Jan 01
JaybeeGeneral
There hasn’t been much to post recently because there’s really no news to go around. We’re about 50% finished with items and will probably complete them within the month. The monster section will be the final portion before final editing and formatting. The current “preview” edition up in the downloads section includes all the rules but understand the items and monsters are not complete yet (I happened to spot Boccob’s name floating around there!).
As far as personal projects go, my friends got me into board gaming and I’m designing a tile based game in my spare time. I also have a great idea for an RPG using the FATE 3.0 system. My new years resolution is to post more, procrastinate less but even as I’m typing this I’m flipping back and forth to Wikipedia and reading inane articles! Happy new year to all.
Dec 01
JaybeeGeneral
A few weeks ago we finished editing the huge list of 300-something spells. The spells are now finished, leaving only the items (which is easy going) and the monsters (may take a little longer). The updated preview version contains everything. Absolutely everything from rules, spells, items, and monsters. The items and monsters are still unfinished, so beware that you’re still playing a game in its raw form, but everything up to the spells is complete. This is a complete game. Beta, but complete. Download the updated .pdf right now!
Plans for the future? After finishing this beast, we’ll have to format it into a form that’s easy to read and doesn’t take up 700 pages. That means two column pages with hyperlink buttons for your convenience. I can’t say when it will be done, maybe Q1 2012, but this 3 year long project is winding down and the end is in sight. Please read it and send me feedback so I know what to fix. Happy holidays, everyone.
Oct 27
JaybeeGeneral
I love Tony D's monsters. His outsiders ranged the gamut from grotesque to alluring. The marilith here is sensual and appealing... until you actually fight her and get horribly maimed.
A friend emailed me this link to a website which hosts every single AD&D 2E monster with their respective illustrations. This is awesome because I can safely say 2E has the best codex of monsters out of any RPG product. Period. I’m pretty sure this isn’t legal, per se, but I’m also positive Wizards knows about this and isn’t interested in shutting down a free project that doesn’t interfere with their current line. Click on the random monster button if you’re feeling particularly daring.
Lomion.de
Oct 06
JaybeeGeneral
I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with the ruleset when I’m finished and it hit me: adapt 2E into swords & sorcery. Just throwing around some ideas here:
1. Level cap. Once you hit your “title” level and stop gaining hit dice you don’t level up anymore. There’ll be some means of acquiring power and proficiencies but at this point you’re a legendary hero.
2. Arcane magic is corrupt; if divine magic comes from the gods then arcane magic comes from devils. Anyone can learn magic but even magic items corrupt the soul. Good wizards balance this by protecting people against evil magic but even they lose a little something in the dark pacts they must make. Truly vile wizards physically transform as they take on the image of the devils they bind and worship.
3. Monsters are horrifying. Humanoids, monstrous humanoids like goblins, and giants are the only creatures mankind has extended contact with. Horrible, reality defying things like dragons, aberrations, demons, and behirs are truly terrible to behold and cause men to normal men to flee in terror.
4. Bringing back OD&D rules about high-HD creatures versus low HD creatures. In OD&D, you could make a number of attacks against 1HD or fewer creatures equal to your HD. If a 5th level hero was surrounded by 6 orcs he could attack 5 of them. This makes large battles easier to manage and the player feel truly powerful when he single-handily takes on 20 low-level guys without being overwhelmed in one round.
5. Wizards are warriors who dabble in magic. I like images of old men with swords but D&D’s wizard is a frail thing who sneezes and dies. S&S wizards are often skilled in combat as much as they are with rituals.
6. Everything resets after an adventurer. Warriors spend their money on women and food, wizards upgrade their laboratories, and priests give it away. I’ll adopt an Arneson rule where experience is gained not after earning money, but spending it.
7. Sci-fi theme. I love European fantasy in comics like Thorgal and Heavy Metal where there’s usually a science fiction bent. In an ancient age lost to mankind, technology from an ancient civilization (Atlanteans?) existed.
8. Monsters as gods. Why is a hill giant or winter wolf not considered a deity? We’re talking about creatures that could wreck havoc across whole countries. The adult red dragon sleeping in a cave outside the village isn’t fodder for the heroes, it’s a minor god.
I’ve got more ideas rattling around in the bone box that I’ll be putting to paper soon. The idea is to turn 2E from high-flying fantasy in other planes to something ugly, alien, and romantic. I don’t like gritty for the sake of being gritty but high magic, do-anything campaigns takes away some of the wonder of the unknown.
Oct 02
JaybeeGeneral
Hello to everyone who has been following me, I’m back. In short, I thought my bill was due later than it actually was. I was thinking about bringing back some of the old material but decided that the website could use a redesign from the ground up. Over the next several weeks I’ll be catching up and showing everyone how far the project has come since it began two years ago. I was surprised to see several posts on forums looking for me and I’m glad that there’s interest in this little two-man project.
Sorry to leave you out in the dust folks but I’ll be around for at least another year.
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