Quote from: walkerpLet's just be careful that we don't once again allow Pundit's repurposing of the facts to fit his narrative to misread what's going on here.  From my understanding, they are going to tone down some of the more blatant parody for 5th edition, not excise all humour altogether.  If you read Aces & Eights, though it is written straight-up, the dark, tough humour of the KenzerCo crew is infused throughout and adds real character to the game.  I suspect this is the same approach they will take with 5th edition.

I suspect you're right. My misgivings come from two sources: the very, very vocal number of internet posters who regularly decried all the humor in the game, who wanted all of it excised (there really were quite a few of them); and the Kenzer guys I mentioned previously, who emphasized a toning down of the humor. I think what got me was the latter, since they're the guys actually working on the game. The fact that they addressed the matter often and in detail may have made the change seem bigger than it will end up being. Again, :shrug: I still have HM4e, and 5e will likely be a decent game, regardless, since I feel Kenzer tends to do good work.

Quote from: walkerpLet's just be careful that we don't once again allow Pundit's repurposing of the facts to fit his narrative to misread what's going on here.  From my understanding, they are going to tone down some of the more blatant parody for 5th edition, not excise all humour altogether.  If you read Aces & Eights, though it is written straight-up, the dark, tough humour of the KenzerCo crew is infused throughout and adds real character to the game.  I suspect this is the same approach they will take with 5th edition.

I think that sounds much more likely...  

I just got me all the Hacklopedias and the DM screen from the cheap rack at a local store that´s closing down.

The DM screen is so awesome, it defies further description.

I think I´m in love!

EDIT: I only "get" this stuff now, after I´ve been exposed to thh 1e works of EGG. Only after you´ve played AND DMed 1e, is one able to get any use out of HM. No wonder they never sold anything Hackmaster in that store!

Quote from: SettembriniI only "get" this stuff now, after I´ve been exposed to thh 1e works of EGG. Only after you´ve played AND DMed 1e, is one able to get any use out of HM.

Spot on, sector duke.

I can't believe I skipped the big Kenzerco online sale. I suck!

Quote from: Pierce InverarityI can't believe I skipped the big Kenzerco online sale. I suck!

Me, too.

Despite my love of 1st edition AD&D it took me 2 tries to get HackMaster.  I think the secret was that the second time around I read the gamemaster's book first.

It's a gem. I just opened it on a random page and learned of the awesome powers of the Chainmail Bikini of Remote Eye Gouging.

Quote from: SettembriniThe DM screen is so awesome, it defies further description.

Oh yes.  I picked this thing up in the KenzerCo sale.  It really is a work of beauty and genius.  They should include instructions for re-folding it.

Quote from: walkerpIt really is a work of beauty and genius.  They should include instructions for re-folding it.

Hm. I can't believe that thing sees actual use at all.

I have seen it, admired the ingenuity - and humour - of the makers, but put it back on the shelf, it being the unplayable/unusable equivalent of a Falk Plan (the infamous German brand of city maps with a patented folding technique).
For me, it was just an issue of KoDT in a different format...

No, it´s terribly useful. There´s only very few humour in it. Actually it´s an ingenious version of nearly all important DMG 1e tables. VERY useful!

Yup, the HM dm screen is a thing of monsterous beauty and one of the most useful GM tools ever made.

I DO miss the harlot table, though.

And my mind is boggled by the implications of the alignment graph!

Quote from: SettembriniNo, it´s terribly useful. There´s only very few humour in it. Actually it´s an ingenious version of nearly all important DMG 1e tables. VERY useful!

Then I guess that speaks more of my way of playing AD&D1...

The only stuff that I remember today of that screen is a pizza table and an Optimus Prime-like re-folding of the screen when combat began.

And the production value that blew all other screens out of the water.

Quote from: Dirk RemmeckeThe only stuff that I remember today of that screen is a pizza table and an Optimus Prime-like re-folding of the screen when combat began.

There are a few screens that are flipped over to reveal more grim artwork to the players and certain tables to the GM, but I certainly wouldn't call it very complex. Properly folding the screen up after play could be a pain in the ass, that's true, but after doing it once or twice I don't see it being a problem for anyone.

There really wasn't much in the way of humor to it beyond the aforementioned pizza table and the artwork - which was a pretty faithful take-off of the old 1e DM screen.

Quote from: Dirk RemmeckeAnd the production value that blew all other screens out of the water.

Absolutely. Even Kenzer's own revision of it for D&D3e, tailored for Kalamar, wasn't as nice; the artwork for the 3e version sucked.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonThere really wasn't much in the way of humor to it beyond the aforementioned pizza table and the artwork - which was a pretty faithful take-off of the old 1e DM screen.

Don´t forget the Smartass-Player Smackdown Table!

Quote from: SettembriniDon´t forget the Smartass-Player Smackdown Table!

Yeah, you're right. The Smart-ass Smackdown Table is another element of humor...but I would still find it useful