Lamentations of the Flame Princess
OSRIC
Swords & Wizardry
Labyrinth Lord
Adventurer Conqueror King
Why? They are thought out - done for love, and amazingly playable. Each one makes you want to grab some dice and head into the depths.
I've rewritten this post a dozen times.
The problem with Wizards, isn't a problem with Wizards. It's the problem with corporations in America. And it can be summed up in two short phrases. Capitalism is a problem and Industry isn't. Because if the only goal of a company is to make money, then it's a bad company. (Henry Ford, Industrialist)
That said, I can move on and talk about more interesting things then the slow painful death of what used to be the Free United States of America!
A company is only as good as their latest product or service.
I wanted and have asked for years for the copyright holders of Dungeons and Dragons to reprint first edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.
They are going to reprint first edition.
This is awesome. I spend money on gaming, and the 1e re-release is the first time in about five years Wizards of the Coast will get a dime of it.
There is nothing that can be done to prevent me from having fun at home with my friends. And if wizards is a financial failure and D&D goes the way of the Dodo people will still role-play and someone else will engage the market. The death or life of Wizards has little to do with role-playing at this point.
How do I know this?
People are doing it now for free, someone will make paying products for what clearly has a market.
I like games with built characters and boards, but I'll take them like Arkham Horror. For my RPG's I will continue to play what I'm playing now. The whole D&D next thing is really a non-starter, you know? It's a game, if it's good I'll play. If not, I'll play it and then stop.
Hasbro has done terrible things. These things that they do - ostensibly for money - drive me away from the company and make me wish to not spend money there. Natural consequences. Their questions about the input they are gathering for 5e so far (Holy or Radiant damage, do you want to fight skeletons, goblins, etc.) are so galactically functionally retarded as to virtually guarantee my non-participation. As such, it is doubtful they will get much of my future money.
Natural consequences.
As of now? Until some concrete rules emerge with perspective to understand how they will work in play, there is nothing else to say.
Now we continue with our regularly scheduled programing.
