tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post1869379505241444874..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Cleaning Up DetailsAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-23462348041800425652009-02-24T10:05:00.000-07:002009-02-24T10:05:00.000-07:00Me, too! The whole of what Alexis is shared from ...Me, too! The whole of what Alexis is shared from his campaign blows me away, from mapping, to economics, to game mechanics, etc.<BR/><BR/>And that's not me trying to score brownie points with our DM. :)KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-20379859271513418812009-02-24T10:02:00.000-07:002009-02-24T10:02:00.000-07:00@Ken - Yea, so do I. If I'm reading behind the lin...@Ken - Yea, so do I. If I'm reading behind the lines correctly, he's tied in population, availability of raw materials, cost of raw materials, what composes each item, likelihood/rarity of item, probably transportation costs and creation/artisan costs. That's just freaking insane/awesome beyond words.<BR/><BR/>All I did was go to here:<BR/>http://www.svincent.com/MagicJar/Economics/MedievalOccupations.html<BR/><BR/>... and the Medieval Demographics Made Easy site and start slicing/dicing the OGL available equipment lists into who would sell/make it. It's taken me most the morning, I can't imagine how many manhours went into his system.<BR/><BR/>If I sound awestruck, I am.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-47092850652406809442009-02-24T09:30:00.000-07:002009-02-24T09:30:00.000-07:00The Medieval Demographics site is great; I use it ...The Medieval Demographics site is great; I use it all the time to get an idea of what's in a new town my players stumble into.<BR/><BR/>I have a feeling Alexis has his own methods, however. :)KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-50809309092997700942009-02-24T07:14:00.000-07:002009-02-24T07:14:00.000-07:00Last night, I was using the Domesday Book Town Gen...Last night, I was using the <A HREF="http://www.rpglibrary.org/utils/meddemog/" REL="nofollow">Domesday Book Town Generator</A>. The output of the generator gives me, among a lot of things, the number and type of merchants in this locale. It hit me that the whole concept of multiple merchants is overlooked, in most games that I play as well as my own. I use a mash of the 1E equipment list, the microlite20 equipment list and a mishmash of things that I've plugged into a spreadsheet for awhile now, but I've always had mainly the Ye Olde Walmartte. I want to change that.<BR/><BR/>I wanted to put something like the OGL available equipment lists up on the web, divided by merchant, because I haven't seen anything like that. I also want to give credit where it's due because I never made the connection until I saw your lists. Would an attribution be good enough or a direct link, if I put my lists up on my blog or in a PDF?Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-49260822956927219032009-02-23T20:57:00.000-07:002009-02-23T20:57:00.000-07:00Max,That’s an old bugbear. Many of the weapon wei...Max,<BR/><BR/>That’s an old bugbear. Many of the weapon weights listed above are from museum sites. Not that I want to spend fifty hours digging up those websites again, I didn’t bother to keep notes, since creating the table and not writing my master’s thesis was my agenda.<BR/><BR/>I will admit that a number of the weapons were found on sites that sold weapons to collectors. But I would tend to think that those weapons were certainly “lighter” than their medieval equivalents, primarily because of our steel is lighter and stronger than that used in the Middle Ages.<BR/><BR/>In 1650, when my world is supposed to occur, heavy weapons like those on the list were already gone, replaced by pikes and sabres used in conjunction with flintlock rifles. I still use the old weapons because I did not wish to have pistols and rifles in my world. You might have an argument that 17th weapons could be lighter. But most fighting men in earlier centuries were not educated (as 20th century enthusiasts are), had a far less comprehensive understanding of biology and where to hit with a sword, and by all accounts used heavy, heavy swords as clubs, not as weapons of finesse.<BR/><BR/>I know you clearly like your source. But I think you might try poking around inside a university library.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-59963657341085134392009-02-23T19:38:00.000-07:002009-02-23T19:38:00.000-07:00This has been entirely built by me, using the inte...<B>This has been entirely built by me, using the internet to occasionally research medieval objects and their weights. It can be very hard to find an accurate weight for items, and I am constantly frustrated by the discontinuities.</B><BR/><BR/>With regard to weapon weights, have you reviewed the essays <A HREF="http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm" REL="nofollow">here</A> and <A HREF="http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>? They suggest that swords at least may have been significantly lighter than on your list.<BR/><BR/>Or is weight on your list intended to convey wieldiness as well?Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615194097431562045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-60848764121217555902009-02-23T13:08:00.000-07:002009-02-23T13:08:00.000-07:00I'm almost done with my character. I just need to ...I'm almost done with my character. I just need to buy a few more things and check over it a few times. I'll definitely be done by tonight.Tiberiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170798173370366175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-21359975235707269882009-02-23T12:58:00.000-07:002009-02-23T12:58:00.000-07:00Wow, that's really hellaciously cool and the progr...Wow, that's really hellaciously cool and the programming geek in me appreciates the work as well as the obsessive geek in me appreciates the detailed work.<BR/><BR/>Excel is a royal pain in the ass to work with when you have business users and enterprise data and an unmanaged installation process. Anyway...<BR/><BR/>You've definitely inspired me to go back to my lists of equipment in my two campaigns and divide them up by "merchant" although I'm not going to be nearly as sophisticated. It definitely makes for an interesting experience to present users with something other than Ye Olde Walmartte.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-68074544741514245022009-02-23T12:38:00.000-07:002009-02-23T12:38:00.000-07:00This has been entirely built by me, using the inte...This has been entirely built by me, using the internet to occasionally research medieval objects and their weights. It can be very hard to find an accurate weight for items, and I am constantly frustrated by the discontinuities.<BR/><BR/>All the allocation of the items was by me.<BR/><BR/>The spreadsheet includes a complicated system by which I can create additional items at will. All I need is the raw material from which the object is made, its style of craftmanship (artwork as opposed to handicraft), its approximate difficulty to create (which I estimate) and its weight. These are usually things I can make an ad hoc judgment on.<BR/><BR/>So, since the spreadsheet is a mass of excel programming, this makes it difficult to give out. As well, I am somewhat loathe of publishing the format...since it is one thing which someone might actually pay me money for having created. The tables shown represent the final data.<BR/><BR/>Final point. If you were to walk 40 miles down the road to Munich, the costs for all the items would be marginally different.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-73012573256739396612009-02-23T12:30:00.000-07:002009-02-23T12:30:00.000-07:00Non player, GM-type question.I'm loving the variou...Non player, GM-type question.<BR/><BR/>I'm loving the various lists for the various types of merchants. Did you crank this out yourself or crib it from an existing list? Would you be willing to share the source spreadsheet or list? This is the kind of stuff that I love to have available when I want to make things more interesting. I really have wanted to ditch the whole "Ye Olde Walmartte" concept, but sometimes the most obvious things need to hit me with a baseball bat (or pica 4 print on some of those jpgs...)Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-50526173191826356282009-02-22T19:09:00.000-07:002009-02-22T19:09:00.000-07:00Okay, think it's finally done properly.Okay, think it's finally done properly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-49158208581882494552009-02-22T15:50:00.000-07:002009-02-22T15:50:00.000-07:00Nah, I don't think you're being too short. Just p...Nah, I don't think you're being too short. Just poking fun at myself. :)<BR/><BR/>I'll fix up my character record tonight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-9333426014157842162009-02-22T12:54:00.000-07:002009-02-22T12:54:00.000-07:00Delfig,Gaining second is dependent on getting enou...Delfig,<BR/><BR/>Gaining second is dependent on getting enough experience. I don't worry about tutors. You're a bard so you have no "books." Perceive it like practicing an instrument. You try and you try to play freebird. And then one day, you DO.<BR/><BR/>Anshelm,<BR/><BR/>Grin. Seriously, no worries. If I seem crisp and short, its only that I'm saving time. This is going fine.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-22158672437441896022009-02-22T12:24:00.000-07:002009-02-22T12:24:00.000-07:00d'oh...didn't see the Weaver table.Not doing well ...d'oh...didn't see the Weaver table.<BR/><BR/>Not doing well on my promise to be less of an idjit... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-35565921815353199162009-02-22T12:00:00.000-07:002009-02-22T12:00:00.000-07:00Then my spell choices stand as is for first level....Then my spell choices stand as is for first level. Gaining second and up is dependent on... finding spells? Getting tutors? Stealing someone else's books?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-20078909589580433242009-02-22T11:53:00.000-07:002009-02-22T11:53:00.000-07:00Delfig,You do have access to all spells. No, you ...Delfig,<BR/><BR/>You do have access to all spells. No, you can’t rechoose daily. You choose once only. <BR/><BR/>Anshelm,<BR/><BR/>Tobacco = snuff.<BR/><BR/>The thief is not allowed a skullcap.<BR/><BR/>There’s rope. You’re not looking in the right place.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-31691792022718023882009-02-22T10:36:00.000-07:002009-02-22T10:36:00.000-07:00Equipment is posted to my blog. I think I got eve...Equipment is posted to my blog. I think I got everything....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-7520359002886006082009-02-22T08:58:00.000-07:002009-02-22T08:58:00.000-07:00One more question: rope is not available?One more question: rope is not available?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-21773418136617637092009-02-22T08:35:00.000-07:002009-02-22T08:35:00.000-07:00Two quick questions:1. Price of tobacco? Anshelm ...Two quick questions:<BR/><BR/>1. Price of tobacco? Anshelm would probably be stocked up.<BR/><BR/>2. Is a thief allowed a skullcap, and is that sufficient to protect from triple damage as described?KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-76491731864533180742009-02-22T08:22:00.000-07:002009-02-22T08:22:00.000-07:00I may have misunderstood. Only mages are limited i...<I>I may have misunderstood. Only mages are limited in what spells from the list can be chosen.</I><BR/><BR/>So I have access to all spells and can choose a new set of 3 on a daily basis?<BR/><BR/>I'm good either way, as the magic I'm seeing as almost an innate thing for Delfig to use, although he knows how to expand it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-33362100936477194112009-02-21T22:34:00.000-07:002009-02-21T22:34:00.000-07:00Delfig,You may presume ability with every musical ...Delfig,<BR/><BR/>You may presume ability with every musical instrument. My first wife was a music theory graduate. She could play everything.<BR/><BR/>I may have misunderstood. Only mages are limited in what spells from the list can be chosen.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-35270873464071323732009-02-21T22:32:00.000-07:002009-02-21T22:32:00.000-07:00Cool, thanks for the info. I've updated my CRS for...Cool, thanks for the info. I've updated my CRS for equipment. In lieu of a viol, I've purchased a lyre.<BR/><BR/>I'll pay coin for a small vial of ink, or if he needs a lovely poem or something musical written for someone, I'll sketch one up from a song or two I've heard in Munich. <BR/><BR/>Spells: Command, Friends, PerceptionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-28200815537039808942009-02-21T22:24:00.000-07:002009-02-21T22:24:00.000-07:00Josef,There are always programming problems with t...Josef,<BR/><BR/>There are always programming problems with the damn thing. Thank you for some trouble shooting. Anything with a price of 0 is 1 c.p. If there are duplicates, use the lower price. Consider a lead sling bullet to be 1 oz. The 20 lb. sack of coal is 20 lb. You sheathe a footman’s mace with a thong, hanging from your belt.<BR/><BR/>Delfig,<BR/><BR/>You can't switch and match around spells from day to day. You take three spells and those are always your three spells, every day. This goes for every spellcaster.<BR/><BR/>What do you want to barter?Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-89754092833549347352009-02-21T21:50:00.000-07:002009-02-21T21:50:00.000-07:00Addendum, any chance ye old scribner would barter ...Addendum, any chance ye old scribner would barter for some ink?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-90038560209131350692009-02-21T21:38:00.000-07:002009-02-21T21:38:00.000-07:00So you're OK with me picking out the spells that I...So you're OK with me picking out the spells that I have available? Or do I just assume that I have all 1st level in my "notes".<BR/><BR/>Hm. It would appear that given my lack of funds, I'm not buying a viol anytime soon. *chuckle* May I include knowledge with another instrument that I can afford?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com