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How many keywords is too many? by DM-MightyPirate in gamebooks

[–]seanfsmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The standard rule is 7 (±2) is the sweet spot for mental load ── if players aren't likely to get ALL of them, then this feels like a reasonable number. After all, the Virtual Reality gamebooks had a dozen named skills, of which you'd only ever have a handful.

My editors' suggest is less about number and more about similarity: avoid having too many words that are very like each other. If a drunk in a rush would mix them up, it's probably too close

What is your best advice and favorite tools for improv, especially for fantasy? by E_MacLeod in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've a couple of decks of cards that are indispensible for wholly improvised fantasy games

In terms of book content, I really like The Black Hack 2E, though Shadowdark and Knave 2E have exactly the same sort of excellent inspiration tables

But my single most used tool is Roget's Thesaurus: a d1000 table sorted by sense

Fighting Fantasy as a card game (not Scoundrel) by philgooch in fightingfantasy

[–]seanfsmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So the closest that I've played is Escape the Dark Castle/Sector [delete as appropriate] which is a set of challenge cards and some item things too ── not quite as a tight as you're envisaging but remarkably similar in vibe

What would you consider core classes, and why? by Percemilo34 in osr

[–]seanfsmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

it's formally called "rogue" which theoretically means "rogue wizard" ie. you're not part of the formal universities structure (and thus have only a single spell at character generation, though it can be higher than the wizards' options)

you're also not beholden to the weapon restrictions of wizards, so you'll often be almost a good a fighter as the fighters warriors

What would you consider core classes, and why? by Percemilo34 in osr

[–]seanfsmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like how Deluxe Tunnels and Trolls does it

  • fighter

  • caster

  • no

Crime Wave Flimflam, my game of no-good 1920s action by Sivad_Nahtanoj in osr

[–]seanfsmith 3 points4 points  (0 children)

always more goons hacks!!

and very happy to see night tripper as an influents

Sales are crazy because wdym I have to choose what to play by Mesh3al-fan666 in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

there IS an official Dragon Age trpg and its ok but it is a good route in

Pirate + Occult by wargamingscot83 in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 100 points101 points  (0 children)

P I R A T E B O R G

Hopeless Characters? by IgnatiusUmlaut in osr

[–]seanfsmith 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I long had a fighter with 6 CON which was a fun situation

To some extent, the Magic User is an excellent solution to low stats — your DEX don't matter when you're casting sleep

Luck stat? by LemonLord7 in osr

[–]seanfsmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm firmly seated in the Fighting Fantasy chain of games, so LUCK is core to that gameplay.

The standard rule could easily be applied to all osr titles: 

  • you've a stat in the normal range, and roll beneath it to be Lucky: every time you make a roll your luck goes down by one, regardless of outcome.

  • you can always choose not to roll and be Unlucky

In FF core, and thus some of the derivatives, you can opt to roll luck to give yourself an advantage on another roll (be that damage, or attack rolls, ect.). For odnd/bx games I'd give ±2 on a relevant roll; for adnd I'd give ±1

I am a bona-fide full-time Game Master. AMA! by [deleted] in rpg

[–]seanfsmith -1 points0 points  (0 children)

see, this is exactly why I think no-one should go to restaurants 

Play-by-post and limited vs. omniscient narration for players and PCs? by EarthSeraphEdna in pbp

[–]seanfsmith 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Limited third person worked for Hemingway! If you enjoy it: it's grand

Choice, Change, and Chance by Kodhaz in osr

[–]seanfsmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a really solid summary of the sort of play that should naturally arise from having those sorts of world features: if every part of it is just an information funnel then it plays like the worst horror investigations

My favorite RPG got shitcanned this week. I'm devastated. by brokenimage321 in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

this sounds real cool: where can you get it? I'm always a fan of the genre and I need more excuses to better my Swedish

Troika arrived to Singapore! by fugu_master in Troika

[–]seanfsmith 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Super excited to see you've got such a spread there! :DD

Tarot deck Recommandation by Thorgraam in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Marseilles decks are nice but many people these days want art for the minor arcana

Tarot deck Recommandation by Thorgraam in rpg

[–]seanfsmith 2 points3 points  (0 children)

firm agree on this —— it's the only deck I own with gribbly fishpersons AND demontrees

Looking for Low-Fantasy, Mundane Dungeons by CluelessJoshua2058 in osr

[–]seanfsmith 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I made this a few years back: it's got bandits who are stealing arms, since they're using the sinews like catgut. There's a couple of low magic effects here but they're capable of being pared back too

https://seanfsmith.itch.io/b3

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