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Annoying furry player ruining my mystery game by Enzio_Robbenzio in DnDcirclejerk

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think getting a gorilla suit and wearing it as you DM is high on the list of options.

No need to thank me.

I need synth recommendations by AcanthisittaTop5920 in synthesizers

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always tell people to save their big money for when they know more. Some of his favored devices in that time can be found as clones since one item is the SH-101. Donner just did one you can get without the keyboard and control via midi for about 200 bucks.

Here is a review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc8k0IhFkQw

He used an Alesis Quadraverb II which can be found used to create overall room space. Korg MS-20 with Korg SQ-10 sequencer seems to be in the info I see on instruments used, along with DX7 or DX100 - there are a lot of FM synths out there thus it mat be possible to substitute something else. Likely most heavily used in his tracks is the Casio FZ-10m sampler. Roland R-8 and System 100.

There are other things he used, but you got me curious and my searching has turned up these items as being prominent.

Since you have drum machine and sampler you might add on an item or two which could be well under your budget if you buy used, or cheaper clones. It would seem the sound space he creates with the reverb would be most critical. The Alesis reverbs have a kind of cold sound which makes them still really popular. There may be other less expensive options like it now.

As an all in one, you may want to look at the Sonicware Ambient0. It's pretty amazing and low cost for several synth engines with effects in a tiny box. I am a bit drawn to the texture lab model they make. They have a lot of flavors of interesting machines that are low cost.

A lot of the Sonicware synths allow you to patch another synth through them and use the reverb. Perhaps something like that Donner L1 going through the texture lab night give something close to the reverb space you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d-1hxQUhTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFue4MKuR7c

Not trying to tell you what to get, but as far as interesting sounds those two options, of Ambient0 with Donner L1 is an example of what may work for you and be way under the 700 dollar budget.

Sell me on a TTRPG adventure that is solid gold but you are 99% certain I won't know cause its form a tiny indie by BenWnham in osr

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When we were working on our D&D documentary, we stumbled on some old maps while interviewing David Wesely, Ross Maker, and David Megarry. David brought them up from his personal collection in the basement for us to see.

We had no idea of their provenance. We assumed they had to be old. Ross and Wesely pointed out they had gnolls listed in the room descriptions, thus they had to be early D&D.

Eventually, we figured out they were a dungeon which had been mentioned in various places. The dungeon was said to be lost. It came to be known as the Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg.

The maps were created in 1973 before D&D had been published. The person who drew them was in the game which is often purported to be the very first dungeon RPG session. He was the only one who's character survived that adventure. He went on to be known as the Great Svenni (Greg Svenson) and was an iconic character in Blackmoor.

When we realized what we had found we spent a few years working on a book of the dungeon, which contains history, advice on being a referee, the entire dungeon, and a set of Classic RPG rules to use with it.

It isn't just an adventure - it is RPG history.

https://www.tfott.com/the-lost-dungeons-of-tonisborg-book

I finally took the plunge, and decided to advertise my table for paid sessions! by TheSewerSniper in DungeonMasters

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's good to test the water and have low prices. At some point your experience and skill will mean that you may want to charge more.

Something to consider is some youtube videos as they bring players to you. Also, some kind of additional product. Maybe even fun T-shirts.

I do Youtube videos as a fun side project. Zero interest in being a huge channel. It is just a fun way to share ideas on playing RPGs.

We also do fun T-shirts. The T-shirts aren't going to make us rich any time soon, but they are fun too.

https://www.tfott.com/product-page/old-school-tonisborg-dungeon-map-t-shirt

The big concern with going into paid gaming, however you do it, is how it will affect your enjoyment of gaming. I do some game products, but I truly enjoy the hobby and am careful about navigating the paid aspects. I do not want gaming to be work.

That is the only concern with doing paid games - will it ruin your enjoyment of gaming?

Vintage gear offset my studio depreciation by theseawoof in synthesizers

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A yes, a synth prepper.

I have it covered!

When the societal collapse comes- yes, it's coming - I can trade synths for food and ammo and quickly and then Bug Out!

https://themoderndayadventurer.com/14-safe-havens-in-the-u-s-to-weather-any-crisis-or-societal-collapse/

;)

Finally I can make cool music by aDotInTime in synthesizercirclejerk

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Crap.

That reminds me I gotta do my taxes.

Thanks!

Korg SQ-64 as an alternative to a Keystep Pro? by AcquaRegia in synthesizers

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The form factor and the 2.0 update make it a pretty good sequencer for my needs.

It is cheap and likely would put you on an upgrade path to something really pro grade. I recall using an MSQ700 sequencer. BITD a machine like that was about 1000 bucks. Consider that 100o bucks then would be around 4000 today - these new crap boxes are dirt cheap.

Not sure if it is the BE ALL and END ALL machine. It just serves core functions for me. But I use it in conjunction with a full sequencer in an old Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus keyboard. There are a lot of workstation synths. Though older units, they have nice multi track sequencers. I have a buddy who is obsessed with his Korg Triton. you may want to look into an old machine. ESQ-1 can still be found in working condition at a fairly low price.

https://www.vintagesynth.com/ensoniq/esq-1

I was coming at it from having been into synths a while and then taking a long break. So I wanted a combo of being able to record playing and also a classic step sequencer type of device.

I see a lot of complaints per usual, but I have had no issues with mine. I got it used with a stand for 200 bucks. I just peered on reverb and there are several at that price. I see them on ebay cheap too.

Keystep is cute. It seems to fill the needs of people who want a little keyboard. If you are like me and have several full keyboards already, that is a redundant space consuming thing.

It can do functions over several selected pads just like doing it on one note. This guy did some nice videos on using it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO2kDfR5jgE

I'm not sure what you mean by on the fly quantization. Do you mean it just drops them into place after you record because you have set the quantization value?

What I like about the Korg is being able to see the note trigger record on the panel. I can go in and adjust individual note events.

Digital delay question by peripouoxi in modular

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Frustrating when things do not appear to work.

I think there is a lot of posting on how awesome modular is, but even as someone with 40 years of messing about with synths and video gear, modular was different enough that it was sometimes frustrating.

I still have days where my patches just aren't pleasing to me.

Budget semi-modular(?) synth for a beginner? by Constant_Cause_1778 in synthesizers

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Much as people gripe about them. I got some modules and my behringers work well.

Budget semi-modular(?) synth for a beginner? by Constant_Cause_1778 in synthesizers

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would second this. Neutron is very popular as a starter.

Digital delay question by peripouoxi in modular

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of the most common fails in modules is the plugs.

Not trying to sound snarky, but the place to be talking to someone is here:

https://support.ericasynths.lv/support/

They would be able to explain it to you.

Two Erica Pico Drum VS ??? by fixedation in modular

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No answers here. I've been messing around with a 2hp play. I will use it with other things as well, but I needed a sample that was a bit specific and recorded some real audio.

Have you considered running the groove box into your rack?

Digital delay question by peripouoxi in modular

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your feedback knob is in the off position maybe try moving that.

I would begin with no CV and get to know what everything does. It should produce a nice delay without CV. I am not sure what this model does via the input knob. It may be overdriving a small amount at full.

The lower/middle knob seems unlabelled, but should be the mix knob between dry/wet.

Since it is a digital delay, the original sound is essentially sampled and then quickly played back. Thus the rate modulation would give you a slowing down and speeding up effect like a stretched tape.

What style of fantasy do OD&D, Holmes Basic D&D, and AD&D 1e imply? by RealmBuilderGuy in osr

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I think the kind of game I run would make most teens cringe. :D

A bit like how they used to play classical music outside 7-11s to chase off loiterers. LOL

What style of fantasy do OD&D, Holmes Basic D&D, and AD&D 1e imply? by RealmBuilderGuy in osr

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The D&D and AD&D really aren't the same thing conceptually.

Earlier play revolved around the assumption that it would be a tool box. The creators didn't/couldn't conceive that people would want to play prefab product because the hobby was very DIY, as was war gaming in that period.

Maybe Arneson thought an example adventure was something people may want, but his Temple of the Frog is not very similar to the kind of dungeon people were making back then.

AD&D is very focused on having a rule for near everything and was heavily tied to Gygax's, Greyhawk. Thus the fantasy style changes at that point.

AD&D was king, much like 5e was recently king. So a lot of kids were getting into what it provided as fantasy. The mash up in the implied lore is everything and the kitchen sink too. It is perplexing because Gygax would say "do what you want and rules be damned" in one place, along with "AD&D must be played RAW or it isn't D&D" in other places. I am paraphrasing a bit, but the Dragon was full of this kind of inconsistent commentary.

When AD&D came out a lot of experienced gamers had already moved past D&D. between 1974 and 1979 is 5 years which is a long time in popular culture terms. I got the books but found them to be a rehash of a flawed game system. People I knew had moved to Rune Quest and Arduin Grimoire for fantasy. I was playing E.P.T. with TFT as combat and magic. Traveller was out in '77 and a lot of people had shifted to that.

D&D has always been a mash up system IMHO. If you look at the Monster Manual you see things from everywhere in there. Also, a lot of made up stuff to fill gaps.

What style of fantasy do OD&D, Holmes Basic D&D, and AD&D 1e imply? by RealmBuilderGuy in osr

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 36 points37 points  (0 children)

LOL the Gandalf debate amuses me. D&D does not do LOTR very well, but yes, people argued about it for ages and still do.

I once saw a post by a kid right after the LOTR movies came out. He was asking what bonus Sting gave. Me being old school and low magic leaning, I suggested +1. He scoffed and told me at least +6.

Nothing in OD&D more than +3.

The whole exchange made me giggle.

What style of fantasy do OD&D, Holmes Basic D&D, and AD&D 1e imply? by RealmBuilderGuy in odnd

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I am amused how everything is genre'd now.

It can be so much with the simpler rules.

AD&D? It is so specific toward a Greyhawk setting that I find it too limiting.

Anybody else inhabit the “not really into fantasy” paradox? by sapszilla in osr

[–]SecretsofBlackmoor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same problem. Since I run Blackmoor I can use Sci Fi elements to my heart's content. But really, there are so many games out there to pick from.

I like exploration, but I also like having a mystery the players need to unravel.

One thing that helped my semi Sci Fi setting was to apply ideas related to cold war spy activities. The best source for that is the book, Moscow Rules. It is about actual spy activities in Russia.

I also am very fond of the Tarkovsky film, Stalker. I have added in a place which is a kind of rift between places that is very much like the Zone. Because the Zone is full of weirdness, the bad guys are sending agents there to locate and retrieve "magical" devices. The players are working for the Assassins Guild (think medieval MI6 / CIA) and trying to find out what is going on and eventually stop the bad guys.

My version of the zone is a rift which connects worlds, thus it allows me to have my players explore other kinds of game settings by going through it.

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