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Anyone playing the Black Hack?

Started by ArrozConLeche, May 25, 2017, 02:34:11 PM

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ArrozConLeche

May 25, 2017, 02:34:11 PM
There seem to be like  a gazillion supplements coming out for this. Has anyone here actually taken it for a spin? General thoughts on the experience?

Voros

#1
May 25, 2017, 02:41:01 PM
I've played with it and its solid. A few things seemed odd but that just may be because they're different, like the monsters never rolling to hit, if I'm remembering right. I do like the encumbrence system and I'm considering porting it to 5e. There's a Tekumel Black Hack that does a great job of boiling down the setting to under 40ish pages, highly recommended.

cranebump

#2
May 25, 2017, 06:37:58 PM
Picked up the core and some supplements. Will consider this as an option for next gaming experience, as it looks pretty nifty.
"When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows..."

sniderman

#3
May 26, 2017, 01:00:38 PM
Quote from: cranebump;964402Picked up the core and some supplements. Will consider this as an option for next gaming experience, as it looks pretty nifty.

The Cthulhu Hack is also awesome for running a Lovecraftian investigation game. Same Black Hack simplified mechanics ported to 1920's investigative horror scenarios. Great stuff.
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#4
May 27, 2017, 10:08:02 AM
Quote from: Voros;964353I've played with it and its solid. A few things seemed odd but that just may be because they're different, like the monsters never rolling to hit, if I'm remembering right. I do like the encumbrence system and I'm considering porting it to 5e. There's a Tekumel Black Hack that does a great job of boiling down the setting to under 40ish pages, highly recommended.

I agree it is very well done. Lots of useful stuff in there.
Don\'t part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Larsdangly

#5
May 27, 2017, 11:28:50 AM
Does it differ in significant ways from just playing OD&D (or the various other early edition clones) in the settings folks are discussing?

Gorilla_Zod

#6
May 27, 2017, 11:39:46 AM
Quote from: Larsdangly;964667Does it differ in significant ways from just playing OD&D (or the various other early edition clones) in the settings folks are discussing?

There's no AC, no THAC0 or anything like that, completely player facing rolls (apart from monster damage), one line monster descriptions, barely any stats apart from SDCIWC+HP, and I'm sure there's other stuff I'm forgetting.
Running: RC D&D, 5e D&D, Delta Green

Larsdangly

#7
May 27, 2017, 12:59:46 PM
What does 'completely player facing rolls' mean?

How do you resolve attacks without AC? Does armor reduce damage or something?

Gorilla_Zod

#8
May 27, 2017, 01:03:53 PM
Different sorts of armor give armor points that can be spent to reduce damage. When a player has spent all their APs they need to rest up to get back into fighting shape (or push on taking damage directly to their HP). Player-facing just means that all rolls are made by the players, their attacks and defences and saves and the likes, rolling under the relevant stat on a d20. The DM doesn't touch a d20 and just rolls damage dice, or gets the players to roll for the damage they take.
Running: RC D&D, 5e D&D, Delta Green

Larsdangly

#9
May 27, 2017, 05:47:34 PM
So who rolls when a monster attacks a PC?

LouGoncey

#10
May 27, 2017, 06:45:42 PM
The PC rolls to defend...

Psikerlord

#11
May 27, 2017, 07:11:06 PM
It's too simple for my tastes, but I like the item use roll very much
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Larsdangly

#12
May 27, 2017, 11:35:36 PM
Quote from: LouGoncey;964716The PC rolls to defend...

Crazy; so the idea is that if a player attacks a monster, the player rolls to hit, but if the monster attacks the player, the player rolls to defend? It's obvious that so long as the numbers are thought through correctly it is all much of a sameness. But it grates against my sensibilities. I dislike any kind of rules that treat PC's as different sorts of beings from NPC's

cranebump

#13
May 28, 2017, 05:40:24 AM
Quote from: Larsdangly;964771Crazy; so the idea is that if a player attacks a monster, the player rolls to hit, but if the monster attacks the player, the player rolls to defend?

Having played Dungeon World for a year, I'm now used to not rolling dice at the table. It's just inverting the task is all. Also keeps players active during monster turns. I mean, I get the idea there. What bothers me more is the "roll under" mechanic. And according to the play example it IS under, not ON or under. So if my target number is 15, I need a 14 or less. I'd rather just say the number or lower, and then add 1 to all rolls to achieve the same odds. Better yet, I'd rather have a roll over system than a roll under.
"When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows..."

Voros

#14
May 28, 2017, 05:56:35 AM
The roll under not on and under seems a pointless complication I just skipped.
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