Dragonbane general thread

[Ringtail]

I know that DoD never had "holy" magic - and I'm not asking for it per se - but it would be nice to see something more akin to white magic. One of the most common homebrews that I see for Dragonbane is basically something that scratches that "holy" priest or even paladin itch.

I know it probably irritates the DoD purists, but Dragonbane absolutely scratches a "D&D but simpler" itch for me, so the lack of a Priest/Cleric/Etc is notable to me.

Third party has got me covered though. One of the issues of Dragonzine has a Cleric type class with unique spellcasting that looks pretty good, and Shadow Over Gloomshire also has a Cleric, but I don't own that PDF so I'm not sure if it has spells or not. So I'm pretty cool if FL never does "Holy."

 

[Bill Zebub]

I know it probably irritates the DoD purists, but Dragonbane absolutely scratches a "D&D but simpler" itch for me

That's why I play Shadowdark.

I like Dragonbane not because it is simpler than D&D (and, really, it's not simpler than Shadowdark) but because it plays so differently. For example, I really like the relatively flat power curve as you 'level'.

Another difference I appreciate, not because it's better but because it's a refreshing break from D&D-like games, is the class-less, a la carte aspect. Other than playing a caster, choices at chargen don't necessarily send you don't totally different paths the way choosing a class does. Reminds me of The One Ring in that regard.

 

[Aldarc]

And thank you for all the shout outs, fellow Dragonbane fans! Troll's Spire is a nice little adventure, with potential for improvements, but it seems that it works as an introduction to the game, mostly for its compact design and some memorable NPCs.

It's no Keep on the Borderlands, but then again ... what is?

I would say that the wider Secret of the Dragon Emperor campaign serves the purpose of Keep on the Borderlands.

 

[Von Ether]

I know it probably irritates the DoD purists, but Dragonbane absolutely scratches a "D&D but simpler" itch for me, so the lack of a Priest/Cleric/Etc is notable to me.

Third party has got me covered though. One of the issues of Dragonzine has a Cleric type class with unique spellcasting that looks pretty good, and Shadow Over Gloomshire also has a Cleric, but I don't own that PDF so I'm not sure if it has spells or not. So I'm pretty cool if FL never does "Holy."

For me, I don't mind if someone wants to add a bit of D&D-ism to their home campaign.

I roll my eyes, though, when someone suggests Dragonbane is "missing" something because it doesn't have a cleric or "needs" spell slots.

 

[The Soloist]

Funny, how players leave D&D but always want to bring D&Disms into other RPGs. Dragonbane (and Fantasy AGE) are not D&D emulators, clones or simulacrums. Nothing is missing.

 

[Nikosandros]

Yesterday, I was finally able to run a first, brief session. A couple of rules questions:

• Can you help someone with con roll to stabilize?
• Is the extra damage die in a sneak attack doubled when rolling a dragon?

 

[The Soloist]

Yesterday, I was finally able to run a first, brief session. A couple of rules questions:

• Can you help someone with con roll to stabilize?
• Is the extra damage die in a sneak attack doubled when rolling a dragon?

1) No. DB is skill-based. You need a success on a Healing Skill check (p34. p50).

2) No, because it's a bonus die. Only the original weapon damage is doubled, before bonuses due to combat actions, heroic abilities, strength and agility bonus die.

 

[Von Ether]

Funny, how players leave D&D but always want to bring D&Disms into other RPGs. Dragonbane (and Fantasy AGE) are not D&D emulators, clones or simulacrums. Nothing is missing.

I kid you not.

In the Cypher System community content, there are two products were essentially the writer scooped out 5e and poured in Cypher. Every SRD spell, magic item, and other component has an equivalent to the point it would probably sound like you were playing D&D until the dice rolled. It changes the mechanics to the point the writer advises not to use the Recovery rules as it would make Cypher spell casters too powerful. I admire the dedication to finish the project, but also I'm thinking, "WHY?!"

Many gamers have a very odd security blanket syndrome where they don't want to learn new gaming terms. Mutants and Masterminds is a textbook example of players "accidently" learning a new game with familiar names in it.

As a side note, the Ken Hite and Robin D. Laws podcast has term for traditional fantasy games and D&D clones, "F20." For Fantasy 20, as a few of them still use a d20, but a lot of plots, tropes, and NPCs ideas can be used in both games.

 

[The Soloist]

I kid you not.

In the Cypher System community content, there are two products were essentially the writer scooped out 5e and poured in Cypher. Every SRD spell, magic item, and other component has an equivalent to the point it would probably sound like you were playing D&D until the dice rolled. It changes the mechanics to the point the writer advises not to use the Recovery rules as it would make Cypher spell casters too powerful. I admire the dedication to finish the project, but also I'm thinking, "WHY?!"

Indeed, why? It's like a programming worm infecting other programs. Their brain needs a heavy dose of antivirus.

When Dragonbane tells you casters cannot wear armour or that Fantasy AGE makes you pay a magic point Strain cost when you cast a spell wearing armour, it's a conscious design decision to avoid having the 'D&D cleric' or severely nerf such concepts in their system. It's not missing; it was purposefully curtailed.

 

[Aldarc]

For me, I don't mind if someone wants to add a bit of D&D-ism to their home campaign.

I roll my eyes, though, when someone suggests Dragonbane is "missing" something because it doesn't have a cleric or "needs" spell slots.

Not necessarily "a cleric" but I would appreciate something more akin to a white magic tradition. Again, note that I'm purposefully trying to avoid calling it "holy." Animism goes a bit too much into nature while Mentalism is a little too psychic.

Funny, how players leave D&D but always want to bring D&Disms into other RPGs. Dragonbane (and Fantasy AGE) are not D&D emulators, clones or simulacrums. Nothing is missing.

Fantasy AGE has Arcana for scratching that holy magic itch: Healing, Protection, Power, Heroic, etc.