αυτά τα 2 συστήματα. Αυτή η μελέτη με οδήγησε για ακόμη μια φορά στην 5 η έκδοση του αγαπημένου μας παιχνιδιού. Την περασμένη άνοιξη όταν προσπαθήσαμε να την δοκιμάσουμε ήμασταν 8 άτομα στο roll 20 και πραγματικά νομίζω ότι την αδικήσαμε. Αυτή η ανάρτηση λοιπόν είναι ένα Ανοικτό Γράμμα προς την 5 η έκδ

Abstract and grid-less combat system!

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Abstract and Grid-less Combat System (for 0e, 1st Edition, 2nd Edition, 3rd edition and 5th Edition of D&D) In the last couple of days I spend some time around the combat system at rpgs in general. We must face it that we live among a plethora of different systems, ranging from extreme narrative to full strategic ones. The truth is in the last 20 years we are accustomed with terms like opportunity attacks, initiative rolls, attacks vs. AC and damage per weapon type. Although there are many variations like damage based on hero’s level or simplified damage of 1 damage per attack vs. minion who also get 1 point of Health, we mostly tend to feel that somehow combat must be freed from the chains that bind it. At that point you may think that I point you towards narrative games but fear not as it’s not my intention. As much I enjoy narrative games I cannot escape my past that of a tactical combat system based on the worlds’ most famous rpg. But that doesn’t mean I will sit idl