Knights & Knaves Alehouse

I was flipping through some Ars Magica stuff last night, and ran across my jump start kits for that game. Do you guys think that an OSRIC JSK would be worthwhile (I certainly know it would help with d20 )?

A jump start kit consists of a pregen PCs, a short starter scenario able to played in one evening, simplified one-page summaries of how to run the complicated stuff (combat and spell casting in ArM), and one-page summaries as intros to the game/genre, and what a rpg is.

Since OSRIC is really targeted toward folks who already know how to play, I'm not sure these would be as useful as they are for new rpg systems. That said, having distilled BTB one-page handouts for combat, surprise, initiative, and what-not might be worthwhile (perhaps as freebies downloads if the JSK itself isn't worthwhile).

Thoughts?

The last few pages of OSRIC include compiled tables; they're a part of the freebie download.

But, I can see some percentage in the idea of a cut-down release incorporating a GM screen, a few character sheets, etc.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Allan, I have had this in the back of my mind for the past two days. If anyone has seen the AD&D 2nd ed late generation fast play products can see what I have in mind.

You have a few (maybe six, or eight) pre-generated PCs, with an eclectic, yet classic mix of 1st level types.

1st Human fighter
Dwarf fighter
Halfling thief
Elven fighter/magic user
Human cleric
2nd human fighter
Human Magic user

These characters have character sheets that have notes as to what they can do. No chargen is given, (not in this introductory primer at least.) It is just "players choose characters, and jump into the adventure." Have it include a small lair type dungeon (maybe 2 levels) with all the classic type dungeon crawling stuff.

Since OSRIC is really targeted toward folks who already know how to play, I'm not sure these would be as useful as they are for new rpg systems.

Right, however, remember two things. First, our generation now has children that are in the age group we were when D&D was in it's heyday. Maybe they would like or need a brief intro to the way old school gaming should be.

Second, their are actually many RPGers out there today that have limited experience with the way old school gaming should be played. C&C truely has evolved into something "new." Hackmaster was dissmissed by many either cause of it's rules heaviness or it's satirical tone. A lot of these youngsters just don't know what it means to roll for system shock survival.

Would either of you be interested in editing/creating such a project?

Without a doubt. I am going to take a 30 min break from reading the spells, and see if I can make a charcater sheet in MS Word.

Given the relatively limited scope, are you comfortable with creating it in a thread in this forum? Or would you like a separate sub-board for it?

PapersAndPaychecks wrote:Given the relatively limited scope, are you comfortable with creating it in a thread in this forum? Or would you like a separate sub-board for it?

One thread should be fine, (we can use this one. )

I like the idea. For me, that kind of thing was a "next step," but with two boys I definitely had the idea that our community is going to be playing with sons and daughters who are pretty young.

I didn't want to write something geared to kids, because this has to catch on first with people who are looking for an AD&D clone. But a kids' version is definitely something people would be looking for.

A pre-gen jumpstart is an excellent first step in making it offspring-friendly.

Sounds good. I'm happy to help put this together, Bill, if you'd like the help

grodog wrote:Sounds good. I'm happy to help put this together, Bill, if you'd like the help

Sounds good.

*bump*

I haven't forgotten this, am just editing at the moment. I'll dig up my Jump Start Kits this weekend from ArsM and call out the elements and page counts from each.

I haven't forgotten either. Just busy watching the OSRIC launch.

Would you guys like for me to create the dungeon maps and say a small overland map (say a frontier barony, or a small duchy, etc.) with communities etc. that can be a campaign starting area?

I can also help out with some filler art, similar to what I released in the art festival. Unfortunately, I can't promise any larger pieces because I'm so freaking busy.