06-13-2010, 05:05 AM
I'm not going to say that anything is "best" (as that is subjective) as I've got no interest in "converting" anyone to agree with me. I'll just say that stuff is my favorite, and enjoy learning what other people like:
My favourite rule system is the d20 System (specifically because of the SRD and OGL freedom it brought).
My favourite setting is Spelljammer, as it can be used as a transitive plot device to allow a GM to take players to any other campaign setting. (But SJ has got more holes in it than a swiss cheese.)
My favourite adventure is SJA3 Crystal Spheres because I think that J. Paul LaFountain was the first SJ designer to really find the potential of taking a FR NPC and throwing them into a totally different environment. (I would have loved to have seen some Blackmoor elements make it into later SJ adventures. A link between the Juna and some of the Blackmoor technology might have been an interesting factiod to drop.)
My favourite fantasy novelist is J.R.R. Tolkein. I think that he really nailed the concept of creating a fully working fantasy world. (I think that D&D wouldn't exist without Lord of the Rings.)
Outside of gaming, I generally prefer science fiction to fantasy. I've got a love hate relationship with comic books, as I consider the modular way they are sold as a "rip off". But I've got some graphic novels that I really like.
Well, I've got to say that I'm really cheesed off at the TSR UK staff for starting a petty argument with Gary Gygax. I think that the UK office could have turned out some brilliant stuff for Pelinore, but they shot themselves in the foot and a great concept died before it got a fair chance.
I think the politics that killed Pelinore are very similar to the US politics that killed Blackmoor. You have two great settings that got nerfed because the "wrong" people were standing behind them. Blackmoor was lucky enough to have some support from Mystara authors, but who knows how good it would have been if it had continued from the start (as a standalone thing).
I think the 3e line gives a very good clue as to what Blackmoor could have been, but I guess we will never know for sure. Not unless someone gets all of Dave Arneson's notes and writes the sort of books that Christopher Tolkein wrote about his father's work.
I'd love to get a Pelinore forum established back at The Piazza and see if anyone can hunt down any of the original designers and get them to tell us more about the way the world works.
Yay! I've seen one map out there. I think you could hexify that.
My favourite rule system is the d20 System (specifically because of the SRD and OGL freedom it brought).
My favourite setting is Spelljammer, as it can be used as a transitive plot device to allow a GM to take players to any other campaign setting. (But SJ has got more holes in it than a swiss cheese.)
My favourite adventure is SJA3 Crystal Spheres because I think that J. Paul LaFountain was the first SJ designer to really find the potential of taking a FR NPC and throwing them into a totally different environment. (I would have loved to have seen some Blackmoor elements make it into later SJ adventures. A link between the Juna and some of the Blackmoor technology might have been an interesting factiod to drop.)
My favourite fantasy novelist is J.R.R. Tolkein. I think that he really nailed the concept of creating a fully working fantasy world. (I think that D&D wouldn't exist without Lord of the Rings.)
Outside of gaming, I generally prefer science fiction to fantasy. I've got a love hate relationship with comic books, as I consider the modular way they are sold as a "rip off". But I've got some graphic novels that I really like.
Rafael Wrote:I should say, me calling "Pelinore" the best setting does not diminish my fascination with Blackmoor! It's just that the setting material for BM was never really comprehensive in terms of making it easy to start a campaign that appeals me - if you play BM, you got to put some work into it.
Pelinore, while also sketchy here and there, is really like a sandbox, ready to run.
Well, I've got to say that I'm really cheesed off at the TSR UK staff for starting a petty argument with Gary Gygax. I think that the UK office could have turned out some brilliant stuff for Pelinore, but they shot themselves in the foot and a great concept died before it got a fair chance.
I think the politics that killed Pelinore are very similar to the US politics that killed Blackmoor. You have two great settings that got nerfed because the "wrong" people were standing behind them. Blackmoor was lucky enough to have some support from Mystara authors, but who knows how good it would have been if it had continued from the start (as a standalone thing).
I think the 3e line gives a very good clue as to what Blackmoor could have been, but I guess we will never know for sure. Not unless someone gets all of Dave Arneson's notes and writes the sort of books that Christopher Tolkein wrote about his father's work.
I'd love to get a Pelinore forum established back at The Piazza and see if anyone can hunt down any of the original designers and get them to tell us more about the way the world works.
Dave L Wrote:Hmm, does it have any decent maps?
Yay! I've seen one map out there. I think you could hexify that.