Closing out January

While I didn't manage a post (or more) a day in January, I have at least 6 more than in December so I fell that I'm on the right path.

I would like to focus on working up more fan-material and probably returning to Masters of the Universe Monday in February.  We'll see.

I realized that my depressed state wasn't merely from events that occurred in November or Christmas.  After running the Pre-Release this weekend, I think those events drain more from me than I realize.
It doesn't mean much, they're an integral part of my job and I'll continue them.

I'm looking forward to spring and thankful our area of the country has had a fairly light winter, thus far.

I'm also contemplating resurrecting the Ironcloaks game, as I'm eager to fully test out the current DnD Next playtest packet.

I'm proud that while there was some clash of personalities in my Dead AGE game, everyone involved handled it maturely, openly and it has resolved itself as positively as possible.  At the very least, there are no hard feelings and no burnt bridges.

D&D Next: Barbarian is Live!

I just downloaded the playtest package and the Barbarian is Live!

Winter Fantasy

It was right about this time, last year, that I was trying to talk to my Rep at WotC about playtesting DnD Next.  And parsing every little tidbit out of Winter Fantasy about this new version of DnD.

My, Rep, being an awesome guy, had me hooked up within a few weeks and by March I was Alpha Testing DnD Next.  It was good timing as I'd stepped back into gaming after a 3 year sabbatical.

This year, I'm waiting for tidbits about the Barbarian and hoping we'll actually see a version today for download.

While my opinion of the rules for DnD Next have drifted, I still find myself excited at each new development.  Like a kid waiting for a new movie or toy.

Thank you for that, Wizards of the Coast.  The older I get the less that happens.

Please Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself

Rolling Stones, aside, this blogfest is being hosted by Stephen Tremp, but I heard about it from Timothy Brannon (I check his blog daily and am always entertained).

The purpose of this blogfest is to re-introduce yourself to your readers.

My name is Mark Craddock and I've been runig Cross Planes for nearly 10 months.  I started this blog to share my thoughts on DnD and the Old School (Gaming) Revolution.  It's become more and less than that in it's time.

The first few months involved working on ideas for Labyrinth Lord, but my return to gaming and my chance to Alpha Test DnD Next moved it toward fan created material for that iteration of DnD.  I also began chronicling my sessions as Game Master.  Once I began running 13th Age, I created a fair amount of material for it, as well.

And then I hit a huge wall in the fall.  Fewer and fewer updates were forthcoming.  I made it a point to get back on the wagon in December and was fairly successful at posting and have made even more strides in January.

This blog is my voice in "the industry" and an outlet for my ideas.  It's also one of my steps to overcome Gaming ADD.  It's a big help and I'm proud of what I've done here.

I started role playing in the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore year at the College of Mount Sain Joseph.  I was a late (gaming) bloomer.

It quickly took over my free time and became my passion for years.
After getting my BFA in Art an working in the Printing industry for 7 years, I got hired at my local gaming store, Comic Book World as Gaming Manager.  13 years later, I'm still doing it.

The group has changed and I've mellowed but I still love being a Game Master.  Telling stories...know sharing stories and having them embellished by my players.

My wife, is my boss at Comic Book World, and my best friend and soulmate.  We have 3 children ranging from 23 to 8.  We home school the younger 2.

As much as I love Gaming, I love my family more.  All 3 kids have gamed at my table with me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In fact, my 11 year old son has started running his own game and my youngest wants to start a game for her friends.

D&D Next: Skill Dice

As I read and reread the December Playtest update for DnD Next, Skill Dice were the idea I had the most problems with.  I like uniform mechanics in my RPGs and I hate it when Combat is one system and Skills are another.

This was exacerbated as I read various Special Abilities and Maneuvers that used Skill Dice.  I kept wondering why the particular skill mentioned wasn't called out?  What was wrong with WotC?  I was pretty close to just walking away from DnD Next.

And then I realized the problem wasn't the rules, it was me.  I was overthinking it.  Your Skill Die is equal to X, depending on what level you are.  If an ability calls for it, you don't have to worry about a Skill, just the Skill Die.  It was beautifully simple.

Then, when making checks, I could just call for say, a Dex Check and mention the Skill Die if they were trained in Z.

Also, when making a Skill Check, there was visual cue during the roll that the PC or NPC was trained in a skill.  The Die told you.

And for new players, I've found having the Skill Dis a concrete separation from the Attribute and helps them understand and more importantly want to use those Trained Skills.

I still like uniform mechanics, but I can't argue that the Skill Die works.

Good job, WotC.

DnDclassics.com is here!

DriveThruRPG and Wizards of the Coast have just launched DnDClassics.com.  PDF's of the book rom 1st through 4th edition will be available.  And all PDF's will be cleaned up and searchable.

Imagine where the OSR would be if WotC hadn't pulled down their PDF's years ago?

Dead AGE: The Mothman

For the last 13 months, strange lights have appeared all over Starling, MA and along the Miskatonic River.  Hundreds of sightings have been covered on local news, newspapers and blogs.

Many have worried that something dreadful will happen in Starling, just as it did in Point Pleasant, Mexico City, Chernobyl and Raccoon City.

As 12/21/12 approached, tensions rose to a fever pitch, but as 12/21 dawned an eerie calm filled the city.

No one xpected the biological attack on the city.  None of them except the Mothman.  And they didn't heed his warnings.  Again.

____________________

I'm not providing stats yet, because at the moment the Mothman will be a veiled figure and cryptic source of information.  He's not meant as antagonist, just yet.