Have you played Mazes & Minotaurs?

[Spinachcat]

I saw the discussion about OSRIC and Mutant Future, so now we must speak of the utterly awesome MAZES & MINOTAURS!!!

Mazes & Minotaurs
M&M

Like the other retro-clones, Mazes & Minotaurs is available free on the web and the rules are a throwback to Old School gaming. The premise is "What would OD&D looked like if Gary and Dave were inspired by Greek Myth instead of Sword and Sorcery?"

There is a crazy level of support for M&M between the multiple supplements and monster beastiary and the quarterly magazine. They just released the Tomb of the Bull King that is a 200 page campaign . . . for free.

So...has anyone else played Mazes & Minotaurs?

 

[Rolflyn]

Read it, both versions. Dying to give it a try.

I'm working on converting a campaign idea into the system, which would mean keeping the rule set but changing the setting. The system seems very flexible.

Alas, the whole "first RPG ever" shtick probably puts some people off of the game. I know I almost didn't pursue it, but I'm now very glad that I did.

 

[Serendipity]

I ran across it sometime last December (eek!) and was about half-way through it when it came time to move. Until just now I'd forgotten.

 

[Korgoth]

Alas, the whole "first RPG ever" shtick probably puts some people off of the game. I know I almost didn't pursue it, but I'm now very glad that I did.

You mean, some people don't realize that it's a joke? With all the references to famous controversies in "Griffin Magazine", the riffs of famous game covers (T&T, RQ3), the billion types of minotaur, etc.?

 

[JeffB]

You mean, some people don't realize that it's a joke?

:raises hand:

I did not realize it was a joke at first. Someone here set me straight right quick.

 

[Rolflyn]

You mean, some people don't realize that it's a joke? With all the references to famous controversies in "Griffin Magazine", the riffs of famous game covers (T&T, RQ3), the billion types of minotaur, etc.?

How many people realize there is a real game under that joke? How many are willing to put up with the joke to get to that game?

I found the joke ran thin quickly, but the game seems solid.

 

[Betote]

I like Greek and Latin mythology for reading; for my gaming I like something more cheesy (I don't care for games heavily based on Tolkien or Martin either).

When I have the time, I'll probably have a look at it, because I like reading rules. Are the rules different enough from OD&D or are they mostly the same with a different fluff?

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Mazes and Minotaurs is a far out game. Swords, poisons, spells...battles, maiming, killing...!

 

[Scribble]

Yes... but then my friend Robbie Wheeling went insane and started killing people.

Oh wait, that was a different game.

 

[Spinachcat]

Are the rules different enough from OD&D or are they mostly the same with a different fluff?

One of the coolest things about M&M is that the rules are not clones of D&D, but instead are "inspired by" the original rules with a clear understanding of the 30+ years of game development since then.

And Betote, if you like cheesy with your gaming, M&M will do you good. The background is much more inspired by Hollywood's take on the Greek Myths with stuff like Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans and Xena than with trying to be historically accurate.

M&M is to Ancient Greece what D&D is to Medieval Europe.