Part 2 Has Begun & Basic Rules In General

Well, I have outlined how I want Part 2 (Character Creation) to go. Now, I just have to start writing it. I'm still feeling pretty good about the project. I love the idea of a simple set of rules. It's just too bad the major companies don't seem to. I have heard that C&C is actually doing a Basic Set, but whether it will be in the style of the old Basic D&D or what Wizards calls the new Basic D&D, I don't know.

I can't blame Wizards for doing it the way they did. D&D 3.5 is the horse they are backing, and that means any Basic game needs to point the way to the pile of books and rules. But, boy wouldn't it be great to see a return of a Basic game for those who want it simpler. I still say a Basic game can get newer gamers hooked and be the gateway to the more challenging and complex games. That's how it went with Basic D&D. Many people didn't stay with it long before heading for Advanced D&D.

I still don't understand why Wizards couldn't get the Basic D&D Books (By Tom Moldvay or Frank Mentzer) and perhaps 1st Edition AD&D back into a limited printing. Not everything from those lines, just the core books. I know of a person who started a petition, but he seems to have caved under the weight of negativity tossed back at him. The products would make money, especially the old Basic. If you put just the Moldvay and David Cook Basic and Expert Boxed Sets out there, they would sell.

Why? Because they keep it very simple for the players. I prefer Moldvay/Cook, but Mentzer's Editions of Basic, Expert, Companion and Masters are solid as well. With Mentzer's work in that Basic book, you can actually start gaming and learning the rules as you go along. What a concept. But Moldvay's Basic rule book is well written and not hard at all to follow. Players are given about seven choices on what type of character to play. After a few minutes of rolling that character up, it's game time.

THAT is the type of simplicity sadly lacking in RPG's at the moment. I can go into my Friendly Local Game Store and find several games, but they all have a mountain of rules to learn. It seems that the market is wide open for that Basic game. I'm surprised KenzerCo. hasn't released Basic Hackmaster as Hackmaster is basically a tribute to AD&D. They might surprise themselves if they did.

So, I have started writing Heroes of the Dungeon Crawl. I'd like to think Moldvay, Mentzer, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson are my biggest influences. I'd like to recreate the vibe of that old Red Book, but I am going my own path with the rules. It will have a simillar feel, however. Going the six sided dice route and with three characteristics, rather than six, are just two of the differences. I'm planning to introduce some new enemies, and lately I have considered a new game character class.

Though I have no deadline and I'm still adding ideas, I just decided I had better start writing the file now and adjust as I need to. I may go back and rewrite portions of it. So, the release date of the book is not set. However, I expect that Lulu will be where it is released when it is. I like the way that site looks, and others are selling their RPG's there as well. But enough of my rambling for now.