Help me identify this retro-clone

[pawsplay]

I looked at a copy of something and now I can't remember which title it was. It followed the Rules Cyclopedia/BECMI flavor of D&D closely, but the demi-human classes used the optional 36 level expansion.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Dark Dungeons.

 

[pawsplay]

Thanks! That was really starting to bug me. I think I lost it in my HD crash along with my bookmarks.

 

[pawsplay]

So what is the story with DD? The PDFs are free, and the books are available from Lulu from what is stated to be cost. Is it for love? Glory? To sell modules?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Same as the rest, I suspect. However many that is now. Yikes.

Hard copy of DD sure looks badass though, which after all is what matters.

 

[darjr]

Dark Dungeons

A link for convenience sake.

 

[pawsplay]

I'm really fascinated by Labyrinth Lord and Dark Dungeons providing such a similar experience. What is the motivation for producing each one? Is there rivalry? Or is reengineering a BECMI retroclone a hobby unto itself, like rebuilding antique autos?

 

[darjr]

I do see differences in their approach to the resulting product and how they have released them. After that I am curious as well.

Might be worth asking at their forums.

though it does seem that LL is going for a breadth of types of games like their gamaworld and call of cthulu clones based on LL and their LL Advanced stuff. While Dark Dungeons seems to be going for a Rules Compendium clone.

 

[pawsplay]

I just bought a copy of LL as an "art book," I might as well do the same for DD. Not that I'm made of money, or that I am likely to start playing retro-clones any time soon, but for love of the thing, I'd say.

 

[Coldwyn]

I'm really fascinated by Labyrinth Lord and Dark Dungeons providing such a similar experience. What is the motivation for producing each one? Is there rivalry? Or is reengineering a BECMI retroclone a hobby unto itself, like rebuilding antique autos?

IMHO it´s who integrates his own house-rules the smoothest.