Retro Clones

[Nikosandros]

I guess we just have to agree to disagree. Using the 1d20 +/- mods versus DC mechanic from the 3x SRD for most task resolution and combat really places it closer to the SRD end of the spectrum for me. It pays crazy homage to B/X for certain but, mechanically, it cleaves very closely to the 3x SRD (the notable exceptions being multiple XP advancement tracks and theif skills).

Most? What else besides the attack roll? And inverting the AC is just a stylistic choice, the progression in combat prowess is much closer to B/X. I'm currently running B3 with BFRPG and the only change I had to do was switch the AC for the characters since I much prefer descending AC. BFRPG is rquite close to B/X and has basically nothing to do with 3x. This is also the stated intent of the author as expresses in many posts.

 

[jdrakeh]

If someone is not willing to do that then it looks to me that that person just doesn't really want the books.

Right. If someone isn't willing to travel all over the country, employ third-party purchasing agents, or pay any amount of money to own a given book, then they don't really want it. I really need a smiley here. Look, it's possible that some people are just sane.

Not everybody has a compulsion to spend months or weeks tracking down books and throwing absurd amounts of money after such an endeavor. And, again, I think we're moving back into you making a great argument for rarity at this point — if somebody has to use purchasing agents and such, then whatever they're after certainly is not commonplace.

All of that said, let's look back at the post of mine you initially responded to. I was speaking of relative rarity in terms of potential players for a table-top game. I don't think that expecting potential players in a bi-weekly game to spend weeks or month searching the globe for printed copies of obscure-ish books is more reasonable than directing them to a copy of a product that is 100% guaranteed in stock and available right now.

 

[jdrakeh]

Most? What else besides the attack roll?

Ability Rolls which, granted, are optional — but also the only non-Thief skill aptitude resolution mechanic in the game.

And inverting the AC is just a stylistic choice

Agreed. It just happens to be a stylistic choice that D&D 3x designers made first, published under the OGL, and that BFRPG recreates nearly verbatim.

the progression in combat prowess is much closer to B/X.

XP progression is much more B/X, as I've already mentioned. That's not part of the combat resolution mechanic, though.

BFRPG is rquite close to B/X and has basically nothing to do with 3x.

Except for the similarities outlined above. Which, IMO, are pretty substantial, seeing as how they form the mechanical core of the game.

This is also the stated intent of the author as expresses in many posts.

Yes, I know, I've read the posts. In fact, if you check my .sig, you'll see that I support BFRPG. That said, it's clear we don't agree. Let's leave it at that.

 

[Crothian]

Right. If someone isn't willing to travel all over the country, employ third-party purchasing agents, or pay any amount of money to own a given book.

Perhaps if this were 1980 it would be this hard but with the net it has become easy to find copies of the core books for good prices.

But I think I am done diverting this thread. Hopefully, the clones will catch on some so they will be available at stores as easily as the other small press games are.

 

[Desdichado]

Right. If someone isn't willing to travel all over the country, employ third-party purchasing agents, or pay any amount of money to own a given book, then they don't really want it. I really need a smiley here. Look, it's possible that some people are just sane.

Dude... haven't you heard of eBay?

 

[jdrakeh]

Perhaps if this were 1980 it would be this hard but with the net it has become easy to find copies of the core books for good prices.

Dude! You just made mention of people doing (or needing to do) all that(i.e., travelling to GenCon, others using yourself as a purchasing agent, etc). D'oh! Either that or I totally misread your post.

Either way, I think you and I have different expectations of potential players. I'll point them to retro-clones that they can get right now at a fixed price, 100% guaranteed, and you'll send them on a scavenger hunt for collectibles.

 

[Nikosandros]

XP progression is much more B/X, as I've already mentioned. That's not part of the combat resolution mechanic, though.

I wasn't talking about the XP progression, but about the to hit tables.

Yes, I know, I've read the posts. In fact, if you check my .sig, you'll see that I support BFRPG.

So you dismiss also the author intent? I rather think that Chris is fully aware of what he wanted to do with his own game...

 

[jdrakeh]

Dude... haven't you heard of eBay?

See Post #26. Still, I'm not the one who brought up travelling to Origins or using other people as puchasing agents (specifically, Crothian mentioned obtaining books for other people, which is what a purchasing agent does).

 

[jdrakeh]

So you dismiss also the author intent? I rather think that Chris is fully aware of what he wanted to do with his own game...

I see that you're not going to let this go, so I will. Sayonara!

 

[Nikosandros]

That said, I see that you're not going to let this go, so I will. Sayonara!

IMHO it isn't really appropriate to keep making new points in each post and ask the other party to refrain from attempting to refute them.