What would YOU like to play or run? (Interest Catch-all)

[Starbeard]

For rules, the plan is quite literally to play Chainmail and the D&D draft as-is, but swords will be laserswords, crossbows will be blasters, clerics will be Jedi, and we'll be riding gigantic ostriches and jetsticks on alien planets, Flash Gordon and John Carter style.

This mechanic can play out pretty cool, check out how Scarik does it. The first post under "Rules Updates" has his link to the rules, too.

Cool! I like all the thought Scarik's put into it. Playing classic D&D with Chainmail is a great hoot, everyone ought to try it once. It will be interesting to see how it plays with the game draft, because the connections are made much more explicit than in published OD&D—though it turns out there are still some opaque ambiguities that need to be hammered out, almost certainly splintering it back into individual interpretations anyway. Which is nice in its own way, everyone gets to put their own stamp on it.

[Starbeard]

Assuming I can get 2-4 players invested, in May I'm planning to start a Star Wars game, with a twist, in commemoration of the (late) 50th anniversaries of the conceptual drafts for both D&D and Star Wars. Yes, we will use the 1973 draft of D&D to play a game based on the 1973-1974 drafts of Star Wars.

Try this I would Mr. Starbeard!

Great! I'm still humming and hawing over a few things, like whether to make Jedi a proper fighter multiclass, or to just stick with clerics even though it makes them less than capable as fighters. Or whether to literally use the weapon lists as they are or to make special rules for laser weapons. In keeping with proto-Star Wars there will be tribal aliens, so the tech difference might matter; but also in keeping with proto-Star Wars, the aliens can still be quite a threat so maybe it doesn't matter so much if swords and lightsabers, crossbows and blasters have the performance.

[Rex]

For Jedi, maybe clerics and lightsabers are more deadly. That way fighters still have a role to play in combat.

[Leitz]

I tend to avoid multi-classes, and end up with a blended class with unique abilities. So a cleric for Jedi, with their special abilities as "spells" and the light sabres as high penetration weapons.

On the concept of low tech troops, it depends on if you're using training levels and morale. Historically, high elan/well trained low tech troops can overcome many tech advantages.

[rredmond]

Try this I would Mr. Starbeard!

[ybn1197]

I know it was just released but is there any interest in a Metamorphosis BX game? It is essentially old school Gamma World using a MiniBX hack. I love post-apocalyptic games but so many of them are bloated with rule sets. This one is 104 pages (booklet sized) and based on B/X; it doesn't look bloated looking at the table of contents.

[Edeldhur]

Since I have been curious about the ruleset, I would like to play an old, classic D&D module (like B2, T1-4, or Against Giants, along those lines), but using the Shadowdark system. Really curious to see if they 'mesh' well.

[Rex]

A little bit of DM work up front and I don't see why it couldn't work. Probably wouldn't be something I would as I think there are better systems for it but should be fine.

[cybersavant]

what is the Shadowdark system?

[Edeldhur]

what is the Shadowdark system?

This right here: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/pages/shadowdark

You can download the free quickstart rules if you want to take a look.

[Rex]

There is a game going on here using the Shadowdark rules if you want to take a look.

viewforum.php?f=1492

[Edeldhur]

There is a game going on here using the Shadowdark rules if you want to take a look.

viewforum.php?f=1492

Thanks! I will take a look.
I am actually in a Discord Shadowdark game, but wanted to see how it works specifically for classic D&D modules.

[dmw71]

Since I have been curious about the ruleset, I would like to play an old, classic D&D module (like B2, T1-4, or Against Giants, along those lines), but using the Shadowdark system. Really curious to see if they 'mesh' well.

I just found this: The Keep on the Shadowlands.

The author of the post certainly makes a case for the two -- the Shadowdark RPG and classic D&D modules -- going together.

The only exception I take is with the subject order in the following header:

"B2 Passes the Shadowdark Vibe Check"

It should be the other way around.

[Edeldhur]

I just found this: The Keep on the Shadowlands.

The author of the post certainly makes a case for the two -- the Shadowdark RPG and classic D&D modules -- going together.

I had been searching the www for some time, looking for something like this but could not find it. Your google-fu is strong! Thanks! It does seem like it would not be too hard to convert. And even thought I am not yet fully convinced by the carousing mechanic, it does seem to be a good way to find new rumors and adventure hooks.

The only exception I take is with the subject order in the following header:

"B2 Passes the Shadowdark Vibe Check"

It should be the other way around.

It should definitely be the other way around! Shadowdark still has a loooong way to go, and let’s be honest, it will never replace B2 as THE reference.

[Rex]

Converting modules from 1 set of rules to another is almost always doable with enough time. Some don't need any changes at all. But the real determining factor is setting. If the module will fit the setting you just need to have the time to convert. I have been using D&D modules of various editions off and on for over 30 years for the Harn setting using the HarnMaster rules and never had an issue converting. You really can't get any more different than HarnMaster and D&D rules. Shadowdark would be very easy in comparison.

[Edeldhur]

Converting modules from 1 set of rules to another is almost always doable with enough time. Some don't need any changes at all. But the real determining factor is setting. If the module will fit the setting you just need to have the time to convert. I have been using D&D modules of various editions off and on for over 30 years for the Harn setting using the HarnMaster rules and never had an issue converting. You really can't get any more different than HarnMaster and D&D rules. Shadowdark would be very easy in comparison.

I have heard a lot about Harnmaster but never really delved into it, or read anything of the rules - why is it good in your opinion Rex, or why do you like it?

[Rex]

Converting modules from 1 set of rules to another is almost always doable with enough time. Some don't need any changes at all. But the real determining factor is setting. If the module will fit the setting you just need to have the time to convert. I have been using D&D modules of various editions off and on for over 30 years for the Harn setting using the HarnMaster rules and never had an issue converting. You really can't get any more different than HarnMaster and D&D rules. Shadowdark would be very easy in comparison.

I have heard a lot about Harnmaster but never really delved into it, or read anything of the rules - why is it good in your opinion Rex, or why do you like it?

I started using the Harn World setting in the mid-80's using D&D Holmes Basic/1e. The setting does an excellent job of seeming real (its verisimilitude is high) and the group I played with really liked it. When HarnMaster 2 came out in the early 90's we decided to give it a try and it ended up liking it. Been using it ever sense. It fits the setting well and it has a very tactical combat system which we like. Of that original group, myself and 2 others are still playing a couple times a month and we have added a couple other players too so it seems to work for us.

Here is my HarnMaster game on here if you want to take a peek.

https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/viewforum.php?f=1285

[Leitz]

Harn has a lot to offer, both as a rules set and as a setting. It has more than I like to deal with, but I'm super un-crunchy in what I want to play or run. Harn the rules has a bunch of good non-combat stuff and you can create a character with a lot of interesting detail.