Alternatives to D&D

[Necron 99]

Aaaaaaaand WotC shows again that history repeats itself.

I'm going to call it now: 5.5 or whatever it gets called will be backwards compatible mechanically but will be absolutely sandblasted to meet the PC crowd's demands. It already started with things like the Ravenloft products having "gypsies" removed for the Vistani culture.

I agree. (A)D&D as we know it, is dead and it won't ever be coming back. I'm just glad to have alternative games to play instead.

[Necron 99]

HackMaster 5th is a solid, crunchy as hell, game system. I've played in a few HM5 sessions at conventions (Origins, GenCon, GaryCon) over the years and even demoed HMBasic back in the middle GA days. I'd consider playing in a HM5 game if I thought the GM would do it justice but would not want to run one.

Came across the racial section on Elves in the HM5e book and found this bit of text. Actually gave me a good chuckle:

Advice on playing an elf: As an elf, the first thing you need to come to grips with is that all your non-elf friends are going to die and, unless you are slain, you will not. Consider any mercenary band you join to be filled with dangerous children, that can kill you or your enemies, but don’t really understand what they’re doing because by the time they gain real wisdom, they’ll die of old age. These youths need you to guide their actions to suit your long-term goals, which will still be in the early stages long after you’ve buried your present group of companions. So why take huge risks?

Sometimes your prudence might look like cowardice to these fools, don’t let their insults get to you. You have centuries to improve your honor. Certainly don’t take those jabs at your manhood, build or metrosexual nature personally. They’re just jealous. Use your superior intellect and wit to cut them down to size. If they threaten bodily harm, you have plenty of options, the best is to do nothing hastily, remember you have time. You can wait until later and then seduce the guy’s wife and tell everyone about it – or maybe wait for a little half-elf to pop out after you’re long gone. Let’s say a guy beats you to a pulp and spits on you in public because he’s bigger and tougher. In this case, you can wait until he’s 80 and then smother him with a pillow. Or kick his great-grandson in the nuts. Once you realize time is on your side, the world becomes your oyster. You’re freakin’ immortal for Hades’ sake!

Lol, "filled with dangerous children"...yeah I'd say that aptly describes a number of adventuring bands. The part in italics had me laughing pretty good.

[Ancalagon]

Came across the racial section on Elves in the HM5e book and found this bit of text. Actually gave me a good chuckle:

Advice on playing an elf: As an elf, the first thing you need to come to grips with is that all your non-elf friends are going to die and, unless you are slain, you will not. Consider any mercenary band you join to be filled with dangerous children, that can kill you or your enemies, but don’t really understand what they’re doing because by the time they gain real wisdom, they’ll die of old age. These youths need you to guide their actions to suit your long-term goals, which will still be in the early stages long after you’ve buried your present group of companions. So why take huge risks?

Sometimes your prudence might look like cowardice to these fools, don’t let their insults get to you. You have centuries to improve your honor. Certainly don’t take those jabs at your manhood, build or metrosexual nature personally. They’re just jealous. Use your superior intellect and wit to cut them down to size. If they threaten bodily harm, you have plenty of options, the best is to do nothing hastily, remember you have time. You can wait until later and then seduce the guy’s wife and tell everyone about it – or maybe wait for a little half-elf to pop out after you’re long gone. Let’s say a guy beats you to a pulp and spits on you in public because he’s bigger and tougher. In this case, you can wait until he’s 80 and then smother him with a pillow. Or kick his great-grandson in the nuts. Once you realize time is on your side, the world becomes your oyster. You’re freakin’ immortal for Hades’ sake!

Lol, "filled with dangerous children"...yeah I'd say that aptly describes a number of adventuring bands. The part in italics had me laughing pretty good.

That IS pretty funny. The downside is that most campaigns won't advance the 80 years required for the tough guy to become decrepit so he can be smothered with a pillow. Heh. Kicking a kid in the nuts for an unknown sin of his great-grandfather is hilarious campaign action!

[Ancalagon]

Here's another one I enjoyed playing at Origins and Gary Con: Metal, Magic & Lore (MML).

http://www.5thepochpublishing.com/metal-magic-and-lore/

From the link:
A system of combat, skill performance, culture, economy, and more, based on more than 10 years of exhaustive academic research, Metal, Magic and Lore asks the perennial 5th Epoch question: Can You Feel It?

Conflict is realistic, tactical, and deadly. You’ll need to use more than your dice to emerge alive- you’ll need your wits and your nerve to overcome the challenges of an era boiling in conflict.

Its a crunchy game system but it flows well with a practiced GM and players who pay attention.

Some YouTube chatter:



If MML is on the event schedule again at Gary Con in 2023, I'll definitely look at grabbing a seat at the table!

[Ancalagon]

Convince your players to play something other than D&D...

[Necron 99]

With WotC's snafu, and all the drama surrounding yet another not-a-new-edition of D&D, I'm wondering if this might just be the final nail for WotC and the D&D brand. While I'm not, nor have I ever been a fan of CR, there's no denying that they have a MASSIVE fan base and are probably one of the biggest reasons for D&D and 5e blowing up the way it did.

With CR coming out with their own RPGs, if they have simple systems that cater to player ideas and character progression, I can see them pulling a lot of the D&D players over to their new systems. And if they support the systems with adventures, supplements, and other paraphernalia, then WotC might be hard pressed to maintain their game. Guess we'll see when the new systems drop and people actually get them to the tables.

[Ancalagon]

If WotC tried to pull $$$ from the CR folks then it would be great motivation for the CR team to go their own way. The consequences of WotC's astounding asshattery with the OGL situation haven't finished playing out....

[Necron 99]

Lol, we live in a Clown World.

[Ancalagon]

Seems a lot of folks have the attention spans of gnats and memories of Dori the fish.

[Necron 99]

Wow, this one is pretty bad too.