[Blog] Blackmoor Like Map Used for Runehammer's Crown & Skull RPG?

[Havard]

https://blackmoormystara.blogspot.com/20...mmers.html

Map of this new RPG looks sort of familiar...?

-Havard

[Rafael]

*Sips tea.*

Came here for this. - Not sure what to think of this, really: Why would somebody risk the validity of their product over such a brazen and obvious copyright infringement?

It's not even about what *we* think; as soon as this comes to Wizbro's attention, they're quite probably going to shoot "Crown & Skull" down.


That said, there have been instances when stuff like this has gone generally without being punished, or at least without public debate:
"The Secret Fire" and other games boldly repurposed the classic Greyhawk map, IIRC.

Honestly, personally - as long as it's not taking away from Mr Arneson's heirs, or from other pioneers of the hobby, more power to projects like this one.
WotC tried to wrongfully appropriate any and every fan-made content last year: Within that overall context, no shame in testing a bit what is possible within the law.

Now, obviously, a nuanced, "sophisticated" take on Blackmoor would be infinitely more interesting than "yeah, we borrowed the map because this way the game looked more oldschool-y".

But again: A third-generation indie RPG referencing BM in this way, that's probably also simply pretty nice.
I don't know "Runehammer", but the rest of the material they're offering doesn't look like they're some hacks.

If this meant is a love letter to Blackmoor, and not as a cash grab, that's cool from my POV. (Like, with equal candor: I'm not gonna buy or play this one; but I am happy if there are folks out there who do.)

[Havard]

You make some good points my friend!

Dave Arneson in his life was always known to be very generous towards other gamers and fans. He always loved it if people used Blackmoor in their games. I am sure he would have been happy seeing something like this

-Havard

[Rafael]

I see it the same way, brother. The one criticism you know I often express towards Blackmoor is that, at this point, it's a setting that, for the most part, is *investigated* and *read*. I think Mr Arneson, for all I know of him, would have liked it to be *played* instead, and as much as possible. -- If C&S gets more people to at least connect with the Blackmoor tradition it seems to try to conjure, that's not that small of a good thing, in my mind.

[Yaztromo]

I see it the same way, brother. The one criticism you know I often express towards Blackmoor is that, at this point, it's a setting that, for the most part, is *investigated* and *read*. I think Mr Arneson, for all I know of him, would have liked it to be *played* instead, and as much as possible. -- If C&S gets more people to at least connect with the Blackmoor tradition it seems to try to conjure, that's not that small of a good thing, in my mind.

I agree wholeheartedly and I'm doing my bit to make sure the setting is *played* as much as I can.

[Rafael]

To cap this story off on my end: The game we've been talking about is available via "Bundle of Holding" this week.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/CrownSkull


Positively, I've decided to give it a pass despite the low pricing - if at all, I'll get this one in print. 'cause this looks like something I want to PLAY (as opposed to DM) some day.


Now, NGL: To me, at least, the setting (what I've seen of it, at least) seems clearly written as if someone wrote an unofficial continuation of the Zeigeist MMRPG, and then decided to make conversion easy. I like that. Not "my" personal Blackmoor, but certainly a take on Blackmoor that I can get behind. The core idea behind the reinterpretation of the setting seems to be a smart one - a way smarter one than I initially thought. (I say "continuation of the MMRPG" because I think that's the version of BM that it resembles the most.)

This is good sauce, and the game is rightfully praised, I think. The setting could be more defined, but it's clearly just a conduit to Blackmoor, at least from what I've seen.


Now, will I ever DM this? - No. Those of you who've stayed in touch with me over the years know that I essentially retired from running Blackmoor with the end of the LFC already. It's not that I wouldn't consider the setting interesting - it's that Blackmoor, for me, is connected to our group from back then. From back here, friends. So, I'm the wrong person for this one. Will always be, I think. "Tonisborg" could probably tempt me once more - but only because it's Greg's.


But would I recommend "Crown and Skull" to folks who are new to Blackmoor, or who want to combine the older versions of the setting with a more up-to-date ruleset? ABSOLUTELY! Go get it, folks! Like "Age of the Wolf", this has the substance to be someone else's campaign for the next ten years.

...Good times to be a Blackmoorian, these days, that's for sure.