While still lacking in that arena, I've come across information from that old set that makes it all the more interesting: AD&D stats for a lot of the characters from the early books! Thanks to whoever that was who typed out all those AD&D stats -- I heard there were other things in there too, but don't gots the actual pages.
Did you know that Molin Torchholder was an equivalent 8th level cleric? That Tempus was a 15th level fighter? That Enas Yorl was a cursed, constantly shapechanging 18th level magic-user? I didn't. And I know that it's not an exact fit, but it's interesting to see someone's take on their conversion to the old rules.
Yes, I agree with a lot of Green Ronin's take on the setting: no alignments, much multi-classing, and so on. But hey, there's something about seeing these familiar characters through a hazy mirror of time and older gaming sentiments.
It is worth noting that this wasn't an RPG, it was a supplement for *multiple* RPG's - from D&D *and* AD&D to Traveller to Runequest (and a number of others).
ReplyDeleteI was just given the Green Ronin boxed set for my birthday and it's sitting next to my old boxed set. Never having played 3.? I expect it has a similar "hazy mirror of time and [newer] gaming sentiments" for me.
D.
@fluerdemal: Oh, it wasn't? Interesting -- I want it now!
ReplyDeleteThe GR boxed set? Will check that out too.
It is an excellent product, indeed. And written by top-notch fantasy and sci-fi writers (e.g. Poul Anderson.)
ReplyDeleteNote that the conversions have not been cross-compared, since each designer was tasked with implementing the NPCs in their rules set. So for example, Steve Marsh wrote the Sanctuary characters for B/X, wheares Lawrence Schick wrote the stats for AD&D 1e, and the two sets of stats are really far from each other, which is an indication of how each perceived the setting. In this respect I think the Green Ronin version is superior since, gamewise, describes a unitary vision.
As a generic source of material however, the Chaosium boxed set is far more accessible than the Green Ronin one, which is almost completely swamped by crunch.