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Author Topic: Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS  (Read 1340 times)

KrakaJak

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« on: November 16, 2007, 05:16:55 AM »
So...after owning the corebook for a while (and playing it a bit here and there XD), this little game has changed my perspective on RPGs.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness, I think, is a RPG that should be required reading/playing for ANYBODY interested in the perfect balance of game content (just the ball...for you to run with) system (simple...and similar enough to some OTHER popular game system) strategy (hmmmm....poison barbs or extra size...decisions decisions) and randomization (the most crucial step for fun games, in my opinion).

So...hat's off to Mr. Wujcik! This is my first post here on THIS forum. I haven't played Amber, I may never, but here's a post to talk about Ericks other great game!
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RPGPundit

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2007, 12:01:25 AM »
TMNT really is a gem of an RPG, easily the best thought-out and most innovative game Palladium ever produced; and it was based on the original TMNT comics, not the goofy kids show that followed.

I agree that it should be required reading for things like emulation of genre and good setting-supporting design.

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Blackleaf

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2007, 12:44:50 AM »
This is a great game.  :)  Making up characters for TMNT was lots of fun.

Erick Wujcik

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2007, 08:08:13 PM »
Quote from: KrakaJak
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness, I think, is a RPG that should be required reading/playing for ANYBODY interested in the perfect balance of game content (just the ball...for you to run with) system (simple...and similar enough to some OTHER popular game system) strategy (hmmmm....poison barbs or extra size...decisions decisions) and randomization (the most crucial step for fun games, in my opinion).

So...hat's off to Mr. Wujcik! This is my first post here on THIS forum. I haven't played Amber, I may never, but here's a post to talk about Erick's other great game!


Thanks for the kind words.

I was always pleased with TMNT, and just as much so with its current successor, the After the Bomb RPG, still available from Palladium Books:

Catalog Page for After the Bomb

Of course, Amber Diceless and TMNT/After the Bomb aren't my only published games. For another perspective on simplicity, there's Revised RECON, my take on role-playing the Vietnam War and other "asymmetrical battles," still available as Deluxe RECON at Palladium Books:

Catalog Page for Deluxe RECON

A long way from simplicity is my take on martial arts and other interesting stuff, both Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China:

Link to the Catalog Pages for Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China

As for discussions, there are plenty of threads on all my Palladium role-playing publications over at the Palladium Books "Forums of the Megaverse:"

Forums of the Megaverse (Scroll down to 'SDC Worlds')

Erick

Spike

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2007, 08:16:26 PM »
I have TMNT&OS and After the Bomb, and I generally agree with the sentiment expressed in the OP.

I also have Ninja's and Superspies, which I generally dislike outside the entire 'it has kung fu!' appeal, and I had Mystic China at one time.....

As for Recon, the only game of that name I will touch is the black pamphlet I have, which aside from a map is all the resources I need for that sort of game. I've always wanted to know the exact relationship to that old black pamphlet to the Palladium RECON, however.

One of these days I am going to have to introduce my players to Amber, but that supposes first that I get a copy of the rules. I regret passing it by back in my younger days. I don't particularly like the Amber novels, and back then Diceless was the same sort of evil the Pundit rails against with his Story Games thing. Now I'm old enough to know that the dice, they mean nothing.

Then again, I love having more systems to play around with, and Amber just may be simple enough that getting my players to make characters won't take three hours of rules explaining....
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Erick Wujcik

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2007, 12:29:42 AM »
Quote from: Spike
As for Recon, the only game of that name I will touch is the black pamphlet I have, which aside from a map is all the resources I need for that sort of game. I've always wanted to know the exact relationship to that old black pamphlet to the Palladium RECON, however.


The original 'black pamphlet' is great, if you want to play a wargame/miniatures game. It is not, however, a role-playing game.

Palladium Books bought the rights from Joe Martin, the original designer, in order to publish a role-playing game based on the Vietnam War experience... quite a different thing from the original game.

Quote from: Spike
One of these days I am going to have to introduce my players to Amber, but that supposes first that I get a copy of the rules. I regret passing it by back in my younger days. I don't particularly like the Amber novels, and back then Diceless was the same sort of evil the Pundit rails against with his Story Games thing. Now I'm old enough to know that the dice, they mean nothing.


If you don't care for Roger Zelazny's Amber, I'm not sure if Amber Diceless is going to do much for you...

Quote from: Spike
Then again, I love having more systems to play around with, and Amber just may be simple enough that getting my players to make characters won't take three hours of rules explaining....


Whoa!

Sorry, Spike, but Amber Diceless Role-Playing, while it features a unique, fairly simple system, has one of the most complex and convoluted character creation systems ever.

On the other hand, oddly enough, the Revised RECON role-playing character creation system is a snap!

Erick

Trevelyan

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2007, 10:35:12 AM »
TMNT&OS was the first RPG I played - Terror on Rural Route 5 (IIRC) was the first adventure. It's still a popular choice when I get together with some of the guys I used to game with and we feel like some retro fun.


Quote from: Erick Wujcik
If you don't care for Roger Zelazny's Amber, I'm not sure if Amber Diceless is going to do much for you...

This is very true.

Quote
Sorry, Spike, but Amber Diceless Role-Playing, while it features a unique, fairly simple system, has one of the most complex and convoluted character creation systems ever.

This isn't really the case for anyone who knows the setting and can count to 100.
 

Lucky_Strike

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2007, 11:44:37 AM »
Quote from: Erick Wujcik


A long way from simplicity is my take on martial arts and other interesting stuff, both Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China:

Link to the Catalog Pages for Ninjas & Superspies and Mystic China

Erick


Ninjas and Superspies remains my personal record for highest prep time to play time ratio with some of the greatest player enjoyment.

Mystic China is a favorite among the gaming crew I run with and regularly tops lists of favourite sourcebooks discussed over beer and sammiches.
 

Spike

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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2007, 11:56:54 AM »
Quote from: Erick Wujcik
The original 'black pamphlet' is great, if you want to play a wargame/miniatures game. It is not, however, a role-playing game.

Palladium Books bought the rights from Joe Martin, the original designer, in order to publish a role-playing game based on the Vietnam War experience... quite a different thing from the original game.



If you don't care for Roger Zelazny's Amber, I'm not sure if Amber Diceless is going to do much for you...



Whoa!

Sorry, Spike, but Amber Diceless Role-Playing, while it features a unique, fairly simple system, has one of the most complex and convoluted character creation systems ever.

On the other hand, oddly enough, the Revised RECON role-playing character creation system is a snap!

Erick


Don't get me wrong, I've played using the Amber rules, so I'm not totally ignorant. It is certainly possible that I'm mistaking the ease with which I grasp rules with 'simplicity', its happened before.  

But: From memory (its been a few years...) you only have the four attributes and a reasonably short list of open ended powers to spend your points on.

If you refer to the auction, that is a lot simpler to explain/accomplish than having half a dozen people pass around one book, each trying to search for that magical one stat/class/skill that will make them 'kewl'.

And as I said before: I like Amber for the system, not because I'm a fan of the setting. I do it with all setting attached systems, strip it down and make my own.

I found your description of Recon a bit odd in comparison to your comments on the Diceless Roleplaying Essay.  Recon didn't strike me as excessivly 'wargamy'... of course, as I play Warhammer 40k and Warmachine and the like I may be working under a different assumption for that term than you.  The point being that the very swift and streamlined character rules, focusing as they do on what your character can accomplish 'in the jungle' more or less, allows you to roleplay your character without excessivly worrying if you have a high enough charisma or 'tea cosy skill' to accomplish it.  While admittedly the scope of what you play is limited by the design, this simply makes it purpose built.
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Erick's Other Game: TMNT&OS
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2007, 11:18:45 AM »
Hey Erick, any chance you can get Kevin Siembieda to send me some review copies of... well, just about anything he wants to? Remember that any review will be posted both here on this site (with its thousands of readers) AND on my blog (with about 1200 readers a day).

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LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.