Free RPG Day
Moderators: DJ LaBoss, michaelcurtis, finarvyn, Harley Stroh
Free RPG Day
A couple quick questions about the Free RPG Day that's coming up soon...
1. Will the wonky dice ship w/ the package? Or is the person running the game expected to have them at hand?
2. I've heard mention of two modules (0 and 5th level) but just recently Joseph said "the module", indicating one? Not that it's a big deal at all, just curious.
3. Will the rules be available prior to the event? If not, how is a demo game to be run on the specific day if the GM is not passing familiar w/ the rules?
I'm looking forward to the release though! Fun times...
1. Will the wonky dice ship w/ the package? Or is the person running the game expected to have them at hand?
2. I've heard mention of two modules (0 and 5th level) but just recently Joseph said "the module", indicating one? Not that it's a big deal at all, just curious.
3. Will the rules be available prior to the event? If not, how is a demo game to be run on the specific day if the GM is not passing familiar w/ the rules?
I'm looking forward to the release though! Fun times...
- GnomeBoy
- Tyrant Master (Administrator)
- Posts: 4128
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:46 pm
- FLGS: Bizarro World
- Location: Left Coast, USA
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Should I take a stab at this...?
• I think the pdf of the beta rules are going to be out near to when Free RPG Day happens. But I don't think you're expected to run/play a game on FRPGD. That's just the day they want to get you in stores and pick up "the module".
• "The module" contains two short adventures.
• I don't think they're including dice with any iteration of the game (so far). Like batteries, dice are not included (but are available elsewhere).
• I think the pdf of the beta rules are going to be out near to when Free RPG Day happens. But I don't think you're expected to run/play a game on FRPGD. That's just the day they want to get you in stores and pick up "the module".
• "The module" contains two short adventures.
• I don't think they're including dice with any iteration of the game (so far). Like batteries, dice are not included (but are available elsewhere).
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I still think this will be the single biggest obstacle in convincing people to play this game. Hardly anyone has all the dice necessary and they are relatively expensive and troublesome to get. Somebody needs to convince an online store to put together a packaged set pronto.GnomeBoy wrote: • I don't think they're including dice with any iteration of the game (so far). Like batteries, dice are not included (but are available elsewhere).
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:52 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I agree that this will be an obstacle. But not that great of one, IMO. Regular dice can still be used. For everything except the d30, IIRC.mshensley wrote:I still think this will be the single biggest obstacle in convincing people to play this game. Hardly anyone has all the dice necessary and they are relatively expensive and troublesome to get. Somebody needs to convince an online store to put together a packaged set pronto.
d3: everyone should already know a way to do this
d5: roll d6, ignore 6s.
d7: roll d8, ignore 8s
d14: roll d20, ignore 15+
d16: roll d20, ignore 17+
d24: roll d12 and a d6. If the d6 is an odd number, add 12 to the result of the d12.
Goodman Games packaging a full set of dice and offering them for sale at a reasonable price would be a huge benefit for the game. But it's not like the WFRP3 dice which, while cool, are really only applicable to WFRP3. Plus a player can get by with one set of DCC dice. A player would reasonably need 2, possibly 3, sets of WFRP3 dice.
Sure, not the most convenient route. But no worse, IMO, than trying to track down (or improvise) Fudge dice.
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
And that's one of the main reasons I've never bothered to try Fudge.smathis wrote:Sure, not the most convenient route. But no worse, IMO, than trying to track down (or improvise) Fudge dice.
- GnomeBoy
- Tyrant Master (Administrator)
- Posts: 4128
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:46 pm
- FLGS: Bizarro World
- Location: Left Coast, USA
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Alternately, the d7 is the only one you would 'need' to make things 'simple'*:
d5 = 1d10 halved
d14 = 1d7 and a control die (low/high)
d16 = 1d8 and a control die (low/high)
d24 = 1d8 and a d6 control die (base/+8/+16)
d30 = 1d10 and a d6 control die (base/+10/+20)
That's pretty much my plan to start off. It's been a long time since I used a control die regularly, but since I did it for about a decade, I think it'll come back to me...
* Yes, I consider rolling a control die simple.
d5 = 1d10 halved
d14 = 1d7 and a control die (low/high)
d16 = 1d8 and a control die (low/high)
d24 = 1d8 and a d6 control die (base/+8/+16)
d30 = 1d10 and a d6 control die (base/+10/+20)
That's pretty much my plan to start off. It's been a long time since I used a control die regularly, but since I did it for about a decade, I think it'll come back to me...
* Yes, I consider rolling a control die simple.
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
- finarvyn
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:42 am
- FLGS: Fair Game, Downers Grove IL
- Location: Chicago suburbs
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
That's what I did at first. The game runs quickly with control dice or with the actual dice sizes. I don't think our game was any less fun without funky dice.GnomeBoy wrote:Alternately, the d7 is the only one you would 'need' to make things 'simple'*:
d5 = 1d10 halved
d14 = 1d7 and a control die (low/high)
d16 = 1d8 and a control die (low/high)
d24 = 1d8 and a d6 control die (base/+8/+16)
d30 = 1d10 and a d6 control die (base/+10/+20)
That's pretty much my plan to start off. It's been a long time since I used a control die regularly, but since I did it for about a decade, I think it'll come back to me...
* Yes, I consider rolling a control die simple.
Marv / Finarvyn
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; OD&D player since 1975
"The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own."
-- Gary Gygax
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
-- Dave Arneson
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; OD&D player since 1975
"The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own."
-- Gary Gygax
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
-- Dave Arneson
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
-
- Chaos-Summoning Sorcerer
- Posts: 779
- Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:28 am
Re: Free RPG Day
You can't do 1-2 = -1, 3-4 = 0, 5-6 = +1 of 4 dice just by looking at them? Actual Fudge dice are entirely unnecessary for playing Fudge.mshensley wrote:And that's one of the main reasons I've never bothered to try Fudge.smathis wrote:Sure, not the most convenient route. But no worse, IMO, than trying to track down (or improvise) Fudge dice.
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I know but it would bug my gaming OCD tendencies.jmucchiello wrote:You can't do 1-2 = -1, 3-4 = 0, 5-6 = +1 of 4 dice just by looking at them? Actual Fudge dice are entirely unnecessary for playing Fudge.
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2704
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:41 pm
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Free RPG Day
Here's a quote from page 6:mntnjeff wrote:1. Will the wonky dice ship w/ the package? Or is the person running the game expected to have them at hand?
Funky Dice
This game utilizes polyhedrons of unusual shapes. Specifically, it utilizes the standard suite of dice, as well as what the author refers to as “Zocchi dice.” As an experienced gamer, you undoubtedly own a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. DCC RPG also makes use of Zocchi dice in the following configurations: d3, d5, d7, d14, d16, d24, and d30. Later this year you will be able to purchase these dice from Goodman Games. For now, you can purchase from your local game store (ask them to special order if they do not already stock them), and from http://www.gamestation.net, http://www.chessex.com, and http://www.koplowgames.com (as well as other select internet sites).
It is easy to substitute for the “funky dice” with a regular dice set. For a d3, roll 1d6 and divide by two. For a d7, roll 1d8 and re-roll on an 8. For d14 or d16, roll d20 and ignore rolls above the die-facing threshold. For d24, roll 1d12 and 1d6; if the 6-sider is odd, double the 1d12 roll. And so on.
Packed into a mere 16 pages are an intro to the game, a level 0 adventure, a level 5 adventure, and a ton of great art! Huzzah for the days of thin modules!mntnjeff wrote:2. I've heard mention of two modules (0 and 5th level) but just recently Joseph said "the module", indicating one? Not that it's a big deal at all, just curious.
The rules will be released digitally by Free RPG Day or sooner. It's a race to the finish! Look for the beta rules on http://www.goodman-games.com sometime before Free RPG Day...mntnjeff wrote:3. Will the rules be available prior to the event? If not, how is a demo game to be run on the specific day if the GM is not passing familiar w/ the rules?
Hope that helps.
Re: Free RPG Day
Music to my ears! Fingers crossed.goodmangames wrote:The rules will be released digitally by Free RPG Day or sooner.
Avatar by Stefan Poag (I now own the original!)
Re: Free RPG Day
You can also use a black marker to turn a d6 into a Fudge Die, without messing your mind:jmucchiello wrote:You can't do 1-2 = -1, 3-4 = 0, 5-6 = +1 of 4 dice just by looking at them? Actual Fudge dice are entirely unnecessary for playing Fudge.
- join dots on '4' and '6' faces to make a square for '0'
- draw a diagonal line on '1' and '2' faces to make a '-'
- draw a X on '3' and '5' faces to make a '+'
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I actually prefer the way that some FATE games are doing it without Fudge dice.Hamel™ wrote:You can also use a black marker to turn a d6 into a Fudge Die, without messing your mind:jmucchiello wrote:You can't do 1-2 = -1, 3-4 = 0, 5-6 = +1 of 4 dice just by looking at them? Actual Fudge dice are entirely unnecessary for playing Fudge.
- join dots on '4' and '6' faces to make a square for '0'
- draw a diagonal line on '1' and '2' faces to make a '-'
- draw a X on '3' and '5' faces to make a '+'
d6-d6
It's not the same range, but it's pretty close to being the same. I prefer that it's more random and doesn't need special dice. Also, it's a system that is very Traveller compatible.
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I'm really hoping that someone other than gamescience will make the dice needed for this game too. I like my nice shiny dice with rounded edges, thank you very much. If nothing else, can't GS make a d7 that matches the look of their other dice?
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:52 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Of note on the bit bolded above... "doubling" the d12 roll won't work. You need to add 12 to the d12 roll if the 6-sider is odd.goodmangames wrote:It is easy to substitute for the “funky dice” with a regular dice set. For a d3, roll 1d6 and divide by two. For a d7, roll 1d8 and re-roll on an 8. For d14 or d16, roll d20 and ignore rolls above the die-facing threshold. For d24, roll 1d12 and 1d6; if the 6-sider is odd, double the 1d12 roll. And so on.
Otherwise, instead of a 13 and 14, you'll get a 2 and a 4 -- which are already available on the regular d12.
Just something to keep in mind.
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:52 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
I prefer that as well for Fate.mshensley wrote: I actually prefer the way that some FATE games are doing it without Fudge dice.
d6-d6
It's not the same range, but it's pretty close to being the same. I prefer that it's more random and doesn't need special dice. Also, it's a system that is very Traveller compatible.
I was just pointing out that the hassle of the non-standard die-sizes was equivalent to the hassle of Fudge dice -- either making your own with a marker and regular "pip" six-siders or using an alternate system with standard dice or finding them and buying them (which can sometimes be hard to do and/or expensive).
That's a turn-off for some, to be sure, but I think the issue will be mitigated if Goodman Games can make these extra dice affordable and fairly easy to acquire.
- finarvyn
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:42 am
- FLGS: Fair Game, Downers Grove IL
- Location: Chicago suburbs
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Yeah, I wondered about that. You can pick black or white d7's and they have strange colored dots. Somehow, that particular configuration doesn't match my other poly dice sets.mshensley wrote:I'm really hoping that someone other than gamescience will make the dice needed for this game too. I like my nice shiny dice with rounded edges, thank you very much. If nothing else, can't GS make a d7 that matches the look of their other dice?
I'm looking forward to the day that we can buy d3, d4, d5, d7, d8, d10, d12, d14, d16, d20, d24, d30 all in one single high-quallity dice set and with the same color scheme. Sigh.
Marv / Finarvyn
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; OD&D player since 1975
"The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own."
-- Gary Gygax
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
-- Dave Arneson
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
DCC Minister of Propaganda; Deputized 6/8/11 (over 11 years of SPAM bustin'!)
DCC RPG playtester 2011, DCC Lankhmar trivia contest winner 2015; OD&D player since 1975
"The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own."
-- Gary Gygax
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
-- Dave Arneson
"Misinterpreting the rules is a shared memory for many of us"
-- Joseph Goodman
Re: Free RPG Day
Warning!
The Koplow URL in Joseph's post above takes you to a spam site. I believe the REAL URL is http://www.koplowgames.com/
Jospeh, you might want to fix that text before the beta rules are sent out!
The Koplow URL in Joseph's post above takes you to a spam site. I believe the REAL URL is http://www.koplowgames.com/
Jospeh, you might want to fix that text before the beta rules are sent out!
Avatar by Stefan Poag (I now own the original!)
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Also, they don't sell their stuff on their site.Stainless wrote:Warning!
The Koplow URL in Joseph's post above takes you to a spam site. I believe the REAL URL is http://www.koplowgames.com/
Jospeh, you might want to fix that text before the beta rules are sent out!
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
You can get an almost complete set like this (except for the d7 and d30)-finarvyn wrote:Yeah, I wondered about that. You can pick black or white d7's and they have strange colored dots. Somehow, that particular configuration doesn't match my other poly dice sets.mshensley wrote:I'm really hoping that someone other than gamescience will make the dice needed for this game too. I like my nice shiny dice with rounded edges, thank you very much. If nothing else, can't GS make a d7 that matches the look of their other dice?
I'm looking forward to the day that we can buy d3, d4, d5, d7, d8, d10, d12, d14, d16, d20, d24, d30 all in one single high-quallity dice set and with the same color scheme. Sigh.
http://www.amazon.com/GameScience-Ameth ... B002JYD2V4
Expensive though.
-
- Mighty-Thewed Reaver
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 6:39 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact:
Re: Free RPG Day
Yeah, those d7's are really fugly.finarvyn wrote:Yeah, I wondered about that. You can pick black or white d7's and they have strange colored dots. Somehow, that particular configuration doesn't match my other poly dice sets.
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2704
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:41 pm
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Free RPG Day
Paper, Scissors, Rock. For the truly dice-addicted, who would prefer to roll a die over using your hands.mshensley wrote:What is the deal with the letters on their d3?
Some of the older Gamescience d14's also had the days of the week printed on them, above the numbers, once for 1-7 and once for 8-14. Just in case you ever needed to randomly determine a day to do your shopping!
-
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 2704
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:41 pm
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Free RPG Day
Good catch on the Koplow URL - thanks. Unfortunately the book's already gone to press but I'll correct it for the digital version.
Re: Free RPG Day
Ordered the dice about a month ago, so I'm set on that front. No, I'm not a dice "nut". I don't have a shopping cart full of the things...But this game is gonna be cool. I'm invested.
I suppose the reason I asked about the rules was that I'd love to run a game at the local shop. I had such a wonderful experience at Genghis Con that I'd love to share. I think people will really warm to this game. Well, some will, some won't. But hey, I'd like to give them a first hand glimpse into the coolness that's coming in November.
But that doesn't sound like it's going to be possible. Bummer.
I suppose the reason I asked about the rules was that I'd love to run a game at the local shop. I had such a wonderful experience at Genghis Con that I'd love to share. I think people will really warm to this game. Well, some will, some won't. But hey, I'd like to give them a first hand glimpse into the coolness that's coming in November.
But that doesn't sound like it's going to be possible. Bummer.