This Week’s post gets a bit retrospective.
This blog is now old enough that I can look back 15 years. I'll also dip into what was happening 10 and 5 years ago.
Self-indulgent? How dare you! I'll do my best to find something useful in there.
15 years ago, I wrote about a new method for rolling attributes, generally suited to D&D. I'd forgotten all about it until I started a Traveller game earlier this year and gave the players the option to use this method (they boldly opted to just roll down the line individually instead).
I think it's still a tool to keep in the bag.
10 years ago, Into the Odd was taking shape. I wrote about starter packages, a focus on mundane disposable items, and the final version of the game's damage system (now with the familiar Save vs Critical Damage when you take STR loss). It's around this time that Into the Odd really resembles the game it is today.
The example of play in the damage post really shows the power of strength-of-numbers in Into the Odd, something I would temper in Electric and Mythic Bastionland.
5 years ago is interesting to revisit on a personal level, because there aren't any posts for March.
Looking back at my old calendar I can see this was a month when my day-job was swallowing a great deal of time and energy, leaving me with no fuel for writing or games.
If you've ever supported me on Patreon, bought one of my games, or even just followed this blog, I want to give a heartfelt thank you for helping to change my life in such a huge way since that month of silence.
Elsewhere
Prismatic Wasteland looks at some extra meat that can be added to encounter tables.
Playful Void goes even further with the idea.
Cairn 2e is storming ahead on Kickstarter with a great looking boxed set. Check it out if you like Into the Odd and want to explore a fantasy woodland.
Coming Soon
Over on Patreon I talk about plunging into another old game.
I've always been aware of Paranoia, but I only played it for the first time at Grogmeet in December.
Its reputation as a silly game of backstabbing and betrayal sounded perfect for a convention one-shot.
This was true! I had a lot of fun playing it, but it stuck with me more than I expected. I've been hoovering up what I can from the new Mongoose edition, the older XP-edition, and any other scraps I can find around, with one eye on running a one-shot when my Traveller campaign wraps up.
Expect the full post here and on the blog next week.
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