Hi all, I'm a first time poster...

I'm thinking of GM-ing some D&D for the first time in years, inspired by RPGObjects' excellent 'Legends of the Dark Ages' supplement. Normally, our group uses True20, but my current True20: Lionheart campaign's shown that True20 magic is a poor fit to a low-magic, historical campaign, particularly when adepts get a few levels under their belt.

However, my players aren't typical gamers, in that few buy RPG books and even fewer have the time to read them (in fairness, we're all in our 30's with time-consuming jobs, wives and children), and as such none own a PHB and none are particularly au fait with the D&D rules. So I was thinking of doing a cut-n-paste job with the SRD, the PDF of Legends of the Dark Ages (and Legends of Sorcery), bits from the Medieval Players Manual and porting in Phil Reed's superb 'Wounds, Bruises and Blood' to create a campaign specific PHB to avoid having a situation at character generation where I'm saying 'OK, now you choose feats which are in this book...and this book...and this book...'

Has anyone else done anything like this, or had experience with it? Would I be wasting my time?

Welcome to therpgsite!

I've never done what you're doing, but I don'
t think it's a waste of time.  If you really have the time to do it, do it, if it will help your players.

You said that your players don't have time to read stuff, though.  Will they read this thing you make?

And when it's done, can you make it public?

Quote from: joewolzYou said that your players don't have time to read stuff, though.  Will they read this thing you make?

And when it's done, can you make it public?

No, in all probability no-one will sit and read it cover to cover.  However, it would be a single volume book that could be referenced during play without having to sift through several books and printed pdfs...

As for making it public, I could provided I only included OGC material from each source...why, interested?  

Quote from: FighterboyNo, in all probability no-one will sit and read it cover to cover.  However, it would be a single volume book that could be referenced during play without having to sift through several books and printed pdfs...

As for making it public, I could provided I only included OGC material from each source...why, interested?  

You might want to print it and put it in a few three ring binders for your players...maybe a different binder for each section?  Or multiple copies perhaps.

I am always interested in stuff like this.

Yo, Fighterboy.  Wilkommen im RPGsite!

...man, high school German's a loooooong while back.  Anyway, no; while  have not yet made my own PHB out of a SRD, I sure as hell have THOUGHT of it, and I think it's a bitchin' idea, so go do it.

How many lives ya got?  Not enough to waste on not enjoyin' 'em.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!How many lives ya got?  Not enough to waste on not enjoyin' 'em.

Unless you enjoy making books, of course.

!i!

Cool idea, I thought about doing that @ one point. Turned out, considering that I don't play d d20 as much as it would take to make it useful, I scrapped the idea.

Welcome to The RPG Site.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaUnless you enjoy making books, of course.

!i!

Wouldn't that be "unless you do NOT enjoy making books"?  'Cause I was suggesting that, if he thought making his own PHB was fun, he should go do it because likfe's too short to NOT have fun.

If you find out what they want to play ahead of time you can customize each book for that class and race, trimming it down even more. It could also help in the game, as the guy who knows grappling rules because he's a monk can take a few minutes to explain them to the player of the wizard that just got snatched.

Quote from: James McMurrayIf you find out what they want to play ahead of time you can customize each book for that class and race, trimming it down even more. It could also help in the game, as the guy who knows grappling rules because he's a monk can take a few minutes to explain them to the player of the wizard that just got snatched.

Ah, now THIS is a grand idea!!  Why should the soldier's PHB be full of spells, after all!

Oh and Doc Rot...ummm...are you under the impression I'm German??  

You're not German?

I like the idea of breaking the books up by class.  That'd be neat.

Quote from: FighterboyAh, now THIS is a grand idea!!  Why should the soldier's PHB be full of spells, after all!

Oh and Doc Rot...ummm...are you under the impression I'm German??  

No, I'm just "That Guy".

Quote from: James McMurrayIf you find out what they want to play ahead of time you can customize each book for that class and race, trimming it down even more. It could also help in the game, as the guy who knows grappling rules because he's a monk can take a few minutes to explain them to the player of the wizard that just got snatched.

I find your ideas intriguing and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Wouldn't that be "unless you do NOT enjoy making books"?  'Cause I was suggesting that, if he thought making his own PHB was fun, he should go do it because likfe's too short to NOT have fun.

Don't go telling me what I'm thinking, monkey-boy.  I meant what I said: Unless you do not not enjoy not making books.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaDon't go telling me what I'm thinking, monkey-boy.  I blah, blah, blah whine whine poo.
!i!

Stick it in your cloaca, Skunk-Ape.

I'm done, how 'bout you?  Back to the thread now?