The Nook

Ok, I read, not alot, mostly magazines, a few books (non gaming), RPGs and newspapers and such. However, I am very interested in the Nook. It’s Barnes & Nobel’s new E-Reader. It hits the street later this month and it NATIVELY supports PDFs (see my earlier post on PDFs). I am thinking that this will be great to lug around instead of a box of books in order to run/ play a RPG.

Opinions? Thoughts?

Man…PDF Piracy Really Attracts Visitors!

Very interesting. In the last two weeks I’ve had on average 30-40 hits per day on my blog. I post my thoughts on PDF Piracy and BLAM, I am at 105 so far today. Alot of you must be thinking about this subject or have been anyway. So, how about a challenge? I think it would be interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts on the subject (on your individual blogs, of course). Have you REALLY bought all your PDFs? Has reading a PDF encouraged you to go ahead and buy the book? Do you share your PDFs?

PDF Piracy

Ok, lets be honest here. Yes, I have a couple PDFs that I haven’t paid for (GASP!). Do I have the books? Yes and no. Let’s take one example- Delta Green. Now, there is no Delta Green PDF for sale. Yes, I have one and I have face to face told Shane Ivey that if they issue one, I will buy it. I already own the book, but find the PDF useful and would love an official one.

There are other books that I have on PDF that I have no intention to buy. Why? Having seen the PDF, I knew the game was not for me. On the other hand, there have been times where I saw the pdf and ordered the book. I like the feel of a book and don’t have one of those new book reader thingys yet.

I have also used PDFs to SELL others on a game or so we could play one. Yep, I loaned out a PDF. Just like I might loan out a book. Now, do I feel guilty? No. Should I? I don’t think so. I think they are a useful marketing tool, if used correctly (Iron Kingdoms, you gotta be kidding about selling that PDF for $29.99..). Paizo is doing it right with their $9.99 PDFs of Pathfinder.

Well, enough for now. Let me know what you think.

Pathfinder for Fantasy Hero

Ok, there is no doubt I love me some point based systems which is why I tend to run Hero for just about anything. This past week, I ran my occasional Fantasy Hero game in which I have been using the new Pathfinder adventure path.

Now, maybe I was just in a doofus mood, but during the game I was noticing one of the characters was just lobbing out a pot load of damage when compared to the others. Usually, I try not to bring these things up during the game, but this time I did. I think it went ok and the player and I discussed it further afterwards. I just regret that I brought it up during play. Basically, the character is a archer/ druid type and is doing 3d6 killing (+1 stun mod), has rapid fire and the archery skill. So, he’s T-ing off on one of the tough baddies and keeps firing, firing, firing…saying as long as he doesn’t miss, it’s ok (yes, there are minuses to each shot after the first, but he has skill levels and the baddie is stunned…).

So, we’ve agreed that three shots is enough, period. That my reason for this was not to cause an imbalance within the group (combat wise), any more than there is already.

As an aside, I think the adventure is going well, though I am undecided as to if I am going to run the whole “play” part of the second module for this adventure path.

Amazing

Really, no lie. I find it amazing that a SAMPLE 4th Edition D&D Character sheet is pulling MOST of the traffic to my little blog. It’s crazy. The dang thing isn’t even a PDF or really usable as it’s filled out with a character!

I guess that just show the popularity of D&D. Even with all the 4th edition hate. Well, looks like my gaming group is about to try out some old school D&D in the form of Mazes and Minotaurs. I wonder if I post a sample sheet of that if I’ll get as many hits….

Taking Advantage of Being at Home

Yes, I’ve been sick for a couple of the last few days. I’ve been reading Colonial Gothic. The game uses a 2d12 roll under target number system to resolve things wither it’s combat or skill checks.  By how much you either did or did not make the roll by tells you how well you did or did not do. A “2″ is a dramatic success where a “12″ is a dramatic…well, failure.

Character creation looks easy enough. The book includes a character sheet suitable for copying.  Players use Character Points to assign Stats and buy skills (a big plus in my humble opinion). Stats are- Might, Nimble, Vigor, Reason & Resolution. Secondary Stats are- Vitality, Resolve & Sanity.

There is Magic in the game. Players may be able to use spells, but there can be a personal cost in the form of Sanity loss. Many spells are listed in the book and I believe there is a second book of Magic available.

The book is thick and well written. It contains not only everything you need rules wise to play, but lots of background information on the colonies, threats to the people in the colonies (ie, Monsters) and lots of detail information (costs of things, what monies were used back then, how people get around and time of travel, where the major libraries are and how they work, etc).

I don’t want to give too much away. I would say that it’s a rules lite game with the detail in the setting. Part of me would like to run this as a “Delta Green in the Colonies” and another part would like to run it a bit more “straight” and do mysteries, magic and the unexplained. It would work either way, I am sure.

I’m impressed by the book and by the writing. I look forward to either playing or running this game.

Fantasy Hero then….

Well, I ran our on/ off Fantasy Hero game last week. John D couldn’t make it to GM Golden Age Hero, so I stepped in. We’re playing SOMETHING, dang it! I’m using Hero’s Turakian setting and the group has made a big journey. It took them three weeks (game time) via ship to get to where they wanted to go.

The players are assisting a group of slowly growing rebels to become organized and attempt an overthrow of the oppressive mayor of the port city in the south of Vashkor (sound familiar? Anyone….anyone….). The players enjoyed the game, I feel and I thought it was a change of pace from dungeons/ bash and grab as the group had to use some tactics and plan in advance.

Now, it’s back to Golden Age this week. I have the next part of my Fantasy Hero adventure planned, just in case it’s needed, though….

Ah….More Delta Green

My love of Delta Green knows no limit! Yes, it looks like March of next year for the new book, but that’s fine. I KNOW it will be fantastic and as always, one of the best RPG supplements written. EVERY book I have bought from Pagan has been a winner, so take you time guys and make it great!

Hero System 6th Edition Review

You know, I was going to write a review of the New Hero System 6th Edition and still may. However, it looks like James Gillen has taken the plunge, bought the PDFs and done a very fine review over at RPG.net.  He sums up my concerns and opinions very well. If you’re interested in 6th Edition, I’d give his review a good read first.

Linkage-

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/14/14500.phtml

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/14/14518.phtml

RPG Stores in North Carolina

I’ve been to a couple of stores in NC over the last few weeks and I thought I’d give my impression of them.

Games HQ in Charlotte, NC- Honestly, just about worthless. Not worth a drive if you live outside of Charlotte (like I do). Lots of 3.5 d20 stuff from Green Ronin on the rack ( at FULL PRICE), some 4th edition stuff, an indy book or two, lots of Palladium. Minis, Cards, dice, etc… I will say it DOES have quite a bit of gaming space.

This reminds me of one of those stores that is kind of run as a hobby. A bit dark in the store, things poorly organized and falling about. Sad because Charlotte is large enough to support a PROPER gaming store.

Sci Fi Genre in Durham, NC- It’s MOSTLY a comic store. Lots of books, figures, and comic supplies. However, it does carry a good selection of gaming merchandise (4th edition, DISCOUNTED 3.5 books, minis, Indy games, boardgames, etc). Well organized AND I had someone ask me if they could help me with anything!!!! They don’t have DEPTH in their selection of RPG merchandise, but they do special order. Also, they do have space for gaming. Worth the trip.