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What is Classic Fantasy and how does it compare to...


threedeesix

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When it comes to Classic Fantasy, I get a lot of questions as to just what it is and how it plays. Well, since the books release, I have stumbled across a gentlemen by the name of Peter Webster and his website, the UbiquitousRat. His first post covers just what Classic Fantasy is in more detail then I could, and the next two posts are spent creating a couple characters. Finally, his remaining posts are spent testing the game in play, running an adventure found in the red boxed set that many of us old timers will really appreciate. All of his posts feature detailed game play examples that go a long way towards explaining just what Classic Fantasy is attempting to accomplish.

The current posts are detailed below and I'll continue linking to them (with his permission) for as long as Peter continues to post them.

Mythras Classic Fantasy http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3285
Classic Fantasy: Creating Characters (Part 1) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3299
Classic Fantasy: Creating Characters (Part 2) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3321
Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 1) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3331
Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 2) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3340
Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 3) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3367
Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 4) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3419
Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 5) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3428

Rod

Edited by threedeesix
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Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just a notification that Peter has uploaded the next episode in his Mistamere play through. It can be found here...

Classic Fantasy: Mistamere (Episode 3) http://ubiquitousrat.net/?p=3367

I have to admit I'm interested in learning more about the Gamemaster’s Apprentice Cards that he uses and will be checking into them later.

Thanks Peter,

Rod

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  • 1 month later...
58 minutes ago, Skunkape said:

Thanks for posting the links threedeesix, I've forwarded them to my home email so that I can read them as time permits!

They are really awesome. He does make a few small mistakes, but in all fairness, he's learning the system as he goes along and admits as much. He's a very evocative writer and tells a very exciting and informative tale. I look forward to each installment. He made me want to go out and buy my own book, he's that good. :D

Rod

Edited by threedeesix

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

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Can I ask, do you need the full Mythras rulebook for Classic Fantasy to run it as the GM, or would Mythras Imperative be enough? I am sorry but I am very bad at reading PDFs, so all I have done so far is a bit skimming. I know there are references to the MRB at least, in character creation for one?

I will probably purchase Mythras as well, just to get the complete system, so it's not a big issue for me in any case.

 

Edited by Verderer
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You could run a lot of it, but not all. I have not had a chance to read Imperative cover-to-cover, so I cant say exactly what would be missing however. I would assume all of the necessities to actually run Classic Fantasy would be there. You would just have to be prepared to adlib some stuff on the fly.

Rod

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

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I've just skimmed Classic Fantasy and it appears that you could get away without a copy of Mythras Imperative even.

Classic Fantasy says you need a copy of Mythras or RQ6 at the beginning but I can't see a section in it where it doesn't explain how everything works anyway.

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I am not absolutely sure, but I think some things from the character creation require the rulebook? Have to look more closely, and like I said, I want the rulebook anyways, if for nothing else then as a support for publisher.

Got a message today from bangprinting.com saying my order for CF has been accepted!

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Ya, you would definitely need Imperative or Mythras to do Character Creation. Plus, lots of the Game System Chapter would need to be referenced in either of those books, as the only parts of that chapter I duplicated were tables that needed to be converted to Imperial Measurements. Several spells will refer the reader to that chapter, for example spells that interact with inanimate objects, spells that deal with weather, and spells that deal with fire. I'm not sure how much of that is in Imperative.

There are a lot of monsters that I reference in Classic Fantasy that can only be found in Mythras. However, I think it could be possible, with a few exceptions, to use Imperative to power Classic Fantasy, making it that much easier to get new players into it. All-in-all, I think Imperative will be a great introduction to both Classic Fantasy and Mythras.

I know I'll have extra copies of Imperative at the table to not overwhelm my new players with two massive tomes. All the basics for playing are easily available in that one nifty little book. Once they get used to that, I think they will naturally gravitate to Mythras with no prodding on my part.

Rod

 

Edited by threedeesix
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That's not a bad idea, Rod. Although our group has played RQ II / Legend before, so the rudiments of the system are fairly familiar, I guess.

I'd better order the MRB in any case, just to be sure I have everything I need.

Later on when I get to reading CF properly, I'd probably pick your brain and the collective community brain about how to use d20/Pathfinder material with it. Things like sorcerers, encounter levels and so on.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have had a lot of fun with my ClassicFantasy campaign so far have two places left we play every Sunday at 5pm to 9pm On roll20 if any of you are interested. Will be running 4 games at GEN CON. Sould be lots of fun. I have used my 3D printers to print out all the dungeon tiles for the hole adventure. So have 25 pounds of 3D dungeon tiles. Jest have to finish panting them.

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2 hours ago, Belgath said:

I have had a lot of fun with my ClassicFantasy campaign so far have two places left we play every Sunday at 5pm to 9pm On roll20 if any of you are interested. Will be running 4 games at GEN CON. Sould be lots of fun. I have used my 3D printers to print out all the dungeon tiles for the hole adventure. So have 25 pounds of 3D dungeon tiles. Jest have to finish panting them.

Would love to see pictures of the GEN CON session when you get back. I was hoping to go this year, but it doesn't look likely at the moment.

Rod

Join my Mythras/RuneQuest 6: Classic Fantasy Yahoo Group at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RQCF/info

"D100 - Exactly 5 times better than D20"

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29 minutes ago, threedeesix said:

Would love to see pictures of the GEN CON session when you get back. I was hoping to go this year, but it doesn't look likely at the moment.

Rod

You haft to go. I need my books signed : ) 

Edited by Belgath
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Having now read a bits of the book, I have a couple of comments & queries, if I may?

Firstly, does anyone know/remember how it came about that Gnomes can only be illusionist magic users? Game balance? It's a small thing (with gnomes it would be, snigger), but it annoys me for some reason. I would say they''re just natural illusionists, but other kinds of MU exist? :)

With dwarves, I can understand that they cannot be magic users, but even then I'd kinda want something like runesmiths... but I understand that the tradition balance doesn't allow this and the classes/professions are limited to the main types.

About passions, I noticed that the trait 'lawful' and 'chaotic' appear listed on good and evil passions, respectively. Rod, how would you feel about allowing lawful and chaotic as traits in both good, evil, and neutral passions? Would that be in accordance with the passions system, I am not too familiar with it? I am thinking this would allow to similate alignments like 'lawful evil' or 'chaotic good' etc? Would these make sense within the passion framework?

Reading the combat rules I was suprised how movement had been changed from RQII/Legend, I think this does go a long to way to sort some issues in those systems with charge etc? So it's a kinda simultaneous thing with other actions. Makes sense. This also showed me it's imperative (hem) to get the full Mythras rules...

Is there a Mythras rulebook in print by the way, I could only find RQ6 on DM online store? Are the two indentical except in name?

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Verderer said:

Having now read a bits of the book, I have a couple of comments & queries, if I may?

Firstly, does anyone know/remember how it came about that Gnomes can only be illusionist magic users? Game balance? It's a small thing (with gnomes it would be, snigger), but it annoys me for some reason. I would say they''re just natural illusionists, but other kinds of MU exist? :)

With dwarves, I can understand that they cannot be magic users, but even then I'd kinda want something like runesmiths... but I understand that the tradition balance doesn't allow this and the classes/professions are limited to the main types.

About passions, I noticed that the trait 'lawful' and 'chaotic' appear listed on good and evil passions, respectively. Rod, how would you feel about allowing lawful and chaotic as traits in both good, evil, and neutral passions? Would that be in accordance with the passions system, I am not too familiar with it? I am thinking this would allow to similate alignments like 'lawful evil' or 'chaotic good' etc? Would these make sense within the passion framework?

Reading the combat rules I was suprised how movement had been changed from RQII/Legend, I think this does go a long to way to sort some issues in those systems with charge etc? So it's a kinda simultaneous thing with other actions. Makes sense. This also showed me it's imperative (hem) to get the full Mythras rules...

Is there a Mythras rulebook in print by the way, I could only find RQ6 on DM online store? Are the two indentical except in name?

 

 

 

Hi Verderer,

In 1st and 2nd edition AD&D, due to their nature, gnomes were mostly naturally adept at illusion magics. At least those that chose to cast spells. There really is no game balance reason why they cannot be normal magic-users however. As I state in several parts of the book, simply ignore any class/racial restrictions that don't fit your game. They just set up the frame work for the official material.

I see no reason why dwarven runesmiths would conflict with dwarves not being magic-users. Rune magic, like divine magic, is a different kind of magic. And dwarves do make magic items of course. So I have already made plans for dwarven runesmiths to become a part of Classic Fantasy down the road. However, it will just require quite a few pages to write up the class, rune enchantment rules, and descriptions of all the individual runes. Due to the limited page count, and that it wasn't a core class of the dwarves, it wasn't essential for the core book. It will make it in Unearthed Companion.

There should be no reason why lawful and chaotic couldn't fit in with all of the alignment passions. I may include that as an option in the Companion anyway as I have been thinking about it myself.

The Mythras rules should be in print really soon as far as I know. I believe the two books were to come out relatively close to each other. However Lawrence would know that more than I.

Thanks for the questions,

Rod

 

Edited by threedeesix

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Since there are two very different dwarf stereotypes in literature and legend — the Gimli type warrior who is suspicious of elvish magic, and the trickster little people — AD&D provides both options via the Dwarf and Gnome races. Having different types of magic open to different races is part of what helps them feel unique and true to type. A third type, the Deep Gnome, was later added which is more of a true earth elemental creature.

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1 hour ago, Verderer said:

Is there a Mythras rulebook in print by the way, I could only find RQ6 on DM online store? Are the two indentical except in name?

You can download 'Mythras Imperative' for free, it's a primer for the Mythras system and it probably contains most of the foundation game mechanics you need to play Classic Fantasy: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185299/Mythras-Imperative

 

 

" Sure it's fun, but it is also well known that a D20 roll and an AC is no match against a hefty swing of a D100% and a D20 Hit Location Table!"

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