I thought I'd replied to this before, but apparently not. So let me say thanks for the kind words about Basic Fantasy RPG! I really appreciate it!

@lucasmarquesdecamargos4298

3 жыл бұрын

Your work is amazing, Chris! As am I writing this, I am also waiting for my printed book to get to my place =)

This is my go-to system. I learned BX and AD&D from my brother and you growing up, but got away from it for many years (decades). When I got back into gaming, I wanted my own “d&d”. Basic Fantasy is it. It takes me back to the early days, but feels fresh, new, and exciting. The basics are really all you need. Let your imagination do the rest.

And...(drum roll) HE'S BACK! Love Basic Fantasy; so hack-able. Just this side of Dungeon Crawl Classics as my fave retro-flavored RPG. Great to see you doing vids again.

got my copy. i am looking forward to running it in 2023!

Crom and Mitra! Bless you for bringing Basic Fantasy to my attention. I am ordering these books immediately. Several years worth of gaming for less than a single book from WotC? How can I not?! I got introduced to Dark Tower by my wife. We played for several years until the tower died. A few years ago her cousin bought a refurbished tower like you talked about so the gaming could continue. I'm digging this format. Kinda reminds me of the old school issues of Dragon Magazine to be honest.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

My thoughts exactly! Please, let me know how you like it when you get a chance.

@haruplue1

6 жыл бұрын

Follow up: After skimming the stuff online I jumped right in, ordered about $25 worth of books and I'm loving it. It is so player and GM friendly! This is the game I've been wanting for years. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I might even be able to convince my wife to play with this one.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it. It is a simple, easy play OSR game. Easy to understand its popularity.

I bought all 10 of the Basic Fantasy books on Amazon for $40, free shipping. Very excited!

@captcorajus

5 жыл бұрын

There's even more free content on the web site, new classes, and everything. Have fun!!

@stillmattwest

2 жыл бұрын

I always buy everything BFRPG puts in print. How can I not? The value is just too crazy.

Glad to get to see another video. This format works, but I enjoy your other videos, as well. Keep up the good work!

I'm very late responding to this video, but I enjoyed it very much! Basic Fantasy is very cool. The Dark Tower segment brought back many fond memories! I purchased the game when it was first released and spent many hours playing with friends. Your idea of a Gazetteer video is very good. Keep it up!

Been a while since we've seen a review. Nice to see you again :)

Love the new format (I also love the single topics from before). Now seeing Dark Tower I want to play it. It looks fantastic!

Great new format! Keep up the good work.

B/X, with spell lists and a few other things imported from RC, and separate race/class and multiclassing imported from 1e, in the old-school Mystara world as detailed in the Gazetteers, is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE WAY TO PLAY D&D! :D :D :D

Nice to see you back!

Great vid and I really like the new format. It's cool to get to hear your thoughts on so many different little topics. That Dark Tower you made looks great! I bet it is a blast to play. Also I'll be checking out Basic Fantasy as it sounds like a good product at a great price. Thanks for the info!

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Yeah, it was fun to make and fun to play. I've already introduced a few players to it in my D&D group. The loved it.

Thanks for the great, in-depth reviews and commentary! Your videos are great!

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

It's nice seeing a new video man! Love me some basic fantasy

The format is great. I never had a Dark Tower set, but looking at the one you put together would make me want to play.

Like the format! Keep uploading. 😄

props to Dark Tower...loved it.

When it comes to Basic Fantasy my least favorite thing in the whole system is the ability checks since it makes character level more important than ability scores while ignoring the actual difficulty of what is being attempted -- it's the first of two things I would modify completely with house rules (the other bing encumbrance). Really, I don't think character level should even be factored in at all.

@stillmattwest

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I love Basic Fantasy, but I use a simple DC system that goes from 10 to 30. If something seems like it gels with a character's background, the character gets a +2 on the roll. If it seems like something the character's class would be good at, They add level / 2 to the roll. Works great, no need for a skill system at all.

aw man Dark tower - the memories lol - good video dude x

That dark tower remake is super cool!

Wow I just got 9 Basic RPG books for less than $50! Thanks for the tip on that one.

great to have you back cap! Why did you have to bring up Dark Tower? I LOVED that game! A friend of mine had it back in 1982 and we played it endlessly (while trying to figure out the basic D&D rules). now I'm going to be window-shopping on ebay for a nostalgia hit!

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Oops! Sorry! :D:D

Yay! You're back!

Hey Captain! I like this format and I like the more detailed format on a single subject. If you could do both that would be grand. Perhaps you could do this format more often and a detailed format every once in awhile. See ya soon.

Sweet tower!😁🏰

Oh my god I used to love Dark Tower in the early 1980s!!! (I have to jump around a bit in this post because there's a few things to see.) I got the Basic D&D set for Christmas 1980 and it was my first introduction to D&D (and I still have the book and box). Not a month later I started playing AD&D with a group, and off it went. I almost think a simple game like Basic Fantasy, combined with the capability for the DM (and maybe a mechanic for high level players) to make and distribute all the spells & magic items would probably drastically reduce the chance for power gaming wizards and increase the sense of mystery in the world -- because the info is not contained in any book! I think that might be the only way to get back to the real excitement gygax's groups must have experienced.

My group is pretty locked into 5e, but we've been kicking around the idea of trying out Basic D&D for a night or two. I'd love a print copy of the Rules Cyclopedia, but that's out of my price range and some of the clunkiness of the old ruleset turns me off, not to mention the fact that I simply don't need a ruleset that goes all the way to level 36, as fascinating as some of those late game concepts can be. Basic Fantasy seems to hit all the right notes in what I'd want out of an OSR game. I like what I've read of Lamentations of the Flame Princess and I'm already borrowing a lot of its Weird Fiction flavor for my 5e game, but I recognize that its tone kind of limits its appeal and you certainly couldn't give that book to a kid as an introduction to RPGs.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

I agree with your assessment completely. BFRPG most definitely captures both the feel and spirit of Basic D&D. If you're tying to capture that OSR feel, 'just for the fun of it' for a few sessions, then the price, and the system should hit the mark for you. You can run any old school module you like using those rules, and for the most part, when looking at monster stats all you need do is invert the armor class.

Great to see another video by you. Really love your content! I like the idea of playing in a retro-clone campaign, but unfortunately I don't really have the time and the people I play D&D with are more interested in 5e. What exactly differentiates the style of play between modern D&D and Basic Fantasy? Is it more in the reliance on dungeons?

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

I actually covered that topic in my D&D 5E review where I talk about how to OSR your 5E game. You can check that out here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pqOKy7mxn8jYdrw.html

Glad to see you again.

Sorry, one further comment in relation to the ability score system in BFRPG and your observation that it recalls somewhat the Siege Engine mechanic in C&C: I hadn't noticed this but you're right, it has some functional similarities but with 2 differences; there is no separate challenge base for primary attributes (so everything moves off a base of 18 effectively, like secondary attributes in C&C) and there is no Challenge Level added on. The net effect appears to be that some checks, that would be primes in C&C are harder in BFRPG, but others, that are secondary in C&C are easier. Swings and roundabouts I suppose and it is a nice quick mechanic. The one complaint about is that it does not allow for variable difficulty of tasks enough?

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Keep in mind that the challenge base in C&C is static. 12 for a prime, 18 for a non prime. The CK add in the challenge level to get the challenge class. BFRPG doesn't distinguish it that way. It sets the base at first level to 17, and it decreases by 1 every 2 levels or so. if the DM wants to add additional difficulty its up to them. To resolve the challenge, in C&C you add your level, plus your ability modifier. With BFRPG you just add your ability modifier, the level bonus is assumed in the base difficulty. The systems are similar, but also different. I see no reason why a DM couldn't go ahead and add additional modifiers either good or bad to reflect the challenge of the task.

Thank you, it was fantastic!

O' Captain, my Captain!

Hey capt. Can you do a review of expedition to the barrier peaks. I remember the name of the module but i did forget what was in side. I swear Gary was 25 years ahead of his time. Thank you for your time have a great day

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

yeah, that's definitely on the 'must do' list of classic 1E AD&D modules.

@mattnerdy7236

6 жыл бұрын

captcorajus Hey thanks I look forward to your thoughts & feeling about this module.

The return! Woot!

That Dark Tower game looks well done man!!!!

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Got a few friends of mine together to play (due to the fact our weekly game got cancelled. Go figure!.. lol)). They loved it. So much fun.

@johnkirk2863

6 жыл бұрын

Kewl!!! I never played it before =/

This was nice, but I prefer the single topics. :)

Great to see a review here of BFRPG. I do like your new Gazetteer format by the way but I think that BFRPG could actually do with the full treatment given the resources that are available for the game. It is very interesting that there is such a thriving website and community behind this game and I think maybe the ethos of the creators has something to do with this; it is clearly a labour of love and nobody is trying to get rich out of it. The one question I have for you, which may be difficult, is the following; BFRPG or Castles & Crusades??? I know this is a difficult decision as I have recently acquired a 2015 printing of the Castle Keepers Guide and it is just sensational. I now have a full C&C set; but I also have BFRPG which I like very much as well? Which way to sheperd my players? (even assuming that could be done)

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

It is a very good question. To answer, in my mind, Castles and Crusades lends itself quite well to the long term campaign. BFRPG does as well, but given the choice between the two, I prefer C&C. BFRPG is an awesome choice for a one shot, or running something with an old school feel at a gaming convention. At the end of the day, I don't think you could go wrong with either choice.

@robertmcgarr

6 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree. I did actually play a one shot recently with my 8 year old (in BFRPG) called "Vault of Thaire" which was quite fun. The adventure was taken from the BFRPG Adventure Anthology 1. I only have that anthology and the one slightly negative comment I would make in relation to it is that possibly some of the adventures good do with more compelling hooks. However, the game itself is easily adaptable to all of the BECMI material (deduct AC from 20 to get the new AC). There is no reason why a campaign cannot be run in the Mystara setting and you could even bring in all the rules from the Companion and Master's set for higher level play, if that is your wont!

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, when I was reading the rules I felt the same way. I always thought the BECMI rules were superior to AD&D in many ways, but, as I said in my video review of the set, people would say, "The races are the classes" and that would be that. BFRPG, fixes that one little problem very well. As a Mystara fan, I think its a great alternative ruleset.

@robertmcgarr

6 жыл бұрын

Yes that DOES seem to be a problem for some players and I imagine definitely would be for a player in their 20s or 30s whose D&D experience never encompassed the "other" D&D product line. I must say when I was a kid playing in the 80s it never bothered me and if someone had drawn it to my attention I would have asked "Hmm, what does Legolas do for a living? Pippin? Gimli?" But yes, whilst it was a "given" of the old game, perhaps it can be safely dispensed with and certainly the ascending Armour Class does streamline things a lot. On a general note, please keep your videos coming; they're of great interest to a lot of people out there as you can see

thanks for the review of Basic Fantasy I always thought it was a BX clone.

I think you should separate that tower from the board and use it as a permanent cellphone case. Think of how impressive it would be to take it out during a board meeting say, "hold on, I have the dark overlord on the line" and lift an entire castle tower to your ear.

@captcorajus you sold your dark tower at a yard sale in 95, I got a non functional one at a yard sale around that time. Did your yard sale happen to be in eastern Tennessee?

@captcorajus

3 жыл бұрын

Lol.. no.. Maryland. That would have been funny though.

Wait, i thought this was a review of the DnD Gazetteer series from the 80s? Where's Karameikos and friends?

Dark Tower! So many of my rpg friends wanted to play this instead of d&d..lol

@captcorajus

4 жыл бұрын

We would play when some people wouldn't show up for the D&D Game

Re: Basic Fantasy I'm wine drunk so if this is a dumb question... Pg. 7 character classes grid The difference between level 10 and 11, or any number and the next one up (post 10)... Does this mean there's a possibility of having less hit points than you did at the previous level?

@captcorajus

5 жыл бұрын

Not sure what you're looking at. Once you reach 9th level in BF you stop rolling Hit dice and just add the number indicated. i.e. for Fighter, +2 at 10th, +4 at 11th, +6th at 12 and so on. Hope that helps. :)

@DnDnBeer

5 жыл бұрын

@@captcorajus it's static. You get an extra hit point per level. Not you have to reroll and add +1, or whatever the chart says.

@captcorajus

5 жыл бұрын

@@DnDnBeer No, you don't 'reroll' your dice. you just add the number.

Loved Dark Tower...until it kept cheating by changing the key sequence mid game! Still fun, though.

The Dark Tower dragon is the same model used for a pewter Ral Partha mini I have sitting on the shelf waiting for paint. I like the concept of that game but think I would just find the rules and make a custom version of it using better miniatures and amending the rules for preference, ie I would replace the cpu with dice or cards, but I never played that game so I have no nostalgia for the graphics and sounds.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

The one thing that has been suggested to me over the years is to take the kingdoms, make a map, and have a campaign based on the ideas of the game. Never done it, because it seems a bit 'railroady' to me , and as DM I never have an 'end game' plotted when I start a campaign.

@sargondp69

6 жыл бұрын

I think railroading is where lots of ideas come from, as starting points at least. You can do something like that with the Talisman board game. I have some articles pending on 5th edition rule options, but I am more of a board gamer so editing the Dark Tower on that level is less work than a D&D campaign--which would be fun and can be placed somewhere like the big desert in FR. I suppose I need to put a website up with my additions to Dungeon! (which is pretty good) and some other games I have mutilated over the years. I am flirting with dumbing down Symbaroum into a board game too, destroying dungeon masters is fun!

“Adaption”?

Not a fan of D&D Beyond, it is expensive enough to buy the hardboard books let alone pay extra for the online content. I enjoy the single topic videos then the multi topic videos--unless there isn't much to say about the subject on each topic, this format is fine...

I was mising this salutations from panama

I played my Dark Tower game until it fell a part.

@captcorajus

3 жыл бұрын

Me too!

Huh. at first I thought this was going to be reviewing gazetteers...?

@captcorajus

4 жыл бұрын

I've done a review of the Gazetteer series my friend. However, this is my own Gazetteer... which is just me covering a wide array of subjects in one video. :)

Just wanted to point out that D&D Beyond is NOT a WotC product. It is done by Curse and was wholly a Curse initiative, i.e. WotC did not commision it.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry, but that's simply not true my friend. It was a collaboration between the two. In order for there to be paid content, in order for that content to contain information 'beyond' what the srd contains, it requires licencing from WOTC.

@rafaelalandrade

6 жыл бұрын

Licencing is ALL WotC did. And this comes from the guys at Curse themselves, posting in the early Q&A about the product. WotC did NO WORK on this, it is purely done and run by Curse licenced by WotC. Now, if you want to call licening a collaboration, go ahead, but I wouldn't.

@captcorajus

6 жыл бұрын

I would only point out that the content that Curse has been licensed to present in digital format was CREATED by WOTC, hence the need for licensing. WOTC created the content on the website, Curse Created the digital format by which its presented. Two entities have come together to create something. By definition, that seems like a collaboration.