XCrawl -- Can you tell me anything about it?

[w_earle_wheeler]

I've read a few blurbs about Xcrawl. It's a d20 game that seems to be about characters adventuring in a "game show" (see: The Running Man) format.

The idea is interesting, but I'd like to know more about the book before ordering it.

According to Amazon.com, a new core book (or a reprint of the first one) was released December 30th, 2006. There isn't much information about Xcrawl on Goodman Game's site, and the original publisher's web page seems to be having problems.

 

[kingpaul]

The world of Xcrawl is rather interesting, IMO. To me, it is: 1 part Roman Coliseum, 1 part Dungeon Crawl and 1 part Running Man; hit blend.

The Roman Empire never fell. The North American Empire is currently ruled by a Roman-style Ronald Reagan. Tech isn't nearly as advanced, but that's because magic has never left. Xcrawl is the Extreme Dungeon Crawl League. The officially sanctioned deities are of course, the Roman pantheon. The NAE has agreements with the equivalent of the Underdark to furnish monsters for the games. The players go through pre-built dungeons set up by a DJ (Dungeon Judge). They clear a room, they get some prizes. Time is of the essence, as there are multiple teams that try and clear the same dungeon.

That should give you a taste. Do you have any other questions I can try and answer?

 

[Plane Sailing]

You want to read (run, don't walk!) Capellans wonderful storyhour threads about x-crawl where you can enjoy:

• Stick Your Citadel Where the Sun Don't Shine;
• Forge of F.U.
• Soviet of Dreams

 

[Tarek]

Don't forget the elements of World Wrestling Federation... the braggadocio, the outrageous statements, the feuds between teams...

 

[Capellan]

While I appreciate Plane Sailing's pimpage, I should point out that my X-Path games came about because I loved the X-Crawl concept but didn't care for the execution. I never used any of the actual X-Crawl material in those games, just the inspiration of "dungeon-crawling as true life pro wrestling".

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

That should give you a taste. Do you have any other questions I can try and answer?

Could I get you to post the Table of Contents of the book?

I'd like to know how much of the book is devoted to things I don't need (new classes, tweaks on existing classes, feats, reprinting of any OGL material) versus things I am interested in (new campaign specific rules, fluff text, setting ideas).

 

[jdrakeh]

. . . I loved the X-Crawl concept but didn't care for the execution.

Ditto. The idea of competative dungeon crawling has intrigued me ever since the days of Baron Sukumvit's Trial of Champions (set in the famed Deathtrap Dungeon of Fighting Fantasy fame). The problem that I had with X-Crawl was that it took this very intriguing concept and saddled it with a specific setting that was part Ancient Rome, part Running Man (complete with tech), and part Thug Life (seriously). The setting didn't grab me at all.

 

[Plane Sailing]

While I appreciate Plane Sailing's pimpage, I should point out that my X-Path games came about because I loved the X-Crawl concept but didn't care for the execution. I never used any of the actual X-Crawl material in those games, just the inspiration of "dungeon-crawling as true life pro wrestling".

Heck, until this thread I didn't realise the X-Crawl wasn't just a name you made up for the stories... I thought it was just your own fusion of d20 Modern with the adventure path series.

...and to continue the pimpage, read those storyhours just for the humour value if nothing else!

still waiting for the Spaceship Zero Christmas special to come to its conclusion, BTW

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

My whole group played this at Gen Con last summer and it was the funnest gaming experience I've ever had at a con.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

While I appreciate Plane Sailing's pimpage, I should point out that my X-Path games came about because I loved the X-Crawl concept but didn't care for the execution. I never used any of the actual X-Crawl material in those games, just the inspiration of "dungeon-crawling as true life pro wrestling".

This is pretty much how I felt.

The concept of the game was one of the most clever and interesting ideas I had seen in a long time. However, the main rule book was filled - and I mean FILLED - with this elaborate backstory of the world history which did not interest me at all. I ignored it, meaning I had a huge book with at least half of it being rather useless to me.

I took a different approach. I dusted off my Blood Bowl stuff and took the history that allowed for Blood Bowl in the Warhammer world and just figured that this would be the next logical extension of it.

X-Crawl would have been better suited to be markted as a template. Rather than go through the elaborate history, just give more quirky dungeons, traps, criters and so on.

I ran it for several months with my gaming group and they had a great time as it was kind of mindless, violent fun with more great quotes and antics than I have seen in just about any other game I have run.

That being said, I have played it at GenCon with the creators of the game and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had.