So a quick brain dump here in an attempt to get going:

Odd Retroclone Idea One:

Wanted to be successful with M20 Odd Duck inspired by this post. Basically, the spell list would be substituted with the spells from The Fantasy Trip. Conversion of the spells has been problematic. I finally figured out that IQ level =! M20 spell level. ST cost also doesn’t seem to translate as some spells have 50, 60 or 100 ST cost while many others range from 1 to 10.

I created a spreadsheet to rank them relatively to each other. An IQ 14 spell that cost 1 ST would be a higher level than an IQ 8 spell that cost 2 ST. The formula is not that complicated as I opted out of trying to determine a normalized distribution. Besides, I’m not that good at normalization (in math or databases) anyway.

I may never finish it. Ugh. It’s a good idea that I just cannot implement.

Odd Retroclone Idea Two:

I also have some bizarre deathwish to create my own retro-clone. It would be a complete vanity project that ‘feels’ like the amalgam of B/X, 1st and 2nd edition AD&D with some new found love for BAB and other d20 conventions. The other oddity would be how everything is inspired by Paul M. Crabaugh. I will include a class generator (which only needs options for illusionists) and a monster generator. I am about 33% done with the generator – it only generates non-magical beasts at the moment.

What compels me on this idea is a mystery to me.

Properly, the web enhancement is called Mahasarpa and it’s available as a web enhancement from WOTC here. Please bear with the misspelling.

THinking about Masharpa (from WOTC) and India flavored articles from old Dragon magazines.

Then came across Inkwell Ideas’ generators for city names: http://bit.ly/6H6lYC and http://bit.ly/4BvC2z about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Then thought about adding an area with India-like flavor for BFRPG setting. Would use Anti-Paladin Games format of one-page descriptions. about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Of course, when creating a new setting, I start with the language so that I know what to call things. Most of the time, it’s English. about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

This time, I want something Sanskrit-ish. I turn to my favorite tool, Yould, which I helped document. http://bit.ly/7PvMfM about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Firing up Yould, I realize that I prefer transliterated texts to work up a few ideas. You see, Yould requires texts to “train” the generator about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

In a perfect would, I would use documents written in Sanskrit and generate from there (Yould is UTF-8, works with anything) about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

But I am looking for ‘good enough’ because I do not want to get bogged down in my linguist OCD issues. (Yes, I love languages) about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Not finding any larger transliterated texts that I could use easily, I take a readily available English text and use google translate about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Google Translate provides “romanization” of the English to Hindi translation of my long passage. I use the romanization to train yould. about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

After some work, yould has a masharpa engine I can use to make Sanskrit-ish words. Decision: generate 100 words and choose the best ones? about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Or create a name generator similar to the ones I saw on Inkwell Ideas. I decide to create a name generator similar to the Chinese City one. about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

I generate small words to correspond to same concepts used (directions, geologic features, pleasant adjectives, colors,etc) and expand list about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Final Generator has Five Colums with 20 entries per column. Roll D6 twice to choose which colums. Roll D20 to find entry. Viola! about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Final Generator produces names with the flavors I want, as well as provide 100 vocabulary woods for the setting. Will post on sycarion soon about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Example results: Vanataane, Lahekan, Prekham, Rushaim, Apharuen, Pahrahta, Itashaya. 38 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Life is good, I feel like I can make some one page writeups of various areas. 38 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Basic Fantasy started here on Dragonsfoot forums. The stated main goal was to create a system based on d20 that felt like Moldvay and Cook. Another important goal was that the game should feel light. Much of the rules feel like the old B/X game while certain areas, especially combat, have been streamlined by the d20 mechanic. The rules cover a wide variety of situations including aerial and naval combat – yet they still feel light. Praise for BF based on Chris’ original criteria are well-deserved.

Presentation

Release 2 features a beautiful cover art by Erik Wilson. This cover art is not attempt to emulate an older version of D&D in style. It can stand on it’s own as a piece of art. To really appreciate it, download the Open Document format and magnify the graphic.

The interior text font is Soutane Black, a knock-off of the Souvenir font used in the original B/X books. The title font is in a knock off of Fritz Quadrata, the font used for 2e titles. The choice of fonts adds to the feel of a B/X book. Comparing a print out of Basic Fantasy with my Moldvay Basic, there are little to no differences in presentation.

Content

Moldvay stated in the foreword of the Basic Rules that this version of D&D was designed for those that had never played an RPG before. He addressed the input from thousands of players and GMs that informed his revision of the rules.

Basic Fantasy acknowledges that what has changed in thirty years is that many more people have played an rpg. Yet, there is still an obligatory section that describes what an rpg is. It is fairly lengthy if the section about dice is included, but it is shorter than the introduction in Moldvay. There are few standard terms defined save PC, GM, NPC.

The next section involves creating a player character. In less than two pages, character creation, character abilities, Hit Dice, Hit Points, and Languages are explained. The attribute bonus chart is greatly simplified from Moldvay and more easily explained. No attribute above 18 is explained at this point because no player character can start with an attribute above 18.  Some details, such as available languages, are left up to the GM. In other places, room for house rules is provided by a statement about asking the GM. These house rules could be what happens at 0 hit points or available spells to 1st level magic users.

The next section is the largest break from B/X. Character races are described, but they are not distinct character classes. Restrictions on races are listed in terms of class and hit dice instead of level. For example, an Elf can become a 20th level Magic-User. A Halfling can become a 15th level Fighter, but will only roll d6 for hit points.

These tweaks to class and race still make humans feel like the dominant race in the game while still providing variety. In fact, if you need more variety, creating combination classes is a simple matter of adding the XP tables together and meeting the minimum requirements of both classes. Yes,  a Elven Fighter/Magic-User than can cast spells in armor can be created. The limitations, though, are d6 rolled for hit points, 4500 XP to reach 2nd level, and a Constitution limit of 17.

After the XP tables and brief explanations for each class are provided, a through, but not comphrensive equipment list is given. This list covers mundane items like rope and scales up to large boats and siege engines. Yet, the reader may feel like holes exist in certain types of equipment. For example, there are three types of armor: leather, chain, plate. (What! No splint mail?) Compared to the five types of horses, this could look pretty selective.

In the orginal B/X, though, there really were only the 3 armors. Many of the other items appear in the Expert rules or the Rules Cyclopedia. However, the prices of all items appear to have been completely rethought. Plate Mail is, rightly so, quite expensive.  Naval ships are quite expensive and require the type of investment that only truly weather players may indulge in. Sheets of paper and vials of ink are also expensive – it is cheaper to buy a good sword than to buy the means to describe that sword in writing. I appreciate this nod toward actual medieval life that made education prohibitively expensive.

After equipment comes a description of all the spells. Compared to newer versions, the number of spells is larger than B/X (116). Due to BF’s removal of alignment, the Detect Alignment spell is gone and Detect/Dispel Evil spells deal more with warding against charms. A large variety is provided, including a few from d20 like Spiritual Hammer, Magic Mouth, and all the Cleric 6th level spells.

More in intermittent posts throughout the month. Next post, the BF Class Generator (with all due respect to David Crabuagh).

When I began writing for Nevermet Press, there was some discussion about creating statistics and details for various game systems. Most of the writers played 4e, so that was the big focus. I wanted to help, but since I have never played 3e, 3.5e, or 4e, all I could do is generate stats for systems in less demand. I had wanted to do OpenD6 conversions because I love the system, but WEG’s apparent implosion led me to look elsewhere.

When I returned to gaming about four years ago, I had heard of various retro-clones that used the Open Gaming License to create the feel of earlier versions. Since I have only played earlier editions of *any* rpg (Marvel, Shadowrun, D&D, Ars Magica, Hero, etc.), these neoclassical rulesets seemed like the perfect place to start. I downloaded several and eagerly read through the rules.

What followed was a tremendous sense of nostalgia. I read OSRIC and remembered all the games my high school group played until 3am. It was great! I also read many others, all with similar feelings. I went into my RPG library and dug out my B/X rules,  BECMI rules, 1e rules and 2e rules. I skimmed through most of them before diving into my notebook of house rules. (Note: It’s not this set of house rules, but I like the name.)

Finding the Great Tome of House Rules helped me remember the way my group played the game. We amalgamated rules from almost every version we had. We used 1e stat blocks for everything, we had THAC0, we had no limit to the number of attacks a fighter gained against 1HD or less creatures. We also had certain NPC races as their own character class (There is no good link for were-swans). We never found a spell we didn’t like. We loved all character classes as well. We had guns and lasers. All in all, our rule system was best described as founded in 1e, but influenced by the simplicity of B/X & BECMI, using all the settings and kits of 2e. There is no good description for the skill system we used. Please don’t ask me to try.

Against this background, I also discovered Microlite20. This was my first experience with anything like the 3e ruleset. Reading the short rules and various add-ons the community posted, I was hooked. M20 has proven to be something between a beer and pretzels rpg and a full-fledged ongoing campaign. I could use my scribbled campaign notes and world creations without too much revision. It allowed me to ditch almost 95% of my house rule notebook. In the anything goes add-ons on the site, it was simple to recreate my beloved Spelljammer and blast off into the ether. It also turned out to be a simple matter to setup some of my previous settings that included so many classes and kits.

I had attempted a Psionics add-on. I helped write a Conan add-on. I had notes for various magic systems strewn about two thumb drives and a few computers. Working through creating these add-ons had inadvertently allowed me to become somewhat familiar with d20.

The other reason that I enjoy M20 so much is the community. There seems to be at least one or two posts a month that start with “I was thinking about creating XYZ in M20.” It is possible to make M20 into something very far removed from the world’s most popular role-playing game.  More than that, the idea of creating something new is enthusiastically embraced. Many folks, including myself, lurk around the formulas waiting for the next new thing. (Take a look at the new traits plug-in. Feats without the headache.) It’s now a part of my Monday ritual.

All of this may be a fun trip down memory lane. It seems to get away from the main idea of this post. In the end, why Basic Fantasy for my fantasy rpg of choice? I want a retro-clone for which I can stat NMP material. I enjoy something that is based in d20. I enjoy that it feels like the games my high school group played. I like the breadth of situations covered in core rulebook. I enjoy the open community that actively embraces new ideas. Most importantly, I have fun doing it.

Next up: Through the Basic Fantasy core rulebook.

Adult Granite: HD 21d12+105 (241), AC 28, Bite +27 (2d8), or Breath 8d6 stream of rocks DC 25,  phys+DEX to dodge for half, or thorwn rock 2d6+7.

And now for the Basic Fantasy Statblock

Dragon, Granite

Granite dragons have thick, rock-like scales with small black spots on them. The scales also tend to become for red as they age. They prefer to live on top of ancient mountains or near stone quarries. In order to properly digest their food, they swallow heavy stones in a gizzard type of organ. The bite of a granite dragon is severe due to their hardened teeth. When fighting, a granite dragon prefers to be near a source of rocks. When their breath weapon is not available, a granite dragon will attempt to hurl boulders. Granite dragons are capable of great cruelty. They enjoy swallowing humanoids whole and listening to their cries as they are ground into pieces by the stone in their gizzard. Outside of this rare pleasure, granite dragons are motivated by the urge to live, breed and collect valuable items.

Granite dragons are immune to poisonous gases.

Adult Thunder: HD 18d12+72 (189), AC 27, Bite +22 (2d6+7), or Breath 6d6 sonic DC 23, phys+DEX to dodge for half. STR 23, DEX 10, MIND 10. Phys 5, Subt 8, Knowledge 5, Communication 5

And now for the Basic Fantasy Statblock

Dragon, Thunder

Thunder dragons are about the size of white dragons, but more stocky in build. They are slow fliers that prefer to move along the ground. They are light brown and distinctively marked with large, irregularly-shaped, blood-red-edged ellipses. When first seen, sages called them clouded dragons.

Thunder Dragons prefer to live in large caverns in mountains or hilly areas. Over time, they continue to enlarge their home cavern into a byzantine maze. They are considered by other dragons as more brute than intelligent dragon. As a result, thunder dragons tend to be neutral in outlook, and generally distrustful of other dragons.

Thunder dragons prefer to fight by means of a sophisticated ambush that best uses their sonic breath weapon and chameleon-like abilities. They are motivated to reproduce and accumulate treasure. They prefer a diet of vegetables and rocks, but they are not adverse to eating the occasional mountain lion or dwarf.

Thunder dragons use a sonic breath weapon. This blast of sound disorients target creatures, leaving them effectively stunned for 1d4 rounds. No attack roll is required, but a save vs. Death Ray is allowed to resist. They also have the ability to blend into their surroundings like a chameleon, allowing them to surprise prey on 1-3 on 1d6.

Thunder dragons are immune to sonic attacks.

Thunder Dragon Age Table

So, there will be content on my site from this point forward designed specifically for the BFRPG. This month will include new dragons, as well as statblocked content from Nevermet Press.

Did I forget M20? No, I start with M20 and work my way forward. I also intend to provide M20 statblocks for everything as well.

Here’s to a reboot of Sycarion.com