Comments on: Old School Geekout: The Order of the Grappling Hook, Part 1 http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dar http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56323 dar Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:55:01 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56323 D&D poly-gamist! Hey! Me too! D&D poly-gamist!

Hey! Me too!

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56322 ChattyDM Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:14:42 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56322 Just so people aren't held in waiting for nothing, the game ended up being fantastic, easily in the top 10% of my DnD games of the last 26 years. As PM mentions, we were all in a mood to have fun and experience the game as we believed it was meant to be. @LV: It becomes more and more evident to me that I'm a poly-GM, I can and have had fun with more than one system at the same time. While I love and will very likely play more Swords & Wizardry, I don't plan to put my 4e books down either as I seek a different experience with that game. Actually, I though my ploy would be more transparent, I'm trying to grow my readership across editions. Once I have a S&W game running, I'll return to 1e and Pathfinder... ... just don't ask me about 2e. :) (Seriously, I have no real beef with 2e, I just didn't enjoy it as a player... as a DM it was allright, but I played only 2 sessions before moving on to Gurps). @Dar: I think I may become a D&D poly-gamist... until I give Mouse Guard a try... Just so people aren’t held in waiting for nothing, the game ended up being fantastic, easily in the top 10% of my DnD games of the last 26 years. As PM mentions, we were all in a mood to have fun and experience the game as we believed it was meant to be.

@LV: It becomes more and more evident to me that I’m a poly-GM, I can and have had fun with more than one system at the same time. While I love and will very likely play more Swords & Wizardry, I don’t plan to put my 4e books down either as I seek a different experience with that game.

Actually, I though my ploy would be more transparent, I’m trying to grow my readership across editions. Once I have a S&W game running, I’ll return to 1e and Pathfinder…

… just don’t ask me about 2e. :) (Seriously, I have no real beef with 2e, I just didn’t enjoy it as a player… as a DM it was allright, but I played only 2 sessions before moving on to Gurps).

@Dar: I think I may become a D&D poly-gamist… until I give Mouse Guard a try…

]]> By: dar http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56321 dar Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:58:15 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56321 rock and roll. Sounds like fun. I love all versions of D&D and will play them, though I must admit that it's been way to long since OD&D... rock and roll.

Sounds like fun.

I love all versions of D&D and will play them, though I must admit that it’s been way to long since OD&D…

]]> By: LordVreeg http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56320 LordVreeg Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:38:35 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56320 Chatty, Funny. I haven't played DnD much in the last 20 odd years. I tried 3.5 and 4e just to see when they were first released and didn't enjoy the first and frankly despised the latter. So while I don't use the rules right now, I did download OSric and a few others because I like the feel, growth patterns, and gaming mindset better than in newer editions. I find that in my own sessions and in the writings I peruse, that player-GM synergy seems to be easily reached by this Old-School mentality. A lot of my players (some of which I have kept for over 25 years) mentioned that feel as a positive thing long before there was retroclones. You seem to be able to run all these games well, so maybe it is not as big a deal. But I look forward to reading about the game you run with this. -LV .-= LordVreeg´s last blog ..<a href="http://celtricia.pbworks.com/Magic%20Overview" rel="nofollow">edited Magic Overview</a> =-. Chatty,

Funny. I haven’t played DnD much in the last 20 odd years. I tried 3.5 and 4e just to see when they were first released and didn’t enjoy the first and frankly despised the latter.

So while I don’t use the rules right now, I did download OSric and a few others because I like the feel, growth patterns, and gaming mindset better than in newer editions.

I find that in my own sessions and in the writings I peruse, that player-GM synergy seems to be easily reached by this Old-School mentality. A lot of my players (some of which I have kept for over 25 years) mentioned that feel as a positive thing long before there was retroclones.

You seem to be able to run all these games well, so maybe it is not as big a deal. But I look forward to reading about the game you run with this.
-LV
.-= LordVreeg´s last blog ..edited Magic Overview =-.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56319 ChattyDM Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:32:07 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56319 @Paul: It will all be covered in the other parts... I may end up doing a mini serial this week as I must also prep for my friday game. So this may end up being made of shorter posts than my usual 1200 word blurb. @Paul: It will all be covered in the other parts… I may end up doing a mini serial this week as I must also prep for my friday game. So this may end up being made of shorter posts than my usual 1200 word blurb.

]]> By: Paul Jessup http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56318 Paul Jessup Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:27:21 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56318 So how did it go after it started? Also- Roll up the Rim to Win! -heh, we have Tim Hortons in America as well :) So we also get the reference....at least up north So how did it go after it started?

Also-
Roll up the Rim to Win!
-heh, we have Tim Hortons in America as well :) So we also get the reference….at least up north

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56317 ChattyDM Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:03:50 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56317 Indeed, there are cool, almost magical moments when everyone around the table is in perfect synch and the game takes a dimension beyond what's on sheets and rules. This was a great game! Indeed, there are cool, almost magical moments when everyone around the table is in perfect synch and the game takes a dimension beyond what’s on sheets and rules. This was a great game!

]]> By: PM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56316 PM Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:59:16 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56316 I think everyone really was in the right mood for this. The classes were randomly chosen and so were the character names. :) I think everyone really was in the right mood for this. The classes were randomly chosen and so were the character names. :)

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56315 ChattyDM Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:41:39 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56315 @A Paladin: I really wanted my players to 'get' the flavour I wanted to have for this game. I wanted to the PCs to be the archetypal pulp scoundrel, not good or evil, just very self-centered. Oh and I'm glad that you got the Bacon word! 'grats! @Brian: Be on the lookout for the fate of that Magic User, they always lead to classic moments. @Phil: The behavior of the players made the whole game worthwhile, they embraced the setting and the assumption of old School gaming real fast. I can't wait to write part 2. @D_Luck: I totally agree with you, except that the re-write seems to have cleared up some of the issues I had with the game. Of course, there are still Save or Dies, Level Drain and the near absence of healing at low levels, but hey... that's part of the expperience. In fact, I find playing S&W the equivalent of 'roughing it in the wild' for 4e players. I predict that some players will love it and want to re-visit periodically while others will appreciate it but prefer the warm confines of the 4e lodge. :) And then you have guys like PM, who have felt constrained by the numerous rules of later editions and who find the freedom of the older ruleset liberating. He's been clamoring for another game a mere 3 days after we played! @A Paladin: I really wanted my players to ‘get’ the flavour I wanted to have for this game. I wanted to the PCs to be the archetypal pulp scoundrel, not good or evil, just very self-centered.

Oh and I’m glad that you got the Bacon word! ‘grats!

@Brian: Be on the lookout for the fate of that Magic User, they always lead to classic moments.

@Phil: The behavior of the players made the whole game worthwhile, they embraced the setting and the assumption of old School gaming real fast. I can’t wait to write part 2.

@D_Luck: I totally agree with you, except that the re-write seems to have cleared up some of the issues I had with the game. Of course, there are still Save or Dies, Level Drain and the near absence of healing at low levels, but hey… that’s part of the expperience.

In fact, I find playing S&W the equivalent of ‘roughing it in the wild’ for 4e players. I predict that some players will love it and want to re-visit periodically while others will appreciate it but prefer the warm confines of the 4e lodge. :)

And then you have guys like PM, who have felt constrained by the numerous rules of later editions and who find the freedom of the older ruleset liberating. He’s been clamoring for another game a mere 3 days after we played!

]]> By: D_luck http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56314 D_luck Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:29:12 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56314 There's one game I remember quite fondly and it's Star Frontier from TSR. If I remember correctly the system was very simple. I'm pretty sure if I would find it in my basement I would be better not to read it either. Sometimes the souvenir of something is better then the real thing... There’s one game I remember quite fondly and it’s Star Frontier from TSR. If I remember correctly the system was very simple. I’m pretty sure if I would find it in my basement I would be better not to read it either.

Sometimes the souvenir of something is better then the real thing…

]]> By: DNAphil http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56313 DNAphil Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:08:58 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56313 Going Old School...I love it. I have to admit that I too have been having some Old School feelings, though my eye is focused on HackMaster:Basic right now. There is something a bit a more streamlined rules set and a 10ft pole that makes you want to inch down a moldy dark hallway, praying you find the pit trap. BTW-- Us border folks, know all about Roll Up The Rim To Win. In fact, I will be hitting Timmy Ho's in just a few minutes for breakfast, on my way to work. Going Old School…I love it. I have to admit that I too have been having some Old School feelings, though my eye is focused on HackMaster:Basic right now. There is something a bit a more streamlined rules set and a 10ft pole that makes you want to inch down a moldy dark hallway, praying you find the pit trap.

BTW– Us border folks, know all about Roll Up The Rim To Win. In fact, I will be hitting Timmy Ho’s in just a few minutes for breakfast, on my way to work.

]]> By: Brian http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56312 Brian Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:42:58 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56312 Hehe, 1HP mage... I remember those days. .-= Brian´s last blog ..<a href="http://onlyonemanproductions.blogspot.com/2009/04/hmmm-dont-know-about-this-but-ok-ill.html" rel="nofollow">Hmmm.... don't know about this... but ok. I'll Tweet...</a> =-. Hehe, 1HP mage… I remember those days.
.-= Brian´s last blog ..Hmmm…. don’t know about this… but ok. I’ll Tweet… =-.

]]> By: A Paladin In Citadel http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/31/old-school-geekout-the-order-of-the-grappling-hook-part-1/#comment-56311 A Paladin In Citadel Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:27:08 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=3822#comment-56311 I love your opening hook, very old-school! This should be interesting (sets up lawnchair and goes to microwave a bag of popcorn) Word Verification - bacon: how very canadian! I love your opening hook, very old-school!

This should be interesting (sets up lawnchair and goes to microwave a bag of popcorn)

Word Verification – bacon: how very canadian!

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