Games of Future Past

[pyat]

2009 is almost here, and with it, of course, comes the new gaming books I pick up at Boxing Day sales, and considerations of game campaigns to run in the new year. I have two gaming groups, which ideally meet once a month. However, life has a way of interfering, so the actual incidence of play is closer to one game session a month – meaning two month gaps between sessions for each group.

As the girls get older, this gets better. Game sessions are achieving some of their old focus, and we get further. Also, the respective wee ones are able to entertain each other now, for hours on end. The current two campaigns I’m running are a few sessions away from completion, which leaves me wondering what I should replace them with.

I have a few thoughts:

AD&D, 2nd edition
Simply because we have a ton of stuff for it about, including the very excellent AD&D Core Rules 2.0 CD-Rom. Might do Planescape, or plain old Greyhawk, or Forgotten Realms.

Werewolf: The Forsaken
I had something of an antipathy to the game at first, but I think that was largely a matter of it being different than the one I remembered. I’d run either a modern game, or something Dickensian… or set in 1900 Chicago. (But not steampunk! Historical! Well… historical plus werewolves.)

Changeling
Mainly, because I know some fairy and urban fantasy fans. Again, modern, Dickensian, or 1900 Chicago.

Ironclaw
I’m thinking a land-locked campaign this time, involving more of the tribal cultures specific to the game.

Shatterzone
Because it’s over the top, sort of silly, it’s in space... and I have every supplement book ever written. I almost ran the current Serenity campaign (rockbands in space) using this system and setting, and plumped for Serenity just because it was new and “shiny” as they say.

Dungeons and Dragons: 3rd ed
My current Warhammer Fantasy game is technically a break from a long-running D&D game, one that started in the first week of January, 2002. The characters are all in the level 17 to 18 range, and the campaign is in measurable distance of its end. Perhaps another six or seven sessions… which, granted, could easily mean another year. We went on a hiatus in the spring, I believe.

Comments

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

CHANGELING! Or finish the D&D 3e campaign. Changeling: the Lost is an amazing game (White Wolf actually extended the line because it was outselling Vampire, and the Toronto Camarilla LARP got 20 people at our second game in a blizzard and often hits 30 now), and Changeling: the Dreaming has a remarkable capacity to alternate between ridiculously silly and very dark.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of picking up a copy at Hairy T tomorrow.

Ooh, I sent you mail re: tomorrow.

[nottheterritory.livejournal.com]

I have very developed feelings about the new Changeling for both good and ill, but as with much of the nWoD games, I suspect the new Changeling is the better system. I did always want to do something with Changeling in one form or another. I've had ideas out the proverbial yin-yang for years, but only ever ran it once for a session or two. It was fun though.

[shadow-maze.livejournal.com]

Of course, I vote to finish up the 3rd edition game. My character is dead, which is something of an obstacle, but I'm sure we can work around that. If I've lost much, or all, of my stuff, which was a possibility, I'd still like to come back as a 3.5 edition sorcerer, but I know you don't like that idea... (:-)

[relee.livejournal.com]

Neat. ^.^

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

It seems antithetical that Canada would celebrate a day with such a pugilistic sounding name.

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

New Changeling is a completely different game from old Changeling. It's a far larger difference than with, say, Vampire or even Mage. I really like Dreaming, too, but I'd judge Lost as a new game.

[nottheterritory.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree - on one level. However, I think the game that I always wanted from a White Wolf game about Faeries, lies somewhere between the two of them, so I kind of mentally impose a continuity on them that probably isn't there in the minds of the developers and writers. Obviously your mileage may very, but for me, they complete each other.

[zenten.livejournal.com]

Would Dark Ages Fae be the right game for you then?

[paka.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to run Changeling, but set in northern Britain during the 1970s, vaguely thanks to the lyric There is no future in England's dreaming. I still like the idea. I don't think I could pull it off though.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

I think we should, too. Which still leaves the other group.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Well, it's British you know. Marquis de Queensbury and all that.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I like that idea, though.

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm not hugely into the horror side of WW games, and in Changeling: the Lost I've responded to this by playing a Woodblood Elemental who has Spring Mantle 4 and could easily be mistaken for a Flowering Fairest. She's very pretty and colourful--basically a flower elemental, with green skin like a tulip's leaves and hair that is a cascade of flowers--and definitely not all that dark as Changeling: the Lost characters go.

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Hairy T's sale, yesterday I picked up two Changeling supplements plus Hunter for a total of $66 after tax.