Dragonslayer Role-Playing Game

Constructive criticism is not "crying". Dragonslayer is a good adaption of an "Advanced BX" with much good-enough art. But it is not flawless. A rework of the wilderness random encounters would make sense, like by terrain and climate. By level is nonsense, and many veteran DMs I talked to agreed with me on that.

Mine took a long time to print as well but it was worth the wait. Lulu gets backlogged sometimes.

Wait a minute. It's printed by Lulu and he's still charging 80 bucks??

Spot on, 3 out 5 stars max.

@Shadow I was reasoning how many points I substract from the total. 2.5 would have been to harsh, because most of the art is really good. But the Book doesn't offer the possibility to choose between Basic play and Advanced play, like its competitor Lablord offers. It doesn't offer an ascending AC option either, or a unified (optional) Saving Throw system (Like S&W and Whitebox) - options are great. I understand that it is GEGs Homebrew System, but when somebody releases their game to the public, it becomes the readers, players and DMs system, just as Gary Gygax has pointed out.

I could have given 3.0 or 3.2, depending on how I weigh my plusses and minusses, but the Random Tables for Wilderness adventuring have no explanation for a newby player or DM, they are just there without commentary. As an experienced DM playing and DMing more thand 35 years, I know how to include them into my world building or adventures. But without commentary, they may be pointless for unexperienced people or those...See more coming from 5e or Pathfinder games. A major flaw are the implications - the Kickstarter read, this is a game for everyone. But obviously it is not. GEG uses s/he in the text, which sounds inclusive, but it is not. It replicates the gender normativity of M & F. Humans do not include BIPOC people in the game. No asian, african, middle east or native american and australian. Again, I understand GEG wants this to be a european style medieval fantasy game. But the European Middle Ages and Antiquity was heavily influenced by Africa, Middle East and Inner Asia (Carthago, Mauretania, Spain, Ottoman Empire, Byzantium, Crusades, Huns, Mongolia, China) Regions which are simulated in D&D forever, the systems by RPGPundit feature these cultures. OK, then play those one might say now. But if this shall be a setting free game, with a focus on medieval european style (500-1500 maybe), this should not exclude those in my opinion. There is a thin layer of included setting in the game - just 1 or 2 pages with minor paragraphs about it, lands, gods, conflicts, would have been nice. As is included in the little D&D BX Expert booklet. No inspiration, no information. This is why I went below 3.0. It could have been even 3.5 Stars with them, even regarding the high price for BW POD...

There is going to be opportunity for the author to charge for a campaign setting that goes with the ruleset in a future KS.

Oh, I am looking forward this... esp. if he manages keeping RL politic out of that book. He didn't in the rulebook :/ (see Humans race entry for example)

No, there is a disclaimer on page 298 although the font is very similiar maybe too similar:

“This game is not associated or affiliated with the motion picture film Dragonslayer or Paramount Pictures Corporation.”

You should probably attach a link, purely for context, and if the YouTube video in question happened to be about Dragonslayer, well that would be a bonus...

Worked for me. I'll be buying it this Friday!

Because boobs are awesome.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. Dragonslayer is based off B/X D&D and AD&D 1E. In 1e the Ranger at level 1 starts with 2 d8 hit points. Plus Con bonus of course. Your question is fair because you are probably not familiar with 1e.

There was never a good reason for a ranger to have 2HD when it was created by Joe Fischer in the Strategic Review (Dragon precursor) during OD&D and modified by Gygax in AD&D PH. This is pure nostalgic fluff, just change it to d10 like the other fighter sub-classes.

I fully agree with Shadow. I like the d10 idea myself. However, I did want to answer the question specifically as to where the original idea came from in the first place.

For Goodness sake let the ranger get his extra HD. All four players who ever make a ranger will be happy with that at least.

well they tend to still operate solo when not in an adventuring party, they have to be really tough. D12 for the win !

That’s what I was thinking, otherwise it’s the same as studded leather???

Ring mail is essentially the same as studded leather (rings sewn into a leather instead of metal studs.) However, it also a light armor and the cost should be comparable. I replaced ring mail with scale mail as a medium AC 6 armor. See AD&D PH (1978), p. 36.

There is inflation in Dragonslayer world compared to Advanced LL but the prices are comparable. Likely the Pony should be the same as a mule - 33gp.

Thanks, that sounds about right.

It's just you. It come's with an abundance of art and is a complete system with thoughtful additions and advice for long term play in a traditional OSR style. Well worth the money for anyone in the market. Though a softcover option would be appreciated.

Ok but literally every OSR game has an abundance of art, hell once again OSE got Erol Otus, and there is more there in a game like WWN. Unless Gillespie horribly overpaid for art, there is no real justification for an $80 POD or a $30 PDF of yet another B/X clone. Also, long term play? He said in multiple interviews he specifically removed domain play components, which in and of itself is a key factor in long term play.

It's not just you. That being said it's a quality product whether it's worth the money is up to you and your table. We discussed it but bit too much for my table presently, that might change but for now it's not something all players in my group want to shell out for.

Not just you at all. Way too expensive.

A few months back I bought backup copies of OSE Advanced from Exalted Funeral. It cost me $80 U.S. Dragonslayer is $80 U.S.

Yep, not just you. This is yet another Heartbreaker Houseruled D&D in an already saturated market. Its nothing special and is overpriced.

Looking at the DTRPG Print Schedule the book would cost about $14 to print, so yeah this is a high cost, on top of the $42k he made on the Kickstarter which would have covered art, this could do with being a lot cheaper.

A lot of opinions from the gallery non-purchasers. Still, those who did make the purchase seem to be happy.

I tried to ask Greg about justifying the high price on Facebook. But he just blocked me after I did. I have a friend who let me look at his copy to decide if it was worth it. We both agreed it was not worth paying for.

Donovan, the book is not crap altogether, but it is not worth the 80$. 30, maybe 40 like Advanced Lablord, ACKS, Swords & Wizardry Complete or the venerable Rules Cyclopedia...

But I also think the book is very much of a counter-culture against gamers of different political opinions. I kept the politics out of my review and just summed up what I think about it, gameswise. Beyond that, GEG is far more right leaning on the political spectrum, whereon I am left-centrist. In his book, he didn't do everything wrong, it is OK and for 30 or even 40 bucks it would be a decent product. He had it kickstartet and he makes his students buy his stuff, so the book is funded. So the illustrations will not be the only reason he sells his book for so much money. ACKS, Labyrinth Lord, Osric or Swords&Wizardry give you much more for your money. Basic Fantasy, Iron Falkon or Darker Dungeons even more so... (Not to mention AD&D 1e or 2e corebooks plus 20$ to spend on Modules or Campaign Settings in better...See more print quality.

Dragonslays is not a bad game when it comes to substance, it has its weaknesses, like who does random encounters by level in the wilderness. This doesn't make sense to me. Maybe a 3.5 to 4.0 out of 5. The price makes it a 2.8 to 3.2. It has no setting - even the humble BX Expert Rules have that in broad strokes. 30 to 40$ would be great to ok for the product (comparing it to Advanced Lablord One Volume or Two Volume...) OSE may also be 80$, Hyperboria and DCC plus setting (Dying Eartch or Lankhmar) even more, but you get real offset and binding there.

Randal, GEG demands of everyone in the rules of his group not to be butthurt. But since he couldn't acquire the rights for LabLord last year and does not receive the love in the mainstream OSR , which he accuses for their assumed "wokeness" (most are just apolitical or centrist, non-douchebag people, whoever they vote for), he is the most butthurt person in the community. This guy puts so much anger, even hate into his unbalanced political agenda and ideology, I do not understand. He should keep politics and his personal agenda out of gaming. I hope this ends after the elections - some people, leftist and alt-right made this culture war a matter of death or life/breathing air. I don't know what's wrong with people, I have other things to do (like playing P&P RPGs - on Monday, we will have our 50th Anniversary game at last, I run White Box :) )