What is HackMaster???

[JPL]

See my post on that.

Thanks for clarifying. That's what I thought.

I still suspect that most of the folks who dig the feel of Hackmaster acquired that taste from years of first-edition gaming. Nothing wrong with that at all. My only objection is when folks [mostly on other boards I frequent] start putting down DD3 in favor of Hackmaster, losing sight of the fact that only many, many happy years of gaming experience makes Hackmaster so enjoyable to them.

I think it's pretty groovy that a product like Hackmaster is out there, and it is really to WotC's credit that they made such a license of the old rules available instead of simply saying, these are the new rules, the old rules are dead...

 

[Tsyr]

As I envision it, it would be almost a campaign sourcebook rather than a new d20 game. Basically, the reason I'd like to see it, is to see whether d20 can cover a lot different territory. Personally, I think it could handle a HackMaster-type of setting/game. A lot of the stuff you mention as being essentially HackMaster could easily be used in a d20 game - after all, most of it was created and grafted onto AD&D, and wasn't part of the original game.

Well, yes, you could do it. I'm just not sure how much you would have. Like I said, at its core, Hackmaster is just DnD with some stuff added on. If you just tried to publish the "add on" stuff, I'm not sure you would really have much.

I'm also not sure if it could be done as D20. OGL, maybe... but I think too much of it would infringe on character creation for D20... adding a seventh ability score, building points, re-designing how the skill system works...

I wouldn't be opposed to them trying. I'm just not sure it would be a good product in the end.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Well, yes, you could do it. I'm just not sure how much you would have. Like I said, at its core, Hackmaster is just DnD with some stuff added on. If you just tried to publish the "add on" stuff, I'm not sure you would really have much.

I'm also not sure if it could be done as D20. OGL, maybe... but I think too much of it would infringe on character creation for D20... adding a seventh ability score, building points, re-designing how the skill system works...

I wouldn't be opposed to them trying. I'm just not sure it would be a good product in the end.

Yes, you're correct. It would have to be OGL. Or a specially licensed product.

The add-on stuff, or material like it, would make up a fairly decent-sized book, maybe the size of one of Avalanche's books.

As with HackMaster, the writing would make the difference. That's why I mentioned Kenzer doing it.

 

[Voadam]

Ok, I know that it is an RPG based on first or second edition rules, but aside from that what's the difference? My FLGS doesn't stock the books so i can't take a gander and to be honest I didn't come away with much of a conceptual idea from Kenzer's website.


Thanks a bunch,

Gris.

I haven't read KotDT or the HMPHB or DMG. I own a hacklopedia volume and the intro module B1.

I wrote a review of B1 you can check out on the review page, but here are my 1e/3e views of the HM differences:

All characters and monsters with at least a hit die get a bonus 20 hit points called a "kicker". This will lead to more hacking even at 1st level.

Players are supposed to kill things and take their stuff.

The art and feel of the books indicate there is lots of violent and graphically harsh PC death and danger.

The DM is a sadistic adversary trying to kill you fair and square and by the rules.

The DM has many ways to fairly harass PCs.

There is a lot of crap humor.

There is anachronism humor. (armor command word Kevlar)

There is sillyness humor (drow with little bells on the end of their booties).

The last 4 I could personally do without.

Hackmaster has a lot of neat elements to it, but as presented out of the book I'd hesitate before joining a game.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Yike! You should at least try to borrow someone's copy of the HM Player's Handbook and GameMaster's Guide to look through.

Basing your opinions just on Hacklopedia volume 1 and the first module is like trying to understand the entire Lord of the Rings series by reading chapters 4 through 6 of the Two Towers.



And don't forget, new KoDT strips appear on our website three times a week! So you've got no excuse for not reading those!

Mark Plemmons
Kenzer and Company
www.kenzerco.com

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Yes, I know that. Which makes his comments all the more surprising. I know which setting not to waste my money on now, though, since the company doesn't believe in the product.

Um... the ranting guy doesn't work for us.

We're all gamers here at KenzerCo, and we believe in BOTH HackMaster and the Kingdoms of Kalamar. No reason you can't like two systems at once, right?



Mark Plemmons
Kenzer and Company
www.kenzerco.com

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Re: Cost

One thing to Hackmasters credit is that it is the most expensive RPG to buy.

Say what you wish about D20, the buy in price was $60.00 for three books, and If you wish you can stop there, you are done!!!

Hackmaster has a buy in price of over $200.00. The reason is that the monster manual is broken down in multiple sections. Thats right, to get all the monsters you need to buy about 8-10 of these books as the manuals are printed in alphabetical order, plus the GH and DMG.

these numbers are based on what the GM would have to spend to get a complete system.

Food for thought.

Ah, but you don't have to buy them all, or at least not all at once. And remember that the Hacklopedia set also has over 1600 monsters. Then, if you pick up the HM Monster Matrix, you've given details on how to expand those 1600 into over ONE MILLION MONSTERS.



Mark Plemmons
Kenzer and Company
www.kenzerco.com

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Oh, AND both the HM PHB and GMG are 400 pages crammed with lots of info - no big fonts or wide margins to stretch out the page count!

Mark Plemmons
Kenzer and Company
www.kenzerco.com

 

[RobNJ]

How about any of you other old-schoolers out there? If you're lurking out there, de-lurk for once and counter what I consider to be largely a myth - that old-schoolers are driven away from 3e.

It is, in my experience, a myth. I'm a 1st Edition player who played 2nd Edition for a while, then graduated to other games. 3rd Edition makes the game playable again. It's not my favorite game, but it's all that my friends will play , so it's what I've got to live with. I probably wouldn't bother, though, if 3E weren't so palatable.

 

[Griswold]

no big fonts or wide margins to stretch out the page count!

Ouch!


Gris.