A year and a half ago I made a post on the Anti D&D Movement relating my experience being a D&D geek back in the early 80s. A got a comment by Jennifer yesterday related her experience trying to explain D&D to her mother. It brought to mind my own attempts.
When all else fails I say it a form of improvisational theater performed among friends. That seems to leave the listener with a "oh I get it" expression.
Just bought For the Glory from Paradox Interactive.
Paradox Interactive makes a series of historical simulations for different time periods. They have a variety of titles using different game engine the heart of their line is a series of games where you play a country and lead throughout a specific time periods. These games are
Crusader Kings for the Middle Ages While there are countries the focus is on heading up a dynasty. Play consist of country management AND managing your family. Where the two meet is the creation and granting of noble titles.
Europa Universalis between roughly 1453 to 1820. This is strictly focused on country management. Much of the Game revolves around exploring the new world (from your country's point of view) as well as managing your economy and fighting wars.
Victoria between 1820 and 1936 This is about managing countries and guiding them through industralization. While wars and exploration are still important the emphasis is on economics. There is an abstract factory system that allows you to customize the focus of your economy.
Heart ofIron between 1936 to 1963 This is focuses on World War II and the technological race that was a part of it. Of all the titles in the line this focuses the most on war.
In the last couple of year Paradox has switched game engines for this line. The new engine is 3D and much more flexible and allows for more options. In addition they added Europa Universalis Rome which covers roughly from 500 BC to 500 AD.
My personal recommendation is the older series represented by Crusader King, Europa Universalis II, Victoria, and Hearts of Iron II. To me it is the right level of complexity vs playability vs game speed. It's 3D successor suffer from the more is good syndrome and has performance issues they are still working through particularity Hearts of Iron III.
However the problems are matter of inches not miles so you won't go wrong with either choice. The nice thing that Paradox did was release the game engine for their older line for an inexpensive license. This allow groups of fans to continue development of these titles rather the relegating them to the dustbin. For the Glory is a development of EU II and Arsenal of Democracy continues HoI 2
The hallmark of these titles is there ability to play any country you choose. Although some can be very difficult like Luxembourg in Hearts of Iron.
What makes these games great for roleplaying is that they act as big what if generators. You can start at various time periods and play out a different history recording things as they go along. If I had the time I would try to get one of the Paradox license and modify Crusaders Kings into a moddable engine with utilities to simplify world and scenario generation. You can then setup your campaign world and run it for a hundred years or so. Then you will have all the detail you will ever need for the political and dynastic side of things. (sigh)
Still for historical based campaign these games are a great resource. Plus if you buy them at Gamer's Gate they don't come with ornous DRM. In fact the older games can be just copied over which makes it great when you get a new computer. My Paradox games were the first to get running after my crash in December
I know these type of games are not for everybody but if you are a fan of Civilization, and the like you should check out Paradox's Titles.
Finally a heads up for Mount & Blade. While not related to the above games it is first person view of Medieval Combat. This title is also available through Paradox Interactive.
My business trip to Long Island has concluded quite successfully despite it involving retro-fitting a metal forming machine that I never worked with before. One of the nice about coming back from Long Island to Meadville is that I get to drive through Central PA on I-80. The Delaware water gap and the area east of State College are quite spectacular. East of State College I-80 curves around a small mountain, goes through a gap, and then emerges into a magnificent view of one on the central valleys of central Pennsylvania.
Along with enjoying the beauty and looking forward to being back with Kelly Anne and by boys; I always found this part of the trip evocative for coming up with ideas for my campaigns. Once in the valley I-80 runs along the southern side. To my left, going west, is the southern ridge line soaring several hundred feet above me. To my right the valley floor gently slopes north for several miles before rising suddenly in the northern ridge line. Every couple of miles or so there is a gap beyond which can be seen glimpses of the next valley. I think of what could be beyond those gaps and nearly always come away with a good idea or two.
In other news I noticed that Dungeon Alphabet and Advanced Edition Companion (Labyrinth Lord) have nailed the #1 and #2 position simultaneously at RPGNow. Congratulations to both and gratifying to see that the OSR is still growing. Majestic Wilderlands is hanging in there at #39 thanks to continuing purchases. While not anything like December it is enough to keep it up there and as always I appreciate the business.
Looks like one of the original old school internet zines OD&Dities is making a comeback! You can read about here at Methuselah's blog. Plus read the original issues at dragonsfoot.org. You will need to scroll down a bit.
Oriented towards the B/X version of D&D this was is one of the the original efforts to take advantage of the internet to keep interest in older editions going. I wish OD&Dities a happy return.
In general languages in the Majestic Wilderlands are one of the few areas where I don't get very detailed. My approach is basically that taken by Stargate SG-1. Just about everybody speaks english except in the few instances where I think it would add to the plot. This boils down to two circumstances
In Stargate SG-1 the biggest foreign language is Ancient which Dr. Daniel Jackson is the party's err SG team's expert. This followed by G'ould and Jaffa which are sprinkled throughout for flavor.
Likewise I usually only use the language barrier in limited circumstances. Isolated cultures mostly barbarian and handful of demi-humans. Ancient languages not commonly spoken anymore. Another use is when a bunch of PCs share a language in common that is not spoken by the local to talk without being understood.
Now just because I don't get detailed in practice doesn't mean I don't have notes on the topic.
Languages of the Majestic Wilderlands Elvish The most static of all the Wilderlands languages. Sounds very formal to most speakers of elven influenced languages. This is one of the languages used as a foundation for the common tongue.
Sylvan This covers a variety of human and halfling dialects that are heavily influenced by elvish. Nearly all are mutually understandable although speakers from widely separate geographical areas will have thick accents when trying to talk to each other.
Dwarvish Gnomish is a dialect of Dwarvish and mutually comprehensible. Dwarves and Gnomes from widely separated geographical areas have a hard time speaking to each other. The writing is still at a high level of comprehension. In another millennia these dialects will be effectively different languages.
Orcish There are nearly two dozen variety of Orcish languages as the short generations cause rapid changes in language in different geographical areas and even from tribe to tribe.
Goblin The original goblin language has been largely subsumed by a patois between it and Viridian. Currently it is a dialect of Viridian and mutually understandable with Viridian speakers. It is considered a mark of low status among Goblins.
Elessarian The language of the Elessarians dominate much of the Northwest Wilderlands and the Padizan peninsula. Old Elessarian is now a dead language similar in use and status as Latin in the real world. Elephand is the successor to Elessarian in the Kingdom of Dunador. It has heavy Elvish influence. Common(Viridian) is used in the Viridistan Empire. It is a hybrid of Viridian and Elessarian. It is comprehensible with other Common tongues. Elessarian is used in the Padizan Peninsula and as different to Old Elessarian as Italian is to Latin.
Ghinorian The Ghinorian Language was spread throughout the Majestic Wilderlands by the Ghinorian Empire. After the fall of the Empire it split into several dialect that are evolving into separate languages.
Old Ghinorian is the pre-imperial language lost during the time when the Ghinor valley was subject to repeated barbarian invasions. It is now used as a high church language of the Church of Mitra.
Imperial Ghinorian is language used when the Ghinorian Empire was created after the invasion. The Church of Mitra uses this a ecumenical tongue to allow adherents from different lands to communicate.
Northern Ghinorian is spoken in Nome, Dearthmead, Nomar, Modron, and Tarantis. It evolved from Imperial Ghinorian during the existance of the Restored Ghinorian Empire.
Western Ghinorian is spoken in Tlan and Lenap. Although the two region have distinct dialects.
Ionian is the language dominating the Ghinorian Heartland. It combination of the language of the Ionian barbarians that brought down the Ghinorian Empire and Imperial Ghinorian. To make matter more confusing speaker of Ionians call themselves Ghinorians.
Common(Ghinorian) is spoken in City-State and throughout the Tharian Confederation it rose during the Dragon Empire and is a fusion of Elessarian and Ghinorian. It is understandable by both languages and with Common(Viridian). It is evolving with the addition of many Tharian words.
Tharian is the language of the Tharian Overlords of City-State. It is under assault with only the Tharians of Thygamus and the Tharian Coast speaking it's original form. Most Tharians of City-State are abandoning the language in favor of Tharian flavored Common(Ghinorian)
I find the comments on what young adults are doing with freeform play on the internet very interesting. Sometimes we forget that our hobby is as much about the roleplaying as the game. Properly presented that aspect of our hobby could be very appealing to many. I am a firm believer in the "Soap Opera effect" of good roleplaying.
Again the object of using observations like this isn't to reignite the fad that was D&D in the 80s but rather get our portion of the hobby on a sustainable basis and have some fun along the way.
Again thanks to Oddysey for a well written post. We need more young whipper-snappers like here. I am adding her to the blogroll so we can see what next she has to say.
To me the Old School Renaissance is not about playing a particular set of rules in a particular way, the dungeon crawl. It about going back to the roots of our hobby and see what we could do differently. What avenues were not explored because of the commercial and personal interests of the game designers of the time.
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