General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
No doubt if you’ve read this blog you already know that the retro-scene on the internet doesn’t dazzle me like it does seemingly every other person on the RPG blogosphere.
This statement says all I need to know to not even bother with the rest of the review because the reviewer is just like the idiot that reviewed Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, that states he hates the game and never played them, but the movie is just like the games play.
ORSIc isn't retro something to begin with. That would mean that it was dead and people are trying to bring it back like bellbottoms. AD&D has been alive for many people all along, and ORSIC has no intent of trying to get the masses to jump on some bandwagon for it!
OSRIC is simply the AD&D OGL equivalent.
So what do I have to say to this "reviewer"?
[offensive body part image removed]
~There's a moon out tonight. I don't know if its cloudy or bright.~
Last edited by justanobody; 29th November 2008 at 09:14 PM..
Reason: there never was an image there it was only text
I find no body parts offensive good sir, unless it can speak and call me racial slurs. And yet were you to find such a specimen I would still like to see it in its full eldritch glory.
Thanks for the trackback Paycheck, and good job on your compilation of AD&D 1e. Much more enjoyable than reading the actual 1e books.
__________________ "There are few problems a well-placed fireball cannot solve. Now, tell us more about this... orphanage?" - Balfour Grimstaff
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He very effectively undermines his own credibility in the first couple paragraphs. He admits that if it isn't new and shiny, he isn't interested - nevermind the fact that games don't suddenly become unplayable the minute a new edition comes out, and often times older versions actually play better than the new.
__________________ Darrin Drader
Freelance Writer/Game Designer
Previously posting as Whisperfoot
PapersAndPaychecks out of idle curiosity:
Did you ever consider making a 'Players version' of OSIRIC 2.0?
Removing the DM type content (monsters, magic items) I guess a Players version would probably just be chapter 1 mostly.
I ask mostly because 1e had a rather strong mentality of the players not knowing=more fun for players. (It went so far that it didn't put combat tables in the PHB)
It also might be handy to say no you can only bring a print out of the players version to game night. (no looking up monsters when you encounter them excetera.) Anywho, great work all around (I haven't been through it all yet but what I've seen is great. . Not sure why rations are suddenly so expensive though, not that thats a big deal.)
This also came at a rather timely moment for me as I'll be running a 1e game this Wednesday at my University.
__________________ - We always forget that the monster doesn't want to die either -
PapersAndPaychecks out of idle curiosity:
Did you ever consider making a 'Players version' of OSIRIC 2.0?
Yes, I did give some thought to that.
The basic design philosophy for OSRIC is: one book contains all the rules. That's one (1) core book, with optional supplements from third party publishers to taste.
(I have an optional supplement for OSRIC out, which is Monsters of Myth... but for the purposes of design philosophy, I'm a "third party publisher" in this sense. The core rules are one, single, free, volume.)
I was also concerned to ensure the absolute best value for money for the user when it comes to the print version. I plan to release OSRIC via Lulu, and last time I checked each book cost $4.53 plus two cents per page in softcover... so the absolute minimum cost is to offer a single book of 400-odd pages. If I make it two or three books, I'm adding $4.50 or $9 to the price the end-user pays.
That was unpalatable to me. I wanted OSRIC to be available at a price that makes it accessible to young people, or to retired people, or to disabled veterans, or whoever, rather than targetting the relatively well-heeled 30-somethings and 40-somethings who're accustomed to paying $40 per book.
And I liked the unity and simplicity of having everything in one place.
But within those constraints, I did do what I could to help people do the "Players Handbook" thing. Notice the careful ordering of the chapters!
If you're playing a melee character and you want the minimum information to do that, you can just print Chapter 1. If you're playing a caster, you can print Chapters 1 and 2 (because Chapter 2 contains all the spells). If you'd like a complete PHB, you can print Chapters 1, 2 and 3 and have all the character generation rules, all the spells and all the tables.
Chapters 4, 5 and 6 comprise the GM-oriented material and together, they make a combined DMG/monster book.
__________________ Download the new, improved, washes-even-whiter OSRIC v2.00 for FREE! OSRIC Monsters of Myth
Last edited by PapersAndPaychecks; 30th November 2008 at 12:23 AM..
I'd slap that review up on your front page, PaP. Its hysterically stupid, and certainly got me to check out the PDF.
Is there a possibility of eventually getting a hardcover copy, via Lulu or otherwise? Or does that present new licensing problems? Depending on how good it is, I'll happily pick up a hardcover too.
Last edited by Uzzy; 30th November 2008 at 01:15 AM..
Is there a possibility of eventually getting a hardcover copy, via Lulu or otherwise? Or does that present new licensing problems?
Yeah, there's certainly a possibility!
I'm waiting for the proofs from Lulu. I also expect some users to find typos etc. in the document and email them to me, so I imagine there will be a few minor changes to make before I feel comfortable accepting your money for the print version.
Please don't expect it to be around before Christmas, though.
__________________ Download the new, improved, washes-even-whiter OSRIC v2.00 for FREE! OSRIC Monsters of Myth
__________________ Joe Mucchiello, Head Honcho at Throwing Dice Games
Priority One: Fatherhood.
Priority Two: Sanity.
Down on the list: seemingly real close to releasing a notebook essential. It's in layout! Has been for months now. (Just nod politely so I won't cry about this.)
"I've never heard of the term Flavor lawyer..." -- Scribble
Dang, that IS sweet. And the page numbers are in the bottom corners, just large and colored without an actual border-outline. Very cool stuff man, very cool. I especially like the character sheet. Two-sided and very basic. No useless clutter and nothing is compacted down. Good job!
Parenthetically, photostat copies of the manuscript rules were made, and when the commercial game was published, fans not willing or financially unable to expend the princely sum of $10 for the product did likewise, copying the material on school (mainly college/university) machines. We were well aware of this, and many gamers who had spent their hard-earned money to buy the game were more irate than we were. In all, though, the 'pirate' material was more helpful that not. Many new fans were made by DMs who were using such copies to run their games. - Gary Gygax
Last edited by thedungeondelver; 30th November 2008 at 05:43 AM..
If some place with that many Japanese Cartoon avatars hates it, it has to be good.
It's more than just Japanese cartoon avatars, mate. They publicly admit to being fanficcers.
I've resisted the urge to "review" some of that guy's fanfiction. I'll leave that up to someone more sarcastic than me. (Calling Circvs Maximvs, can you hear me out there?)
You might also have noticed they can dish out the criticism but they can't take it.
__________________ Download the new, improved, washes-even-whiter OSRIC v2.00 for FREE! OSRIC Monsters of Myth
This is very cool. I appreciate the hard work. My group is pretty much grown on 4e now but I love looking back and remembering the great old days of AD&D with all the demons and their naughty bits.
This makes me wish I hadn't bought this D&D Rules Cyclopedia.
Varies according to which edition you buy. Assuming Lulu's prices remain as they are at the moment, the exact editions with prices will be:
Standard softcover: 8.5" x 11" perfect bound softcover, colour cover with black and white interior, on economy ("publisher grade") paper, 402 pages. $8.53 plus shipping.
Supporter's softcover: 8.5" x 11" perfect bound softcover, colour cover with black and white interior, on standard paper, 402 pages. $17.50 plus shipping.
Standard hardcover: 8.25" x 10.5" casewrap hardcover, colour cover with black and white interior, on standard paper, 402 pages. $28.05 plus shipping.
Deluxe Hardcover: 8.25" x 10.5" casewrap hardcover, colour cover with colour interior, on standard paper, 402 pages. $100 plus shipping. (I don't expect to sell very many of these but the offer will be there!)
For buyers outside North America, shipping rates on the "standard" editions are likely to be high. Sorry--that's Lulu's pricing policy, not mine.
The "standard" products are at cost price, and I pledge that I will always offer both softcover and hardcover versions of OSRIC at cost price. I should add that I may need to adjust those prices slightly when the time comes depending on Lulu's pricing policy or some other factor beyond my control.
__________________ Download the new, improved, washes-even-whiter OSRIC v2.00 for FREE! OSRIC Monsters of Myth
It's more than just Japanese cartoon avatars, mate. They publicly admit to being fanficcers.
I've resisted the urge to "review" some of that guy's fanfiction. I'll leave that up to someone more sarcastic than me. (Calling Circvs Maximvs, can you hear me out there?)
You might also have noticed they can dish out the criticism but they can't take it.
I'm rather disappointed you can't see the very honest review under the humor and "in-your-faceness". I thought you'd be a better sport than that – the Cthulhutech guys certainly handled things all the better, but admittedly that's my only other experience with this sort of thing.
I really think OSRIC is a great product for what it is – when I read the AD&D manual blood tears came out of my eyes. I thought OSRIC did a downright amazing job at making it presentable and learnable – it is just still AD&D. I just chose to portray it in a rather different way for entertainment purposes – it's what my readership enjoys. I thought you'd be able to see that, but I guess not.
I'd rather like it if instead of cheering on your fans to send me emails about how I'm a pedophile for liking anime, and childishly attacking me for unrelated things, we could talk about why you're so upset, and why you can't handle the joke.
As for me not being able to handle criticism, my inbox gets stuffed full every day, and I get lynched nearly every forum I go to but GITP. My general reaction to this is just puzzlement.
. Not sure why rations are suddenly so expensive though, not that thats a big deal.)
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