Which I think is the point right? Well that and getting people into games that haven't played before. I will start off my tale with this, I noticed "Vagina's Are Magic" pictures cropping up on saturday morning, and prior to that I had heard about it. My first thought was "there is no way there will be any copies in Winnipeg". My second thought was "my wife is going to love this".
After a brief discussion with
+Dyson Logos I learned that stores participating in the day get a case of stuff, and it seems to be all the same stuff going out all over the world. That awesome fact combined with the fact that OSR is nonexistent in this city, meant there was a real chance that I could get a copy.
Saturday afternoon we headed out to a Comic book collectable store first, as I knew they had some old school D&D books for sale, and I thought I might be able to pick up a module or two for not a ton of money. Turns out the store sold all their DnD stuff to the next store we were going to! Which was
Game Knight in Winnipeg. (Very cool store BTW, and it was first the time I checked it out, must go back).
So we wandered in, my wife grabbed a copy of VAM, and I grabbed the DCC starter rules (which I'm quite excited about as well). I asked a dude if they had an "old school DnD" and he pointed me to a stack of orange spined books. (F**k yah).
I managed to pick up a copy of the 1e DMG (now I own 3 DMGs! more on that later).
*note: this maybe a bit of a long post, but I am making up for being a bit quiet latetly.
I should note that the store was running pathfinder. And If I knew about DCC before hand, and If I had a "in" with the place I totally would have ran DCC. I do plan to talk to the good folks at the store.
TANGENT ABOUT BRICKS & MORTAR
Alright, I'll admit it. I'm just as bad as the next guy when it comes to shopping on amazon, in big box stores. I hate myself for it, and I try not to do it as much as I can. For almost all the rpg stuff I've purchased its either been online, or at a local gaming store. For other things I've went to big box stores. Come to think of it, I think I only bought one thing on amazon, and it was a hard to find thing. Whenever I get around to buying some more new 5e stuff I'll be going to a FLGS (specifically gameknight as its a cool store), rather than saving the $3 and buying it on amazon. Now I am aware that I'm a publisher, and I've been cutting out the local store and selling directly online. I am however going to change that, when I have something nice and decent sized, well packaged to try and sell them. From a marketing standpoint (I've thought about this for awhile). The only way that I sell an OSR type product in this city is to have a set of rules that come with the product. And of course be priced in a reasonable range. For a few reasons. 1. If someone is going to buy something they will buy a brand they are familiar with (or something compatible with that brand) especially when they have limited funds to do so. and 2. The city I live in is notoriously cheap. haha. Anyways, that's that tangent. The gist of which is I need to get something completed to put out there. And then maybe get a few other titles together for down the road perhaps. Or write for that audience. Or get a OSR thing happening.
THOUGHTS ON VAM
I've had a bit of a cursory read of the book, and it's pretty cool. The layout is awesome, the spells are cool, and the art is NSFW. (but also pretty awesome). The whole point of grabbing this book was for one reason (okay two, I wanted to read it as well). To get my wife to read an rpg thing, and take ownership of an aspect of the game.
The fact that it states on the back of the book that it's for female characters (not females in general, dudes can use the book, they just got to play a female character).
What I'm hoping is, she reads the book and get's excited about the spells.
Then she can go ahead and create a character with them, and light whatever adventure I plan on fire.
THOUGHTS ON DMGS
Okay, the first edition DMG is awesome. It is a bit of a mess layout wise, and how some thing flow into completely "what the heck?" things. And in some spots it might be a bit "ranty". (large swell of gygax fans crucifying me in their minds). This book has some really great advice, regardless of what version of the game you are running (or what version/clone osr game you are playing). It has some awesome fun tables. I cannot wait (I repeat) cannot wait to use the table for mixing potions! I was telling this kid in the store about it.
It was rather funny, after I grabbed the DMG and our loot, I went up to the counter to pay. There was this young dude working the till and when he saw the book he had this moment of AWE. "WOW! I didn't know we even had this!!! WOW, just WOW!". I proceeded to show him a few of the tables (including the potion one) and then explain OSR. He had started with D&D 3.5 and was now firmly entrenched in pathfinder.
Anyways, of the 3 DMGs I own (wow I own three), this is one of my favourites! The fifth edition DMG is also very awesome, and handy. I have to admit, the 2nd edition one is about my least favourite and least helpful. Although there are some nuggets of cool in it.
DCC RULES & ADVENTURE IDEAS
While I have no idea if using VAM and DCC together will blow up the game (I honestly don't care, I intend to do it), if my wife, or someone else creates a character with vam they can try it out. The DCC rules came with 2 adventures! And the basic rules. Which I've sort of read, atleast the beta rules which are
online right here. And here's a
quickstart guide.
One thing that's not yet straightened out for me (and I can't find anywhere.. help?)
Where does a player find their initial reflex, will and fortitude.
Anyhow, if someone could let me know about that. With the 2 adventures that came with the startup rules (one of which is a funnel) and the
trolls of mistwood that I grabbed awhile ago. I have more than enough DCC entertainment for awhile. When I first read DCC I didn't quite get it. I think mostly because I never really played 3 on. That and the funky dice threw me for a loop. (they still do). But reading the starter rules again with fresh eyes, it makes sense to me. As well I think my group will really like it. Because it's just about having fun in the dungeon really. We tend to drink a lot and act like goof balls when play rpgs. Plus they are all metal heads.
DCC seems just crazy enough for me, and it looks like it will be fairly easy to DM (as far as checks, combat, etc are concerned). I just wonder how many times I'll be looking up tables. I might have to dog ear them.
So whenever we want a one shot that could become a few more adventures, I'm totally prepared. (Once I read the rules of course).
PS I need to take an RPG shelfie. It's grown by leaps and bounds in the last year! I am honestly enjoying collecting and reading some of these long forgotten books.
