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Post by ProfGremlin on Aug 7, 2021 21:07:21 GMT -5
What else could we use that FB didn't do? My earlier quip aside, personally, I'm not on the 'more source books' bandwagon. I've played D&D, Shadowrun, Earthdawn, Legend of the 5 Rings, 7th Seas, etc. The sheer number of books that are needed to just create a character - hoolies, my L5R character had me referring to five different books to create him - much less run a game with all the myriad options each player wants to use and the rules for each of those options. No. Just, no. I want to play a game and have fun with it not write a doctoral thesis. I get it. We have the same thing in technology. It's called feature creep. How much can we pack in this time? Ok, now that we have a new baseline, what can we add? Until you get a system that is so over bloated with features it becomes unwieldy and unstable. The problem is, people expect it. More, new, shiny, sparkles... Ooh! What does that button do?! I also understand why the gaming companies do it. They need to keep churning out new products so people keep buying. Gotta pay the staff and the stockholders. Publish a new edition of the game and eventually profits plateau so, put out a supplement... and keep doing that until you decide it's time for a new edition. Rinse and repeat. I like that I can build characters, world build and run a campaign all out of one book. I truly do not want supplemental rule books. What I'd be ok with would be settings, adventures - both solo and GM. Sure, ok, a bestiary could be fun. dungeondevil 's description has merit, especially the idea of a ' Build an MR Workshop'. I like Thessaly's Buzzard Gulch for Monsters! Monsters! Give me options to play not additional tomes of bloated rules all but required to purchase and have at the table in order to reference a paltry handful of rules one or two players are using. Neither my brain, budget nor schedule have the room for such a play style any longer. These days, simple elegance is much more my speed.
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cupboardgnome
4th Level Troll
I'm a long-time roleplayer, ever since the Red Box was published βοΈπ² I discovered T&T in 2020
Posts: 315
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Post by cupboardgnome on Aug 8, 2021 3:04:17 GMT -5
So who do we talk to about T&T now: Webbed Sphere, Troll & Toad or Flying π? I see Flying π's webpage has been changed to a very limited page.
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Aug 8, 2021 3:25:19 GMT -5
I would imagine they need to do a stock take and check what the have. Maybe even move it to Kentucky, so I'd recomend sitting tight and waiting to see what unfolds. Unless you have a problem with an order then contact Steve C for guidence.
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Post by d4caltrops on Aug 8, 2021 12:07:51 GMT -5
We have to ask "What are the holes in the T&T product line?" To my mind, the obvious hole is the lack of one or more "Monster Manuals" which detail how to take the elementary principle of the Monster Rating and propose layers of potential details, up to a fully fleshed-out monster with PC-like stat sheets. There is a spectrum of possible presentations here which is ripe for future development. Part of this book must be a detailed discussion of the mathematical probabilities of Spite (already detailed on this forum). Also, a weapons and armour compendium, fully illustrated, to elaborate more on the crunchy details of various arms and their benefits/detriments. Some based on sobre historical fact, while others may be purely of fanciful origins. What else could we use that FB didn't do? I agree with ProfGremlin 's post, but in case anyone out there is listening, the two additional publications (other than more stuff to play) I'd love to see are: 1. A Deluxe printing with the rules, elaborations, and Trollworld separated. Maybe 2 volumes (rules, elaborations; Trollworld) or 3, I could see a few different ways that would make sense. Even the Deluxe rules are a pretty trim little ruleset, so having an easier-to-manage volume to flip through would be convenient for play. I am running a game in Trollworld right now, so having just the Trollworld volume to reference would be useful, too. 2. An extremely stripped down free rulebook/play reference that is 100% free, no registration or anything required. I've introduced a few people to the game now, and they all wound up buying the Deluxe rules because they loved it. I've found it pretty easy to get people to try something when I say "look at this 1-page summary and then let's play", but even adding account registration starts to lose people. I understand the hesitation to doing this particularly with what FBI went through, but at this point with the way games are played today I think it would do a lot more good than harm. Heck, put a link at the bottom... "Intrigued by these mechanics? Try a solo!"
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Post by stefanj on Aug 8, 2021 13:59:00 GMT -5
This has been openly discussed by Steve, Liz, etc., as what would happen when copies of Deluxe run out. What plans Webbed Sphere has are unknown, but I would guess that the old creative / editing team would have lots of input.
Well, to some extent we have those, in the Free RPG Day booklets, and by the mini-rules included in some of the more recent adventures.
As many know, Wizards of the Coast still makes available free, streamlined versions of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. If WS follows suit, mini-rules could be an easy download.
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Post by d4caltrops on Aug 8, 2021 15:39:24 GMT -5
Well, to some extent we have those, in the Free RPG Day booklets, and by the mini-rules included in some of the more recent adventures. As many know, Wizards of the Coast still makes available free, streamlined versions of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. If WS follows suit, mini-rules could be an easy download. Yep, exactly! Today, all of the T&T intro/mini rules booklets that I know of (including Free RPG Day) require a DTRPG account to download. I think all of the Deluxe free/mini rules versions cost at least $1. The only free intro rules that I know of are for 5.5 I think? www.drivethrurpg.com/product/54407/Tunnels--Trolls-Free-Rulebook "Download this PDF at flyingbuffalo.com/tnt/tnt_bare_essentials.pdf" is exactly my wish. Or the blessing to publish an unofficial one, like the one for Savage Worlds.
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jeffb
2nd Level Troll
Posts: 66
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Post by jeffb on Aug 8, 2021 17:28:57 GMT -5
Didn't Buffalo Castle used to be available on the FBI Website, free to play? (years ago).
I'm not up for more "deluxe", as I've stated elsewhere (I think), but I'd also like to see substantial, but pared down set of the rules available ina professional looking format. Not for my own purposes, but rather as a draw. If T&T wishes to grow, it has to get into the 21st century. Deluxe looks like a GURPS book from 1992.
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Post by stefanj on Aug 8, 2021 20:27:10 GMT -5
It will be very interesting to see what happens. The default setting has a very simple "cosmos," with no defined alternate planes, gods, spirits, etc. Will they develop a new background? Revamp Trollworld? Leave worldbuilding up to players?
Graphically and production-wise, I think WS will want new books to be appealing to modern tastes.
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Piper
4th Level Troll
Posts: 377
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Post by Piper on Aug 8, 2021 22:00:22 GMT -5
[β¦] but I'd also like to see substantial, but pared down set of the rules available ina professional looking format. ISTR after the sale was announced, Steve Crompton verifying the re-edited and updated version of 5th Edition was still going to be a reality. Of course, I realize plans can change but Iβm hoping.
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Post by peterpanda on Aug 9, 2021 9:31:31 GMT -5
Hello Trollkins, The ICv2 website has some new commentary today on the purchase of Flying Buffalo but sheds little new information: icv2.com/articles/columns/view/49011/rolling-initiative-the-fall-innistrad-future-flying-buffaloWhile WS may be trying to build-up excitement for the Big Reveal around Gen Con, I'm finding the lack of clarity a bit disquieting. I hope they understand the customer base they're inheriting from this acquisition. We're an irrascible lot at times because we care so deeply for "our" game which embodies the playability, flexibility, creativity, and ethos/culture rarely seen in other commercial produced systems. I guess this is just my long-winded way of saying that I'd prefer it if WS issued a Press Release sooner rather than later, spelling out their intentions and plans rather than having us wait until Gen Con. Cheers - PeterPanda
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sscrompton
4th Level Troll
One of the members of the Fellowship of the Troll. Worked on dT&T with Ken, Liz, Bear & Rick.
Posts: 401
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Post by sscrompton on Aug 9, 2021 21:32:04 GMT -5
Hello all - As you know the sale has indeed occurred. We sort of mentioned it earlier than we should have. Presumably you have heard the news from various sources. My advice stands for anything you buy on Drive-thru. You should always download anything you buy there in case Drive-thru is hacked.
Buffalo will be at GenCon in September and you can see what they have in mind then. They will also have many of our books and games there, so be sure to drop by. Who knows? You may even see a familiar face or two..
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Post by Aramis of Erak on Aug 14, 2021 0:18:10 GMT -5
7th and 7Β½th both had bestiaries with nice MR ratings, and specific spite spends. It felt completely divorced from the solos I'd played.
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dungeondevil
3rd Level Troll
Give me grain and I'll give you guns!
Posts: 174
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Post by dungeondevil on Aug 14, 2021 17:48:36 GMT -5
That's what I'm afraid of. That means anime-inspired art design, absurdly huge cutlery, spikey armour, videogame-esque look and mechanics, etc. Let's hope that the traditional artists' works are still going to be included in future iterations and not jettisoned like so much unwanted baggage.
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Post by Aramis of Erak on Aug 15, 2021 3:03:11 GMT -5
That's what I'm afraid of. That means anime-inspired art design, absurdly huge cutlery, spikey armour, videogame-esque look and mechanics, etc. Let's hope that the traditional artists' works are still going to be included in future iterations and not jettisoned like so much unwanted baggage. Funny, but that's not what is selling from the evidence I've seen... Cyberpunk's latest edition isn't such. Alien lacks the BFG motifs of anime, and infact has a steady supply of crisp renders and slightly out of focus looking oils. The look is, overall, very much in line with the movies and games. Fate certainly can do the anime mode, but the rulebooks aren't using that aesthetic. Star Trek Adventures also uses an aesthetic heavy on the digital line drawings, oil paintings. The race and character art is the nearly the same style that was used in LUG-Trek. Pathfinder has embraced the Anime look, from the get go. D&D is a bit short of it. FFG uses paintings and occasional line work in the Star Wars line. Paintings almost exclusively for L5R 5E. And only the Crab and Goblins with oversized weapons... but that's been standard since 1st ed. On the other hand, Anime is popular. As is Manga. WOrldwide, Anime and Manga are known wherever the populace has money for recreation. Let us not forget, either, that the Japanese edition of T&T was done a decade or more ago in a manga style... Oh, and wargaming and RPG minis have always had out-scale weapons. A 2" diameter spear at 1:72 is 1/36" ... twist-tie wire. A proper in-scale sword would be a razor blade.
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jeffb
2nd Level Troll
Posts: 66
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Post by jeffb on Sept 15, 2021 10:59:50 GMT -5
Not long now
Not long now
Not long now
Hoping we get some great news tomorrow.
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