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JasonZavoda · General Discussion

Chainsaw wrote:
Let's keep things civil and friendly, guys. We're talking about playing make-believe, not whether the cure for cancer should be free or something.

That was me being civil and light hearted and friendly. That is about as nice as I get.

JasonZavoda · General Discussion

mabon5127 wrote:
JasonZavoda wrote:
Blackadder23 wrote:
In my opinion, XP for money and treasure was one of Gary's most brilliant design decisions: 1 XP for 1 GP, and a set amount for each monster. All very cut and dried, nothing left to chance or DM whim, and best of all objective. I am thoroughly unimpressed by alternative systems that substitute DM fiat and subjectivity - e.g., "roleplaying awards", DM judgment as to who "contributed" the most, reaching some point on the DM's railroad "plotline" - for Gary's simple, elegant, objective system. Most alternative systems basically replace skill and cunning in battle and garnering treasure with sucking up to the DM. No thanks!
You must have had some suck-ass DM's because if I wanted to screw with you as one then xp reward would be pretty far down my list, and as a DM I'd have news for you sunshine, outside of your character's actions the whole world and all the people in it belong to me.

Gary was genius at some things but XP for gold and treasure was the lamest thing he ever came up with including the cartoon series. Gold and treasure are their own rewards and tying a game mechanic to them does nothing but rip the curtain aside to show off the limitations of the great and powerful Oz.
Tell us how you really feel!!
I may choose to use another system for experience but to say using blood and gp is lame as I stand on the shoulders of the giant that created it, for me, is hypocritical. Especially since I used that very system for the first twenty years and then chose another.

Never be shy of hypocracy if it makes you feel better.

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JasonZavoda · General Discussion

Blackadder23 wrote:
mabon5127 wrote:
Can I ask Why? I have a xp figure in mind for finishing a session and an adventure but if they do something thats so cool that it makes the game memorable I add some for that and let them know.
However you want to handle it is fine (obviously). I personally prefer to be as "neutral" as possible. To me it would be a breach of referee "neutrality" to reward the players for taking specific actions. It would seem that I was trying to guide their behavior. I'm very much opposed to that. I don't (and in my opinion, shouldn't) care what they do. They tell me what they do, and I tell them the outcome. If the outcome includes treasure chests emptied and body bags filled, they get XP. Simple.

I am very much anti-story and anti-railroad, so I probably take a much harder line than most DM's. Even for a "story DM", it appears that most alternative systems are both less simple and less objective than "XP for blood and gold". It seems like a disservicable trade to me. But what do I know?

Have you tried boardgames? I hear parcheese can be quite enjoyable, perhaps cards. Old Maid maybe?

Honestly, I know what you are talking about, but as long as a DM doesn't suck it doesn't matter if they are neutral. And storyline isn't a bad thing. Hell, even boardgames and video-games have story-lines. I hear they are even trying to add it to television shows but I think they should stick to well-crafted commercials myself with a judicious amount of gratuitous sex and violence, and maybe some sparkly bits so they can call it sci-fi. There is no objectivity and no one is neutral, and as long as my players 'think' that I'm being remotely fair they seem happy with the funny-voiced characters, evocative use of scenery and fortutous encounters with wandering strangers. Believe me story

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JasonZavoda · General Discussion

Blackadder23 wrote:
In my opinion, XP for money and treasure was one of Gary's most brilliant design decisions: 1 XP for 1 GP, and a set amount for each monster. All very cut and dried, nothing left to chance or DM whim, and best of all objective. I am thoroughly unimpressed by alternative systems that substitute DM fiat and subjectivity - e.g., "roleplaying awards", DM judgment as to who "contributed" the most, reaching some point on the DM's railroad "plotline" - for Gary's simple, elegant, objective system. Most alternative systems basically replace skill and cunning in battle and garnering treasure with sucking up to the DM. No thanks!

You must have had some suck-ass DM's because if I wanted to screw with you as one then xp reward would be pretty far down my list, and as a DM I'd have news for you sunshine, outside of your character's actions the whole world and all the people in it belong to me.

Gary was genius at some things but XP for gold and treasure was the lamest thing he ever came up with including the cartoon series. Gold and treasure are their own rewards and tying a game mechanic to them does nothing but rip the curtain aside to show off the limitations of the great and powerful Oz.

JasonZavoda · Literary Inspirations

NAJones wrote:
I've been tempted to pull the trigger on the Kane anthologies on Amazon, but jeebus they are expensive. Has anybody found these cheaper anywhere?

At the very least you should be able to get the paperbacks of the three novels cheaper than the hardcover compilation. Not sure what the complete run anthology in paperback would run.

JasonZavoda · Literary Inspirations

Ghul wrote:
I hope at some point there is a reasonably priced collection of all the books. For now, I'm left with Dark Crusade and Bloodstone, both of which I've enjoyed thoroughly. The fortunate part is that I've still got some great fiction to read.

For a time you could get some printing of the paperbacks at a reasonable price on ebay, though Death Angel's Shadow (an anthology of short stories) was hard to come by (as well as his non-Kane anthologies). Darkness Weaves had a large enough print run to be fairly cheap for a longwhile so you might still be able to pick it up at reasonable. His collections should not be out of print (although they are).

JasonZavoda · General Discussion (Off-Topic)

Maezar wrote:
Purchased!

Thanks very much. Pleease let me know what you think of it.

JasonZavoda · Television and Film

I really hate what De Camp and Carter did to Conan. Carter's biography of Lovecraft is also a load of slanderous crap.

JasonZavoda · General Discussion

Ghul wrote:
JasonZavoda wrote:
The hooked tentacles of some dark elder beast from the outermost dark beyond the stars.
You just described my mother-in-law! ;)

Well, now we know where you are getting your ideas from.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
Does anyone recognize the horses or know who owned that wagon? Can anyone speak with animals?

(The old Rus who rode out to them seems extremely well skilled with horses but whether he can speak with animals or not isn't apparent. If you are going over knowledge that you may already possess you might want to reread old posts. hinit. hint. hint)

JasonZavoda · General Discussion

The hooked tentacles of some dark elder beast from the outermost dark beyond the stars.

JasonZavoda · Announcements

Ghul wrote:
finarvyn wrote:
Already have two copies. I bought one at Gary Con, not realizing that there was already one in the "goody bag."
Sorry, Fin, I tried to remember to ask everyone who bought it if they had a platinum swag bag!

Looking forward to reading through this adventure.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Crisippo wrote:
Alright 3d6= 12 and d20= 8

The plank splits even further down the middle without breaking free entirely. The gap has widened considerably but it looks a tight fit.

(add 25xp to your character)

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
Well, we have that going for us, at least. Verctissa will climb down, gather Hrodney, and head for the crowd, hoping to find Andra, Mikael, or Hrodney's party.

Hridney is a bit startled by Verctissa's return but quickly moves the spiked gate aside. Two wagons are set across the street and to either side are several riders. The small group of mounted guardsmen with the old Rus from the inn are just about to meet the wild papr of horses but the first old Rus who galloped out there is abreast of them and with an astounding flip from his horse lands on the back of one of the pair. He has his head down near iits head and the beast begins to slow, its harness mate slowing as well in reastion. They reach the other riders and they form a small group around them.

At sedate pace they panting foam-flecked and sweating horses are brought to a slow walk as they reach town. The Rus riding the back of one drops beside it and with a flash of his knife cuts the wagon-tongue from the leather bands letting it drop to the dirt road.

The crowd murmurs of approval but there is little shouting while the two horses are brought to a stop amd removed from the harness before being walked over to the nearby stables and corral.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
And other than the two charging horses, no obvious threat or disturbance?

The town is active as hive of bees hit by a stone. The old Rus has turned in the road and the rushing horses are closing with him. A second wagon has come from the large building on the south road and is pulling across the road near the inn. A large crowd builds near the entrance to the inn but has kept the center of the road clear while five riders in armor ride around the blockade and gallop down the west road.

But other than that no night terrors or ice breathing fire demons.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
Are the shouts associated with those actions, or does it seem like something else is going on elsewhere in town? Verctissa will climb to the tower top for a look.

Yiel can see the old Rus closing with the approaching horses while Verctissa climbs the tower. Below her Hrodney stands at the gate with a drawn sword. As she climbs Verctissa can see that the street once again is crowded with townsfolk. Some, like the men from the warehouse she recognizes, but many she doesnt. Most are armed and no young are among them. The shouts have grown from the crowd but it is impossible to make out what is being said from all the babble.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
"You there, by the inn--stop those horses before they kill someone."

The three men speak for a moment and two of the swordsmen rush across the street, though they are noticeably slower than Hrodney was when she ran back and forth to the trading post.

Now that the horns have stopped Verctissa can hear shouts from further in town. From her vantage beneath the tower and among the spiked wall of the guard tower Verctissa can only see the buildings along the southern road. The large barn like building is still open and she sees one of the old men rush into it.

The horses are now a visible pair still moving at a good pace and carving a furrow in the dirt road that churns the earth into the great cloud of dust behind them.

From the street the shouts grow louder and a creaking sound. One of the old Rus appears riding a horse at break-neck spead out along the road to meet the horses. Then at a slower pace a wagon appears around the corner of the inn and the driver, a long haired young woman with a black hat blowing behind her turns the wagon sideways across the road.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
Very well. Though Verctissa will--after the guard sounds whatever he's about to sound--sound her own hunting horn, figuring Andra and Mikael might recognize its sound.

Hrodeny places her hands over her ears as does Verctissa. With a glance down to make sure they are portected the guard sounds the horn for the second time that day. Shortly the sound is echoed throughtout the town and the guard makes a few final soundings.

Hrodney takes her hands away from her ears then covers them quickly as Vercitssa sounds her horn.

Yiel is a black spot, a winging bird then hovering above Vercitssa. The horses visible as leading specks before the cloud raised behind them.

Nearby the three old Rus have come from the inn and are near the corner of the wall. One holds a spear, the other two have curved swords.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
"That dust cloud is two panicked horses with the remnants of a wagon still attached. They make for your town, so perhaps they are native. Has anyone gone out today?"

"Everyday," calls down the guard. "Zahar is overdue," says the guard. "Cover your ears," he warns.

JasonZavoda · Play-by-Post

Handy Haversack wrote:
"Wise plan." We'll head for the tower for vantage, and Yiel will circle to meet us there.

Hrodney and Verctissa approach the tower and are hailed by the guard, "Ho there!" he calls, "Oh it is you, and the Njord. Does this mean more trouble!" he calls down and points to the road west.

Yiel wings faster than the running horse but is a black speck in the air before the rising dust of the road.