Is anyone playing?

[Jason Vey]

So is anyone actually playing S&S? If so, would you care to see a supplement, and again if so, what would you like to see in it?

I am thinking the following ideas have potential:

* More "elite" class paths (perhaps Illusionist, Necromancer, Druid, Ranger, and/or Bard)

* Mass combat rules that can be handled via narrative or with miniatures.

* Jousting system

* Rules for doing away with the optional %-based thief skills, converting the whole game to a "unified" 2d6 system

* More monsters

Thoughts?

[wulfgar22]

Got my nice shiny hardback a couple of days ago. It's looking pretty sweet...(even though I wish I had waited a couple of weeks so I could have got the revised edition).

As to playing...I haven't had a chance yet as we're mid-game but will certainly let you know when I do.

I always like to see optional supplements...nothing that changes the existing rules but optional add-ons including classes. And monsters are always cool!

[Jason Vey]

Well, the rules for doing away with thief skills will definitely be optional. I've just had a number of people comment on how anachronistic the %-based skills are in the face of the rest of the game.

[kersus]

Sept 21, 2008 12:08:43 GMT -5 Jason Vey said:

So is anyone actually playing S&S?

Not yet, but I may convert my OAD&D campaign to this. We only play twice a year usually, but maybe I can convince them to get together again before Christmas.

If so, would you care to see a supplement, and again if so, what would you like to see in it?

The biggest thing I want to see is a player creation folio type thing with Book 1 and table 1-3 from Book 2 only and a blank character sheet or two. I would buy at least half a dozen of these and replace my softcover of the full rules with a hardcover - giving away the softcover to a needy gamer I think a Folio like this would be a great boon. I have no need to pass around a book to the players with everything else, and I would be happy to have a bunch of extra Folio's so the player's could take them home too.

* More "elite" class paths (perhaps Illusionist, Necromancer, Druid, Ranger, and/or Bard)

Druid, Ranger, and an Elementalist would have my vote. I do enjoy Illusionists too, but you'd have to use clear rules with Illusion.

* Mass combat rules that can be handled via narrative or with miniatures.

YES!

* Jousting system

It can't hurt.

* Rules for doing away with the optional %-based thief skills, converting the whole game to a "unified" 2d6 system

I could see unifying this, but I like it as is as well. In fact, I might go for an optional rules that allows the character to add points themselves per level instead of distinct increments.

* More monsters

If you're doing a monster manual type thing, all I suggest is a little piece of art for each monster.

K

[kersus]

Oct 22, 2008 17:47:40 GMT -5 kersus said:

The biggest thing I want to see is a player creation folio type thing with Book 1 and table 1-3 from Book 2 only and a blank character sheet or two. I would buy at least half a dozen of these and replace my softcover of the full rules with a hardcover - giving away the softcover to a needy gamer I think a Folio like this would be a great boon. I have no need to pass around a book to the players with everything else, and I would be happy to have a bunch of extra Folio's so the player's could take them home too.

Is there any chance of this?

K

[Jason Vey]

In fact, there is a chance of this. I like the cut of your jib and will consider putting something together as I have the time to do so. Depending on how lengthy it is, perhaps a saddle-stitched booklet would do the trick.

[drsamsara]

Hi Jason. Hi all.

I am thinking the following ideas have potential:

* More "elite" class paths (perhaps Illusionist, Necromancer, Druid, Ranger, and/or Bard)

I'm divided on this. I kind of liked the way this was done in BECMI (although a bit half-arsed). But I'd be afraid of going the Prestige Class route. Classes are supposed to broad archtetypes.

Here's a very clever (I think) house-rule that ZenDog is using in his OD&D Wilderlands game: a 1st level Fighter gets to choose a "style" which gives a small bonus. One lets you roll 2d6 when using a two-handed weapon and take the best result; another gives you an an additional point of protection from shields. A third gives you a slight bonus on missile weapons: take an appropriate secondary Skill and voila--Ranger.

Mass combat rules that can be handled via narrative or with miniatures.

That sounds interesting.

Jousting system

Possibly.

Rules for doing away with the optional %-based thief skills, converting the whole game to a "unified" 2d6 system

Definitely

More monsters

Can always use more monsters. But, given the nature of the system and the ease with which you could plug in an old Monster Manual etc., they would need to be distinct.

Thoughts?

Optional rules?

A dungeon? Not an adventure. But a full-on old-school totally nonsensical dungeon a la Castle Greyhawk? With a black reservoir on level 5 and that sort of thing?

Good, location-based adventures?

[drsamsara]

Mass combat rules that can be handled via narrative or with miniatures.

You might find this post on Grognardia of interest. I'm not sure I completely agree, but food for thought.

[kersus]

Oct 23, 2008 13:31:10 GMT -5 Jason Vey said:

In fact, there is a chance of this. I like the cut of your jib and will consider putting something together as I have the time to do so. Depending on how lengthy it is, perhaps a saddle-stitched booklet would do the trick.

Awesome! I can't wait!

K

[kersus]

Oct 23, 2008 14:39:34 GMT -5 drsamsara said:

Hi Jason. Hi all.

I am thinking the following ideas have potential:

* More "elite" class paths (perhaps Illusionist, Necromancer, Druid, Ranger, and/or Bard)

I'm divided on this. I kind of liked the way this was done in BECMI (although a bit half-arsed). But I'd be afraid of going the Prestige Class route. Classes are supposed to broad archtetypes.

One optional rule I've toyed with while doing a Holmes/Hackmaster Hybrid was that certain common 'skills' become like abilities - like Swimming, Tracking, etc. I keep it down to half a dozen available options and the player must actually remove points from his attributes to create one of these ability/skills (showing just how much he wants them while keeping the character on par with the other characters instead of making him more powerful). It playtested well, but is certainly far from thoroughly playtested.

A dungeon? Not an adventure. But a full-on old-school totally nonsensical dungeon a la Castle Greyhawk? With a black reservoir on level 5 and that sort of thing?

Good, location-based adventures?

I think a few one-shot adventures would be great. When I say one-shot, I mean adventures that can be run in one session. Other deeper things will come on their own too.

K

[Jason Vey]

Oct 23, 2008 14:39:34 GMT -5 drsamsara said:

Hi Jason. Hi all.

I'm divided on this. I kind of liked the way this was done in BECMI (although a bit half-arsed). But I'd be afraid of going the Prestige Class route. Classes are supposed to broad archtetypes.

Agreed, and my elite paths aren't really prestige classes; rather, they are extras that you get if your character meets certain advanced criteria (generally higher ability scores), similar to the way (and this may be a bad example to use, but...) in AD&D, the Paladin became a sub-class of Cavalier, gaining all the abilities of the Cavalier, plus the Paladin abilities, but the requirements were pretty obnoxiously high to enter the class.

Here's a very clever (I think) house-rule that ZenDog is using in his OD&D Wilderlands game: a 1st level Fighter gets to choose a "style" which gives a small bonus. One lets you roll 2d6 when using a two-handed weapon and take the best result; another gives you an an additional point of protection from shields. A third gives you a slight bonus on missile weapons: take an appropriate secondary Skill and voila--Ranger.

My fighter class does this in a way with the options available for Weapon Specialization.

Can always use more monsters. But, given the nature of the system and the ease with which you could plug in an old Monster Manual etc., they would need to be distinct.

I'm not sure about that. I don't like assuming people have other old books to plug in. It's also been brought to my attention that S&S is in dire (no pun intended) need of regular animal stats.

A dungeon? Not an adventure. But a full-on old-school totally nonsensical dungeon a la Castle Greyhawk? With a black reservoir on level 5 and that sort of thing?

This is a good idea. One that will take some thought and work (adventure design, at least when it's not geared towards a specific party of characters, is not my strong suit) but one that is do-able. I'll start to percolate on it. That may be a series of modules unto itself, however.

[Jason Vey]

I should also clarify that all of my rules outside of the core book, I intend to be optional.

[drsamsara]

(and this may be a bad example to use, but...)

Oh it is, it is.

My fighter class does this in a way with the options available for Weapon Specialization.

And easy to house-rule further.

I'm not sure about that. I don't like assuming people have other old books to plug in. It's also been brought to my attention that S&S is in dire (no pun intended) need of regular animal stats.

Well, as I went on in my recent review of Monsters of Myth, I hate animal stats. But that may just be me.

This is a good idea. One that will take some thought and work (adventure design, at least when it's not geared towards a specific party of characters, is not my strong suit) but one that is do-able. I'll start to percolate on it. That may be a series of modules unto itself, however.

My thought is that there are a lot of nice, little entry-level adventures out there. For example, BFRPG has the nice Morgansfort package, which is described as suitable for BFRPG, OSRIC, and Labyrinth Lord.

And I love those kind of things. Always useable. Howver, since S&S is aiming right back to the very origins of the game, the thing that jumps out at me is that the game originally meant delving into the depths of Castle Greyhawk. Gigantic, insane, and specifcially not geared towards a specific party. The party has to choose where to go, when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, when to run away. Sorry .

Anyway, that's my thought.

[Jason Vey]

No, it's a grand thought; I just hope I can pull it off.

[kersus]

Oct 24, 2008 7:40:49 GMT -5 Jason Vey said:

I'm not sure about that. I don't like assuming people have other old books to plug in. It's also been brought to my attention that S&S is in dire (no pun intended) need of regular animal stats.

It's probably good not to assume that people have the other books. I'll bet many do - but it's easier if they're already created than to convert no matter how easy conversion may be.

Normal animal stats are wise. You could put out a few separate volumes of Bestiary that were even saddle-stitched so people could pick and choose. S&S Animalia, S&S Expanded Mythical Beasts.

K