Review of The Armory's 30 Sided Dice Gaming Tables

I found this gem at a used book store.  The Armory's 30 Sided Dice Gaming Tables is an interesting artifact from the early days of fantasy role-playing.  The copyright date is 1982.  The cover advertises this book as a supplement that is suitable to be used with "Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Runequest, Chivalry & Sorcery, Tunnels & Trolls, and other fantasy role-playing systems."  That is a nice selection of old school rpgs, and it is interesting to note that all of these systems are still available.  Another clue to the product's age is that the words "patent pending" appear next to the image of the 30 sided die on the cover.

The cover, complete with price tag.  I only paid $2.50.

The book is 40 pages and stable bound.  The inside front cover has an about the author section and an awesome drawing of a dragon on top of a hoard of treasure.  Page one is an introduction where the author shills the idea of using a d30 in your game.  There are also two ads for the company's dice. We then get a table of contents on page two and and instructions for reading a 30 sided die on page three. At this point I should explain that the die pictured in the book is numbered differently than other 30 sided dice that I have seen.  The d30 in the book has 30 faces.  10 of those faces are labeled -0 to -9, ten faces are labeled 0 to 9, and ten faces are labeled +0 to +9.  Negative numbers are the integers 1-10, regular numbers are 11-20, and positive integers are 21-30.  The author gives a handy chart summarizing this information.  My research found that a revised version of this book was released soon after that feature the tradition d30  which was numbered 1-30.  I found this old d30 an interesting historical oddity.  It reminded me of older d20s that had 0-9 engraved twice on their faces, where one set of numbers would be inked in a different color and would represent 11-20.  There are also instructions on how to use the d30 to create a number from 1 to 300.  This part tied my brain in knots upon the first reading but eventually I figured it out.

The rest of the book is made up of charts.  The first is a critical hit table that covers body locations. The next few tables cover lists of gems, jewelry, and their worth.  Then we get height and weight tables for humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and hobbits (yes, the term hobbit is used).  These charts are meant for male characters, and the author includes conversions for rolling for female characters by subtracting a certain amount of pounds or inches.  Apparently female adventurers where dainty back in the 80s.  

On page 23 we get the one and only table used for rolling a number between 1-300.  Oddly this table only has 150 entries.  The table is a language table and includes entries as esoteric as horse, pseudo-dragon, and yeti.  The author points out that the table can be used as an encounter table or a reincarnation table, as he has used it in his campaign.  My favorite table is next, which is mundane experience.  I will be using this table in my next game so that characters can roll up backgrounds such as tanner and gemologist.  There is a weapons table, slaves table, tables for animal skins and their value, a table listing 30 ancient civilizations, ancient ships, diseases, poisons and their severity, animal trainer tables, spell effects, and magic items.  The book ends with a bibliography, index, and price listing for the Armory's various products.  The back cover has an ad and price list for 30 sided dice (available plain or inked) and an ad for pens to ink your dice.

The book is filled with artwork by Greg Barrett.  The majority of the illustrations are of fantasy miniatures that include the company and product code of the mini (such as Ral Partha #02-102 Sea Elves).  The rest of the pictures are of dice, treasure chests, and other stuff.  The pictures of the miniatures are a cool touch.  They seem to call out and say, "Use me in your game."

Bibliography along with a picture of barbarian miniatures

30 Sided Dice Gaming Tables is an interesting piece of rpg history.  It was obviously written to help the Armory sell their d30s.  If you owned the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide then you already had more random tables than you could handle.  The author tries to sell you on the idea that increasing your choices is a good thing for your campaign, i.e. 30 options is better than 20.  The charts are conveniently laid out at one per page and this book would be easy to use at the gaming table.  In my opinion the book's main value is that is is an example of the hobbyist nature of early rpg culture.  The pictures of miniatures and ads for dice-inking pens look back to the days when playing D&D meant assembling a hodgepodge of materials from various sources.  The author's tone throughout the book says, "I made my own d30 tables, and so can you."

I am glad to have this book in my collection for the nostalgia factor.  There are a few tables that I would use in a game.  I wouldn't go searching this book out unless you are the curator of the 30 sided dice museum, but if you see a copy it might be fun to grab to open the window onto the fantasy rpg scene of yesteryear.

  

Zine Review: Tales from the Game Tavern #1

Tales from the Game Tavern is a zine put out by P.E. Pace, aka the Grand DM,  Issue one is 28 pages and features an orange and black cover with some nice silhouette artwork featuring two fantasy adventurers going trick-or-treating.  The issue features system neutral articles for OSR style fantasy rpgs.  Disclaimer, the Grand DM sent me a free copy as part of a give-away on his blog.  Many thanks, Grand DM!

Tales from the Game Tavern includes seven articles and a copy of the Open Gaming License.  The first article is a variation on the flesh golem.  The second article, my personal favorite, covers cursed armor.  There is a nice selection of pieces that provide protection but also carry some troublesome malediction that will keep your players busy.  They are perfect for the munchkin in your party.

The third article is a table for providing haunting encounters for taverns.  The fourth article is an adventure.  I was surprised to see that this adventure included an outdoor hex map as well as a mini-dungeon map.  The adventure has depth beyond being a hack-and-slash crawl (although it could be run as one if you wish) and it has the right dose of whimsy.  

The fifth article contains tables for alien abductions.  The author wrote the tables for a fantasy setting but the results would fit in perfectly for Call of Cthulhu or any other horror game scenario.  The next article discusses a scenario for running a zombie outbreak in a fantasy setting.  The final article contains a recipe for "Game Tavern Goulash",  The OGL closes out the zine.

This zine is an enjoyable read.  The Halloween theme is present throughout the issue.  I see myself using something from every article in my game.  The art is a mix of public domain images and drawn pictures that look medieval and spooky.  Tales from the Game Tavern is fun to read and ready to use at the game table.  I would recommend this as the perfect treat to pass out to the adventuring parties that knock on your door.

You can order your own copy at ultanya.com.

Donate Your Campaign Notes to Posterity!

I discovered Plagmada.org (The Play Generated Map & Document Archive) the other day. Their goal is to collect and preserve documents that have been generated by people playing role playing games. They are looking for maps, campaign notes, character sheets, and other miscellany for the archive. They will scan it, put it up on the internet, and then ship the documents off to a museum.

One of the things that I love about the rpg hobby is that it is a creative venture.  Role players are constantly creating their own worlds, maps, adventures, and stories.  All it takes to modify a game, destroy a planet, or create a hero is a pen and some paper.  Now there is a project dedicated to saving all of those sheets of paper that gamers have used to create awesome adventures.

I was cleaning out my GM notebook and I was trying to decide what to do with my old campaign notes.  They were about to go into the recycling bin but then I found out that plagmada.org will take them and save them for posterity.  Now gamers, academics, historians, and internet surfers can browse through my old game notes.  Their archive is a great place to see gaming notes, maps, and other cool stuff.  There is a great homemade AD&D module on the site (check out Habitation of the Stone Giant Lord!).

Stats for TSR's Marvel Super Heroes RPG written by my brother; This sheet will live forever at plagmada,org

Consider this post a public service announcement.  Head over to plagmada.org and check out their collection.  Send them your stack of gaming papers.  Tell your friends.  I bet you or some friend of yours has a stack of graph paper maps and notes just taking up space.  Send in your stuff instead of throwing it away.  They will even help out with shipping.  Share this message with as many gamers as you can.  It is our duty as gamers to make sure that our story is preserved for future generations.

#RPGaDAY 2015 Day 28-31: Finishing Off the Month

Day 28: Favorite game I no longer play

My Favorite game that I no longer play is Hackmaster Basic.  When our group first came together it was led by a GM who was (and still is) a hardcore Hackmaster fan.  We played Hackmaster 4th edition and then switched to Hackmaster Basic as soon as it came out.  Our GM moved and I took over, starting a new campaign using Hackmaster Basic.  We played that game for three years.

There are a lot of fun memories that we built with Hackmaster Basic.  There are also mechanics that I liked, such as rolling for defense instead of using an armor class.  There are also some mechanics that I don't miss, such as shield rules.  Hackmaster Basic strikes me as the OSR game for the sophisticated gamer.  I enjoyed it but I don't think I can play it anymore.  There are just other fantasy rpgs that I would rather play.  It is a good game and you can download it for free.

Day 29: Favorite rpg website/blog

Rpggeek.com. I use this website every day.  I've played in play by forum games on it, I read game news, I have downloaded games, and I use it to keep track of my ever growing collection.

Day 30: favorite rpg playing celebrity.

Vin Diesel, becuase he got Dame Judy Dench to play D&D

Day 31: Favorite non-RPG thing to come out of RPGing 

The Wild Cards series.  I read that George R. R. Martin was playing in a Superworld campaign with his friends that inspired the Wild Cards series of books.  I have only read the first one but it is genius.

And that is it for the month of August 2015. #RPGaDAY 2015 was fun and I look forward to next year.

#RPGaDAY2015 Day 27: Favorite Idea for Merging Two Games into One

I am a recent fan of the comic series Gold Digger.  The series follows Gina Diggers, an extreme archaeologist, as she searches for treasure and adventure in lost civilizations and other dimensions. She is accompanied by her were-cheetah sister and an assortment of bodyguards, pilots, scientists, family, and friends.  The creator is a fan of rpgs as there are many in-jokes throughout the series. If you have never read Gold Digger you can read the first 199 issues for free online.  

If I was going to run an rpg based in the Gold Digger universe, I would combine the FATE games Atomic Robo Role Playing Game and Unwritten.  Atomic Robo is already based on a comic; one that is full of action and high-tech hi jinks. Thus is would cover the action part of the Gold Digger universe as well as the advanced technology.  Unwritten is a game based in the Myst universe that is about exploration and awe-inspiring worlds. It would cover those aspects of the Gold Digger comics.  Jam them together and you got yourself a Gold Digger campaign.

#RPGaDAY2015 Day 26: Catch Up - Snacks, Keys, and Dead Ewoks

Day 24: Favorite House Rule

My favorite house rule has been to give out bonus xp for players who bring snacks and who bring their own miniature that resembles their character.  The snacks helped out because I had one less thing that I needed to plan for game day. The minis helped out because my players stopped using random Mageknight figures as proxies.  It was confusing when the halfing had a zombie centaur as his figure on the battlemat.

Not a hafling!

Day 25: Favorite Revolutionary Game Mechanic

My favorite revolutionary game mechanic is the concept of keys from The Shadow of Yesterday.  Basically, keys are ways that your character can earn xp for doing things that make sense to your character.  They are guides for how your character should behave and reward your character for behaving that way.  For example, a pacifist gains xp for not fighting.  Another cool aspect is that a charter can buy off their key.  Once per game they can get the max xp bonus for shunning or renouncing their key, i.e. The pacifist decides to finally pummel some guy in the face, gets 10 xp, and gains a major character change.

Day 26: Favorite Inspiration for your Game

I was reading the designer’s website for a game called 3:16 Carnage to the Stars which is basically “Space Marine the RPG”.  On the site someone talked about a session in which they played as Imperial Stormtroopers.  I took that inspiration and created a scenario where the pcs were stormtroopers who were scouting Endor for locations to build the shield generator for the second Death Star.  My favorite part of 3:16 Carnage to the Stars is that when you roll damage the number on the dice is not how much damage you do, but how many aliens you kill.  The players had a good time mowing down Ewoks.

This was the handout I used for the 3:16 Carnage to the Stars game

#RPGaDAY2015 Day 23: Perfect Game for Me

The perfect game for me is Zombie Cinema.  Zombie Cinema is a GM-less rpg about a zombie apocalypse.  Each player gets three cards that describe their character.  Then the group starts to narrate what happens in the world.  The game comes with a board that has a track describing the level of zombies in the game.  At first they start out as rumors or items on the news, but as the game progresses the zombies become more numerous and can even gain new powers.  

The reason Zombie Cinema is the perfect game for me is that it can be run with no prep.  This is a game that can be taken out, explained in 10 minutes, and then played for an entertaining 3-4 hours.  It is short, simple, and captures the feel of a zombie movie.  The only time dice are rolled is when characters have a conflict with each other, so you really feel the stress of the zombie outbreak destroying the fabric of civilization.  It is also inexpensive, portable, comes packaged in a VHS case, and is a lot of fun.  If you live in the US Indiepressrevolution has copies for sale.