Retro-Gamz Night

[Lord Iron Wolf]

Asking for Some Experiences & Ideas,

I've had an idea percolating in my head for a few days. It is to have a night at the local game shop where a game-no longer in print-is showcased and ran for the newer gamers. (or the grognards depending on who shows up ) The basic idea is to pull some returning gamers in to the shop and possibly show some "kids" what was special about the classic games. Most of the games are known only by reputation.

I believe I have a shot at doing this at a local game shop where the owner is a friend I know from college. I will also have to convince him and his wife it will show more profit for the shop.

So my questions are these:

Traveller, how do you introduce it to a new group of players who have probably only heard rumors of the murderous generation system.

What other type of game systems would show some variance of Good old games. My list would include:

Post Apocalyptic-Gamma World/?
Spy-007/?
Fantasy-White Box D&D or 1st Edition/RuneQuest/?
Horror-Call of Cthulu/?
Super Heros-?/?
Victorian-Space 1889/?
Science Fiction-Traveller/Star Frontiers/?
Any Others-???

Any insights to introducing d20 players to Classic Traveller would be appreciated and any other suggestions for the list above would be welcome too.

(Also sources to find some PDF versions of these rules would help.)

Thanks in Advance,
Lord Iron Wolf

 

[Lord Iron Wolf]

Asking for Some Experiences & Ideas,

I've had an idea percolating in my head for a few days. It is to have a night at the local game shop where a game-no longer in print-is showcased and ran for the newer gamers. (or the grognards depending on who shows up ) The basic idea is to pull some returning gamers in to the shop and possibly show some "kids" what was special about the classic games. Most of the games are known only by reputation.

I believe I have a shot at doing this at a local game shop where the owner is a friend I know from college. I will also have to convince him and his wife it will show more profit for the shop.

So my questions are these:

Traveller, how do you introduce it to a new group of players who have probably only heard rumors of the murderous generation system.

What other type of game systems would show some variance of Good old games. My list would include:

Post Apocalyptic-Gamma World/?
Spy-007/?
Fantasy-White Box D&D or 1st Edition/RuneQuest/?
Horror-Call of Cthulu/?
Super Heros-?/?
Victorian-Space 1889/?
Science Fiction-Traveller/Star Frontiers/?
Any Others-???

Any insights to introducing d20 players to Classic Traveller would be appreciated and any other suggestions for the list above would be welcome too.

(Also sources to find some PDF versions of these rules would help.)

Thanks in Advance,
Lord Iron Wolf

 

[clementk]

Here are some suggestions as well as (as far as I know) legal means of obtaining them.

Fantasy - either Runequest* with some of the extra combot detail trimmed slightly (or just use Stormbringer*) or even Tunnels & Trolls (still in print I think from Flying Buffalo) or Melee/Wizard; if the players can handly more complex story based play Pendragon* if not I recomend Prince Valiant*, a wonderful all in one Arthurian book full of excellent artwork that turns up now and then in stores etc. ; it uses coin flips for the game mechanics but replacing them with dice is easy
Gangsters - Gangbusters or Call of Cthulhu* without the Mythos
Horror - Call of Cthulhu*
Science Fiction - CT (this site offers a handy CT books 1-3 reprint for sale), Star Frontiers (which is online), Star Wars d6 (WEG)
Spy - Top Secret (1st edition)
Super Heros[/B] - Marvel Super Heroes (it's online)
Victorian - Space 1889 was reprinted a few years back by Heliograph.com, they may have some copies left or there might be some left in the distributor chain / stores; you could also use the Gaslight book along with Call of Cthulhu*
Western - Boot Hill

svgames and rpgnow.com have pdf versions of a lot of the older TSR products (Boot Hill and Gangbusters, a lot of D&D/AD&D, can't remember if Top Secret is available or not) and some basic genre WEG d6 rules

As for finding Marvel Super Heroes and Star Frontiers google.com is your friend. Aside from the Chaosium derived rules (see * for those) the rest if not stated otherwise are oop and unavailable aside from online auctions or used stores, etc. .

Casey

* Call of Cthulhu, Pendragon, and Stormbringer are all in print still and are largely unchanged from their original publication; Runequest is OOP but the Avalon Hill 3rd edition should be easy enough to find still; the core game system that runs each of the Chaosium derived games is BRP which is online for free. Prince Valiant is like a trimmed down version of Pendragon with elegant mechcanics and presentation.

The reason I recomend BRP based rules aside from my personal like for them is that they are fast and easy to learn and play. If you like you could substitute a d20 for the d100 and divide by 5 (shudder I like my d100). Pendragon did exactly that. Some have compared D&D3E to Runequest and Gurps blended with AD&D. Also most are still in print.

 

[clementk]

Here are some suggestions as well as (as far as I know) legal means of obtaining them.

Fantasy - either Runequest* with some of the extra combot detail trimmed slightly (or just use Stormbringer*) or even Tunnels & Trolls (still in print I think from Flying Buffalo) or Melee/Wizard; if the players can handly more complex story based play Pendragon* if not I recomend Prince Valiant*, a wonderful all in one Arthurian book full of excellent artwork that turns up now and then in stores etc. ; it uses coin flips for the game mechanics but replacing them with dice is easy
Gangsters - Gangbusters or Call of Cthulhu* without the Mythos
Horror - Call of Cthulhu*
Science Fiction - CT (this site offers a handy CT books 1-3 reprint for sale), Star Frontiers (which is online), Star Wars d6 (WEG)
Spy - Top Secret (1st edition)
Super Heros[/B] - Marvel Super Heroes (it's online)
Victorian - Space 1889 was reprinted a few years back by Heliograph.com, they may have some copies left or there might be some left in the distributor chain / stores; you could also use the Gaslight book along with Call of Cthulhu*
Western - Boot Hill

svgames and rpgnow.com have pdf versions of a lot of the older TSR products (Boot Hill and Gangbusters, a lot of D&D/AD&D, can't remember if Top Secret is available or not) and some basic genre WEG d6 rules

As for finding Marvel Super Heroes and Star Frontiers google.com is your friend. Aside from the Chaosium derived rules (see * for those) the rest if not stated otherwise are oop and unavailable aside from online auctions or used stores, etc. .

Casey

* Call of Cthulhu, Pendragon, and Stormbringer are all in print still and are largely unchanged from their original publication; Runequest is OOP but the Avalon Hill 3rd edition should be easy enough to find still; the core game system that runs each of the Chaosium derived games is BRP which is online for free. Prince Valiant is like a trimmed down version of Pendragon with elegant mechcanics and presentation.

The reason I recomend BRP based rules aside from my personal like for them is that they are fast and easy to learn and play. If you like you could substitute a d20 for the d100 and divide by 5 (shudder I like my d100). Pendragon did exactly that. Some have compared D&D3E to Runequest and Gurps blended with AD&D. Also most are still in print.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Gamma World

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Gamma World

 

[aramis]

Tunnels and Trolls is indeed still in print. As is Flying Buffalo's other offering (similar system): Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes. MSPE is near-modern to modern espionage, and could easily do westerns, too. The MSPE skills syystem makes a nearly seamless graft-on to T&T. (See my website for more on that... got kudos from KSA on that... but he's going a different route for T&T next ed)

Also fun, the "saturday Morning Cartoon" using SJG's Toon.

The old FASA Trek is a BRP-like system, too.

 

[aramis]

Tunnels and Trolls is indeed still in print. As is Flying Buffalo's other offering (similar system): Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes. MSPE is near-modern to modern espionage, and could easily do westerns, too. The MSPE skills syystem makes a nearly seamless graft-on to T&T. (See my website for more on that... got kudos from KSA on that... but he's going a different route for T&T next ed)

Also fun, the "saturday Morning Cartoon" using SJG's Toon.

The old FASA Trek is a BRP-like system, too.

 

[mike wightman]

Post Apocalyptic - Aftermath
Spy - Top Secret
Fantasy - blue book D&D (or red book basic if that's available)
Horror - Call of Cthulu, there is no substitute
Super Heros-Golden Heros
Victorian - Space 1889/?
Science Fiction - Universe
Any Others - Daredevils, Time and Time Again

 

[mike wightman]

Post Apocalyptic - Aftermath
Spy - Top Secret
Fantasy - blue book D&D (or red book basic if that's available)
Horror - Call of Cthulu, there is no substitute
Super Heros-Golden Heros
Victorian - Space 1889/?
Science Fiction - Universe
Any Others - Daredevils, Time and Time Again

 

[Ran Targas]

Y'all;

First may I say that a bad game system can still be fun if the players and GM are intent on making it fun!

Fantasy - Anyone ever hear of a game called Swordbearer? Cool game, chars have sphere's of knowledge, magic is based on mixing elemental essences. What about Bushido? Best Oriental game ever!

Sci-Fi - What, no Paranoia? Or original Cyberpunk?

Hero - Original T.M.N.T. or Heroes Unlimited?

Post-Invasion - There was a great post Soviet invasion game, can't remember the name of it.

 

[Ran Targas]

Y'all;

First may I say that a bad game system can still be fun if the players and GM are intent on making it fun!

Fantasy - Anyone ever hear of a game called Swordbearer? Cool game, chars have sphere's of knowledge, magic is based on mixing elemental essences. What about Bushido? Best Oriental game ever!

Sci-Fi - What, no Paranoia? Or original Cyberpunk?

Hero - Original T.M.N.T. or Heroes Unlimited?

Post-Invasion - There was a great post Soviet invasion game, can't remember the name of it.

 

[daryen]

Not including Traveller, of course, I have to say Paranoia. (I wish I could have said it first.)

The three covers of the first edition game perfectly illustrated the idea of the game. And, what is not to like about a game that both gives you six copies of your character, and has adventures that assume the characters will not make it to the end?

 

[daryen]

Not including Traveller, of course, I have to say Paranoia. (I wish I could have said it first.)

The three covers of the first edition game perfectly illustrated the idea of the game. And, what is not to like about a game that both gives you six copies of your character, and has adventures that assume the characters will not make it to the end?

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by Aramis:
The old FASA Trek is a BRP-like system, too.

/me smacks self

Yes. Like a BRP version of Traveller filtered through Star Trek. I believe it may be online but no idea on the legality.

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Post Apocalyptic - Aftermath
Fantasy - blue book D&D (or red book basic if that's available)
Super Heros-Golden Heros

Aftermath? Never played but from what I hear it would not go well with newer players.
If you must play classic D&D I agree on the Otus cover red / blue basic / expert D&D even though I started with the basic D&D before that. (grey-blue?)
The grey-blue basic D&D before the Otus covers and the version of basic / expert on after the Otus covers are available as pdf files at svgames.com and rpgnow.com . Frankly you can find used copies for about the same price as the pdf files on ebay etc. .
If Golden Heroes is a UK / GW(?) game I think there is a version of it (new edition?) online. It comes up now and then in the rpg.net free rpg threads.

Originally posted by Ran Targas:

Sci-Fi - What, no Paranoia? Or original Cyberpunk?
Hero - Original T.M.N.T. or Heroes Unlimited?

/me smacks self again
Paranoia aside from the last edition (5th?). There is a new XP edition in the works. Cyberpunk originally was packaged like CT, LBBs in a small box, which I used to have. The lastest printing isn't really all that different aside from being much bigger.
The TMNT rpg should be still easy enough to find (Palladium still had books until about a year or two ago) and there is also the recent new edition of After the Bomb , which is more or less the same game as TMNT.
I liked the illustrations in Heroes Unlimited. Never played it. The latest version (which likely isn't that much different) is still in print and the company still sells an older version on sale. Personally I'd take MSH or one of the newer Super Hero games over it but that's just me after too many high-powered Palladium combats taking way too long for me these days.

Mecha - Mekton (Mekton Z is still in print I think from RTG and IMO has a cleaner version of the system in Cyberpunk)

Casey

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by Aramis:
The old FASA Trek is a BRP-like system, too.

/me smacks self

Yes. Like a BRP version of Traveller filtered through Star Trek. I believe it may be online but no idea on the legality.

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
Post Apocalyptic - Aftermath
Fantasy - blue book D&D (or red book basic if that's available)
Super Heros-Golden Heros

Aftermath? Never played but from what I hear it would not go well with newer players.
If you must play classic D&D I agree on the Otus cover red / blue basic / expert D&D even though I started with the basic D&D before that. (grey-blue?)
The grey-blue basic D&D before the Otus covers and the version of basic / expert on after the Otus covers are available as pdf files at svgames.com and rpgnow.com . Frankly you can find used copies for about the same price as the pdf files on ebay etc. .
If Golden Heroes is a UK / GW(?) game I think there is a version of it (new edition?) online. It comes up now and then in the rpg.net free rpg threads.

Originally posted by Ran Targas:

Sci-Fi - What, no Paranoia? Or original Cyberpunk?
Hero - Original T.M.N.T. or Heroes Unlimited?

/me smacks self again
Paranoia aside from the last edition (5th?). There is a new XP edition in the works. Cyberpunk originally was packaged like CT, LBBs in a small box, which I used to have. The lastest printing isn't really all that different aside from being much bigger.
The TMNT rpg should be still easy enough to find (Palladium still had books until about a year or two ago) and there is also the recent new edition of After the Bomb , which is more or less the same game as TMNT.
I liked the illustrations in Heroes Unlimited. Never played it. The latest version (which likely isn't that much different) is still in print and the company still sells an older version on sale. Personally I'd take MSH or one of the newer Super Hero games over it but that's just me after too many high-powered Palladium combats taking way too long for me these days.

Mecha - Mekton (Mekton Z is still in print I think from RTG and IMO has a cleaner version of the system in Cyberpunk)

Casey

 

[hirch duckfinder]

suggestions for getting them into traveller -
1) give em pre-rolled chars first time
2) emphasise the simplicity of 2d6 8+ system
3) give them a brief resume of the unbeatable background ( terrans left earth 100 years from now to find space already crawling with humans......etc)
4) just typing that reminds me HOW GOOD THIS GAME IS
5) get them straight into an action based adventure with a starhip / some combat / some aliens / an enigma in it

 

[hirch duckfinder]

suggestions for getting them into traveller -
1) give em pre-rolled chars first time
2) emphasise the simplicity of 2d6 8+ system
3) give them a brief resume of the unbeatable background ( terrans left earth 100 years from now to find space already crawling with humans......etc)
4) just typing that reminds me HOW GOOD THIS GAME IS
5) get them straight into an action based adventure with a starhip / some combat / some aliens / an enigma in it