Hackmaster

[rkwoodard]

Payoff

HackMaster Basic (HMb, for those of you that like abbreviations) has gone to press! We plan to get it right before Origins or a little sooner.

I'll try and get some PDF previews up soon.

Hello,

I few years ago (I think) you had a promotion where you sent out copies of an earlier HMG free (+Shipping). I got one, I read through it as promised and I knew I would not be able to get my group to play (we only play every few months now).

However, because of that, I am interested in the new basic version, and although I barely can call myself a gamer, and don't have a huge gaming budget, Hack Basic will get a serious look over from me.

I thought you would appreciate knowing that how you run your business has had an impact.

Regards,
RK

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

I'm running a HackMaster game at Mark's old stomping grounds. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new system is like.

 

[mhensley]

HackMaster Basic (HMb, for those of you that like abbreviations) has gone to press! We plan to get it right before Origins or a little sooner.

I'll try and get some PDF previews up soon.

W00t!!!

 

[Falstaff]

HackMaster Basic (HMb, for those of you that like abbreviations) has gone to press! We plan to get it right before Origins or a little sooner.

I'll try and get some PDF previews up soon.

Freakin' awesome! What a great summer ahead: new HackMaster and TOOL's touring. Hoody ho!

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

OK, I've seen the Erol Otus cover and I'm pretty giddy with anticipation for this book.

192 pages, June 30th release date.

I wish it came in a box with dice and a crayon, but heck, I can deal.

 

[joethelawyer]

OK, I've seen the Erol Otus cover and I'm pretty giddy with anticipation for this book.

192 pages, June 30th release date.

I wish it came in a box with dice and a crayon, but heck, I can deal.

I've never played Hackmaster, but I've read through the books to try and get the flavor of it. To me, the core rules themselves seemed like a different 2nd edition. Sort of a different evolution of AD&D, incorporating the best of 2nd edition, plus other cool stuff, without adding in a lot of the stuff I don't like in 3.x. But the over the top humor stuff like Blues Dragons and Gummy Golems turned me off a bit. That's after reading it for an hour or so in a store, so I can't speak from actual play experience.

But this new edition apparently gets rid of a lot of the over the top stuff, and seems to have improved upon many of the good elements they developed for the prior edition. They even made a lot of changes and additions, such as to Vancian magic, which actually look really good. They improved upon some of my sacred cows, it seems, and added a lot more cool stuff.

And in reading through this massive thread here:

http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40360

I can't believe how much detail Kenzer gives about the Basic as well as the Advanced game.

I especially like Kenzer's attitude towards gaming in general, as demonstrated in his posts there. (Note: fans of 4e shouldn't expect to be overjoyed by his characterizations).

Due to the enthusiasm people have towards retro editions these days, and also due to Kenzer's experience in actually getting books on shelves, and most importantly due to the quality of the stuff they put out, I think Hackmaster is going to be something really big once all 3 core Advanced books are out. By that I mean way bigger than they were before.

I think they can end up in the pole position of the old school movement when the Advanced books are all finally released in about a year to 18 months.

Just a prediction.

 

[mhensley]

I think they can end up in the pole position of the old school movement when the Advanced books are all finally released in about a year to 18 months.

I agree with you in that I think the new edition of HM will be successful, but I'm not too sure of it winning the hearts and minds of the old school D&D players. Many people played HM4 because it was so close to being a new version of AD&D. That's no longer the case. The new HM is very different than AD&D and that will put some of them off. This new version of HM is finally its own game and will have to succeed or fail on its own merits. Personally, I liked it (as a playtester) and can't wait to get it. I think the audience it will do very well with are the D&D players who have always wanted more realism and simulation from D&D. In many ways, HM is the anti D&D 4e. Where D&D 4e is very gamist, HM is very sim.

 

[rogueattorney]

192 page "Basic" rule book? Well, that's in keeping with the D&D on steroids approach of the previous edition.

 

[mhensley]

192 page "Basic" rule book? Well, that's in keeping with the D&D on steroids approach of the previous edition.

It's only basic compared to what will be in advanced.

 

[mhensley]

They just posted the HMb table of contents and foreward by Gary Jackson-

http://www.kenzerco.com/free_files/HackMaster_Basic_ToC.pdf

http://www.kenzerco.com/free_files/HackMaster_Basic_Gary_foreword.pdf