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Post by Scott on Mar 24, 2009 9:58:52 GMT -5
I can’t blame it on the economy. There have been a lot of gaming related disappointments, and I think it’s taking a toll on my enthusiasm. Gary’s passing was the big one, but there are others. Gygax Games has been such a momentum killer, a total downer really. I haven’t been able to get my group together in months. Etc. I need some inspiration.
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 24, 2009 12:22:58 GMT -5
I was riding high until the Gygax memorial game imploded. Too much reliance on the film angle (scripts this time for little skits, checklists of things that need to be filmed, rewriting songs, etc.) that made everything go kaboom. If it was just a game it would have still crashed but with all this extra weight it just smacked me hard in the face. Anyway, the campaign I feel is still alive in my mind but I have to get the two of them to take on somebody else as a player.
I certainly "broke the bridge" recently regarding the "human crutch" that I relied too much on. If it wasn't for his nagging I wouldn't even have planned the big memorial. So if anything I might need someone who'll keep me motivated.
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Post by geneweigel on Mar 24, 2009 13:29:54 GMT -5
In general though with Gary gone its as if everything has gone to the wolves. Or at least its all gone to the big pawed, hair-moussed, tattooed wolves... I guess I never fantasized about what Radagast the Brown did after the trilogy but I feel like I'm living it somehow...
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GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Mar 26, 2009 13:26:12 GMT -5
Well, I haven't really had time to indulge myself lately, and the state of Castle Zagyg in limbo is indeed a buzz-kill; but I am planning a big adventure fraught with pizza, snacks and beer/ale for the second week of May as my group reunites to plunge further into the Castle!
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ghul
Enchanter
Posts: 272
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Post by ghul on Mar 27, 2009 14:08:04 GMT -5
To continue the fun and gaming, I highly recommend Joe Bloch's continuation of the work, as Castle of the Mad Arch Mage as found here: greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/Where Gary and I presented the first level of Castle Zagyg, Joe picks up the torch and has created levels 2 and 3 and is almost done level 4. Are they anything like what Gary and I had planned? Not really. Are they fun, inventive, quirky and weird? You bet. I give the effort two thumbs up!
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Post by grodog on Mar 31, 2009 11:02:19 GMT -5
Joe's Level 4 is now done, and while I haven't made time to read this installment yet, the other two were good, and worth checking out, so I'm assuming the same with level 4.
I think that there is so much stuff going on in the OOP/old school/Greyhawk communities that it's actually hard to keep track of all of it, which is a nice problem to have! Many many products have been released since this time last year, and many more are in the pipeline. Finding the time to leverage them is of course the harder part, esp. since I'm not DMing right now (though still writing more, and designing a bit, which are definitely fun!)
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Rhuvein
Magician
Beware . . Mjolnir
Posts: 228
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Post by Rhuvein on Apr 2, 2009 10:27:49 GMT -5
I'm still very excited and enthusiastic about gaming and Castle Zagyg. At least Gary and Jeff game us The Upper Works - enough to take it and run with it as the above mentioned fellow has done.
Myself, I will create my own levels as well. Plus there's tons of great material that could either be used in the CZ castle and dungeons - or else close by.
Aside from CZ - we still have loads of stuff from Rob - both older and recent.
Has anyone run Maure Castle yet?
I'm debating on whether or not to run Cairn of the Skeleton King before CZ UWs. But, if our groups gets into the Castle or dungeons, they may be there quite a while and end up leveling quite a bit.
Heh, but that's OK - lots of choices especially in CZ with Rob's modules.
Tim Kask's Tower of the Mad Wizard was a blast and I hope he releases a copy of it soon to the public. I was lucky enough to get a signed prototype copy (#5) from him.
Frank has released some of his campaign adventures as well on a very limited basis - still not sure if he is going to go full out. He's mentioned a few things in passing.
For me, I also look forward to running some of Gary's high level adventures when (if) my group levels up some more.
Also, the Trolls are continuing their series of adventures in Aihrde (A1 - A5 have been released) that will culminate in a final hardcover book (180) that will contain the Citadel/Fortress of the chief badass Unklar the Horned God - along with all the dungeons and fun stuff therein.
I expect that book to be the piece de resistance of TLG's World of Aihrde.
Fight On! ;D
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ector
Prestidigitat
Posts: 2
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Post by ector on Apr 8, 2009 20:25:51 GMT -5
I was starting to feel that same waning. Getting to Gary Con was a huge upper, but it's never easy to get my regular group together. We're lucky if we're playing once a month right now.
I managed to break myself out of that downward spiral though - this past weekend I started my daughters (ages 8 & 12) on Keep on the Borderlands. We had tried D&D before but it had never quite clicked. This time it was awesome. Two hours went by in the blink of an eye and we spent the whole time laughing and enjoying ourselves.
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Rhuvein
Magician
Beware . . Mjolnir
Posts: 228
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Post by Rhuvein on Apr 8, 2009 21:58:58 GMT -5
I was starting to feel that same waning. Getting to Gary Con was a huge upper, but it's never easy to get my regular group together. We're lucky if we're playing once a month right now. I managed to break myself out of that downward spiral though - this past weekend I started my daughters (ages 8 & 12) on Keep on the Borderlands. We had tried D&D before but it had never quite clicked. This time it was awesome. Two hours went by in the blink of an eye and we spent the whole time laughing and enjoying ourselves. Very excellent ector!
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GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Apr 10, 2009 12:24:10 GMT -5
I always thought: "How awesome if I could get some of the guys on this Board together for a weekend of 1E AD&D and MYTHUS!" My daughter is only three, so it'll be awhile before I "indoctrinate" her! ^__^ Anyway, I've got my local group to play, and just got an e-mail from an old roommate and gamer from the early 80's at Purdue (he's up in Wisconsin, no less!)... so there's always that!
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Post by grodog on Apr 11, 2009 23:44:43 GMT -5
Has anyone run Maure Castle yet? Not any of the new levels, no (well, only "Warlock's Walk"). I'd like to run them, but our group is all happy (myself included) with our current campaign and DM. Eventually I'm debating on whether or not to run Cairn of the Skeleton King before CZ UWs. But, if our groups gets into the Castle or dungeons, they may be there quite a while and end up leveling quite a bit. Nothing stopping you from inserting CotSK into CZ as a level/sublevel, Rhu. Tim Kask's Tower of the Mad Wizard was a blast and I hope he releases a copy of it soon to the public. I was lucky enough to get a signed prototype copy (#5) from him. I'm hoping to play that at the North TX Acaeum gathering in June. Frank has released some of his campaign adventures as well on a very limited basis - still not sure if he is going to go full out. He's mentioned a few things in passing. I hadn't heard that, other than, again, some items that he wrote from GenCon last year and sold copies of. Has he done more?
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Post by Scott on Apr 12, 2009 13:19:47 GMT -5
I think part of the problem is that I've been trying to keep the old campaign running, rather than start a new one. I have a group of players that I know would be more reliable, but we'd be starting at 1st level again. The existing group are all around 8th level, which is a great level to play at, and I had some plans for the group that I'd hate to srap. I think to get moving again I'll have to give up on the existing group.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 14, 2009 15:51:41 GMT -5
I need more public interaction for sure.
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Post by GRWelsh on Apr 14, 2009 20:54:35 GMT -5
Are we the group of players you think would be more reliable? If so, then yes, I agree the mid to high level play would be more fun. I'd just like to see Eric, Mark and I get out of the "cutting teeth" phase and get some mid level characters with some trusty henchmen along... I think that would be a great core group for you. The only thing is, as you've pointed out before, you have a preference for running some of the old classic modules, which we old timers are all familiar with... so for us, that probably means running something out of your own homebrew, or Castle Zagyg again.
Personally, I'd like another crack at the Upper Works... Eric and Mark may like something a bit more tailored and more interaction with a story and personalities. Not necessarily epic, but perhaps more episodal, with a self-contained story happening and getting some kind of resolution within every few game nights. I personally like the old school style of play focused on dungeon exploration and tactical battles against humanoids and such... But I do think Eric and Mark (Eric especially) need a bit more engagement, which probably means more work by you.
We also have had a tendency to "jump around" and not quite finish anything. I think we all liked playing the characters of Grash, Muskrat and Zheewhiz... who did a bit of your own Greyhawk Dungeon, then some Dark Chateau, then moved over to Gaxmoor. But unfortunately we died before we really got into anything to engage us storywise (such as a villain, or knowing who the villain was, or even what our goal was, in that place).
With the last outing, we were making a bit of headway at your original dungeon under Hextor's ruined temple, but the humanoid invasion of Oakhaven diverted us for a while as we were outclassed, we then took on the Upper Works with too light of a party, and died there. But the set up for wanting to gain a few levels, enlist some help, and reclaim Oakhaven was the good basis for a campaign. We could have got involved in some guerilla tactics, scouting the army, finding out who led them, striking at the leaders, etc.
My own enthusiasm about playing hasn't waned, I've just got into a busy wave of work that tends to drain all my mental energy while I'm traveling, preparing for meetings, handling crap when I'm back in the office, etc. But I'd love to get back into a regular game night at your place... even something like every other Saturday like we used to.
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Post by GRWelsh on Apr 14, 2009 21:35:02 GMT -5
How about a mission into the Upper Works, with my fighter Trast, some men-at-arms, new PC's, and a specific goal set out for us to achieve?
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Post by Scott on Apr 15, 2009 14:30:45 GMT -5
Yes, you’re the group I mean. The thing about the classic modules is, almost all of the gamers I know have been familiar with them since the time they were kids, and they’ve gone through the adventures with super characters and young DMs that didn’t really know how to run them. I’d like to run them as a DM that really knows the system for a group of good players who have no advance knowledge at all. The current group is now at the level where I can start running them, and that’s what makes it so difficult to scrap the campaign.
Is Eric’s game this week?
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GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
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Post by GT on Apr 18, 2009 11:49:37 GMT -5
Shucks, you don't need a mission going into the Upper Works; you can choose one after "scouting" about for awhile! ^__^
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Post by Scott on Apr 24, 2009 8:05:09 GMT -5
My enthusiasm seems to be returning. I’m tossing around some campaign ideas now, and hopefully I’ll be starting a new campaign soon.
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Post by geneweigel on Apr 24, 2009 9:01:43 GMT -5
Thats good, I'm definitely getting a feeling of better games to come as well.
Post modern classic AD&D and "old school" has been throwing me off these past years. Just because i had a hard time with the editions it seems to discuss "my game" I had to focus on "when it was good". But I'm starting to realize that i'm on my own page in regards to D&D and i don't really subscribe to anything. Sure, I went back to Greyhawk 15 years ago to shake off all the crud that accumulated from buying new stuff and running it without question. But I'm "better" now and I know that buying new stuff isn't going to help anything, stick with the originals, etc., etc. but "what about my game?" That is, the certain way that I played D&D/AD&D that made everyone say this guy is the best DM out of the entire lot of us. I think thats been pinched by the progression of it all (basic to 1e to late 1e to 2e to 3e to pure Gygaxian). All this "rule-age" has distracted my true forte' which is original presentation. I can do the same presentation with late 1e/2e/3e but those rules make it like going into a single's bar and whopping it out on the counter every time. So while the original rules are great its easy to get wrapped up in post-modernism/old school where you're digging for rule minutiae to "show your colors" but is that really what its all about? I think it is easy to forget the true connection that sets the rules as an afterthought. But we cannot just ignore the rules because of the dark road that the game became. That is pertinent. But we must always strive to make it more than just about the rules or it just turns into a big boring vehicle for some corporation to sell junk to ya.
Playing D&D must be as fun and easy as getting stupid drunk otherwise the point is missed.
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Post by Scott on Apr 24, 2009 10:13:51 GMT -5
I think I tied my association with gaming to too much non-gaming, but gaming related, stuff. Like the CZ project, Gygax Games, publishing, etc. Since all of that other stuff was turning out so bad, it was creating a negative association with gaming in general. After taking a small breather, I think I’ve been able to separate the gaming from the gaming related interests, and the gaming sounds good again.
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