Once More Unto the Breach!: barrowmaze*

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Barrowmaze OSE Campaign 2022: Session 0

Identities hidden to protect the not-so-innocent!

Last December, I lamented about wanting to run a Barrowmaze campaign, and declared that "someday" I will see the look of apprehension in the faces of players!

That day has arrived! Yes, yes, I know that I've run bits of Barrowmaze before in other campaigns, but now I'm attempting an ongoing, at least once-a-month (twice a month if I can swing it), open-table style campaign. I'll run a session if there's at least two players (who will be able to run multiple characters). That's what happened this weekend: I had two players show up, and they ran two characters each, and also hired three retainers to supplement their numbers.

The players rolled up characters before the session, and I was able to explain some things to them before the session. So it was partly a session zero, which became a session "0.5" of sorts because we got some actual play in. I'll try to do a session recap soon! But in the meantime, I'm celebrating meeting some new players as well as bringing old friends into the mix. I'm also celebrating making my gaming aspirations a reality once again!

Game on!

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Basic D&D with Teenagers

Years ago, I tried to get my kids into D&D. I think any gamer parent worth their salt wants to make some attempt to pass on the love of the hobby to their offspring.

But one of the funny things about love is that it can't be truly faked. Sure, you can try, but just as with romance, you can eventually tell when someone isn't reciprocating the love of roleplaying.

I wasn't too heartbroken when it came to my kids being disinterested in tabletop roleplaying. The hobby is still fun for me personally, and different strokes for different folks, right?

Years passed, and along came Stranger Things, with its 80's nostalgia (even for those who were born long after that decade ended). The show has helped to buoy D&D into the popular consciousness as a viable pastime rather than just a joke. And lo and behold, my kids came to me of their own volition and excitedly asked me if I would run some D&D for them! Well, of course I obliged! In addition, there's a neighbor kid who wants in on the fun.

So my son, daughter, and the neighbor kid have been introduced by your truly to the wonders and horrors and Barrowmaze! I'm using the B/X D&D rules using a mix of products, including the original books, OSE, and Labyrinth Lord products/materials.

My daughter the budding visual artist has been doing character portraits for her own PC as well as for her brother and the neighbor (here's her character, the magic-user Gylbart the Gallant):

So far, the group seems to be having a blast, as am I! I've definitely kept things as accessible and light-hearted as possible. These are teenagers we're talking about, after all. But here and there, things get "real" and they fear for their PC's lives when the monsters swarm and the hit points start dropping!

I'll be checking in soon with some highlights of our sessions!