OSR IS LYING TO YOU! A reasonable discussion about OSR

[haakon1]

But that's only part of the equation for me (I can't speak for anyone else). 3.X is the system I've played the most, but B/X (and occasionally 1E) has been my fallback for the past 25 years -- when I just want something which scratches the itch, and is less of a headache to run.

Similar for me. 3.5e, calling back to AD&D 1e, but that’s similar I think.

Snarficles help me realize what exactly I do like of the old, and of the more modern.

I consider myself Old School, with no need for revival.

When I decided to DM 1e in the 2e into early 3e era, I needed no “revival” - I used my old books and bought new-to-me old adventures from BadMike (Mike Badalato), while finding the AOL Greyhawk group of likeminded folks.

What the OSR movement has done for me (I can't speak for anyone else) is invite me look at the old games with fresh eyes --

Yup. In matters of taste, when something was made doesn’t necessarily correlate to quality.

As competing rock stations near the NY/CT border in the 1990s said:
“It doesn’t have to be old to be classic.”
“It doesn’t have to be classic just because it’s old.”

Both are true.

 

[aramis erak]

I've always wondered how truly "old school" it is to stubbornly stick with rolling stats in that specific way (roll 3d6, in order, as is, no re-rolls). Over the past 20 years, I've seen many adherents to this method insist that to do otherwise is "weak" or "snowflake".

Well, rolling in order has had 2 different directions even in OD&D. Some roll in the order presented in text (StInWiCnDxCh), which requires parsing the exemplar as lines across, rather than as columns.

Strength	Intelligence	Wisdom
Constitution	Dexterity	Charisma

While others read columns first StCoInDxWiCh. It's an interesting litmus test for player relationships tp rules.

AD&D, in 1979, presented optiions for other than 3d6 in order... including 4d6k3 in order, roll a set of 6 then place where desired, roll 6 sets in order and pick one...
So, unless one is claiming Old School excludes AD&D DMG and later... Old School includes multiple approaches.

 

[Bae'zel]

Well, rolling in order has had 2 different directions even in OD&D. Some roll in the order presented in text (StInWiCnDxCh), which requires parsing the exemplar as lines across, rather than as columns.

Strength	Intelligence	Wisdom
Constitution	Dexterity	Charisma

While others read columns first StCoInDxWiCh. It's an interesting litmus test for player relationships tp rules.

AD&D, in 1979, presented optiions for other than 3d6 in order... including 4d6k3 in order, roll a set of 6 then place where desired, roll 6 sets in order and pick one...
So, unless one is claiming Old School excludes AD&D DMG and later... Old School includes multiple approaches.

Cheers for this: I remembered reading multiple options in my 1e Advanced D&D book, but I guess I got so gaslit by grognards that I didn't even bother to go back and check for myself.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Cheers for this: I remembered reading multiple options in my 1e Advanced D&D book, but I guess I got so gaslit by grognards that I didn't even bother to go back and check for myself.

Real grognards used 2d6. INFLATION!

 

[Fenris-77]

1d4+1. final offer.

 

[Lanefan]

Well, rolling in order has had 2 different directions even in OD&D. Some roll in the order presented in text (StInWiCnDxCh), which requires parsing the exemplar as lines across, rather than as columns.

Strength	Intelligence	Wisdom
Constitution	Dexterity	Charisma

While others read columns first StCoInDxWiCh. It's an interesting litmus test for player relationships tp rules.

AD&D, in 1979, presented optiions for other than 3d6 in order... including 4d6k3 in order, roll a set of 6 then place where desired, roll 6 sets in order and pick one...
So, unless one is claiming Old School excludes AD&D DMG and later... Old School includes multiple approaches.

That's a different order than my 1e PH tells me: Con and Dex are reversed, above.

Was the sequence different in OD&D?

 

[robertsconley]

That's a different order than my 1e PH tells me: Con and Dex are reversed, above.

Was the sequence different in OD&D?

Yes, Page 10 of Men & Magic

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

Semi-related to this discussion, @robertsconley do you have a launch date for your rule set crowdfunding? Also, will there be an option to get the rules and previously funded setting together as a reward in the new crowdfunder?

 

[dragoner]

Yeah, having been there, the OSR is kind of it's own thing, I don't know anybody who was there back in the day that doesn't look at it as new, like with DCC and all that.

 

[robertsconley]

Semi-related to this discussion, @robertsconley do you have a launch date for your rule set crowdfunding? Also, will there be an option to get the rules and previously funded setting together as a reward in the new crowdfunder?

I don't launch until I have the first draft of the project done. While I have the substance of the Majestic Fantasy RPG done, it is in the form of references, not manuscripts. Out of the four digest-sized books I have planned, I have the first draft of the Manual of the Three Adventuring Arts finished; it is the player's handbook for the set. Now I am working on the Domesday Codex, which is a monster manual for NPCs. At my current writing pace for the remaining two books, the Legendarium of the Fantastic (Monster Manual) and the Tome of the Mundane, Strange, and Arcane (Referee), I am aiming for a late December/January launch.

I'll also likely offer an omnibus letter-sized version as well. From personal experience, the digest-size volumes are much easier to work with, especially given how I have divided the material.

As for options, I am still doing print-on-demand, so I will see how that works with add-ons like the Northern Marches. But if the math works out, then it will be available along with my traditional at-cost coupon for the Blackmarsh print copy.