Adventures in Fantasy review on Grognardia

[finarvyn]

I have a copy but have never played it.

A couple of thoughts off the top of my head, but keep in mind that it's been a while since I looked at it:

1. Three basic books, much like OD&D, only regular sized instead of digest size. Colored fonts a little odd to read, but a different color for each book.

2. Percentile based rather than d20 based, which to me was a bummer since that made it less compatible with OD&D without some conversion. Plus, I don't like games with percentiles much. (e.g. Boot Hill, James Bond 007, RQ, etc.)

3. People say OD&D is confusing to read, I think AiF is similar in this way. I suspect it's a function of people who aren't really professional authors and without any good models to copy writing game books. Nowadays we have the advantage of getting to study games that worked and ones that didn't but back in the 1970's there weren't many to look at.

I like having it because Dave did it. I'm not sure if I'll ever become inspired to do much with it, however.

[Havard]

I just ordered a copy. It was super expensive, but I just felt the urge. Yes this is becoming an obsession.... :lol:

2. Percentile based rather than d20 based, which to me was a bummer since that made it less compatible with OD&D without some conversion. Plus, I don't like games with percentiles much. (e.g. Boot Hill, James Bond 007, RQ, etc.)

In general I agree with you, or at least I prefer roll high to roll below. Mainly because with roll below you usually know exactly what number you need. That takes some of the magic away for the player IMO. OTOH, it is really easy to turn roll below systems into roll high. Just add the number to the die rather than roll below it, and set the basic difficulty to 200. Divide values by 5 and you can use a d20 instead.

3. People say OD&D is confusing to read, I think AiF is similar in this way. I suspect it's a function of people who aren't really professional authors and without any good models to copy writing game books. Nowadays we have the advantage of getting to study games that worked and ones that didn't but back in the 1970's there weren't many to look at.

An excellent point. If someone came up with a product that looked like any of the 1970s RPGs I wouldnt be particularly impressed, but they were truly doing pioneer work. As you say no examples and also no Internet for research, no modern computers for text management etc. When you start thinking about these things you realize how much things have changed over just a few decades.

I like having it because Dave did it. I'm not sure if I'll ever become inspired to do much with it, however.

This is my reason for getting it as well. Maybe another chance of picking at Dave's brain a little more.

-Havard

[aldarron]

"A one year religious mission" - what does that mean?

Off topic, I realize but I think I might know. In DF#3 Dave mentions being a bible study group leader in the Way International denomination. Wickipedia says "In 1970, Wierwille began an outreach program entitled "Word Over the World" to draw renewed interest in his ministry. WOW ambassadors volunteered for one year to preach and recruit new students. These ambassadors were required to find part-time work and spend time witnessing for a set number of hours each week."

I think Dave became a WOW ambassador.

[Havard]

Guess what arrived in the mail today!? 8) 8)

-Havard

[aldarron]

Guess what arrived in the mail today!? 8) 8)

-Havard

Lamentations of the Flame Princess?

[Havard]

Guess what arrived in the mail today!? 8) 8)

-Havard

Lamentations of the Flame Princess?

lol

I actually did pick up Lamentations in Finland this summer. Grindhouse edition, signed by Raggi himself

But yeah, a print copy of AiF is now also resting nicely on my shelf. 8)

-Havard