Quote from: JeremyR on April 08, 2025, 01:53:33 AM

Quote from: Nobleshield on April 07, 2025, 01:50:25 PMThe "open table" stuff only really works in two cases: Online or if you run them at a game store/club, the latter of which actually makes sense to do since it's the OG "TSR Hobby Shop" style, and public games can easily fall apart if some people stop showing or can't make it some weeks. Anything else is IMHO trying to put a round peg into a square hole.

It wasn't just the TSR Hobby Shop style, it was pretty normal in the early days. And games could never fall apart, because there weren't story arcs or whatnot. People showed up with their characters, went into a dungeon, came out, then went home. Sometimes they stayed really late. 

I know everyone says this but as of the late 70s onward I never heard of saw open table gaming that they describe until just recently

Quote from: RPGPundit on April 05, 2025, 04:26:02 PMSeriously, if any of you have a good relationship with Kelsey Dionne, you should warn her. I can share (and have recently) on my X account MULTIPLE tweets expressing Jeffro's hatred of jews, gays, etc. And many of the BroSR only care about being in the BroSR because its a place they can feel safe to express how much they hate jews or other races.

She ought to be warned, because I'm guessing she doesn't know (because Jeffro is deceptive and hides that part as much as he can), and if she keeps associating with him it will eventually blow up in her face as soon as someone less nice than I am notices and wants to cause trouble for her.

or, let's not get into the cancellation game

I thought this group didn't do stuff like that

if we don't like the brosr guys, simply ignore them

Quote from: PencilBoy99 on April 08, 2025, 09:50:13 AM

Quote from: JeremyR on April 08, 2025, 01:53:33 AM

Quote from: Nobleshield on April 07, 2025, 01:50:25 PMThe "open table" stuff only really works in two cases: Online or if you run them at a game store/club, the latter of which actually makes sense to do since it's the OG "TSR Hobby Shop" style, and public games can easily fall apart if some people stop showing or can't make it some weeks. Anything else is IMHO trying to put a round peg into a square hole.

It wasn't just the TSR Hobby Shop style, it was pretty normal in the early days. And games could never fall apart, because there weren't story arcs or whatnot. People showed up with their characters, went into a dungeon, came out, then went home. Sometimes they stayed really late. 

I know everyone says this but as of the late 70s onward I never heard of saw open table gaming that they describe until just recently

It was pretty common in my neck of the woods where I grew up (Omaha, NE). The three gaming stores there in the 80s were Star Realm, Dragon's Lair, and Hobbytown USA (Hobbytown USA was 1985 onwards). There were open gaming in the standard back room of the gaming store. You asked for permission, and if the time slot was open, it was your table.

The open gaming was also pretty common in the organized gaming clubs too. There were two of these I recall back in the day. They generally met at a community center where everyone paid a fee to help pay for the community center space to rent. I think it was like a couple of dollars. It wasn't much.

I think I'll elaborate more in a different thread: a day in the life of a gamer.

Clubs/stores fall under the "TSR Hobby Shop" style though. I certainly never heard of any home game behaving that way (or sandbox, or hexcrawl for that matter) until recently when it seems that "everyone" played that way.

Greetings!

I think the screaming about "Open Game" campaigns seems pretty silly to me. Yes, back in the day--and even nowadays, when the circumstances warrant--a DM or a group of DM's would establish a kind of "Open Game" campaign at the table. In my experience, this was done at my school, and also at the local game store. This is because there are lots of people, few are reliable and steady, and with new people always coming and going on the whim.

Yes, that kind of "Open Game" table campaign worked back in the day--and still does, where desired--but it certainly is not the main way, or the best way, or the ultimate way or whatever. Give me a break, right?

Most game groups were run at people's houses, same time, every week. Usually all night, and quite often all fucking weekend. Typically a DM, and 4-6 Players, maybe up to about 8. Usually 4 to 6 though. Same time, same channel, every week as the expression goes. Usually the same DM, and the same group of players, consistently. Periodically, a girlfriend or two would join the group as a player.

THIS was the norm, the standard. "Open Game" tables were what you did in public settings, with lots of people dropping in or dropping out, no consistency from week to week. People and game groups operate very differently however in regular, consistent, private game groups.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: MerrillWeathermay on April 08, 2025, 09:51:38 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit on April 05, 2025, 04:26:02 PMSeriously, if any of you have a good relationship with Kelsey Dionne, you should warn her. I can share (and have recently) on my X account MULTIPLE tweets expressing Jeffro's hatred of jews, gays, etc. And many of the BroSR only care about being in the BroSR because its a place they can feel safe to express how much they hate jews or other races.

She ought to be warned, because I'm guessing she doesn't know (because Jeffro is deceptive and hides that part as much as he can), and if she keeps associating with him it will eventually blow up in her face as soon as someone less nice than I am notices and wants to cause trouble for her.

or, let's not get into the cancellation game

I thought this group didn't do stuff like that

if we don't like the brosr guys, simply ignore them

I don't think anyone here was suggesting cancelling, they were suggesting warning her because others cancel for such things.

The interesting thing is a push for Open Gaming from WotC might have helped them solve their DM crisis as Open Gaming is all about a high player to DM ratio.

Funny its coming from the OSR where i've read the opposite ratio is an issue, that is getting 5e fans to give OSR a try.

Quote from: Nobleshield on April 07, 2025, 01:50:25 PMThe "open table" stuff only really works in two cases: Online or if you run them at a game store/club, the latter of which actually makes sense to do since it's the OG "TSR Hobby Shop" style, and public games can easily fall apart if some people stop showing or can't make it some weeks. Anything else is IMHO trying to put a round peg into a square hole.

Yes. Its mostly a game store thing. Some actually force it. Like you the DM have no choice who sits at your table and you have to run for them.

Fuck no. Not happening. Thats just getting on your knees and begging God for something to go so very wrong.

I have not seen it much online. More often with VTTs theres a open invite for players like normal in many circles. Then the usual screening processes to see if anyone is compatible.

Quote from: Omega on April 09, 2025, 06:13:07 AM

Quote from: Nobleshield on April 07, 2025, 01:50:25 PMThe "open table" stuff only really works in two cases: Online or if you run them at a game store/club, the latter of which actually makes sense to do since it's the OG "TSR Hobby Shop" style, and public games can easily fall apart if some people stop showing or can't make it some weeks. Anything else is IMHO trying to put a round peg into a square hole.

Yes. Its mostly a game store thing. Some actually force it. Like you the DM have no choice who sits at your table and you have to run for them.

Fuck no. Not happening. Thats just getting on your knees and begging God for something to go so very wrong.

I have not seen it much online. More often with VTTs theres a open invite for players like normal in many circles. Then the usual screening processes to see if anyone is compatible.

My current game has had 8-12 players for about 3 years now, 4-7 of which show up on any given week. We play at my house, all people I know. Open table works perfectly for us.

I think it depends a lot on what the DM expects and encourages.

I dunno,  I  take the ideas that I find useful/interesting, and leave the rest behind.  I'm not interested in the drama of either being against or for the brosr in any extreme way.

Speaking of "Jeffrogaxian" or BRosr. Check out this thread at Dragonsfoot.org.

It starts off pretty well on a discussion on if you can drop a multi-class to a single class. Everyone is giving suggestions, and most are reasonable. It's at page 3 where the derailment starts. I suggest that a DM (like myself) can do whatever they want. The user Chevale Manor then says "that is not btb" and his "one true way"-ism goes on from there in the thread.

Enjoy.

Quote from: blackstone on April 09, 2025, 09:19:45 AMI suggest that a DM (like myself) can do whatever they want. The user Chevale Manor then says "that is not btb" and his "one true way"-ism goes on from there in the thread.

If someone asks a by-the-book question, there is often exactly one by-the-book answer.  Sometimes there are multiple, such as when different parts of the book say different things, likely an editorial oversight.  Other times there's actually not any, as the book doesn't get into that detail.  If you want to run a sweet little shop near the outskirts of town when you aren't adventuring, you obviously can, but there's not much guidance by the book on the details of that.

In that thread, the question seems to be, if you begin adventuring as a multiclass whatever and then want to drop one, can you do it?  And the by-the-book answer is no, because there's nothing in the book that implies that or lets anyone respec in general.  Several other posters swing by to offer how they would run it, and then there's some purity-spirallers who imply that it isn't real D&D if you would let it happen, trying to appeal to their fellow extreme fundamentalist AD&D 1e DMG readers. 

But in the context of a by-the-book question, there's a clear answer.  And the answer doesn't pile on any judgments if a table ignores it or anything.

Quote from: Venka on April 09, 2025, 10:12:26 AMAnd the by-the-book answer is no, because there's nothing in the book that implies that or lets anyone respec in general.

It doesn't say in the DMG or PHB either way. There is no hard rule, therefore it's up to the DM to decide.

Quote from: blackstone on April 09, 2025, 09:19:45 AMSpeaking of "Jeffrogaxian" or BRosr. Check out this thread at Dragonsfoot.org.

It starts off pretty well on a discussion on if you can drop a multi-class to a single class. Everyone is giving suggestions, and most are reasonable. It's at page 3 where the derailment starts. I suggest that a DM (like myself) can do whatever they want. The user Chevale Manor then says "that is not btb" and his "one true way"-ism goes on from there in the thread.

Enjoy.

Wow. That guy is a martinet. He's facing overwhelming challenge to his world view and just isn't coping. I'd follow up on that contradictory magic armor weight question. What does +1 plate mail weight in his game, half of normal plate mail, or the same as ordinary clothing? ANY answer he gives means he's "not playing 1e" by his own definition.

Quote from: Mistwell on April 09, 2025, 09:39:05 PM

Quote from: blackstone on April 09, 2025, 09:19:45 AMSpeaking of "Jeffrogaxian" or BRosr. Check out this thread at Dragonsfoot.org.

It starts off pretty well on a discussion on if you can drop a multi-class to a single class. Everyone is giving suggestions, and most are reasonable. It's at page 3 where the derailment starts. I suggest that a DM (like myself) can do whatever they want. The user Chevale Manor then says "that is not btb" and his "one true way"-ism goes on from there in the thread.

Enjoy.

Wow. That guy is a martinet. He's facing overwhelming challenge to his world view and just isn't coping. I'd follow up on that contradictory magic armor weight question. What does +1 plate mail weight in his game, half of normal plate mail, or the same as ordinary clothing? ANY answer he gives means he's "not playing 1e" by his own definition.

I know, right? I think his head would explode.

Please read on. This guy is either a troll or an actual follower of Jeffro Johnson and his "one true way" -ism. This jackass just won't quit. I don't think he even gets the sarcasm I'm using to mock the fool.