Print Page - [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on June 10, 2008, 01:09:41 AM

I've been maintaining an OD&D-oriented web page with my thoughts on the game and some useful links. I just put up two new "musings:"

Surprise (http://www.philotomy.com/#surprise)
Gaze Attacks (http://www.philotomy.com/#gaze_attacks)

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: noisms on June 10, 2008, 09:11:12 AM

I've visited your website a couple of times after stumbling across it from the Grognardia blog. It's great stuff.

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Leo Knight on June 10, 2008, 03:15:01 PM

Wow! I just finished reading your Lost City gamelog. I loved that module. I really like the way you made the setting more rational, and the way the factions react to the PC's actions. Your son seems to be quite the budding adventurer. Jason indeed!

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on June 12, 2008, 12:52:21 AM

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm way behind on updating my Lost City campaign log, but hope to get some new session reports up, soon. My first name is Jason, so when my son named his Fighting Man "Jason," I asked him if he was naming him after me. He gave me a funny look and told me no -- he named him after Jason in Jason and the Argonauts. (Hah -- oh well...)

My son's favorite scene (of course):
Skeleton Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yYeZMx1Y7U)

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Casey777 on June 12, 2008, 01:45:48 AM

As always, good stuff to mull over. Your format is good for a different type of examination of OD&D than that provided by the more prevalent forum threads and blog posts.

The surprise bit might be fun to try. The gaze attacks section is comprehensive but I'm not sure, for me, if I'd use that much detail or even if the need would arise.

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on June 13, 2008, 01:32:06 PM

One thing I like about these surprise rules is that it encourages the players to think about ways to increase their PCs' chance of surprise, because it can be a significant factor.

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Blackleaf on June 13, 2008, 01:53:55 PM

QuoteI look on saving throws as a "last chance" or a "disaster avoidance." That is, your character is in a disastrous situation, but he gets a chance to slip out of circumstances which would spell doom for most men. Consequently, I look on the save vs. gaze effects as "gaze avoidance" rather than "gaze resistance." Meeting the gaze means certain doom; the saving throw determines whether the character met the gaze at all. If he did, he suffers its effects; if not, then he is safe.

Yes, this is good advice. :)

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on May 22, 2009, 02:06:03 AM

I have a new musing:

THAC0? (http://www.philotomy.com/#thac0)

A couple others have been up for a while, but I must not have updated this thread:

Creating a "Mythic Underworld" Dungeon (http://www.philotomy.com/#creating_dungeon)
Making the Game Your Own (http://www.philotomy.com/#your_own)

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Akrasia on May 22, 2009, 02:16:41 AM

I've found your musings consistently intelligent and thought-provoking, PJ, even if I have not always agreed with you. Thanks for posting them! :D

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Benoist on May 22, 2009, 11:19:54 AM

Indeed. Your musings are a constant source of inspiration, Philotomy.
One of the great, quality websites about OD&D. It's always a thought-provoking pleasure to read you.

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on May 24, 2009, 08:08:21 AM

Thanks, guys.

Another new one is up:
Turning Undead (http://www.philotomy.com/#turn_undead)

Title: [OD&D] Philotomy's Musings
Post by: Philotomy Jurament on June 01, 2009, 10:34:12 AM

A musing on the use of flaming oil (http://www.philotomy.com/#burning_oil).

TheRPGSite

Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Philotomy Jurament on June 10, 2008, 01:09:41 AM