Idle Cartulary

  • Advanced Fantasy Dungeons: Index of Posts

    Advanced Fantasy Dungeons is a project where I design a paraclone of the second edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. A paraclone attempts to realise the designers intent, free of simulationalism, tradition and legacy. This is a place to index what I’ve written so far and plan what I’ve yet to write. I’ll continue to… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Proficiencies & Ability Checks Part 3

    If you’re walking in on the middle of this series, there’s an index here. Second Edition proficiency checks are simply ability checks, with a modifier applied to the target score. You suffer a penalty if you don’t have proficiency on everything, and you can’t perform the proficiency without the necessary tools, you can specialise further… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Ability Scores

    If you’re walking in on the middle of this series, there’s an index here. This sketch is actually quite straightforward from the read-through, because a huge chunk of this chapter is individual subsystems that are fun but need to be elsewhere – in magic, proficiencies, combat, death and healing, for example. This leaves me mainly… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Checks Part 2

    If you’re walking in on the middle of this series, there’s an index here. With Brian’s help I realised I’d miscalculated the mathematics on the last Rules Sketch (I find anydice challenging at any time, let alone on my phone, which is where all my writing is happening right now). I also realised I’d forgotten… Continue reading

  • Rules Sketch: Checks

    If you’re walking in on the middle of this series, there’s an index here. Second Edition checks are roll under ability score, d20 rolls. Level success is subsumed into difficulty; by which I mean you choose your degree of success before you roll, by taking modifiers, then pass or fail. Proficiency is simply one of… Continue reading

  • Advanced Fantasy Dungeons Game Plan

    So, people have asked me to work on Advanced Fantasy Dungeons (name TBC) in public, so, based on my close reading of the PHB, DMG, and some splatbooks from Second Edition, I’m going to start developing some systems here on Playful Void. So, recapping my principles: Roll dice intentionally Draw systems to their logical conclusions… Continue reading

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  • 2nd Edition Read-through: Filling the Gaps

    I’m reading through 2nd Edition as an educational exercise, and considering writing a retroclone for it titled Advanced Fantasy Dungeons. The purpose of the read through and writing the retroclone is more a design exercise as it is a necessary addition to my shelf. I started with the Player’s Handbook and then the Dungeon Master’s… Continue reading

  • 2nd Edition Read-through: The Dungeon Master’s Guide

    I’m reading through 2nd Edition as an educational exercise, and considering writing a retroclone for it titled Advanced Fantasy Dungeons. The purpose of the read through and writing the retroclone is more a design exercise as it is a necessary addition to my shelf. I started with the Player’s Handbook (1989), and in this post… Continue reading

  • 2nd Edition Read-through: The Player’s Handbook

    As I previously mentioned, I’m reading through 2nd Edition as an educational exercise, and considering writing a retroclone for it titled Advanced Fantasy Dungeons. The purpose of the read through and writing the retroclone is more a design exercise as it is a necessary addition to my shelf. I’m starting with the Player’s Handbook (1989),… Continue reading

  • Advanced Fantasy Dungeons

    Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Second edition has a place in my heart, as my first edition, that filled my eight year old imagination with wonder. It’s not very good though. I was wondering if an retroclone of second edition, like the many versions of Holmes, Moldvay and BECMI, and like Iron Falcon, would be a… Continue reading

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