Experiences with Basic Fantasy RPG

[JeffB]

I had the same issue with my old group- They wanted all the crunch of 3E/4E characters but none of the complication during gameplay(????). 3E was a no-go for me and had been since 2002. We had tried C&C and that was a no-go for me AND them. 4E was going pretty well, but they still wanted something less crunchy for combat ( I don't even run alot of combat! None of them could ever articulate exactly what they wanted out of a game system, but I'm thinking they really should be playing something besides D&D)

After running a one-shot weekend marathon of S&W with my original grade school group and having a total freaking blast, I figured I would try something similar with the (then) current group but a bit more crunchy. I bought BFRPG, the group said "no thanks". Not crunchy enuff, wonky old school D&D. Schedules fell apart, none of them wanted to run anything themselves, and so the group disbanded.

 

[Solomoriah]

Wow, bummer. I find myself wondering just what game they WOULD like.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Are the players unwilling to even play a single trial game?

If so, yes it's rather close minded. On the other hand, if they've tried and would rather play 3e, this is something I can respect. I personally prefer a variety of games, but I can't begrudge someone for wanting to stick with a single game that they like best.

Preferring a certain game is all well and good but RH is in a situation with some very selfish players. 3.X is arguably the edition that requires the most prep and effort to run. RH has a group that only wants to play this edition and wants him to be the one to run it all.

From a common courtesy perspective this is just plain wrong. If these people are actual friends rather than just casual gaming buddies it's even worse.

 

[HywayWolf]

For you folks that want to run BFRPG, but can't find FTF players, if you decide to run an online voice chat BFRPG send me an email. I'd love to join in.

 

[Remathilis]

Are the players unwilling to even play a single trial game?

If so, yes it's rather close minded. On the other hand, if they've tried and would rather play 3e, this is something I can respect. I personally prefer a variety of games, but I can't begrudge someone for wanting to stick with a single game that they like best.

Ok, I've been running an Eberron game for a long time now, and the group is now 11th-12th level. That's a lot of hard prep. I have 4 players.
1.) Didn't want to play. Downloaded/read the rules, and thought them too anachronistic. He was my sit-out. Dislikes 4e also, though he has given it a very valid trial with it.
2.) Didn't want to play, but would so "for my sake." Would much rather end the Eberron game to play 4e, an opinion no one else agrees with.
3.) Another "would do it for my sake" player. Dislikes 4e, but didn't play it much either.
4.) New player, Eberron was his first D&D game. No official opinion, but was kinda bending between "Not interested" and "for my sake".

So out of 4 players, one wasn't coming and three was only coming because they felt it was their gamer duty. All except for player 2 would rather play 3e.

Wow, bummer. I find myself wondering just what game they WOULD like.

One likes the new hawtness of 4e. Two like 3e's wealth of options. One doesn't have an opinion, but would rather not learn the game over again after just getting the hang of it now.

Preferring a certain game is all well and good but RH is in a situation with some very selfish players. 3.X is arguably the edition that requires the most prep and effort to run. RH has a group that only wants to play this edition and wants him to be the one to run it all.

From a common courtesy perspective this is just plain wrong. If these people are actual friends rather than just casual gaming buddies it's even worse.

The compromise we worked out was to set down the high level 3.5 game for a more module-driven low level 3.5 game. My stipulation was tight control on char-gen; pretty much PHB + limited options (vs. my normal anything goes) to simulate the feel of Basic, in spirit if not in rules.

And yes, these are some of my closest friends. I had two of them apologize to me for being jerks about not wanting to play (the two who would do it "for my sake") but the one who threatened to sit it out hasn't said boo yet.

Tomorrow's game night. We shall see what happens then.

 

[Grimstaff]

No one was interested. I actually had players willing to take a few weeks off game rather than "go backwards" from 3e.

So I boxed up my BFRPG stuff for now, and intend that ONE DAY I shall run my BFRPG game; probably not with those losers.

Eek! I'm hard-pressed to think of anything ruder than this, I suppose none of them ever put in the time to prep a game...

It'd be one thing to try it out for a couple of sessions and *then* vote on continuing or not. Good luck finding some more considerate players in the future.

 

[Doug McCrae]

They wanted all the crunch of 3E/4E characters but none of the complication during gameplay(????).

One word:

Mutants & Masterminds

 

[Mallus]

One word:

Mutants & Masterminds

Two more: Warriors and Warlocks --it's not necessary, but it's a pretty great as sourcebooks go.

Two weeks ago I ran the 1st session of my old World of CITY 3e campaign converted to M&M/W&W. This was a 13th level 3e game w/4 full-progression spellcasters. It went swimmingly. So much easier to prep for/run that 3e.

M&M isn't a rules-lite game be any means. But it's a whole lot more transparent that 3e, not to mention easier to customize. If your players just can't quit the crunch, check it out.

 

[Nai_Calus]

Very lame for you. :< I'm in the same boat, I was running 3.5 for my first time DMing(Which thankfully just died because we couldn't make everyone's schedules work), and sick of it. I wanted to go either 4e or BF, but everyone in my group refuses to play anything but 3.5. 4e 'sucks' (None of them have read the rules), and BF 'doesn't have enough options'(None of them have read the rules for that either). It's ridiculous. :-/

It's perhaps just as well, I'd currently rather be playing, since running 3.5 put me off DMing for now, heh. Drove me nuts. Maybe I should see if I can find a group doing it online.

(Dearest kitten I love you, but stay off the keyboard.)

 

[Spinachcat]

Play with the three friends who will "do it for your sake" and then make sure you put extra effort into making the sessions extra awesome. BF is easy to houserule, so if there is something they absolutely loved about 3e, weave that into the BF game. Wow them with the fun and they'll be really glad they played "for your sake"

As for Mister Poopy Pants, I suspect he'll change his mind when hears the others are having a blast playing BF.

Good luck!