Once again I'm exploring other Fantasy games and am looking at Castles and Crusades. On the surface it looks to me like a re-tooled AD&D.

The things I liked best about D&D 3E were skills and having some degree of character customization. Other than ability scores, are there ways to further customize characters in C&C?

Also, for a while there was some forum buzz about Osric and other throwbaxks and talk to going back to previous editions of D&D and AD&D. Castles and Crusades seems like it would scratch those itches nicely, being a more modern edition of the classic rules. So why hasn't it taken off? Is there some fundamental flaw? Were people not really interested in 1st edition type games (and more interested in just talking about it on forums?)

Anyone here played it and have any comments, likes or dislikes?

Thanks,
Jeff

Quote from: GoOrangeOnce again I'm exploring other Fantasy games and am looking at Castles and Crusades. On the surface it looks to me like a re-tooled AD&D.

The things I liked best about D&D 3E were skills and having some degree of character customization. Other than ability scores, are there ways to further customize characters in C&C?

See here for optional secondary skills and multi-classing rules. Scroll down to "Castle Zagyg Resources" and download "CZ - Options & Skills".

QuoteAlso, for a while there was some forum buzz about Osric and other throwbaxks and talk to going back to previous editions of D&D and AD&D. Castles and Crusades seems like it would scratch those itches nicely, being a more modern edition of the classic rules. So why hasn't it taken off? Is there some fundamental flaw? Were people not really interested in 1st edition type games (and more interested in just talking about it on forums?)

Anyone here played it and have any comments, likes or dislikes?

Thanks,
Jeff

While not as big as the big boys, C&C has a fairly active fan base.  It is doing quite well as far as I know.

I ended up giving away my books...  If I want to play 1e, I'll play 1e.  C&C just didn't strike my imagination whatsoever.

-O

Okay.  Here's how I feel about Castles & Crusades:


Seriously, C&C bakes my FRPG biscuit, dig?  It's my go-to for D&D monkeyshines.  It's simple, it's open, it's easy to house-rule it.

Most importantly, it's easy to house-rule.  You can stick in just about anything you want from any edition of D&D with little to no hassle.  Kits?  Easy.  Feats?  Easy.  Skills?  Easy.  Some damn thing you made up?  Easy.

It's all up to you.  Sure, it means you have to do some thinking and tinkering, but it also means that there are tons of house rules already out there.  I've found two different swashbuckler/duelist classes that I care to use (I stick to one, though, 'cause it's the easier one), for instance, and there's no dearth of other stuff out there, waiting for me to use.

In answer to your question, how can you customize your PCs?  However you want to, really; I use a combination of the "Secondary Skills" rules given in Castle Zagyg (a supp penned by Gary Gygax) and 3.x feats, rules for obtaining which I'm making up as I go along (recently, my wife wanted her character to learn to fight with two weapons; I effectively let her travel to a city, find a swordsmaster, and pay him to train her, using rules from 3.x).  

The best thing about C&C's rules is that, in the end, there are very few can'ts.  Which opens up a whole world of cans...

Quote from: GoOrangeAnyone here played it and have any comments, likes or dislikes?

Currently one of my favorite RPGs--- Just can't decide what campaign setting to play regularly in. I have Airdhe. A bit dark for me.

So far I have used it mostly for putting together one-shot adventures, and convention RPG sessions which have been great fun.

Anyone have a good line on a campaign setting suggestion for this?

Right now I'm thinking Bard Games Atlantis. Eberron, or a homebrew setting, but just don't want to invest the immense amount of time necessary to flesh a campaign or world setting. Maybe Conan's Cimmeria would be good as well.

Quote from: TechnomancerSee here for optional secondary skills and multi-classing rules. Scroll down to "Castle Zagyg Resources" and download "CZ - Options & Skills".

Cool, thanks for the links.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Most importantly, it's easy to house-rule.  You can stick in just about anything you want from any edition of D&D with little to no hassle.

As simple as this sounds, it never really occurred to me until now. It would be pretty darn simple to just cut and past 3E or 4E skills into C&C with essentially zero fiddling involved. Hmm. Sometimes the answer is just right there staring you into the face.

That's a pretty big recommendation Doc Rot, I'll be looking into this game.

There is also a commercial ruleset (aka program plug-in) for Fantasy Grounds 2, which makes C&C look all the more attractive for me.

QuoteCastle Zagyg (a supp penned by Gary Gygax)

A supplement heavily GHOSTWRITTEN.

Quote from: KellriA supplement heavily GHOSTWRITTEN.

Sources?  Not a challenge, just a request.  

Quote from: Serious PaulThat's a pretty big recommendation Doc Rot, I'll be looking into this game.

I hope you like it.  Lotsa folks do, lotsa folks don't.  My feelings are...um...♥♥♥obvious♥♥♥, but, ah...you know, give it a whirl.

Oh!  Hey!  Matter of fact...click here for free (and legal!) Quickstart Rules.

For what it's worth, I'm right in the middle of starting what I'm calling my "very... low... effort... fantasy quasi-campaign" and I decided to use C&C over 4e - well, quickstart 4e as seen in Keep on the Shadowfell, which is pretty cool too, I might add.  Anyhow...

I haven't delved into any of the numerous house rules that abound for the game, but it's already a blast to plan for.  It's succinct, and appears to address every problem I've ever had with D&D, without going over board (e.g. 3.x).

My favourite feature: it's a snap to convert old 1e/2e, and BD&D modules.

Converting an NPC statblock from 1e/2e is as simple as subtracting AC from 20 (e.g. 20 - -1 = 21; 20 - 6 = 14) and adding the number of HD to the NPC's d20 rolls.  For saving throws, you choose Physical or Mental as prime for the NPC (it's obvious when you know how saves work in C&C).  For me, that's a walk in that park and I can't wait to re-run some of the golden oldies sitting on my shelf.

First session should be Sunday, if the scheduling works out.

I like Castles & Crusades. If I ever run a classic D&D game again...it'll be with Castles and Crusades.

I quite like C&C!  It is a very easy game to teach and run.  And, as has already been mentioned, it is a snap to convert material from other editions of D&D to C&C.  

Quote from: GoOrange... Other than ability scores, are there ways to further customize characters in C&C?

One way to customize characters 'by-the-book' is via the system of 'primes'.  All character classes have one automatic 'prime' (strength for fighters, intelligence for wizards, etc.).  Moreover, all PCs can choose an additional 'prime' (human PCs can choose two additional 'primes' -- this is their unique 'race ability').

A 'prime' gives you effectively a +6 to all rolls (saving rolls, attribute checks, etc.) with that ability score.  This is a huge advantage in C&C.  So a human fighter who chooses dexterity and constitution as his optional 'primes' will be quite different than a human fighter who chooses intelligence and charisma.

In my experience, the 'prime' system allows for a fair degree of mechanical customization.
:cool:

Quote from: GoOrangeAlso, for a while there was some forum buzz about Osric and other throwbaxks and talk to going back to previous editions of D&D and AD&D. Castles and Crusades seems like it would scratch those itches nicely, being a more modern edition of the classic rules. So why hasn't it taken off? Is there some fundamental flaw? Were people not really interested in 1st edition type games (and more interested in just talking about it on forums?)

Actually, C&C appeared pretty regularly in the Comics and Games Retailer charts that Koltar transcribed and I produced pretty graphs from until C&GR folded - see the stickied thread at the top of this forum. That's as objective a definiton of "taking off" as any.