2017-09-14 22:58
I almost started this post with the title "The OSR wasn't started by Old School Gamers". But, it should be fairly obvious why I decided not to. I mean, the OSR was started by old school game… Read More
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2017-09-14 18:56
I have been a GameMaster, Dungeon Master really as most of what I have played is Dungeons & Dragons, for 35 years. I mean not continually, there was a period from about age 24 to 32 when… Read More
2017-09-12 19:01
Low Fantasy GamingSo, I have several topics I have been wanting to cover but work has been so busy lately I've not been able to write for a day or two. I did want to take a minute though and… Read More
2017-09-05 21:35
I came across a Halfling's Luck review for a low magic game very close to a 5e vibe or feel called Low Fantasy Gaming. The product is generally awesome, and decidedly low magic, rules l… Read More
2017-09-04 15:24
Thought I would share an idea reaped from Hackmaster 4e (my principal ongoing source of AD&D inspiration) that I have ported into my 5e game. The HM 4e GMG has a brilliantly crunchy and… Read More
2017-09-03 00:39
I have modified the document some, updating it with more playable versions of the rules I first mentioned. Enjoy Read More
2017-09-03 00:25
Basilisks, Black Puddings, Brain Moles, Catoblepas, Dragonne, Floating Eye, Ghosts, Ghasts, Ghouls, Grey Ooze, Green Slime, Groaning Spirits, Harpies, Lamias, Lycanthropes, Medusae, Morkoths… Read More
2017-08-30 16:00
Don't go Vampire Hunting without your ToolBox ...And you can't play AD&D without your Gygaxian ToolBoxAD&D is often seen as a restrictive and rules heavy version of the origina… Read More
2017-08-28 21:49
A recent critical article about addiction to MMORPGs got me to thinking. Well, honestly it first ticked me off considerably. Anything that aims some nouveau criticism at RPGs by any stripe a… Read More
2017-08-28 19:39
A few posts ago, I put up some ideas I had for rendering 5e old school. For some context, I've been running a 5e game for about two years now. We are on our second campaign. The first was mo… Read More
2017-08-28 16:59
Another great Youtube find recently was Matt Finch's new channel in which he covers all things Swords and Wizardly. He has done a basic What Is S&W, and some coverage of various Frog God… Read More
2017-08-28 12:37
WoTC is asking for responses to an online survey to determine product interest. You may not be a wizbro fan, but they are offering to give 0e and 1e players a voice and in game preference. A… Read More
2017-08-26 15:45
No, I'm not writing about some defrocked Catholic father. Perusing Youtube the other day brought me to an unexpected goldmine: Matthew Colville.I was looking for gaming videos to listen to w… Read More
2017-08-26 03:15
On Gygaxian Naturalism & UnnaturalismThe term Gygaxian probably rests most strongly in three different qualities:The erudite and innovative use of literary language, usually archaicThe i… Read More
2017-08-25 19:47
My reading of late, Grognardia and other apparently shuttered OSR sites, has left me wondering what the current state of the OSR really is, and more particularly what the status of 1e is in… Read More
2017-08-25 18:02
James Maliszewski's GrognardiaForewordI have been re-reading all of James Maleszewski's blog entries over the past few days. I miss Grognardia and I miss James. Frankly, I think the internet… Read More
2017-08-25 15:51
By Old School Rules, I mean rules that I though would make 5e more Old School. And *spoiler alert* they didn't work. But I'll let you know what they were, why decided on them, and why I thin… Read More
2017-06-05 20:00
The Edition Wars Continue5e aint old school. Let's just get that right out of the way up front. Yes, yes, with all the proper caveats and clarifications. I'm using my own definitions and my… Read More
2017-06-03 22:15
I know there are some who don;t like when a blogger simply reblog's someone else's blog entry, or posts a link to some other blog. However, I'm having a tough time writing entries the past f… Read More
2017-05-02 21:22
So my daughter has checked out the Junior High School Pathfinder club which made me quite pleased. Not only because I love the fact that my daughter is out there looking for gaming opportuni… Read More
2017-05-02 21:01
So, some may have been off put (put off?) by my last entry. Say they, "How lobbest thy insults towards us who critique the games sans creative credentials, when with the same breath decry th… Read More
2017-04-28 21:42
There is an old tale of a Jewish Rabbi who talks about the fact that there is never a wrong or a right but always a middle. It's not right or wrong, it's somewhere in between. The idea of co… Read More
2017-04-18 02:49
Matt Finch, a star of the old school renaissance if there is such a thing, and co-author of OSRIC and author of Swords & Wizardry has shown his game design ability and his acumen in rega… Read More
2017-04-17 16:49
So, I was reading through the Dungeon Master's Guide and came across this quote from the afterword on that page with the now famous and racy drawing of Darlene's succubus, literally the last… Read More
2017-04-14 19:47
From the foreword of the AD&D PHB,"1. Be an organized player; have the necessary information on your character readily at hand and available to the DM.2. Cooperate with the DM and respec… Read More
2017-04-14 17:33
Okay, you're gonna wanna read this article first. And no, I'm not at it again. But the last line of that article inflammatorily states:"There was far less difference between Original Edition… Read More
2017-04-10 01:27
We've been talking a lot lately about 0e and the fact that most games that came after AD&D were based on a 0e foundation. Were there, however, any games based on AD&D? Why yes, yes t… Read More
2017-04-07 17:18
In case you haven't been able to tell, writing about AD&D objectively is always hard for me. Inevitably, my biases begin to show, and it is clear I think or feel AD&D is a superior p… Read More
2017-04-06 05:37
Custer's Last StandReflecting on my last entry, a lengthy and difficult one at that, and I have a few thoughts that have developed as I've done so.1. D&D was the system that prevailed in… Read More
2017-04-05 04:37
I've been working on my analysis sheet of the AD&D Rule Books that I mentioned previously, and trying to peck away at several entries in that regard. However, over the weekend I spent so… Read More
2017-03-24 21:26
"You dissin' me?"Some time ago I came across this littel gem, and it comes up on my search engine every time I search for AD&D stuff: The Ten Most Insane Old School D&D Rules. I… Read More
2017-01-23 22:26
SourceYeah. Like that guy in the back. AC 10. HP 3. A dagger and one magic missile. And no idea where the hell he's headed.Magic User is my favorite class. I don't know how that really happe… Read More
2017-01-17 00:06
Some time ago I covered a promising new game called Adventures Dark & Deep by Joseph Bloch of Greyhawk Grognard fame. This post is a reboot of that post in light of my recent discussion… Read More
2017-01-16 22:12
Undoubtedly by now some have taken issue, at least silently, with eye rolls, or expletives and curses on my gaming progeny. Then again, maybe you've just ignored my philosophical prattle. I… Read More
2017-01-16 03:01
If the reasoning in my last post is sound, then one might think that the old AD&D magic is forever lost. Is it? Can anything come close? Can we recreate TSR? The gaming culture of the ti… Read More
2017-01-14 17:42
Last entry I asked myself, what magic eludes me in terms of my gaming? What made AD&D so special? What made that age so special? What strange mojo came together to weave the spell that s… Read More
2017-01-13 21:17
So I was reading old OSR posts, articles and online essays recently and came across this little gem at The Escapist wherein the author made the comment,"If the retro-clone creators are the "… Read More
2016-11-21 20:05
The first adventure mapI am, in many ways, still creating adventures the way I did back in the day when I was first playing AD&D. After we had run Keep on the Borderland and Isle of Drea… Read More
2016-11-21 03:35
Some time ago I mentioned the new 5e campaign I'm running, which was designed as sort of me foray into what might be called "old school" 5e. Another time I'll wax philosophical about why 5e… Read More
2016-11-18 21:38
Paizo's Starfinder RPGI'll admit right up front, my experience with science fiction gaming is limited to a few games of Traveler, a little more Star Frontiers, one foray into Shadowrun, crea… Read More
2016-09-01 16:07
http://wocado.com/wp-content/uploads/wocado_word0106_A.jpgOkay, this entry is going to be a sort of fan-boy geek-out essay, so if you don't like that sort of thing, you just might want to go… Read More
2016-08-23 15:59
So, my kids bought me the books for 5e for Christmas! Pretty cool since they are pricey and I would have eventually bought them anyway. I had played 5e during the playtest a couple of times… Read More
2016-08-22 16:49
Believe it or not, I've never had a character resurrected. We played pretty hard core back in my player days, and mostly at levels below ten. So, resurrection was usually way too expensive o… Read More
2016-05-02 17:45
I have begun a new endeavor, more inline with my current gaming activities. Feel free to check it out!Of Gazebos & Swack-Iron Dragons Read More
2015-08-06 21:01
The time has come for me to seriously consider retiring Classic RPG Realms. I started the blog initially as a gaming club blog and as a vehicle for OSR exploration. The bulk of my entries ha… Read More
2015-07-13 02:37
Overall ImpressionsSo I'm using a four star system from * (1) to **** (4) Stars to rate the combat system where one star is the lowest rating and four stars is the h… Read More
2015-07-11 19:54
So, amidst all of my philosophical blatherings I thought I would take a minute and let you know what else I am up to. It's summer of course, which means I am not at school fulfilling my adve… Read More
2015-07-11 15:05
Sensibility: the kinds of feelings that you have when you hear, see, read, or think about something (Merriam Webster)Old School Sensibility: the kinds of feelings that you have when you… Read More
2015-07-10 17:38
Over at Tenkar's Tavern he brought up a drunken gem, or drunkenly brought up a gem, that we gamers always love, or in many cases hate, to endlessly debate ...The One Ring!Or rather ...The On… Read More
2015-07-03 21:26
"Sometimes when you get the mechanics of the game out of the way -- rolling the dice, keeping track of what your carrying--it's almost like your there." He lifted his head and smiled. "And t… Read More
2015-06-27 20:19
2015-06-27 20:19
After trying to wrap my brain around the Hackmaster combat system, I can;t help but wonder if the AD&D combat system is any better. Of course the way I remember it, it was way bette… Read More
2015-06-25 17:58
Probably the part of Hackmaster that gives me greatest pause is the combat. It's new and different and I want it to go smoothly if I should ever GM. This post is more a help to myself to out… Read More
2015-06-24 17:17
In case you haven't read my last post I have been wondering what game I should recommend that my new gaming group play. I mean it isn't all my decision, but when we meet for the fi… Read More
2015-06-23 19:02
So in preparation for the starting of a new regularly playing gaming group :-) YAY! I have been pondering what I would "suggest" we play. Everyone in our group seems fairly open minded about… Read More
2015-03-18 03:59
LongswordRapierThe eternal debate over what is the best sword is as loaded as what is the best martial art. But this little video is one of the better discussions of the issue from the point… Read More
2015-03-04 05:12
So, due to increased application of liberal doses of mundane life my blogging time has been shortchanged this week. Tonight I'm up late babysitting a sick kiddo while my wife tries to get so… Read More
2015-02-28 15:52
Hackmaster Combat: The Real DifferenceNetherdeep by Erol Otus4e Combat4e combat is essentially a First and Second edition AD&D system. The outline or flowchart of AD&D combat can be… Read More
2015-02-28 15:52
Hackmaster Combat: The Real DifferenceNetherdeep by Erol Otus4e Combat4e combat is essentially a First and Second edition AD&D system. The outline or flowchart of AD&D combat can be… Read More
2015-02-25 03:37
Character Creation4EReceive BPs as per character classDo not have to buy classHas racial level limits & restrictions7 stats; includes Comeliness3d6 for statsUses fractional ability score… Read More
2015-02-25 03:37
Character Creation4EReceive BPs as per character classDo not have to buy classHas racial level limits & restrictions7 stats; includes Comeliness3d6 for statsUses fractional ability score… Read More
2015-02-22 19:19
One of my favorite KODT coversfor obvious reasons.I've mentioned before why Hackmaster sings to my gaming soul so profoundly. In a word: KODT. Well, okay that's actually an acronym not a wor… Read More
2015-02-21 20:45
The second of my reviews of Goodman Games recently produced 5th edition adventures is of the 3rd level adventure Glitterdoom.The Lower Mine by "Aaron Palsmier"copyright Goodman GamesWho is i… Read More
2015-02-21 03:48
Some have suggested that I might have given short shrift to Goodman Games Fifth Edition Fantasy Adventures that I mentioned in a recent post. I say mentioned, because I really didn't review… Read More
2015-02-19 19:06
Vancian Magic is seen by many to be one of the hallmarks of D&D style gaming. It is of course only one way of many to do RPG magic, and in point of fact many later editions of D&&hell…Read More
2015-02-19 19:06
Vancian Magic is seen by many to be one of the hallmarks of D&D style gaming. It is of course only one way of many to do RPG magic, and in point of fact many later editions of D&&hell…Read More
2015-02-18 04:52
Just an FYI to explain some of my dust.I'm removing the link list from the front page of the blogLinks will now be on the "Links" pageAdding new links and updating old onesI will reorganize… Read More
2015-02-17 00:58
I love Goodman Games and own a dozen or so Dungeon Crawl Classics Adventures for d20 and the DCC RPG and about half a dozen adventures for DCC RPG. All are great. I mean not all of the DCC A… Read More
2015-02-16 01:44
2015-02-16 01:44
Well, 5e, aka D&D Next, is in full swing and my wonderful kids and wife have bought me all the existing rule books, which I have been reading off and on for the past few months.And it's… Read More
2015-02-16 01:11
Had a comment some time back asking for the Hackmaster posts from my last campaign. So I re-posted them for your general use and reference.I have been neck deep in grad school and my new job… Read More
2015-02-16 00:39
Welcome to Tellene!Note that this is a character's introduction to Tellene. What most character's would know about their world or can easily find out by talking to a variety of people is pre… Read More
2015-02-16 00:39
QUIRKS & FLAWSNote this is information for players in my new Hackmaster 5e game. For details see Hackmaster 5e PHB from KenzerCo.So, Quirks and Flaws. Fun ways to make your PC more inter… Read More
2015-02-16 00:39
HackMaster combat is a little different from standard AD&D combat, but the more familiar I get with it, the more I like it. Having a few pointers as you go about creating your first PC a… Read More
2015-02-16 00:39
QUIRKS & FLAWSNote this is information for players in my new Hackmaster 5e game. For details see Hackmaster 5e PHB from KenzerCo.So, Quirks and Flaws. Fun ways to make your PC more inter… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
LOL! Synchronicity! Synchronicity! Cried in my best tonal imitation of MASH's Father Mulcahy when he would holler "Jocularity!" Jocularity!" Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
There is a rare story of a follower of the Tibetan Sorcerers, of the beings called Tulpas.Thoughtforms. That by concentrating sufficiently one can bring into reality the substance of the ima… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Yes, I have been gaming. But lots of other stuff too. One of the sad facts of this digital age is that it is so easy to simply drop away into obscurity. This can, of course, be good and bad… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Two actually! And I owe one at least to online game finder services! It has taken forever and a day, but it has actually happened. For those of you who may not know or recall… Read More
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