Hackmaster. Please explain.

[MerricB]

As you said yourself, they have remedied this with a 1 volume hacklopedia that encompasses many of the most sought after baddies in the game. Top bad ideas in gaming history? maybe. But you're harping about a non issue at this point.

I see that you're only interested in attacking me.

Do I like 3.5E? Yes. It's not unusual on these boards. I'm not alone. Why are you making an issue of it?

Do I hate Hackmaster? No. Why are you trying to say I do?

Are there things about 3.5E that I dislike? Yes.

The same goes for Hackmaster.

Am I going to be quiet about the problems I have with Hackmaster just because lovers of Hackmaster will be offended if I voice them? Not a chance - especially because I generally try to be fair about it. I mentioned my problem with the Hackopedia and that they "fixed" it with the one-volume publication.

I've seen enough "fans" of Hackmaster attacking 3E without any of the consideration I have shown for Hackmaster.

 

[Spell]

Does HM still use AC that gets better the lower it is? In other words, AC -10 is a good AC.

Yes.

 

[Spell]

I've seen a lot of people say that the HM mods are fantastic, and that they take the good bits of the old versions and bring them to life in a way that 1e mods didn't.

Would they be worth pickign up for soemone who doesn't play HM? For maps, npcs and the like?

It depends on what you wnat them for: if you want to play the adventure in a d20 game (converting all the stuff), I would advice you to look elsewhere. The conversion can be long and labourious, especially if you never played AD&D or HM before.
On the other hand, if you desperately want to play those classics because you want to have the real feel of the old times (updated a bit), then yes, they are usable and worth their price. Again, you will have to do your homework of conversion.

 

[Spell]

Breakdaddy and MerricB, I think you are both jumping at the other's throat without any sound reason.
If you calm down and re-read each other topic, you will see there was no attack on anything or anyone, and that it all was a misunderstanding.

 

[drakhe]

Hackmaster has one great flaw: the Hackopedia. It makes it a game for existing AD&D players rather than for drawing in new DMs. I think that they released a one-volume Hackopedia supplement that would work as a MM, but it was far, far too late for me to get reinterested in the game.

Yes, there are people that have everything Hackmaster, who play it seriously (or not so seriously) and have a great time with it.

There are 8 Hackopedias in the initial run.

Cheers!

First of all, this is no attack on anybody, I don't want to stir any more fire, I just want to add an observation of mine, namely:

A lot of people I know have the same problem with HM as the one you state, 8 volume Hacklopedia... BUT: almost all of those same people don't complain one bit for having bought MM, MM2, Fiend Folio, MoF, Draconomicom, BoF, ...
I did buy all 8 volumes of the hacklopedia, but that's because I decided to collect HM, while I'm having serious second thoughts about some of the DnD monster tomes...

 

[Dogbrain]

Check out the 1st ed. DMG if you have not seen it. The preface by Gygax states that the DMG is for the eyes of the DM alone

I bought it the year after it first came out. I'm familiar with that dimwitted nonsense, and old stupidity is no less stupid for being old. I was thoroughly disgusted with the "players are the enemy" attitude then and am thoroughly disgusted with it now. Players that can't be trusted with full knowledge of the rules can't be trusted to play with in the first place.

 

[PugioilAudacio]

Ah, I wish all players could be as mature as you seem to think players are!

That aside, here are a few Pros for GM vs Player:

It can actually increase enjoyment. Sometimes it's fun not to know what is coming, or how something works. If you trust your DM to be fair this can actually add to the game. So you don't know how much damage fire does, how long it burns for, or how tough a baddie is. Now you can use your wits and intuition to survive instead of "Don't worry, he's vulnurable to cold and his CR is only 9, we can take him." Yes I understand that a good DM can add unknown elements to a game regardless, and that a player should try not to use in game knowledge anyway. However, I for one would enjoy a player vs DM game, as long as the DM is fair.

Umm, oops I don't have time to type anymore, more on this later

 

[MerricB]

A lot of people I know have the same problem with HM as the one you state, 8 volume Hacklopedia... BUT: almost all of those same people don't complain one bit for having bought MM, MM2, Fiend Folio, MoF, Draconomicom, BoF, ...

I did buy all 8 volumes of the hacklopedia, but that's because I decided to collect HM, while I'm having serious second thoughts about some of the DnD monster tomes...

It's just how it's arranged. I love the idea of the 8 volume hackopedia (and if I had more money, I would have happily bought it... still might if I get a windfall), but the reality is pretty bad.

The reason that it's so bad is that it's alphabetical. Lovely idea, horrible in actuality. When you play D&D, you get all the standard monsters in one volume. So, the Monster Manual gives you the Dragons, Orcs, Goblins, Ogres and suchlike. After that, all the books are optional.

In Hackmaster, at least until the Hackopedia Field Manual came out, to get Dragons, Orcs and Zombies in the same game you needed three expensive books.

Well, I suppose it is a great idea in actuality if you have the money... but Hackmaster was even more expensive that D&D to get the main books for. I wasn't that rich, nor were other people.

I have the PH and the GMG for Hackmaster, and I'm glad I have them. Will I use them? Possibly one day, though there are other RPGs that compete for my attention. I certainly see how a good game could be played using them. As I've often said, 3E isn't for everyone. Neither is Hackmaster, but it really looks that it could be great for people who like it.

Cheers!

 

[JDJarvis]

Hackmaster is a playable RPG and a work of Comedy Genius.
The GMG had me laughing like a mad man in seconds. Every page is dripping with Satire but it still nonethless indeed a fun and playable game.
It is the real life version of the game played by a bunch of dysfunctinal cartoon RPGers that allows folks to emulate the pay style of those dysfunctinal cartoon gamers, if anyone thinks it isn't supposed to be a work of comedy they need to step back and take a few deep breaths. It being a work of comedy however in no way means it isn't a game, games are supposed to be fun. Games can be fun to read and fun to play.

 

[Dogbrain]

Ah, I wish all players could be as mature as you seem to think players are!

They are or they learn to be. It's amazing what a bit of "run it your way in your campaign" can do. If they get prissy and walk, it's not my loss.