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Thank you - playtesters have said that they like having the hopeful spirit as a counterbalance to playing a wicked client!

Disappointed to not get a mention of my Kickstarter which ends on 6th November, Expect Three Visitors. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you without success on Mastodon and other places, but can’t seem to find the right avenue. I’ll pop a link in here anyway, just in case someone sees it...

We are now 93% of the way to the goal - nearly there! If you'd like to get an idea of some of the stories which get produced by this game, I have a playtest write-up here https://planesailinggames.com/post/2022-06-24-expect-playtest/

A Christmas Carol is a much-loved story centred around Scrooge - a thoroughly unlikeable character whose life is transformed by encounters with a series of spirits. It has been filmed many times, and in many styles. The story of his redemption has been told by actors, singers, cartoon characters...

First time I've seen someone not like him - was there anything particular that you didn't like about it?

As a definitively small-press indie RPG designer I find kickstarter invaluable - I use it when the game is ready, but want to raise money for editing and art. To date I’ve hit three out of three delivery targets and I’m pleased with that. It can be tricky when a third party you are expecting to...

I’d like to suggest some amendments to this long post, I remember a whole bunch of this stuff from the time (Plus I have a useful first hand link… but to that later!) SPI was the big deal in the 1970’s wargame field because they published a LOT of games. Really good wargames. Avalon Hill where...

One of the changes in theme that I’ve noticed is the players place in the campaign world. In OD&D, BEMCI, 1e, there was an implied advancement from being dungeon crawlers to becoming landholders with broader responsibilities. They didn’t give many rules around that beyond the rules for setting...

I would say that one distinction which you didn’t cover in your original post is this AD&D 1e (and earlier) - expectation is that you start out dungeon bashing and wilderness crawling, but eventually build a castle/temple/tower, gather followers, and game transitions into something where you...

OD&D + Greyhawk, Blackmoor, Eldritch Wizardry, Strategic Review 1975-77 (3 years) AD&D 1977-1980 (4 years) (long period of Runequest and other games!) 3e 2000-2008 (9 years) 4e 2008-2010 (2 years) 5e 2014(?) Playtesting, but never actually played the finished rules

This was a fabulous read - I started RQ2 back when it first came out, and loved the system more than any other, creating dark sun, empire of the petal throne and a sci-fi variant from it. Reading these snippets of history and insight into some of the elements of the rules warms my heart.

Chapter 5 - Darkest days Anne (did not write) John (spades) Madame, It is my painful dirty to inform you that a report this day has been received from the War Office notifying of the death of (No) 16929 (Rank) Corporal (Name) John Hawkins (Regiment) Royal Regiment of Artillery which occurred at...

Chapter 4 - After the war we shall… Anna (diamonds) My darling John, I am so pleased that my package was so good for your spirits. And I am so proud of you and all the lads. I told the ladies at the dry good store about you and the other boys at the front, and they ALL made mittens and hats...

Chapter 3 - Separation and longing Anna (diamonds) Dearest John, I am so proud of you for rallying. I know--well, I do not truly know, but I imagine it is so horrible there, and here you are, fighting for the Crown and keeping home in your heart. So brave, so true, so loyal to country. Every...

Chapter 2 - Somewhere in France Anna (spades, oh-oh) John, My dearest, I am so worried for you. You do not sound like yourself, my darling love. I hope that you received the package I sent you--all I knew was somewhere in France, but the Queen's postal service is said to be the best in the...

Correspondence style play. John and Anna, England, 19 and 17, and childhood sweethearts, not engaged yet; they were waiting for her to turn 18. Chapter 1 - Goodbye and good luck! Anna (hearts) My dearest John, Not a day goes by that I don't miss your smile, your wit, your courage. Take...

If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them! In the mean time, I'll post some examples that one pair of playtesters has given permission to share more widely.

Not about TSR sueing others, but I remember when in 1982 they destroyed SPI (who had been pretty much the champion of hex-wargames for a decade or so, producing lots of great games). I never forgave them for that, and abandoned them for other game systems - they never got a penny more of my...