DM fudging's counter to the spirit of the game, but if my experience isn't a lesson in exceptions I dunno what is.
A couple of thoughtful Spire reviews from two OSR luminaries:
1 2010-08-24 06:00:26
Re: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
2 2010-08-24 05:06:44
Re: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
I'm sorry to say it never happened. The TPK did sort of leave a bad taste in the players' mouths. The group's playing rarely and some have zero interest in old school, so when (if) we play OD&D again it'll be because the stars have aligned just so. And it won't be DFD, unfortunately, since a player's now joined the group who's read it. I bought Spire of Ice and Crystal since it seems do-able in a single session. I'd prefer to run Evermore Mountain, which charmed me when I read it (and how often does that happen?!?), but it's way too long.
In hindsight, my mistake was not fudging the roll on that random effects table. My spider sense was tingling but I was just too rusty to trust my instincts.
3 2010-03-08 23:52:41
Re: I Need an Assistant Editor Type (6 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
Sure. I've had a few editing gigs, and have a B.A. in English lit and a MISt for the info strategy side of things.
4 2010-02-23 18:00:02
Re: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
The naming issue's mostly just relevant when the map's pulled out of the page flow of the module. I put all maps in a separate view in OneNote, others might clip them out if they're sticking with paper.
5 2010-02-22 19:50:07
Re: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
We'll pick it up again with a rewind rather than with new characters.
They entered the cabin around back, chose the door on the left, found the purple lotus powder and craving a laugh they all simultaneously tried it. The cleric was the first to come out of the drug haze, and as luck would have it he believed everybody was a demon. A minute later he was crossing the plateau, bloodied mace in hand, towards the two unsuspecting hirelings and the mule. Fade to black, roll credits.
It was good and creepy and everybody's looking forward to the rewind.
Jim, a wee bit of feedback: the surface map could use a legend that names those lettered locations, and that switched North between the surface and cabin map tripped me up for a bit.
6 2010-02-21 19:42:47
Re: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
Well, here we go. In a few hours I'm running DFD as a one-shot OD&D session for my 4e players. I haven't DMed skill-less D&D in an eternity. One player can't make it so it's looking like three first-level PCs and a hireling or two. LOL.
Please direct some horror vibes towards Toronto.
7 2010-02-12 22:33:04
Topic: DFD or Grinding Gear for 1st level PCs? (12 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
Vomited filth aside, the undead in DFD seem too powerful for 1st level PCs and not the sort you can knock down in power. What's a minimum level for four 0e PCs?
I haven't bought Grinding Gear but I understand it's low level. Is that the better option? I don't have to stick with Jim's stuff, but DFD struck me as an ideal foil to the 4e sessions I've been running recently and you can't beat the tone.
Sorry for the naive questions but I'm pretty rusty.
Thanks,
Jeff
8 2009-12-18 05:24:54
Re: Introduce yourself! (219 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
AD&D hit me like a sledgehammer between the eyes in the summer of '79, age 14. Pure fun.
I've moved with the editions since then, and was sad when 3e vaporized my DM zen and my play skill. I began DMing 4e hoping I'd find my way home and, well ... wtf. Really. W.T.F. I've continued to game with friends who prefer new school but, man, I miss the zone. You know??? Yeah, if you're here you do. Bless the old school renaissance and this series of tubes.
I have no idea what they're like to play, but my favourite modules are the two I've DM'd many, many times: Dark Tower, and Tomb of Horrors a close second. They've both got That Texture, whatever it is, that thing that evokes your personal D&D. And so I'm registering here at LotFP because I just finished reading DFD and I'll be damned if this witty Raggi bastard isn't channeling Gygax and Jaquays.
So, James, success! I wish you God's speed.
Jeff
9 2009-12-18 03:54:41
Re: Death Frost Doom: What Needs to be Fixed for the 3rd Printing? (8 replies, posted in LotFP Gaming Forum)
Just finished reading the PDF. You sick, sick fuck.
There's an unfinished either/or construction at the bottom of p. 18: "Flipping a coin in will either increase one random ability score (roll d6 to determine which)." The next sentence suggests you should nuke "either."
In general, the text is inconsistent in describing how to remove curse x, y, or z, or how long the effect lasts. Not a problem for most DMs.
The "will suffer a -1/5% penalty" construction is a bit awkward. Instead, how about "will suffer a 5% penalty (-1 on d20)" ?
When you refer to a location key or a chapter title, it couldn't hurt to include a page number reference in brackets.
Some online commenter suggested adding contrast to the shrine map's negative space. I filled the negative space quickly in Photoshop (magic wand tool at 90% tolerance selects grid but not walls) and the legibility gain is HUGE. I can email you a layered PSD file if you like.
That's all that stood out.
Kudos, James, freaky module. :)