Search found 2005 matches

by Buttmonkey
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:26 pm
Forum: SIEGE Engine & Other TLG Games
Topic: Trying to understand Demi-humans getting two primes from a designers perspective
Replies: 4
Views: 2424

Re: Trying to understand Demi-humans getting two primes from a designers perspective

It's a balancing mechanic to substitute for the evil of demihuman level limits.
by Buttmonkey
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Best / Favorite Adventure ?
Replies: 6
Views: 106

Re: Best / Favorite Adventure ?

White Plume Mountain is my all-time favorite by a wide margin.

Next in line is Anomalous Subsurface Environment 1.
by Buttmonkey
Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:01 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: New Kickstarter GG's World Building 10
Replies: 10
Views: 172

Re: New Kickstarter GG's World Building 10

I've got The Extraordinary Book of Names and Insidiae (they've renamed this one something like the Guide to Adventure Writing for the kickstarter). I think you will know whether the Names book would be useful to you. It's just a massive list of names by category (such as Egyptian or elven). If you f...
by Buttmonkey
Sun Jan 28, 2024 2:59 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What gaming stuff are you reading?
Replies: 2160
Views: 745211

Re: What gaming stuff are you reading?

I've been reading the Shadowdark rulebook.
by Buttmonkey
Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:22 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: DCC method to start PCs
Replies: 4
Views: 1398

Re: DCC method to start PCs

I tired of funnel adventures VERY quickly. It's a great concept, but in practice the funnel adventures are empty calories. You just throw a bunch of character sheets at a meat grinder adventure and see what comes out the other side. You don't have investment in the PCs during the funnel. Death means...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Aug 26, 2023 1:16 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Wow - Yggsburgh is back...
Replies: 20
Views: 2980

Re: Wow - Yggsburgh is back...

I am really beside myself with the announcement that Mr. Gygax's work is coming back to Troll Lords. It should never have left the Troll Lords in the first place, and the method by which it was yanked from them was total bullshit. While I am pleased that Gary's work will once again grace the Troll ...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:10 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)
Replies: 29
Views: 3695

Re: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)

One other conversion thing I forgot to address is the 1st level cleric spell sound burst . That spell is an encounter killer for low level parties. 1E and B/X modules were not designed with sound burst in mind. 1st level parties can sometimes stroll through tough encounters with just that spell bei...
by Buttmonkey
Fri Jan 27, 2023 1:50 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)
Replies: 29
Views: 3695

Re: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)

Oh, crap! One other conversion thing I forgot to address is the 1st level cleric spell sound burst . That spell is an encounter killer for low level parties. 1E and B/X modules were not designed with sound burst in mind. 1st level parties can sometimes stroll through tough encounters with just that ...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:58 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)
Replies: 29
Views: 3695

Re: New but also returning

I'll throw in slightly more detail on converting 1E modules on top of what Fiff said. 1. C&C AC = 20 - 1E AC 2. Decide whether the 1E monster should have physical saves, mental saves, or both. This is pretty obvious from the monster. That's it for converting monsters. Don't worry about finding e...
by Buttmonkey
Sun Dec 25, 2022 10:20 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: MERRY CHRISTMAS
Replies: 50
Views: 19919

Re: MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas, one and all!
by Buttmonkey
Sun Dec 25, 2022 10:18 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What are you reading?
Replies: 545
Views: 283279

Re: What are you reading?

maximus wrote:
Wed Dec 21, 2022 7:59 pm
I've been looking for something fantasy related, but haven't really found the right thing.
Check out Glen Cook's Black Company novels if you haven't already. The first is conveniently titled, "The Black Company."
by Buttmonkey
Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:42 am
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What are you reading?
Replies: 545
Views: 283279

Re: What are you reading?

I finally finished "The Silmarillion" last year. It only took me 35-40 years. I've moved on to "Unfinished Tales."

I also finished McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom", a one-volume history of the US Civil War. It was beyond outstanding.
by Buttmonkey
Sat Jul 23, 2022 3:43 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Your Best DMs and why
Replies: 7
Views: 834

Re: Your Best DMs and why

I've been fortunate to game with a lot of great GMs. I also played with some terrible GMs, particularly at cons. One of the worst is a legendary figure in the hobby. I won't mention the name, but just know the scars still run deep. ;-) Here are some of my favorites: 1. John Wright. I had the great f...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Jul 23, 2022 3:16 pm
Forum: Conventions
Topic: Gary Con XV: March 23-26, 2023
Replies: 9
Views: 3612

Re: Gary Con XV: March 23-26, 2023

I'm still on the fence about whether to try to attend in 2023. Not being able to get a room at the hotel this year really sucked the wind out of my sails. I miss the days when attendance was 300-500.
by Buttmonkey
Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:09 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: What happens when 5e players try Castles and Crusades.
Replies: 29
Views: 5398

Re: What happens when 5e players try Castles and Crusades.

I would assume the Trolls were playing in their world with their rules long before 3.X became public. Both were likely insulated from each other. My understanding is C&C wasn't created until the OGL was released. I believe the Trolls were still running 1E in their home games at that point. The ...
by Buttmonkey
Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:04 am
Forum: Conventions
Topic: North Texas RPG Con 2022
Replies: 34
Views: 6155

Re: North Texas RPG Con 2022

I played in the social during the 2020 plague con. But I had to leave early because I was also scheduled to play in Doug Rheas game that night and I did not realize that they overlapped. This time I made sure not to make that kind of mistake. Look forward to seeing you there! Funny you mention &quo...
by Buttmonkey
Sat May 21, 2022 12:14 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: C&C 2.0
Replies: 166
Views: 10249

Re: C&C 2.0

It's true Gandalf was more than a mere wizard, but i don't know of any wizards characters in fantasy that have had to deal with the Vancian method. Not Merlin, not Circe, not Medea, etc etc. Where in literature is the basis for Vancian fire-and-forget casting? That would be in Jack Vance's Dying Ea...
by Buttmonkey
Sat May 07, 2022 1:24 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Low/er magic campaign
Replies: 18
Views: 1351

Re: Low/er magic campaign

I want to include some version of the cleric, but maybe not with the same range of spell-casting. I would actually be tempted to have a spell-casting paladin instead, maybe with more healing abilities and less combat? ... Any suggestions? You might consider only allowing clerics as a secondary clas...
by Buttmonkey
Sun May 01, 2022 5:25 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What Video Game(s) are you playing
Replies: 141
Views: 96822

Re: What Video Game(s) are you playing

I've played a bit of Dorf Romantik this weekend. It's a relaxing tile game that was just released.
by Buttmonkey
Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:02 am
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What music are you listening to?
Replies: 18
Views: 1318

Re: What music are you listening to?

Lots of 80s music recently. Transitioned to Maggie Koerner's new album this afternoon.
by Buttmonkey
Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:28 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What Video Game(s) are you playing
Replies: 141
Views: 96822

Re: What Video Game(s) are you playing

I'm currently starting to play Divinity: Original Sin II and Call of Duty: Warzone.

I found an Oregon tourism website where you can play the original Oregon Trail and gave that a try the other night.
by Buttmonkey
Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:25 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What gaming stuff are you reading?
Replies: 2160
Views: 745211

Re: What gaming stuff are you reading?

I'm about to launch a Gamma World 2E campaign, so I'm reading through my GW 2E materials.
by Buttmonkey
Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:15 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: DnD by Mail... old school
Replies: 4
Views: 553

Re: DnD by Mail... old school

Never tried playing via snail mail. Reminds me of gentlemen hundreds of years ago playing chess via letters, one move at a time. :lol: Correspondence chess didn’t die hundreds of years ago. I played some in the 90s, but hated it. It’s still a thing today, although its popularity has dwindled with t...
by Buttmonkey
Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:10 am
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What Video Game(s) are you playing
Replies: 141
Views: 96822

Re: What Video Game(s) are you playing

I’m thinking about trying out a CRPG on my computer. The last one I played was Might & Magic VI something like 20+ years ago. I figure it’s time to try a new one. I’ve got a solid laptop, so I don’t think hardware will be a limiting factor. I’ve heard good things about Wasteland 3 and Pillars of...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:24 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What are you reading?
Replies: 545
Views: 283279

Re: What are you reading?

Wish me luck I just started Edward Gibbon's classic "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire". I have the modern library's three volume unabridged version. So far very interesting and the archaic language is definitely forcing my brain to fire up all cylinders. I've been working my way t...
by Buttmonkey
Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:21 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Magic Rings and Stacking
Replies: 11
Views: 893

Re: Magic Rings and Stacking

Rings of protection and magical armor would stack in my game.
by Buttmonkey
Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:37 am
Forum: Conventions
Topic: North Texas RPG Con 2022
Replies: 34
Views: 6155

Re: North Texas RPG Con 2022

I was planning to try to go this year after I lost out on the Gary Con hotel lottery (still can't believe I'm not going to Gary Con this year...), but I decided to play in a chess tournament in Las Vegas this summer instead. That fell through and now I'm too busy with work to rotate back to North Te...
by Buttmonkey
Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:13 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What boardgame(s) are you playing?
Replies: 436
Views: 263808

Re: What boardgame(s) are you playing?

Go0gleplex wrote:
Tue Dec 28, 2021 10:18 pm
the unholy trinity games.
Which are the Unholy Trinity games?
by Buttmonkey
Sat Dec 25, 2021 3:23 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: MERRY CHRISTMAS
Replies: 50
Views: 19919

Re: MERRY CHRISTMAS

Happy holidays!
by Buttmonkey
Sat Dec 25, 2021 3:22 pm
Forum: Open Discussion
Topic: What gaming stuff are you reading?
Replies: 2160
Views: 745211

Re: What gaming stuff are you reading?

Trying to get through John Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move. I hate it with the flame of a thousand suns, but my coach told me to read it. I'm sure I'm building considerable amounts of character.