{"id":10252,"date":"2013-08-11T23:23:07","date_gmt":"2013-08-11T23:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/?p=10252"},"modified":"2013-08-11T23:23:44","modified_gmt":"2013-08-11T23:23:44","slug":"unlugged-the-return-of-the-fantasy-rpgs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/11\/unlugged-the-return-of-the-fantasy-rpgs\/","title":{"rendered":"Unplugged: The Return of the Fantasy RPGs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last time I talked about role playing games, it was a discussion of Dungeons and Dragons<\/a>, including the rereleases of many old retro versions of the game and adventures as well as the upcoming revision of the game entitled \u201cD&D Next\u201d. \u00a0When it comes to Fantasy RPGs, there are many more fishes in the sea. \u00a0Today we\u2019ll look at two of them. \u00a0First, we\u2019ll examine Hero Kids, an extremely kid-friendly title for ages as young as four. \u00a0Next, we\u2019ll look at the \u201cother\u201d top-tier fantasy RPG: Pathfinder, produced by Paizo Publishing – past publisher of the D&D magazines Dragon and Dungeon. \u00a0While it is moderately complex in its player options, actual player combat and skill resolutions aren’t too bad. \u00a0What makes the Pathfinder RPG system stand out is the large level of support materials produced by Paizo. \u00a0The Game Master (the person who runs the bad guys and helps manage the story) has many available options they can use to make things easier and help create a more immersive game (eg. maps, cards, tools to manage fights, etc…).<\/p>\n

Hero Kids<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Herokids<\/a>Perhaps the most basic rules set I have yet seen for fantasy RPGs, but since this is geared to younger kids (ages 4-10), this is an extremely good thing. \u00a0Hero Kids focuses on the adventures of talented kids, going out to \u201cset things right\u201d since their parents are either busy or unable to help. \u00a0The system uses 3 normal 6-sided dice to resolve almost every situation. \u00a0Characters can have melee attacks, ranged attacks, magic attacks, and have some level of defense. \u00a0The attacker rolls however many dice they have (usually 1 or 2, but can get up to 3) and compares their highest number to the dice rolled by the defender. \u00a0If the attacker\u2019s highest die is equal or higher to the defender\u2019s highest die, the defender loses one hit point (usually 1 or 2 for a monster while heros typically have 3). \u00a0In a great bit of kid-friendly wisdom, the designer suggests using M&Ms or other type of candy for monster and hero hit points. \u00a0(Thus when you hurt a monster you get to eat an M&M, while the game master gets an M&M when they damage a hero player.)<\/p>\n

My favorite part about the system (other than the simplicity, which allows me to play with my two sons – preschool & 1st grade) are the very well \u201cpackaged\u201d scenarios which are also available. \u00a0Each module contains a walkthrough of encounters and flavor text (typically not very complicated story lines.) \u00a0However, there are also maps to print out of nearly every important area, laid out with a handy combat grid. \u00a0Along with every creature or monster encountered in the module is a paper miniature. \u00a0Print out the paper mini, fold it in half, and tape a coin on the bottom and you have an instant \u201cminiature\u201d to use in the game – extremely handy to help young kids more immersed in the game.<\/p>\n

Now, how much would you pay for all this? \u00a0Well, the price certainly is right. \u00a0Since everything is available as a PDF file, $6 gets you the rules and a short adventure module. \u00a0$6 more and you can pick up 3 more modules. \u00a0However, I recommend going either with $10 for a pile of stuff (rules and 4 more adventures) or just go whole hog and get everything available for $15 <\/a>(rules, 7 adventures, some extra stuff). \u00a0That\u2019s cheaper than taking two kids out to a movie! \u00a0You can find the all these PDFs at the premier RPG web store: RPG Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now go have fun playing with your kids face to face instead of everyone staring at a screen! \u00a0It is great for improving creativity and imagination (yours AND theirs!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paizo\u2019s Pathfinder RPG<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Dragons<\/a>Recall that D&D has gone through several iterations, two of the most recent include the 3.0 edition followed by an \u201cupgrade\u201d to 3.5. \u00a0A few years later, the current 4th edition was announced with a decidedly mixed response. \u00a0Version 3.5 had developed into a far-ranging panoply of options for players to customize their personal character. \u00a0The new edition threatened to move in a direction that catered to players of online RPGs like World of Warcraft, etc… \u00a0Classes and monsters were to be carefully balanced both for combat ability but also for general \u201ctricks\u201d and \u201cfun abilities\u201d. \u00a0\u00a0Of course, there was also everyone\u2019s biggest fear – CHANGE! \u00a0What to do? \u00a0In steps Paizo publishing. \u00a0For many years they were producing the two D&D fan magazines Dragon and Dungeon. \u00a0With the release of 4th edition, those magazines were going back \u201cin house\u201d and produced by Wizards of the Coast. \u00a0The 3.5 (and 3.0) edition of the D&D rules were revolutionary in that they had a partially \u201cOpen License\u201d. \u00a0The core rules behind the game could be used to create other modules, adventures, even role playing games in entirely new genres. \u00a0Paizo took advantage of that fact and produced (with plenty of fan input) their own version of D&D entitled Pathfinder. \u00a0They attempted to fix up bits of the \u201cold\u201d 3.5 edition rules, such as strange rules and unbalanced character options. \u00a0As such, fans of Pathfinder with now frequently call it D&D 3.75.<\/p>\n

What stands out to me the most about Paizo\u2019s Pathfinder system, is the level of support they provide the game to help create a more immersive environment for players. \u00a0Rather than simply provide the basic rules and then crank out adventures and additional player supplements, they\u2019ve managed to also add in products that cater to gamers who have a bit more money than time. \u00a0Paizo sells Map Packs of cardstock tiles that can be laid out to form large encounter areas such as mausoleums, temples, graveyards, even one set of tiles for various monsters that may have swallowed a character whole! \u00a0Other options include Flip-Mats which are larger double-sided maps coated in plastic so that even permanent marker can be wiped off, if necessary. \u00a0They produce a Combat Pad to help keep track of everything that might happen in combat, and then they have their cards. \u00a0Paizo has a whole line of decks of cards that help manage game rules or help players become more immersed in the game experience. \u00a0Many of their adventure lines have a deck of cards that represent important magic items present in the module. \u00a0There are decks of cards to help resolve critical failures (rolling a 1), critical hits (rolling a 20), cards that denote a particular condition (dazed, stunned, blind, etc…) as well as a set for common \u201cbuffs\u201d – spells that can be applied on other player\u2019s to increase their abilities.<\/p>\n

\"Ultimate<\/a>To get a feel for their product line, lets take a look at three of Paizo\u2019s newer releases. \u00a0Last spring they released the book: Ultimate Campaign. \u00a0This book is split between three main areas. \u00a0The first area consists of player options for their characters and provides a wealth of new ways characters can flesh out their backgrounds to better tie in to the Pathfinder setting as a whole. \u00a0The second section has several sets of optional rules to better emphasize the non-combat side of the game. \u00a0Included are rules for monitoring players\u2019 honor, rules for haggling, and a set of rules for creating and maintaining a set of contacts for gathering information. \u00a0\u00a0The final section is devoted to large-scale ideas – suitable for players who have progressed to high levels and are now having to deal with society on the highest levels. \u00a0This section includes how to build up small kingdoms (or simple forts) as well as rules for dealing with mass combat (rather than being reduced to trying to recreate a battle via individual soldiers – something for which the rules system is not particularly suited.) \u00a0The Ultimate Campaign is a pretty decent book, and can be fairly easily used with any other fantasy themed role playing rules set.<\/p>\n

\"npc<\/a>Another recent release is the NPC Codex. \u00a0This is simply a book of non-player characters made using the Pathfinder rules and are suitable to use when designing encounter for your players. \u00a0\u201cSimply\u201d is a misnomer, though, as each character has a full page description, including background information, and there are 250 different NPCs in the book. \u00a0In fact, there is an NPC for each level (from 1 to 20) for each of the core classes in the Pathfinder game. \u00a0For those folks who don\u2019t want to spend money on little miniatures but still want something nice to use on their table, there is a NPC Codex Box. \u00a0This box contains cardboard figures (with interchangeable plastic stands) for every NPC in the book. \u00a0While I find the NPC Codex Box not nearly as useful as the Bestiary Box (tokens for piles of different monsters) it would still be very handy for anyone intending to frequently use the NPC Codex.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>The final recent product I found rather interesting was a new adventure entitled Dragon\u2019s Demand ($25 for the book, or $18 for the PDF). \u00a0It is a new \u201cbig\u201d style of module, spanning 64 pages, and takes characters from level 1 up through level 7 climaxing in a grand battle with a large dragon. \u00a0(Some might say it may go overboard trying to speed up the leveling in time to battle the dragon, but others will enjoy the wild ride.) \u00a0The module also comes with a nice, color poster map with the characters\u2019 base (Belhaim) on one side and an encounter map on the other.<\/p>\n

Of course, this wouldn\u2019t be Paizo if there wasn\u2019t additional (optional) supporting material available. \u00a0There\u2019s a new style of campaign cards available ($11). \u00a0Rather than simply a deck of common magic items, this deck of cards also include drawings of the faces of important NPCs in the story and cards representing quests that remind players of what they\u2019ve accomplished and what tasks they have yet to perform.<\/p>\n

\"dragons<\/a>Finally, there\u2019s the Dragon\u2019s Demand Paper Minis ($6). \u00a0Somewhat common in RPGs nowadays, paper minis are PDFs that can be printed on one side of a piece of paper (preferably cardstock), cut out and then folded over (so that both sides have a picture). \u00a0The minis then have a \u201cbase\u201d that is folded outwards from the bottom of the image and is typically taped to a coin to help it stand up. \u00a0The Paizo paper minis are designed to be cut out with x-acto knives, which is a bit of a bother, but it does give them a bit more class. \u00a0The Dragon\u2019s Demand paper minis set includes over 100 different miniatures (just print more out if you want duplicates) and covers pretty much any monster or other character you might meet in the game.<\/p>\n

Sure, if you buy all three bits of the module, you\u2019re dropping $42 at a time. \u00a0However, its something that will entertain you and 4-5 friends for at LEAST six solid evenings of fun (that\u2019s about $1\/night per person.) \u00a0In my opinion, it is worth it to spring for the \u201cextras\u201d (if you\u2019re willing to put in a bit of hobby time taping together the minis) simply because it will make the adventure much more immersive for the players.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Pathfinder RPG continues to be a very popular system. \u00a0Locally, it is even easier to find groups playing Pathfinder than to find groups using the current, 4th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons. \u00a0While the main rules are a bit complicated to learn if no one in your group knows them, they provide some of the most diverse options around for players to develop their characters. \u00a0For those looking to just dip their toe into the Pathfinder waters, I would recommend the Pathfinder Beginner Box, complete with pre-made characters, easy start rules with a small adventure, and even stand-up cardboard tokens like those found in the NPC Codex box and Bestiary box. \u00a0It remains to be seen whether this upcoming version, \u201cD&D Next\u201d will be able to unseat Paizo\u2019s current standing as the fantasy RPG choice for more experienced players.<\/p>\n

\"Pathfinder<\/a><\/p>\n

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Last time I talked about role playing games, it was a discussion of Dungeons and Dragons, including the rereleases of many old retro versions of the game and adventures as well as the upcoming revision of the game entitled \u201cD&D Next\u201d. \u00a0When it comes to Fantasy RPGs, there are many more fishes in the sea. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[49,53,56,159,157,158,119,123,175],"class_list":["post-10252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-unplugged-miscellaneous","tag-dd","tag-dragons","tag-dungeons","tag-hero-kids","tag-paizo","tag-pathfinder","tag-review","tag-rpg","tag-unplugged-miscellaneous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10252"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10265,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10252\/revisions\/10265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}