Goodman Games new old school RPG shown at Dundracon

[TerraDave]

I agree it will be a tough line to walk, but I really think there is a sizable audience of people who are looking for a system in this niche: a simpler, more streamlined 3e or a 0e with modern amenities like a single XP table, universal resolution mechanic and/or skill system, and ascending AC.

That, and 1E style. (See example below).

I look forward to it.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Agreed on the stats as saves...

STR for lifting or carrying or bending bars
DEX for reflexes and dodging etc.
CON for fortitude
INT for seeing through illusions (ala 1e) and perception --> yeah I know this is a break from 3e but sherlock holmes is smart not wise.
WIS for resisting mental attacks
CHA for resisting enchantment charms?

This would take the 1e 5 catagories and make it 6. Like it.

I used Wisdom for perception, and Cha for mental attacks.

 

[Voadam]

STR for lifting or carrying or bending bars

"Gravity suddenly triples as you step on the magical sigil trap, make a save versus strength or drop your sack of loot!"

Breaking saving throws down into six categories just doesn't seem that useful outside of a desire to match saves to each of the ability scores.

 

[Raven Crowking]

"Gravity suddenly triples as you step on the magical sigil trap, make a save versus strength or drop your sack of loot!"

Breaking saving throws down into six categories just doesn't seem that useful outside of a desire to match saves to each of the ability scores.

I've been using this in playtest a lot, lately, and you'd be surprised how well it works. Want to bullrush someone? They can save with Prowess (resisting the push) or Reflexes (stepping aside). Opening that door requires a Prowess Action Save (what it says; using the save as an action); spotting the hidden tiger before it leaps requires a Perception save; getting a clue about that hard riddle requires a Reasoning save.

Thus, when a portcullis drops, one character might try to dodge out of the way (Reflexes), while another might try to prevent it from falling (Prowess). The DC for the Prowess save is higher, but the benefits if it succeeds are greater.

This has made for some really fun gaming at my table. It is a direction I would strongly encourage Goodman Games to explore.

Your personal preferences might be different, of course!

RC

 

[Sadrik]

I used Wisdom for perception, and Cha for mental attacks.

What do you use for INT then? I really like the idea that being really smart sees through illusions like in 1e/2e. That is basically perception and noticing the world around you. If WIS is defending mental attacks what is charisma?

Way back when I played 1e, we used INT checks for perception checks. In 2e that went more towards WIS checks (especially Ravenloft) and 3e it was firmly planted as WIS based. However, I never like perception being WIS based. I think attention to detail is more INT based than WIS based.

I think one of the big problems D&D over the years is with its definition of WIS. It has always lacked. What is WIS? Perhaps I can make a whole thread on this. Think about it, where most people will agree on what all the other stats mean WIS is sort of a shifting target (runner up is CHA). No other stat is as convoluted as WIS. My feeling is that WIS should be the flip side of CON and make it mental defense and very little else. This is how it was in 1e too, so it is not that far away from the reality (other than the hiccup that Clerics use WIS- should have been CHA like the paladin imho). CON does not do much other than provide defense for the body, WIS imho should not do much except defend the mind.

"Gravity suddenly triples as you step on the magical sigil trap, make a save versus strength or drop your sack of loot!"

Breaking saving throws down into six categories just doesn't seem that useful outside of a desire to match saves to each of the ability scores.

Agreed, that is probably the wrong idea, but I really like it being a grapple save like RC has, that is pretty neat. Good idea!

 

[Raven Crowking]

What do you use for INT then?

Reasoning!

Agreed, that is probably the wrong idea, but I really like it being a grapple save like RC has, that is pretty neat. Good idea!

Swipe it! It is OGC!

 

[SteveC]

Every time I see something like this, I just wonder if we need yet *another* system that's AD&D with some twists. What is possibly left to bring to the table at this point?

I wonder at some point if all of this effort might not be better served by working on and expanding a single OGL system. It's really the same problem a lot of companies had during the latter part of the D20 era: how many copies of the same basic rules do I really need?

I suppose with Goodman backing it and the success of their DCs there will be a market, but at some point someone's going to get edged out.

File this under the "I'm sure there'll be some excitement (great!) but not for me," category.

 

[dm4hire]

It's really the same problem a lot of companies had during the latter part of the D20 era: how many copies of the same basic rules do I really need?

I suppose with Goodman backing it and the success of their DCs there will be a market, but at some point someone's going to get edged out.

Latter part of the d20 era?? I think you mean the OGL era. To be d20 your product had to reference the core books, couldn't have an experience chart, and a couple of other things.

I think the best way to look at it would be to compare it to comic books. The Golden Age of OGL may be gone, but we're definitely in its Silver Age now. I think we're just starting to see what the OGL can really do now that it is completely self sustaining, having been abandoned by its parent.

It would be nice if the industry would develop a core rules set everyone could support to cause uniformity, but that will never happen. Just as Linux has multiple versions, the OGL will be the same way.

I'm very interested and looking forward to seeing what Goodman does with their system.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I will be interested in this enough to at least read it. This looks like a good move for Goodman. If they can carve out a fan base with a house system then they won't have to be dependent on another company in order to produce thier adventures. If the system has elements of both 1E and 3E in it then the adventures will be not too difficult to convert for those systems.

 

[TerraDave]

Every time I see something like this, I just wonder if we need yet *another* system that's AD&D with some twists. What is possibly left to bring to the table at this point?

If you look at the big picture, there seems to be no end of D&D derived FRPGs, many in print right now!

In this niche, AD&D updated and streamlined but with original flavor...fewer then you might think. Well arguably 3.0 3.5 C&C...