|
|
Post by Night Owl on Mar 29, 2022 9:33:12 GMT
Gateway is sort of the umbrella name I use to describe the interconnectedness of the Night Owl Workshop RPG's. I never understood why TSR didn't create a Universal RPG out of the original fantasy rules. They seemed to be on their way with Warriors of Mars, Boothill, Gamma World that shared similar design ideals into various genres, but they let GURPS beat them to it. Instead TSR kept making new, unproven, incompatible game systems. While I enjoy those games for what they are, in particular the Marvel Super Heroes FASERIP system was quite clever, fun, and very playable, none of them really hit it big. TSR almost seemed embarrassed by the DnD system. Classes and levels? How quaint! Well, it has passed the test of time. Purely skills based systems, as interesting and more "realistic" they are, don't quite have the same hook classes and levels do. As Gunslinger represents the next phase of the Gateway system, what other genres should be tackled next?  |
|
|
|
Post by evilscientist42 on Mar 31, 2022 9:02:54 GMT
Gateway is sort of the umbrella name I use to describe the interconnectedness of the Night Owl Workshop RPG's. I never understood why TSR didn't create a Universal RPG out of the original fantasy rules. They seemed to be on their way with Warriors of Mars, Boothill, Gamma World that shared similar design ideals into various genres, but they let GURPS beat them to it. Instead TSR kept making new, unproven, incompatible game systems. Now that I think about it, one of the few TSR releases that tries to move D&D into a universal system direction, is Masque of the Red Death. Nominally a Ravenloft sub-setting, it also tried to apply the D&D system to a different style of game, 19th century historical fantasy horror. It came very late in TSR's life (1994 or 1995 if I remember correctly), and didn't get much support or supplements, so never really made an impact. But I think it is similar to what WotC later achieved with the d20 System. Purely skills based systems, as interesting and more "realistic" they are, don't quite have the same hook classes and levels do. "Using D&D for everything" is definitely a choice, and I agree that class-level systems are very good at presenting clear archetypes: this is what this game is about ("fighting-thieving-magicing"), this is what you start out as, let's see how the game shapes you. As Gunslinger represents the next phase of the Gateway system, what other genres should be tackled next? Personally, at this point I'd rather see more stuff released for the existing game lines, like adventures or other game materials. As far as genres go, you have a lot covered, but in the spirit of modularity, have you thought about generic add-ons that can supplement any of the existing systems? "Gateway to Horror" - a supplement that collects modular rules like sanity mechanics, tips on running and making horror adventures in various settings, monster stats, that can be added to any of the other Night Owl games, be that turning Raiders into more like Call of Cthulhu (although the base game already has the Occultist and phobias in the appendices). "Gateway to Magic" - a supplement of various spellcasting variants and caster classes, ritual magic, Vancian magic, spell points?.. |
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Mar 31, 2022 12:53:05 GMT
Personally, at this point I'd rather see more stuff released for the existing game lines, like adventures or other game materials. As far as genres go, you have a lot covered, but in the spirit of modularity, have you thought about generic add-ons that can supplement any of the existing systems? My hopes were that there would be enough interest others would write adventures and materials for some of them. It has happened to some extent on various blogs. Oh, I have no shortage of ideas for add-ons, it is finding the time to make them I am short on. |
|
|
|
Post by evilscientist42 on Apr 1, 2022 13:36:19 GMT
Personally, at this point I'd rather see more stuff released for the existing game lines, like adventures or other game materials. As far as genres go, you have a lot covered, but in the spirit of modularity, have you thought about generic add-ons that can supplement any of the existing systems? My hopes were that there would be enough interest others would write adventures and materials for some of them. It has happened to some extent on various blogs. Fair enough! I like how the Xuhlan setting was converted to Warriors of the Red Planet, for example. You could do a post on the blog with "third party content" guidelines, explaining how people can write/publish their own stuff the systems. |
|
|
|
Post by Gary B on Jun 17, 2022 0:41:29 GMT
A Bestiary would be a good new volume in your system, and maybe a Weird West type source book to meld Gunslinger to a horror/fantasy/folklore world.
|
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Oct 13, 2022 2:30:52 GMT
A Bestiary would be a good new volume in your system, and maybe a Weird West type source book to meld Gunslinger to a horror/fantasy/folklore world. Gunslinger has a lot of Weird West in it. |
|
|
|
Post by Mjollnir on Jul 24, 2023 23:05:00 GMT
One of the many things I like about your games is the simple, rational system they use. You're one of my favorite game publishers, I always look forward to your releases.
|
|
