who else loves the C&C...?

[PapersAndPaychecks]

If you like C&C, it's also vitally important to purchase CZ: Yggsburgh and pre-order all 24-ish of the Yggsburgh supplements. In fact, it would be a good idea to purchase multiple copies of each supplement. Particularly the 18th one, which is utterly brilliant; you need at least five or six copies of that, maybe a dozen. Actually, just buy a hundred of them.

 

[mhensley]

I've run C&C before and it is really easy to DM, but these days if I want to run something simple I would just use Microlite20.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Is that Darkest of the Hillside Thickets???

Absolutely.

 

[catenwolde]

Err ... there's only two Castle Zagyg supplements now (The Upper Works and The Dungeons). Still, buy away, and the more the merrier. How's OSRIC going? {edit: obviously, replying to P&P two posts up}

At any rate, on the topic of character customization, I think one often overlooked component of C&C is the "Rewards" section of the Monsters & Treasures book, which suggests various ways in which different character classes can be rewarded for their deeds, specific to their classes and roles. C&C characters are differentiated "in play" as opposed to "in design" - thus the differentiation through a combination of the use of Primes, class skills, known "skills" as defined through character background and play, and rewards earned through play. Obviously, there are many people who enjoy a "customized build" system (d20, GURPS before that, etc.) versus a "customization through play" system, but it's great to have C&C as a banner-bearer for the older style of play.

Cheers

 

[Turanil]

If you like C&C, it's also vitally important to purchase CZ: Yggsburgh and pre-order all 24-ish of the Yggsburgh supplements. In fact, it would be a good idea to purchase multiple copies of each supplement. Particularly the 18th one, which is utterly brilliant; you need at least five or six copies of that, maybe a dozen. Actually, just buy a hundred of them.

Well, I wouldn't go as far... But a good idea is to add Monsters of Myths* to the two main rulebooks. In fact I am just waiting for mine.

(*: not designed for C&C, but for AD&D 1e, yet should still be very easy to use with C&C as all 1e stuff.)

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Err ... there's only two Castle Zagyg supplements now (The Upper Works and The Dungeons). Still, buy away, and the more the merrier. How's OSRIC going? {edit: obviously, replying to P&P two posts up}

OSRIC's going fine. I've promised to have printed copies available to order by the end of next month (March 2007) and I'm on target to achieve that.

Printed copies mean a completely fresh layout job, so I've taken the opportunity to enhance the product somewhat. It looks likely that the v1.01 printed version will include a mini-Monster Manual and a set of treasure tables as well as the core rules -- I'm aiming at a complete system in one book, free in .pdf, priced under $8 for the printed softcover and under $21 for the hardcover.

There may be only two Castle Zagyg supplements available now, but there's a whole lot more written! Since 2005, Gary Gygax has been leading a team of designers who are fleshing out the whole of Yggsburgh in detail. In addition to the 256-page book, there will be more than 20 supplements, each of (I believe) 64 pages, providing full details of each sector. It's huge -- this is the real world's largest city! -- it's fantastically thorough and detailed, and it's got a great design team.

Buy it. Particularly the bit by me.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I've run C&C before and it is really easy to DM, but these days if I want to run something simple I would just use Microlite20.

Why is that, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[catenwolde]

Oh, I'll definitely buy it - Yggsburgh was a great start, and since I was one of those lucky few who actually wasted money on WG7, let's just say I've been waiting a while.

However, I thought that the original plan (many supplements) had been changed/streamlined/whatever to fit into these two larger releases? If memory serves, they will be boxed sets now.

Congratulations on the "RC treatment" for OSRIC, sounds great!

Cheers

 

[Henry]

Why is that, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm guessing because you can't get much simpler and still call it d20-based. About the only thing simpler is Risus, or TWERPS.

 

[mhensley]

Why is that, if you don't mind me asking?

1. It's free. It's a lot easier to get a group to try a new system if they don't have to buy anything.

2. It's more innovative than C&C, IMO. I like it's spell point system and higher hp's at 1st level a lot.

3. It doesn't really do anything that I couldn't do by just playing AD&D or Basic D&D. And I can get those for free by playing BFRPG or OSRIC.

4. Some of the rules in C&C seem poorly thought out. The encumbrance rules are one that stick out. The lack of multiclassing rules. The lack of rate of fire rules for missile weapons. Also, some of the spells don't seem balanced. It's a design by committee and it shows.

5. But mainly it's because I am totally not impressed with TLG as a company. Everything that I have bought from them (C&C or d20) has been very poorly edited and laid out. If I want non-professional products, I'll stick with free stuff. Most free rpg's I've looked at lately have better production values than what TLG expects me to pay for. Yes, I know the 2nd printing of the phb is better, but I ain't paying for what is essentially the same book twice.

p.s.- I also hate the term "Castle Keeper". Everyone I played with thought it was lame and laughed at it. YMMV