Swords & Wizardry Complete Rules released today

Today the somewhat mad scramble for the S&W complete rules went "live", so to speak.  100 signed and numbered hardbacks, and 200 perfect bound soft covers.  There is also a PDF version available.  Check out the Frog God Games website for more details and purchasing.

I have been reading the PDF (you get one when you purchase a dead tree book) and I am impressed.  I was worried...I thought that maybe the game would change from a looks and soul standpoint, but I can see my fears were unfounded.  It is well laid out and the art is is "old school" enough and enjoyable.  Some interesting additions to the "Core" rules as well.  I like it!

Matt Finch did some neat things with the game, and I feel it takes it to the next level for the S&W family of games.  Three versions now, from the beginning and the 3 LBB, those three books with some supplements, to right before the birth of AD&D.  Even a little homage to Holmes basic is inserted in the initiative and combat section.

He also included my play test character in the example of play in the book, along with some others, which is awesome!  My name is right there in the front of the book as well.  Pretty neat. 

S&W Whitebox screen complete!

The screen is complete!  The linen tape worked very well, and when unfolded it stays put but can be adjusted.  The tables are "ok", I am not a spreadsheet master after all.  Basic stuff like to hit table and saving throw tables for monsters and PC's.  Also a movement cheat sheet and clerics turning undead.

As you can see it folds down and could actually fit in the box, if I had room.  I do have the mailing box that Brave Halfling mailed the WB set in, and it works great for extra digest sized books and home made booklets.

I am happy enough with the final product.  :)

Thinking about S&W Whitebox

I have been thinking about S&W Whitebox edition lately.  Specifically, I was thinking of how I wish I had a face to face game of this to play in.  I still currently play in a 3.5 game (Which I have died TWICE in, and in the past 3 sessions to boot.  Who said you can't die in the new editions?) and of course I am running my LL campaign.  I also play in a couple online forum games and in a Skype AD&D\LL game as well.  Wow, that seems like a lot of gaming now that I put it down in blog land!  Of course my LL campaign is only run once a month at best (but all day).  The 3.5 game is every other week and on a very steady schedule. 

Anyway, here is what I was daydreaming about.  A weeknight game, two or three times a month, for a couple hours each session, say like 6:30 to 9 or 9:30.  I think that the light rules and freedom of house ruling could make this a perfect system for this type of game.  I could see this happening at a game store, and the players would likely rotate in and out, never knowing who would be there each night.  Think of those newfangled 4e "D&D Encounters", but with a sandbox game of OD&D\S&W WB goodness.  Awesome, right?

The kicker is that I do not want to run it or organize it.  :)  So it is most likely just me day dreaming, as I doubt I will find anyone local doing anything OSR like.  Too bad I am no where near Jimm from The Contemptible Cube of Quazar.  His Skull Mountain game sounds like just the thing I am looking for.   Good on you Jimm for running it.  I am sure there are some appreciative players there in Austin.

Matt Finch Month, S&W box set!?

YES!


Ok not really.  I made this box myself to carry all the Swords & Wizardry goodness.  Very basically done with an old Xanth game box I have had for 20 years, some black spray paint, and color laser printed stick on labels.  It did not come out as well as I hoped, but it is still kind of cool none the less.  It holds the core rules, monster book, Tomb of the Iron God, Ice Tower of the Salka, The Spire of Iron and Crystal, Adventure Design Deskbooks volume one and two, Eldritch Wierdness Compilation, 15 character sheets, and the referee screen charts.

The inside:

And the back; notice the blue that did not get painted :)

I was going to wait till NTRPG con next year to bring this puppy into the public light and wow all the gamers in the S&W games, but in honor of M.F. Month, decided to post it.

Fun stuff!

Deity: Flargon the Traveler, part II

(My first issue with Blogger, could not make this all one post?  Oh well!)

At the NTRPG convention, I had a great time playing in the Mythrus Tower events using the Swords and Wizardry rules.  I played five of the six sessions, 4.5 sessions really, my alarm clock in the room was broken and the little sleep from driving and playing caught up with me on Saturday morning.  I rolled up a Cleric at the first session, and I made it through all five sessions and got out alive.  This is the deity I made up for Werner Mounte, cleric of Flargon the Traveller.

Flargon
Lesser Deity
Flargon the Traveller, The Lone Walker
Alignment:  Neutral
Worshipers Alignments:   Lawful, Neutral
Typical Worshipers:  Bards, Caravan workers, explorers, anyone in need of safe travel or passage
Holy Symbol:  A small wooden wagon wheel worn as a pendant
Spheres of Influence:  Travellers, Safe passage, exploration

Flargon appears as a middle age man, with tanned travel weary skin and rough beard.  Dressed in simple brown robes and sandals, a knotted rope at his waist for a belt, he also always has a staff or 'Walkin Stick'. 

Many people even not devoted to Flargon will invoke his name while on the road or in a particularly harry situation while travelling.  Many roadside camps and caves have a small shrine to the god, thought to help in providing a safe and restful night on the road.  There are no permanent churches or holy lands to his followers, they do not stay in one place long enough that a simple shrine in a clearing or old ruins would suffice.

Clerics of Flargon often dress in travel stained brown robes, and the quarterstaff or walking stick is their "holy" weapon.  These clerics explore and travel constantly, helping those in need and keeping the roads safe for the itinerant.  They are also known to leave camps better than they found them, stacking extra wood, clearing brush, etc.  These men seek knowledge and enlightenment through travel and exploration, seeing the wonders of the world and seeking communication with cultures other than ones own.

Deity: Flargon the Traveler

Up with the sun, gone with the wind
She always said I was lazy
Leavin' my home, leavin' my friends
Runnin' when things get too crazy
Out to the road, out 'neath the stars
Feelin' the breeze, passin' the bars


Women have come, women have gone
Everyone tryin' to cage me
Oh, some were so sweet, I barely got free
Others they only enrage me
Sometimes at night, I see their faces
I feel the traces they've left on my soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul


Travelin' man, love when I can
Turn in my hand 'cause I'm goin' on
Oh, travelin' man, love when I can
But sooner or later I'm goin' on, yea
Travelin man

NTRPG Con!

This is only a little over a week away, and I am pretty pumped about going.  I have signed up for a lot of Swords and Wizardry and a Expert game with Steve Winter as the DM.  I am expecting much fun to be had!

Now one thing that I have to admit, I have NEVER played an RPG at a convention.  Blasphemy?  Perhaps!  I only started going to conventions to play miniature war games about 8 years ago, competitive tournaments and friendly fun games.  RPG's were always reserved for the game group only.

This may be because I always assumed that games at conventions were competitive!  I thought everyone was scored and there was a "winner" and then of course "the losers".  I did not want my RPG to be scored and graded.  I thought that would ruin the game!

Of course now I know differently, that not all, even most, are NOT competitive point graded games.  This makes me a very happy dude!  :) 

I am counting the days, and plan on cruzin on into Dallas sometime Thursday afternoon, in time to get settled and play the first session.