Gaming with Old Geezer

Black Vulmea · February 15, 2012, 06:59:42 PM

There's a series of posts at Blog of Holding by a 4e player trying out OD&D with Mike Mornard - aka Old Geezer - as dungeon master.

The combination of OG anecdotes coupled with the perspetive of a 4e player on unfamiliar ground makes for an interesting read.

This was the money shot for me.

QuoteWhen the session ended, we put away the snacks and the players headed out towards the subway, discussing what we learned. Don't taunt the hirelings. Don't expect to get something for nothing. Keep the offensive: don't spend a lot of time in deliberation, and don't wait for the monsters to get organized.

I'm still not sure what player skill is in OD&D, and I still think it has something to do with battle tactics, trapfinding procedures, and gaming the DM. But I'm also starting to think it has something to do with respecting the gameworld as a world. Monsters learn. Henchmen want riches and safety. PCs can't communicate telepathically. And if you're a dwarf fighter, sometimes your best course of action is to hit something with an axe.

Respect the game-world as a world. That's pretty good advice.

Tavis · February 15, 2012, 08:15:59 PM

I've had the great pleasure of being in some of those games (although not as many as Paul). I've taken notes assidously, although I haven't posted as many of 'em as Paul either - this post being the main exception.

The really interesting thing for me has been how explicitly our first-level characters are being prepared by higher-ups to become heroes and fight off Lovecraftian invaders from other planes of reality. This doesn't make us heroes at first level like in 4e or Dungeon World - we are as frail as any other starting OD&D character (well, Paul's is 2nd now level now) and as venal - but there is definitely a sense of an end game toward which even castles and armies are a step on the way.

Serious Paul · February 15, 2012, 08:35:05 PM

That's cool to hear. Way cooler than a lot of the crap that's passed for discussion lately around here.

Opaopajr · February 15, 2012, 08:37:21 PM

Huh, read that post of yours, Tavis, and just realized Doc Savage (wat with his credo and all) would make an excellent Malakim for In Nomine...

Carry on!

John Morrow · February 15, 2012, 08:50:17 PM

Quote from: Black Vulmea;514781Respect the game-world as a world. That's pretty good advice.

Yet again, I'm left thinking, "You mean you weren't already treating the game world as a world?" And I'm left wondering what they think the game world is, then? A colorful but otherwise meaningless backdrop like the scenery in the background of Tekken or Soul Caliber?

Aos · February 15, 2012, 08:52:56 PM

I doubt that all WoTC era players have this issue (I include 3.x players as well as 4e players with the assumption that the bulk of the latter were drawn from the former).

crkrueger · February 15, 2012, 09:14:02 PM

Quote from: John Morrow;514808Yet again, I'm left thinking, "You mean you weren't already treating the game world as a world?" And I'm left wondering what they think the game world is, then? A colorful but otherwise meaningless backdrop like the scenery in the background of Tekken or Soul Caliber?

Pretty much, yeah, the official term for this phenomenon in MMOG-speak is "Lore, LOL".

Benoist · February 15, 2012, 09:32:42 PM

Lots of cool nuggets, like Gary DMing as the disembodied voice and such. Very cool.

Exploderwizard · February 16, 2012, 12:20:49 PM

Quote from: CRKrueger;514818Pretty much, yeah, the official term for this phenomenon in MMOG-speak is "Lore, LOL".

Yeah, the view of the game world as a mere backdrop for making your special snowflake PC look awesome is certainly a modern one.

Considering the role of the DM, which is in part, to portray everything in the game world apart from the PCs, the players showing no respect or care for that world is essentially shitting on the DMs "character".

IMHO this is the heart of the difference between old school and new school gamers.

Aos · February 16, 2012, 12:25:02 PM

Reading the essays, there are some things I really like the sound of and some others I don't. The no cross talk thing and everything you say your character says are a bit too much like how I played in jr high. The latter points to some trust issues that can be overcome easily enough by giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Spike · February 16, 2012, 12:52:30 PM

Not having read the blog posts (internet is crap today...) I have to say that getting my players to respect the world has been an ongoing project. I generally use the term 'clockwork universe' when describing it, but it works out similarly. The world moves on with or without player action, and actions (or lack of actions) can have reactions. I don't doubt the Geezer does it better that me, but he is probably crueler than I am too, which, oddly enough, might be something to aspire to.

thedungeondelver · February 16, 2012, 02:23:15 PM

Those were awesome reads. Honestly I think the "First sons of D&D" few and far between though they are make the best DMs. Most, anyway.

RPGPundit · February 16, 2012, 03:18:56 PM

My blog just today was about this; about how WoTC's personal mt.everest for making 5e a success will depend on them being able to get back to "playing the world".

RPGPundit

crkrueger · February 16, 2012, 03:39:14 PM

Lots of good stuff in these posts, but here is the essential truth that's been lost by WotC.

"The story that D&D tells," said Mike, "is the story of the world. Heroes aren't invincible."

Werekoala · February 16, 2012, 03:42:43 PM

Quote from: CRKrueger;515006Lots of good stuff in these posts, but here is the essential truth that's been lost by WotC.

"The story that D&D tells," said Mike, "is the story of the world. Heroes aren't invincible."

Agreed - as I've said elsewhere (and am hardly the first), without the possibility of failure, success is meaningless.