A Little RPG Anyone?

I got a little nostalgic recently and started thinking about my old D&D days when I was in junior high. Now for you youngsters, that was circa 1978/1979 - ish, when Advanced D&D was taking the free world by storm. I spent many a long evenings gathered around my buddy Mike's kitchen table with the other guys on the block running through the Keep on the Borderlands scenarios (Caves of Chaos) or solving the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. Hell, we even delved into the dungeons of Castle Greyhawk. Those were the days when Roleplaying Games were great. As time went on, we found more time for girls and beer than we did for gaming. But I always kept up with the rules. I also picked up my copy of Dragon Magazine and also kept a watch out for any new miniatures (they were made of lead back then and I didn't have to pin them or super glue them).

Well TSR sold off D&D to these Wizards of the Coast guys and for a time, I liked what they were doing with the game. But then, 4th Edition has come along and I have to say that it is a far, far cry from what I grew up on. It's just not the same. Plastic, pre-painted minis, none of which look like the characters I'd create. Heroes and villains wielding misshapen swords. Ooh, I hated that. And seriously? Flat tokens to represent monsters and adventurers. What a complete lack of commitment on the part of WOTC. Sure the artwork got better, but the gaming aspect? It's taken a total dump.

As WOTC left the old editions of D&D behind and the OGL came onto the scene, other companies were able to publish fantasy RPGs that were basically picking up where the 3rd edition of D&D left off. Pathfinder RPG has probably been the biggest one to date and has been very successful. I love the setting and the artwork is every bit as good as the D&D stuff.

So what am I getting at? Well, through all this, I've been feeling the urge to get back into RPGs, but I was looking for a simpler way to do it...and as luck would have it, Paizo Publishing answered my prayers and released the Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box. At $34.00, it is well worth it. The quality of this product far surpasses WOTC feeble attempt to come up with a Basic version of D&D through their retro Red Box set. The Pathfinder product, like the D&D set, includes a solo adventure, a Player's Handbook and GM Guide, some dice and a map. But that's where the similarities end. Pathfinder's Beginner Box takes the players up through 5th level, not 2nd or 3rd. Paizo also includes stand up pawns that represent heroes and monsters that are included in the game. Complete with plastic bases. Pathfinder RPG introduces 3 primary races: Elf, Dwarf, Human and 4 primary classes: Fighter, Cleric, Wizard and Rogue. A big plus for me is that they also included pawns for every class and race combination as well as gender. Ingenious!!! So far, it's a great, great product. I can't wait to play.

Oh and one more thing, Paizo has teamed with Wizkids, to release a set of plastic, pre-painted miniatures for the Pathfinder as well. I am cautiously optimistic about this product. But if the minis fail, Pathfinder still produces some kick-ass metal miniatures for the Pathfinder game through Reaper. I'll just have to paint some up.

That's One Bad A** Frost Giant

I just started reading The Plague of Shadows by Howard Andrew Jones. I'm about 50 pages into the book and I can't put it down. The story is set in the popular Pathfinder Campaign Setting by Paizo Publishing. That RPG system has stuck to the old D&D 3.5 rule set and honestly I can still see the appeal. It kind of takes me back to my old 1st and 2nd Dungeons & Dragons days. Those were some great times. Anyway, one thing led to another and I started looking at the Reaper metal miniatures...and check this out!

Now I don't like working with metal models from an army standpoint, BUT I do miss the old days when one miniature represented you on the gaming table. Hey, anyone up for Pathfinder??

Good Times...

Recently, I was in my local Borders (big surprise) and I found a copy of the new DnD 4th Edition 'Starter Set', the first product in the new Dungeons & Dragons Essentials line. The new line is a combination of updated info to the fourth edition and also a new way to introduce new players into the game. Feeling nostalgic, I grabbed a copy. The first thing that I love about the set is the packaging. WotC reproduced the original 'Red Box' this time around. It immediately took me back to the old days of sitting around a table with my old gaming group until sunrise, scarfing down a hot pizza from Danny's Pizzeria, potato chips and grape soda (what can I say, we were 15).

Not thrilled with trying to learn a whole new game system, I was hesitant to begin reading the material. But then something odd and wonderful happened. My twelve year old daughter (about as anti-geek as you can be), wanted to know more about the game and what's more, she wanted to learn to play. Not knowing what to say, I agreed to dive into the new set with her.

The first book is a great, easy to read introductory solo scenario (ala Choose Your Own Adventure), that takes you through the steps of character creation while working your way through a battle with goblin brigands. Before I knew it, I had created my very own character. So here I go, leaping back into an old game that had brought me hours and hours and hours of fun. Returning to D&D is liking reuniting with an old friend. Looking forward to more good times.

Shh! Don't tell my daughter's friends.

Deathwatch (Part 1)

With 33% off coupon in hand, I walked into my local Borders Bookstore, hoping to find some new and exciting novel or gaming treat to buy. You see, I like to read. A lot. I like science fiction, fantasy, history, mysteries - the usual 'geek' stuff. I recently finished the new Dungeons & Dragons novel, 'The Mark of Nerath' by Bill Slavicsek and was now in the mood for some sci fi, but first I decided to browse through the gaming section (which is way too small for a two-story bookstore), and I found the Deathwatch RPG book. I couldn't help myself. It was space marine material and I had to have it.

I have to say that this is a must for any 40k player. The art alone is among some of the best space marine art that I have ever seen. Not ever having experienced any of the 40k roleplaying products, I'm going to give this one a read. I don't know if I'll ever get around to finding a group to actually play as there doesn't seem to be much interest locally, but it is a great reference book and provides near limitless inspiration for modelling space marines, particularly the battle brothers of the Deathwatch.

...One more model

Okay, so my my copy of the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Game is on the way and I can't wait to get it. I know that I said that I had to suspend my game spending, but I started thinking that I should start looking through my Fantasy minis to see what I've got. I know the game comes with a bunch of 'standees', but I know right now, I would much rather have a hand-painted miniature on the table. Call it RPG nostalgia, but back in my DnD days, I had a bunch of old Grenadier minis that we used to play with. Anyway, I just had to get one more model that I had my eye on for a long time. I thought that Empire Captain from direct-only was too cool, so I picked up the phone and placed the order. What a bad-ass looking model!

Last Gaming Purchase of 2009

With the Christmas shopping season here, I'm going to have to curtail my hobby spending. But I thought that I could squeeze in one last purchase before the end of the year. I have long been a fan of Roleplaying Games, but have not had the opportunity to some time to play. I had thumbed through the last edition of WFRP, and felt out of place. The percentile dice system was different from the traditional d20 system common to D&D. So I decided to stick to tabletop gaming. Until now.

The new, completely re-vamped WFRP game, from what I've read is such a far-cry your standard RPG, that I am curious beyond measure. Fantasy Flight games has been tasked with bringing the Old World setting to roleplaying gamers this time around. I've always liked the flavor and feel of Warhammer Fantasy, so I definitely want the chance play this game.

Anyway, as with all Fantasy Flight games the price tag this time around is pretty steep, $99.00. But I checked out ebay and found a new boxed set for $69.99. Can't wait to see it.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay - revamped??

The Hogs of War (link to the left) is reporting a new version of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. As a DnD player of old (early 80's), I'm very curious to see what Fantasy Flight Games is going to do with this. I've seen the most recent version published by Black Library or Green Ronin or whoever it was, but I didn't care for it. There were too many 'mundane' careers for my taste. When I hear of Fantasy RPG, I think of warriors, wizards and heroes of legend. Not a Messenger or Barmaid. I've always been a fan of roleplaying games and even tried to get a group together for some new DnD 4E, but couldn't generate any interest.

The new version of WHFRP, is peaking my interest. I own a couple of Fantasy Flight games and I've always been impressed with their products. I'll definitely check this one out. It would be a great way to put all of those fantasy models to use.

Old School DnD

Sorry guys, but I need to take a stroll down memory lane. Not sure how many of you out there remember the good ol' days of Dungeons & Dragons, but I saw these pics out on the net and I couldn't help remembering all of the fun that I had. I wish I could get my hands on this stuff again. For nostalgic reasons if nothing else.

This was how we played back in the day. Enjoy!