d20 Blackmoor - Worth buying?

[Akrasia]

... Frankly, I'm not convinced that anything made for 3.5 can ever feel like something created for OD&D or 1E. They're very different games in many respects, and the change in mechanics and philosophy can't help but bleed over into even the flavor of the projects designed for the respective systems.
....

Yes, this was my point.

I would have been very interested in picking up the new Blackmoor if they had kept the "rules/crunch" to a minimum. That way the "system-flavour bleeding" could have been kept to a minimum (er -- what a creepy metaphor). Players could then have then adapted it as they liked.

I will still check it out, but I suspect that with plenty of new feats and prestige classes, etc., it will not have the old "don't-fret-the-rules-and-kill- some-frogmen-with-lasers" feel to it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Yes, this was my point.

I would have been very interested in picking up the new Blackmoor if they had kept the "rules/crunch" to a minimum. That way the "system-flavour bleeding" could have been kept to a minimum (er -- what a creepy metaphor). Players could then have then adapted it as they liked.

I will still check it out, but I suspect that with plenty of new feats and prestige classes, etc., it will not have the old "don't-fret-the-rules-and-kill- some-frogmen-with-lasers" feel to it.

Well, I'd argue that the rules are as minimal as possible for what's intended to be the core book of an ongoing setting. And I think the rules in place are very effective at what they need to do.

But yes, do check it out, and let us know what you think. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, positive and negative. (And keep in mind that, even if the book is light on stuff you're looking for, it's meant as a core and a foundation, with many supplements to come.)

 

[DClingman]

My only comments on this thread are to give it a solid look. I won't give anyone the song and dance on why they should do this or that, but the crunch is well balanced (and limited) and in terms of the book's 240 page length, in the minority. The majority of the book details the setting, the people and the important historical events, locations and NPCs.

It has crunch, but it's also got a nice soft fluffy underbelly. Think of it as the best chewy granola bar you could find. Crunchy, but oh so gooood.

Dustin

 

[nicodaudel]

the Egg of Coot (Read: E.Gary Gygax)

Greg Scott (an old-time wargamer), *not* EGG, is the reference here.

 

[Rasyr]

I'm waiting for GURPS Blackmoor.

And I am still trying to talk ZeitGeist into HARP Blackmoor...


BTW: Personally, I do think it is worth getting! Blackmoor introduces several intersting twists to the system (which is mainly the crunch talked about) and is really a very good product.

 

[qstor]

I started with OD&D but went right into AD&D when I was younger and never got any of the DA series modules or the old Blackmoor supplement. So the hardback D20 book was an intro to the setting for me. I got my copy signed by Dave Arenson at GenCon and it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy

That said, I think the book offers a good overview of the setting without going into much detail to let DM's flesh out their version of Blackmoor.

The only bad thing I can say, is that like much of the third party stuff I've scene there are a few minor rules errors like missing domains from gods and some of the monsters aren't written up quite right. But other than that I think the book is fantastic. I'm looking forward to some of the other books planned for D20 Blackmoor.

Mike

 

[Psion]

But that said, I prefer classic Blackmoor to the new version. It just doesn't seem to catch me AT ALL like the old Expert set BlackMoor supplements revived my love for the setting from my first days of D&D. It is a great book, heck it is a fantastic book that I could really learn to love, all things considered, but it just didn't grab me and scream BLACKMOOR at me. The worst part is I don't know why it doesn't grab me.

You seemed pretty excited about it when you talked to me on IRC last night. Something about resetting the timeline?

 

[Psion]

GURPS Blackmoor

HARP Blackmoor...

/me explodes

 

[rgard]

Isn't this debate silly? This is a d20 Blackmoor, not a reprint of the original. Let's call it...a "re-imagining" of Blackmoor. I would never want to publish a setting over 30years old that has next to no support without redoing some things and tweaking it for a new generation. Without new players (who are lacking to nostaligic warm-fuzzies) the setting will DIE along with the players who grew up on it.

Agreed, and some other points:

1. So much of what we call 'flavor' or 'feeling' is dependent upon the approach and gaming style of the DM and the players. What I think some folks want to re-capture is that flavor/feeling we had when we were newbies to the game and Blackmoor for some of us is part of that nostalgia. Our gaming style, likes and skills have evolved over the last 25+ years, just has the game has and I doubt we can re-capture that original experience.

2. I will buy the book and have my kids run their 3.5e characters through it. Hopefully, someday, they'll have a similar nostalgia trip. Their 3.5e Blackmoor experience may be the equivalent of our ODD Blackmoor experience.

3. If you want ODD Blackmoor...dust your old one off, find one on Ebay or buy one from somebody here. Diaglo may have a spare copy!

Thanks,
Rich

 

[spectre72]

I think the book is well done, but it seems way too generic fantasy.

I bought the book for the mix of fantasy and technology that was used in the past (old modules) and when reading through the book found none of that other than a few pages.

This means that I bought a book that did not fulfill my wishes.

That does not mean that the book is not good, but it just feels like any of the other generic fantasy settings out there.

The detail and information in the book is great, but it just did not seem to match the Blackmoor I remembered.

Perhaps with an expansion or two it will but right now I will probably set it aside.

And the couple of pages that detailed technology were minimal at best. Without something like FFG's Sorcery and Steam I wouldn't even think about taking on clockwork and steam with the minimal information included in the Blackmoor book.

So a solid setting, but not what I wanted or expected.