Greetings, fellow Nutkins!!
I've been dubbed by Robert Kuntz to spread the word. He is in the process of writing and releasing new adventures and sourcebooks that are compatible with 1ed AD&D and other gaming systems. The first module to be released will be called "CAIRN OF THE SKELETON KING" (lvls 4-7) and will be released in the near future (exact date unknown, but soon!). Be sure to bring you cleric!!
If this is of interest to you and you would like to learn more, please follow the link to the Dragonsfoot forum site and find out more! Rob would love to hear from you!!
Thanks!
http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=301225#301225
moved to the industry forum, since this is where this kind of thread belongs. :)
Well I would certainly be happy to see what new material Rob Kuntz has to offer (I quite liked his recent 'Dark Chateau' module for C&C).
While I don't play 1e AD&D anymore, the adventures (if they are good) should be easy enough to convert to C&C.
:)
Interesting. They might be a good read, if nothing else. I love the old skool modules, even though many of them were profoundly silly. :)
Quote from: CyberzombieInteresting. They might be a good read, if nothing else. I love the old skool modules, even though many of them were profoundly silly. :)
One could argue that it's what made them so fun. ;)
Quote from: Lisa NadazdyOne could argue that it's what made them so fun. ;)
True, true. The whole GDQ series, for one, was really pretty silly throughout most of it. Like the fish-men hanging out in the middle of a tunnel in the underdark. What the fuck?
Maybe that's part of what I'm missing from D&D these days. Surreal sillyness. :)
Quote from: CyberzombieTrue, true. The whole GDQ series, for one, was really pretty silly throughout most of it. Like the fish-men hanging out in the middle of a tunnel in the underdark. What the fuck?
Maybe that's part of what I'm missing from D&D these days. Surreal sillyness. :)
And dragons in 10'x10' rooms. Woo! :)
Quote from: Lisa NadazdyAnd dragons in 10'x10' rooms. Woo! :)
Fuck, even OGRES in 10 x 10 rooms. Whatever knucklehead came up with the grid system for 3e has no conception of the *actual* size of most objects.
Quote from: CyberzombieFuck, even OGRES in 10 x 10 rooms. Whatever knucklehead came up with the grid system for 3e has no conception of the *actual* size of most objects.
Maybe it follows the same logic as kittens in mason jars. :heh:
Quote from: Lisa NadazdyMaybe it follows the same logic as kittens in mason jars. :heh:
Sounds like a variant on the "orc and pie" type of module: "kitten in mason jar". But is it treasure -- or is it the monster?!?!?!!?!?!?
Meandering back on topic, anyone have any comments on whether Castles & Crusades is *fun*? I know it has a certain rabid fanbase, but so do a lot of crappy things. Is it fun?!?!?!?!
Quote from: CyberzombieSounds like a variant on the "orc and pie" type of module: "kitten in mason jar". But is it treasure -- or is it the monster?!?!?!!?!?!?
Meandering back on topic, anyone have any comments on whether Castles & Crusades is *fun*? I know it has a certain rabid fanbase, but so do a lot of crappy things. Is it fun?!?!?!?!
Not sure. It's supposed to be very abstract. How abstract? If the D&D Cyclopedia is abstract, then C&C is even moreso. No skills, or Feats, and all saves and abilities are based strongly off the attributes. I haven't seen it, so I can't tell you much more than that, though.
Quote from: Cyberzombie... Meandering back on topic, anyone have any comments on whether Castles & Crusades is *fun*? I know it has a certain rabid fanbase, but so do a lot of crappy things. Is it fun?!?!?!?!
I think it's very fun. (But then, I'm probably considered part of the 'rabid fanbase'.)
IME it combines all the elements that made RC/B/X D&D and 1e AD&D fun, gets rid of the crap that wasn't fun or tediously convoluted, and combines the fun elements with the unified 'd20-high-is-always-good' mechanic.
It is easy to translate any pre-3e material into C&C terms (the AC needs to be changed [C&C AC = 20 - pre-3e AC], and the saving throws need to be designated as 'physical', 'mental', neither or both -- then you're good to go). It is also relatively easy to translate 3e material into C&C terms, though that will take a bit more work for higher-level stuff.
For an absolutely brilliant review of the C&C PHB, I highly recommend this one:
RPGnet review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11008.phtml
I use the
Rules Cyclopedia as my supplement for C&C.
:)
Well, that looks a little too rules light for me generally, but it might be something I could play with my son when he's a little older. OD&D was my gateway into gaming, after all, so that might be a good thing for him to learn on. :)
Quote from: CyberzombieWell, that looks a little too rules light for me generally, but it might be something I could play with my son when he's a little older. OD&D was my gateway into gaming, after all, so that might be a good thing for him to learn on. :)
Good Idea.
Yeah it is rules-lite, but that what makes it so good in my eyes. The nice thing is I have ported stuff from WHFRP, AD&D, and D&D into my C&C campaign and it all works well.
Quote from: Eli the Vile... Yeah it is rules-lite, but that what makes it so good in my eyes. The nice thing is I have ported stuff from WHFRP, AD&D, and D&D into my C&C campaign and it all works well.
It's ability to act as a 'bridge' between different versions/editions of D&D is probably C&C's greatest strength.
Let me disclose my biases and experience before I discuss C&C and my thoughts.
I'm an old school guy. I am currently running a 1e game, and have been playing and/or running 1e since about 1999, after a dozen year layoff. I also ran a B/X campain most of 2004.
However, I've also run 3.x, for 3+ years (2001-2004), and continue to play it occasionally.
I see positives and negatives to both 1e/B/X and 3.x. I'm quite happy playing 3.x, but I won't ever run 3.x D&D again, for various reasons.
Now, as to C&C. I picked up the PHB and M&T book, along with Gygax's Castle Zygag. After reading the C&C books, I decided against ever running it, though I'd probably play in a game at a Con, or if someone local decided to take up the Castle Keeper mantle and run with it.
As a whole, I think it's a good game, albeit a mish-mash between the two points of view, but doesn't come off as being as cohesive as either. Like many things designed by committee, it's a compromise at best, lacking the perceived integration of d20 and most of the old-school flavor.
I see C&C trying to incorporate some of the upsides (which is subjective) of d20 with the old-school class based system. For example, it uses the d20 positive AC system, which I see as a good thing. But then I look at the save system, and can only say, "WTF?". I much prefer both the old school class-based save system and the d20 ability based to the Rule of Primes or whatever it is.
The way I see it, the cost in terms of money and time to get everyone at the table up and running with C&C is greater than the "gains" made by incorporating positive AC and other things from d20 into the game.
In my opinion, old-school D&D isn't so broken that it needs to be fixed beyond the obligatory house rules. So, if I want old-school flavor, I'll pick up the old books and play it. On the other hand, if I want to play D&D with lots of freedom in character creation and current support, I'd go with 3.5.
To me, C&C isn't a better old-school D&D than old-school D&D itself. Likewise, it doesn't do the d20 stuff better than 3.5, so I don't see a need to run it.
CZ, as for your kid, I recommend the Moldvay or Mentzer Basic book as a starting point, followed by the Rules Cyclopedia. Or, give True 20 a shot, if you want to go a different route.
Quote from: Freke... As a whole, I think it's a good game, albeit a mish-mash between the two points of view, but doesn't come off as being as cohesive as either.
I think I'm an 'old school' guy too (started playing in 1979, and RC D&D is probably my favourite single RPG book ever published).
But IME, I don't find C&C to be a 'mish-mash' at all. It's pretty 'cohesive' -- moreso than pre-3e versions of D&D IMO. It uses the same mechanic (roll 1d20 + add bonuses, beat TN/AC) for pretty much
everything -- even moreso than D&D 3e. Unlike pre-3e D&D, it doesn't have a bunch of different subsytems for different actions. And unlike 3e, it sticks to class archetypes, and doesn't get bogged down with feats, AoOs, etc.
Quote from: Freke..
... But then I look at the save system, and can only say, "WTF?". I much prefer both the old school class-based save system and the d20 ability based to the Rule of Primes or whatever it is.
I think that the saving throw system is a work of genius. It's very simple (roll 1d20 + level + ability mod = beat TN or fail). Moreover, it makes
every ability score important, thereby ensuring that there are no obvious 'dump stats' for C&C characters.
Quote from: Freke...
CZ, as for your kid, I recommend the Moldvay or Mentzer Basic book as a starting point, followed by the Rules Cyclopedia. Or, give True 20 a shot, if you want to go a different route.
Well, I love the Moldvay Basic set and the RC, so I'm not going to argue with you about that. (And I like True 20 too.)
Hell, I use the RC with my C&C stuff -- no problem. I just think you're selling C&C short.
Quote from: AkrasiaI just think you're selling C&C short.
:idunno:
Different strokes and all that.
Quote from: FrekeDifferent strokes and all that.
Indeed. I certainly understand why one would prefer the RC and/or 3e. The 'incoherent' claim just struck me as incorrect. But whatever.
:wizard:
Quote from: FrekeIn my opinion, old-school D&D isn't so broken that it needs to be fixed beyond the obligatory house rules. So, if I want old-school flavor, I'll pick up the old books and play it. On the other hand, if I want to play D&D with lots of freedom in character creation and current support, I'd go with 3.5.
To me, C&C isn't a better old-school D&D than old-school D&D itself. Likewise, it doesn't do the d20 stuff better than 3.5, so I don't see a need to run it.
That's pretty much my feelings in a nutshell, it's also why I steer clear of Hackmaster. If I want old D&D, I'll go dig out my books.
Just wondering... wasn't Rob Kuntz the guy who took on a job to write some stuff for Necromancer (City of Brass? Maze of Zayene?) and then flaked out for one reason or another?
Quote from: DackeJust wondering... wasn't Rob Kuntz the guy who took on a job to write some stuff for Necromancer (City of Brass? Maze of Zayene?) and then flaked out for one reason or another?
Rob Kuntz wrote the 'City of Brass' (based on the original D&D setting from his campaign, I think) for Kenzer's 'Hackmaster' game. I don't have it, but I have heard that it is quite good (despite being for Hackmaster). I don't think that the upcoming Necro version has anything to do with Kuntz.
I don't know anything about the Maze of Zayene.
Quote from: AkrasiaRob Kuntz wrote the 'City of Brass' (based on the original D&D setting from his campaign, I think) for Kenzer's 'Hackmaster' game. I don't have it, but I have heard that it is quite good (despite being for Hackmaster). I don't think that the upcoming Necro version has anything to do with Kuntz.
I don't know anything about the Maze of Zayene.
Yes, Kuntz wrote the Maze of Zayene modules. The City of Brass for HackMaster is pretty good (
despite being for HackMaster, indeed! Hmmph!), but it was only partially written by Kuntz. Regardless, that City of Brass is pretty cool. Necromancer's long-in-the-making City of Brass has nothing to do with Kuntz (the CoB first appeared in the Arabian Nights tales).
As for the dust-up between Kuntz and Necromancer, it's water long under the bridge.
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