Your thoughts on 'Xcrawl"?

[Dannyalcatraz]

Here's an idea for an X-Crawl adventure type lifted from the Romans themselves. The Romans staged certain colliseum battles to resemble stories from their legends or even historical battles- the Roman Colliseum itself was designed to be flooded to stage gladiatorial combats that were also mock naval battles The gladiators in these semi-scripted combats were equipped as befit the character they played.

In X-Crawl, the equivalent would be:

The dungeon crawl is based on a popular novel, and each athelete must take on certain aspects of a main character. To gain points, they must achieve character-oriented goals.

First up, something for the N00Bs...The Wizard of Oz*.

Equip each PC with stuff associated with one of the major characters; here, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each player must accumulate goodies associated with the character they're playing- better axes for the Tin Man, good books (or dictionaries or encyclopedia volumes) for the Scarecrow...

Have more than 4 players? Perhaps you divide them into competing teams in parallel arenas. Or perhaps they go head to head, with some playing NPC Flying Monkeys.

If they survive Oz...

*FWIW, the Oz books are a bit grittier than the movie.

 

[Melsenschlap]

It's not really to my taste in terms of genre. The modules are very well-crafted but I don't like the way they chip away at how I personally handle my own suspension of disbelief.

I have heard the same thing from other people (another entry in this thread says something to the effect of " . . . gladiatorial games, dungeon crawling and gangster rap? WTF??" I want that to be our next Tshirt! )

If it's not too personal, how does Xcrawl hamper your suspension of disbelief? I have never heard that before.

Glad you think our modules are well-crafted - we try hard to make them fun and challenging.

be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

This is beyond a doubt one of the best games I play at Gen Con for four years and I have yet to advance . I also played a short campaign when I was a student. It is fun for about 4-5 sessions and then it got old. But if you want to be silly and not worry about the logic of ecology of the dungeon It is a good game

I am not so sure how essential it is to have the actual XCrawl book but Brandon is a good guy so I would get it. It is allot of fun. I like spells having copyrights. But actually the Sellout book is the best.

Sorry you haven't advanced in the Gen Con tourney yet. Are you going this summer? Maybe its YOUR YEAR!!

I am fairly sure that I can't release too many details but I can say that this year's Xcrawl tourney is being written by the dynamic Jason Little and it is going to test all of your skills big time.

I appreciate the shout out and thank everyone who buys any of the Xcrawl books for whatever reason The core book gives the background of the world, the history of Xcrawl, a full introductory three level crawl pitting your home team against the terrifying DJ Cudgel Up, and yes indeed copyrighted spells. A freebie copyrighted spell (actually featured in the Guild! source book):

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fireball!®
Evocation (Copyrighted)
Level: Sor/ Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One action
Range: Medium
Effect: 10’ Radius Blast
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex Half
Spell Resistance: Yes

You create a smallish fire explosion. The blast affects a 10’ radius and causes 1d4 points of damage per caster level (maximum 5d4) to every target in its area of effect, including inanimate objects. It can ignite combustible items such a paper and fabric, but it is not hot enough to melt most metal.
Material Component: A coupon, covered with arcane symbols, which may be ordered through the mail with a check or money order in the NAE. Coupons cost 20 GP each and disappear once the spell is cast. Orders of more than ten coupons receive a 10% discount.

(I was going to use a spell out of the hard cover but I just discovered that somehow I do not have a copy of the Xcrawl core book in my house, or on my new computer. Now that's just weird.)

hope all is well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

A little trivia from my home state (where I'm glad I no longer live)...

When Louisiana was trying to fund the building of the Superdome, one of the state senators suggested that one thing they could do would be to pit convicts with death sentences or life sentences against large predators in exchange for commutations or other benefits...

That's right...gladiatorial blood sports in USA in the 1960s.

The measure failed to pass.

20 years later, the suggestion came up again, with the added info that technology had progressed to the point that the 'Dome could be equipped with a floor that favored tennis shoes over clawed paws, giving the convicts an advantage to exploit...

The measure failed to pass.

However, in the X-Crawl campaign setting, the measure probably would have passed the first time out.

Yikes!

My father's family is from St. Martinville LA and I lived in New Orleans for a few years - let me just say that if this story had to take place somewhere in the US I suppose it would have to take place in Louisiana. Or possibly Texas - I lived there too and I can almost picture Molly Ivans rolling her eyes.

Thanks for that - I'm going to find the story online someplace later.

be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

Brendan, I have the original 3.0 version of the X-Crawl rulebook. What changes were made in the updated version?

Olaf the Stout

The updated version has cleaned up charts and numbers (specifically the armor chart which was completely wonky in the old version).

If you own the old version do not throw it out! All of the errata and changes can be downloaded free from the Goodmans Game site.

http://www.goodmangames.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=991


The only other changes are that it is indeed in color and has a few nifty new pieces of art.

be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

Here's an idea for an X-Crawl adventure type lifted from the Romans themselves. The Romans staged certain colliseum battles to resemble stories from their legends or even historical battles- the Roman Colliseum itself was designed to be flooded to stage gladiatorial combats that were also mock naval battles The gladiators in these semi-scripted combats were equipped as befit the character they played.

In X-Crawl, the equivalent would be:

The dungeon crawl is based on a popular novel, and each athelete must take on certain aspects of a main character. To gain points, they must achieve character-oriented goals.

First up, something for the N00Bs...The Wizard of Oz*.

Equip each PC with stuff associated with one of the major characters; here, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each player must accumulate goodies associated with the character they're playing- better axes for the Tin Man, good books (or dictionaries or encyclopedia volumes) for the Scarecrow...

Have more than 4 players? Perhaps you divide them into competing teams in parallel arenas. Or perhaps they go head to head, with some playing NPC Flying Monkeys.

If they survive Oz...

*FWIW, the Oz books are a bit grittier than the movie.

Dude my huge flying construct Gump will swallow all opposition whole! And my Gnome King will leave you trying to run out a NoGo door - or is it just an Illusion! Muwah ha ha!

The Oz books are wonderful, I recommend highly.

And yes you could do an excellent adventure in that classic Roman style. Mind might go like this:

Xcrawl: Red Dwarf (Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers)

Lister: Rogue/ Fighter
Rimmer: Fighter/
Crighton: Cleric
Cat: Monk

Battle your way through time and space! Find your way to the center of the Red Dwarf maze, avoid Frankenstein and his dire litter mates, Make your way to the "planet" (inexplicably covered in bugbears with ray guns of some sort or other) and get back to the cryofreeze before time runs out.

Biggedy bam! Lets run it!



be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

Ancient Rome meets Smash TV meets Gangster Rap? WTF?).

That's it! I want that on a Tshirt so bad!


be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

I've loved XCrawl pretty much since it came out.

People seem to either really like the fluff, or hate it; I am in the former camp. The Fluff is written so well that virtually any "tone" you want to impart to your game is supported...

D&D as Pro Wrestling? Check.
Religious/Political Intrigue? Check.
Behind the scenes life of Media Stars? Check.
Straight Up Dungeon Crawling? Check.

The game is a ton of fun, we got a lot of use out of the Sellout supplement, but I'm not sure it would be needed for everyone's game.

One thing though is that prepared adventures are pretty important. With a lot of D&D I can just make it up on the fly...not so with XCrawl.

Thanks man! That's how we want it to be - a setting where you can run just mega dungeon action extravaganzas, or a full campaign set in a very dark world with some very rough players, or whatever suits you.

I do highly recommend the SellOut! supplement - it has expanded rules for fame, new feats, new magic items, new NPC prestige classes, new monsters and a Random Person Generator. All sorts of good fun crunchy bits.

be well,

Brendan

 

[Melsenschlap]

Brendan was nice enough to run two games last Gen Con for the FDG crew at night and we had a blast. I can honestly say that those two games were the funnest con games I have ever played in and the rest of my group agreed (so much we're doing another game at GC this year). We got the books at the con last year and while we don't do a regular campaign of it for time reasons (we barely have time to play regular D&D), we do get it out every few months and play to take a break from the regular campaign (this Friday we're going through the Dungeonbattle Brooklyn module). I loved it so much that FDG is working on an E-Z Dungeons expansion pack that gives you accessores to convert your E-Z Dungeons basic set for use with X-Crawl (No Go doors, etc.) If any of you have the chance to sign up for an X-Crawl game at Gen Con with Brendan go for it-you have no idea how much fun you will have!

I have never laughed so hard at a RPG session as I did the first time I ever played with the Fat Dragon crew's Xcrawl team, the indomitable Short Bus Gamers. We seriously had one of the best times ever. Oh sure, they hit every trap, triggered the hidden dinosaur and nearly drowned once or twice but man were they entertaining.

Check out the Fat Dragon tile systems - they are amazingly helpful, easy to use and they produce some of the best looking dungeon tiles ever.

Oh and guys . . . wait till you see what I have cooked up for this year - you ain't seen nothin yet!!

be well,

Brendan

 

[Teflon Billy]

Hey Brendan, is Xcrawl full at Gen Con yet?

As an ENnies judge I don;t get my badge until I am onsite, so pre-reg is pretty much out.

Any way I could sign up theough you?