tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post1706369438004629476..comments2024-03-28T22:00:35.840-07:00Comments on Playing D&D With Porn Stars: This Is Why Ruins of Undermountain Is 234 Pages LongZak Sabbathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-32172627511591540282015-12-23T21:29:50.885-08:002015-12-23T21:29:50.885-08:00In fact you could break that down to a spreadsheet...In fact you could break that down to a spreadsheet as well.<br /><br />But one mans meaning is another mans spreadsheet minutiae. Especially the dead bodies. What would a mass grave of women and children be? 52w,78c. I mean, it'd save space, right!?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703215674977633310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-52968600994295931602013-03-31T07:50:27.264-07:002013-03-31T07:50:27.264-07:00I'm sure, but you're funnier than they pro...I'm sure, but you're funnier than they probably are. =PRachel Ghoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765944479141792643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-52957553985508442652013-03-29T23:19:23.993-07:002013-03-29T23:19:23.993-07:00I'm sure someone sufficiently motivate could d...I'm sure someone sufficiently motivate could do it.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-13404501767031185662013-03-29T22:37:40.617-07:002013-03-29T22:37:40.617-07:00Do you think there's any chance you might idea...Do you think there's any chance you might idea-mine the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft module? I've always been weirdly fond of that one.Rachel Ghoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765944479141792643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-17477163909337220112013-03-29T21:33:57.061-07:002013-03-29T21:33:57.061-07:00You'd be thinking of this or one of his other ...You'd be thinking of <a href="http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/on-reader-mail-set-design.html" rel="nofollow">this</a> or one of his other posts on the same.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13110549453927697205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-68692834912008469492013-03-29T15:27:26.692-07:002013-03-29T15:27:26.692-07:00I run a system between 3. 5 and AD&D because t...I run a system between 3. 5 and AD&D because those are the systems that one of my players and I (respectively) were most familiar with when the campaign began and it is easier to hack as we go than transfer all the character sheets over to some new system mid-campaignZak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-72480606627498105612013-03-29T15:01:45.912-07:002013-03-29T15:01:45.912-07:00Thanks man. I have read just about all of the ess...Thanks man. I have read just about all of the essays (great stuff), but I do not remember seeing a point which speaks to my conundrum. It really is basic; what led you to run your players with a modified 3.0 system rather than OD&D or an OSR Clone/System? I have a semblance of an idea from the DYI D&Ders comparison essay, but if you could take a moment to elucidate the data point which firmed up Zak'ed 3.0 over OSR.<br /><br />I am considering running Pathfinder sans skills and feats (thanks for the confirmation it works), but then again, I have Swords&Wizardry, Crypts&Things, OD&D, DCC RPG...I am one of the too many systems with too many strangers, but we want a solid campaign. Which system is now my biggest (stupid, I know) enemy.<br /><br />Much appreciated.SavageCheerleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00832023627102128364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-21976906785390011942013-03-29T14:28:27.619-07:002013-03-29T14:28:27.619-07:00you can ask but for basic stuff you might want to ...you can ask but for basic stuff you might want to check the tags and "read this first" posts in the margins firstZak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-59091912090155985112013-03-29T14:11:04.312-07:002013-03-29T14:11:04.312-07:00Zak, I don't want to thread jack, but I wanted...Zak, I don't want to thread jack, but I wanted to ask you some questions about your system use; I dig it and I too found myself with an entire table full of new players. If you don't mind, I will post them in this thread.<br /><br />I respect your ideas and thoughts on this issue, and many others. That is why I am reaching out, DM-DM.SavageCheerleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00832023627102128364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-90890652668259552992013-03-29T12:07:12.755-07:002013-03-29T12:07:12.755-07:00I read somewhere online (forgot where unfortunatel...I read somewhere online (forgot where unfortunately) a minimalist system for keying rooms. It was far closer to Zachs version using the order of the lists to detail content. It was simple yet conveyed everything. <br /><br />It seems some folks dont trust their DM or dont remember what its like using someoe elses module.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-75256481706905272232013-03-29T11:57:49.369-07:002013-03-29T11:57:49.369-07:00The halfling pirates sound like pretty creepy vill...The halfling pirates sound like pretty creepy villains.J Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02345039535391470707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-26938130121080166182013-03-29T09:17:44.612-07:002013-03-29T09:17:44.612-07:00Ed Greenwood. His "Five Shires" for BECM...Ed Greenwood. His "Five Shires" for BECMI took 90-some pages to say:<br /><br />* "If a big person touches you in a way you don't like, shout NO!" (all 5 Shires halflings have an innate 1/day 'stop that from happening' Big No! power. Really.)<br />* 30-level Halfling secret masters: a wizard-priest class with unique magical cold burning, darkness-spreading fire shrines (lolwut?) who can /dominate/ their clansmen at will.<br />* halfling pirates (nasty, brutish and short, hurr durr) who kidnap human women, dress them up and 'worship' them.<br />* page after page of dull, dull, dull NPC descriptions.<br />* Two pages of halfling folk song lyrics.<br />* else, +1 what Tolkien said.<br /><br />That's what you get for paying freelancers by the word.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072272223837426211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-74823660262904298572013-03-29T07:11:00.222-07:002013-03-29T07:11:00.222-07:00I fell asleep shortly after the first paragraph. G...I fell asleep shortly after the first paragraph. Greenwood has never been the sort of writer to pique my interest. I don't need to be told in detail how everything is. I just need the pertinent info and I can do the rest. <br />Skipped down to the translation, which would give me a lot of room to imagine it all myself.Everlosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07115735907981689436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-26248769318772627522013-03-29T06:52:30.698-07:002013-03-29T06:52:30.698-07:00The details should be filler in dead adventurer an...The details should be filler in dead adventurer and/or room stocking tables. <br /><br />The paid per word may be some of it. I suspect Greenwood may have written something closer to Zak's version for himself, but for a published module felt he should put on the page all the details he usually kept in his head. Neil Willcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07166832958072749813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-57981243819037597112013-03-29T04:31:15.579-07:002013-03-29T04:31:15.579-07:00when i wrote comics some artists wanted super deta...when i wrote comics some artists wanted super detailed lists of everything in panel and lists of items - others liked brevity - some couldnt decide which was basicly hell for me - i became colourist and inker instead - less dramaKonsumterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18170560484656800416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-76471731011958299122013-03-29T03:44:45.867-07:002013-03-29T03:44:45.867-07:00Wow ... that is ... wow. I'd probably just key...Wow ... that is ... wow. I'd probably just key it something like this: 7 dead adventurers, 3 dead bugbears. Weapons (50% broken), 1d6 human armours (50% damaged). Around 30 gp. Spellbook (here I'd probably list the spells, or just key it to a random table). Hidden low-level adventuring equipment worth app. 30 pp. A dagger +1.<br /><br />Dead men - novices - various classes - called "Black Banner Band".<br /><br />Or I'd go even further and have tables with loot and gear fleshed out on the side and just key the whole thing:<br /><br />adventurers, dead, 7 - gear poor<br />bugbears, dead, 3 - gear v. poor<br />hidden treasure - middling<br />+spell book, holy symbol, +1 daggerLukahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18210941654513813581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-85903801523820169732013-03-29T03:15:59.948-07:002013-03-29T03:15:59.948-07:00Greenwood's tendency to one-ahead the players ...Greenwood's tendency to one-ahead the players was a big part of my <a href="http://rolesrules.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/orange-painted-corner-of-naturalism.html" rel="nofollow">critique of Undermountain</a>. It ends up being persnickety and ineffectual at the same time, precisely because it can't cover every case.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-67313844392564411902013-03-29T02:47:57.484-07:002013-03-29T02:47:57.484-07:00Maybe that's it. Or maybe it's just gettin...Maybe that's it. Or maybe it's just getting paid by the word.<br /><br />I could understand the "these modules have all this lard because they are written for novices " argument better if these dungeons weren't written for high-level parties (it says it right on the box).Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-36184285645473648542013-03-29T02:45:16.290-07:002013-03-29T02:45:16.290-07:00I think there's a sort of dilemma for some peo...I think there's a sort of dilemma for some people when writing down adventures/settings for other people to use, which is that the writer starts to think "well, if the reader NEEDS an off-the-shelf adventure then clearly s/he CAN'T think of this stuff themselves" and then starts feeling that they should throw in all the stuff which in an actual game would be handled off-the-cuff.<br /><br />In that passage, the tiny mention of the notched sword is clearly pre-empting an expected question from a player who is trying to ascertain whether the sword might be magical. The author's seen players ask that sort of question and so, for the benefit of the DM, who's assumed to have some sort of writers' block at this point, the author throws in the answer.<br /><br />The result is unusable because the actual DM in actual play simply can't remember what is in effect a huge branching script of "if they say 'what about x', then say 'y'".<br /><br />I can sympathise as I have a strong tendency in this direction myself, but that is a wild bad case of it.Nagorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805769538648631984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-22789529174621604852013-03-28T21:37:49.626-07:002013-03-28T21:37:49.626-07:00The description is absurd, and I love verbosity. W...The description is absurd, and I love verbosity. What's worse though is that it's florid crap abput dull dead adventurers with dull stuff and dull dead monsters.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-56541093141089568132013-03-28T16:25:13.331-07:002013-03-28T16:25:13.331-07:00In the early 80' Greenwood's style was an ...In the early 80' Greenwood's style was an amazing revelation to read - until you tried applying it to actual play. I killed a campaign that way in high school, choked to death with "realistic" clutter in every room.<br /><br />I guess if you want to play Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective in a dungeon these descriptions are your thing.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.com