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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Ideas - Our Campaign rules vs. 5e dnd vs. any version really

 How about, to make higher levels more challenging in 5e, you CANNOT get surrounded? Feels more real. What happens? 

Let's codify it for real. 

NEW RULE TO TEST:

  1. If you are a melee guy (spellcaster pc requirements should be 4+ guys maybe) and are surrounded by 5 or more bad guys, they can use a group swarm feature to basically mob attack you and wrestle you to the ground. 
    1. So you become prone or... maybe incapacitated for a while. 
    2. No saving throw or something very strong like that. 
    3. No insta-lose, but put in a bad situation if you neglect tactics... like in real life you could not possibly survive when being hit from 5 guys at once. This ain't Shaw Brothers 1978 Kung Fu after all. :P
    4. What's the counter? We need counters, besides just being in the perfect position to begin with. 
  2. This strongly encourages positioning with friends to your back. 
  3. You have to weight whether you want to flank... heck level 15+ PCs in 5e D&D don't need to flank, their to hit is super good. But the MONSTERS do need to flank. Is this going to prevent the DM from ever getting a flank? 
  4. Is it going to be so restrictive that every fight looks like 4 PCs with their backs to each other? 
    1. Or will they be encouraged to spread out so they don't get an AoE spell on top of the whole group? Assuming AoE / area attacks is common at that high a level. 

OSR module makers, yt and drivethrurpg

 https://starryknightpress.com/ seems smaller, I like their cover art a lot. 

https://www.darkwizardgames.com seems a little bigger, has a company company vibe, has a yt channel. Definitely going for the DCC feel of things, at least that's what I gather. The yt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC14Rz35BI0

And super nice, a TON of freebies for the next 2 days:

 🎁 FREE 1E / 5E MODULES & DOWNLOADS (LIMITED TIME): 📝 DOWNLOAD ALL 27 CHARACTER SHEETS FREE HERE: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🎲 Grab my FREE PDF of 64 1E AD&D Pre-Generated Characters (Tournament Style) here: https://www.darkwizardgames.com/downl... ⚰️ Grab the FREE PDF of my funhouse dungeon Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen (FREE through 10/21/2026): https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🪄 101 Magical and Mystical Items 1E (FREE through 10/31/2026) 🔗 https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🧙‍♂️✨ Fantastic Quest of the Whimsical One 1E (Erol Otus Cover) (FREE through 10/31/2026) 🔗 https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🦑🌊 Voyage to the Forbidden Zone 1E / 5E (FREE through 10/31/2026) 🔗 https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🐉👸 Palace of the Dragon's Princess 1E (FREE through 10/31/2026) 🔗 https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.p... 🔥 Check out Dark Wizard Games™ modules & releases: https://www.darkwizardgames.com ⭐ See Dark Wizard Games™ TESTIMONIALS from folks that LOVE our modules: https://www.darkwizardgames.com/testi... 📧 Subscribe to the Dark Wizard Games™ Email List for new releases, Kickstarter announcements, FREE stuff & more! (Sign up and you'll also get download links for a few FREE PDFs): https://fa9dd761.sibforms.com/serve/M... 👍 Like our FACEBOOK PAGE:   / darkwizardgames   🏘️📸 Old Town Los Gatos historical photos credit / source: San Jose & Santa Clara Valley Orchards / History Facebook Group:   / 26643994001968224   ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: Dark Wizard Games™ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with TSR, Wizards of the Coast, or Hasbro. All product names, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Any opinions and commentary expressed in this video are my own. This video is presented for commentary, discussion, and entertainment purposes. 🎬 WATCH MARK IN FILM, TV & MUSIC VIDEOS: Mark Taormino is not only a "hack" OSR writer... he's also a hack actor who has nearly 100 IMDB credits working in movies, tv, music videos (Lil Wayne "Krazy," Kesha "My Own Dance," Sabrina Carpenter "Tears" and many more), commercials etc. Here are some clips from a few projects he has been a character in since 1988.


Monday, September 28, 2026

FF - Citadel of Chaos. Cool but hard.

Fighting Fantasy books. #2 is the Citadel of Chaos. Playing now.  

You apparently need some items to get past certain parts. I am low on time, so after a few misfires, I'm going to get a walkthrough to get past the stuck parts. 

Using: https://spikesnlead.co.uk/2024/03/26/citadel-of-chaos-walkthrough/

So during my unhelped run(s)... it is amazing how they try to use common sense or logic to make the choices matter. But also keep you on your toes and not be too obvious ever. Sometimes it is just luck.  Examples of logic:

  1. Abruptly sit down with monsters and more or less demand info. If you are polite, they don't trust you. 
  2. Later there are shapeshifter monsters... you have a semi-broken magical gadget that sort of shapeshifts, so they like it. 


Roll20[.]net instead of Startplaying?

 Wondering if I should just try Roll20.net instead. It has a ton of free games. And when I search up Shadowdark, ALL of the graphics are old school AD&D art, instead of AI-Slop art. These might be my people. 

Wait, one fellow uses Shadowdark art and it... umm... has a lot of AI art. Not his fault. 


Check out this 1 PC to one GM, play by post... the list of possible systems is endless:

https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/414338/pbp-the-great-encyclopedia-of-rpg-systems

Swords and Wizardry (0E)
--- Grimmsgate (Starter Adventure)
--- MCMLXXV (Starter Adventure)
--- Against Tsathogga (Adventure)
--- Tomb of the Iron God (Adventure)
--- The Black Monastery (Adventure)
--- Borderland Provinces (Campaign)
--- Stoneheart Valley (Campaign)
--- Lost City of Barakus (Campaign)
--- Northlands Saga (Campaign)
--- Bard's Gate (Mega City)
--- Forbidden Caverns of Archaia (Megadungeon)
--- Barrowmaze Complete (Megadungeon)
--- Highfell the Drifting Dungeon (Megadungeon)
--- Dwarrowdeep (Megadungeon)
--- Lost Lands: Sword of Air (Huge Campaign)
--- Razor Coast (Huge Campaign)
13th Age
--- Eyes of the Stone Thief (Megadungeon)
Basic Fantasy RPG
Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperboria 2nd Edition
Adventurers 1st Edition
Basic Dungeons and Dragons (Cyclopedia)
--- Mystara (Campaign)
--- Wrath of the Immortals (Campaign)
--- Dwimmermount (Megadungeon)
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (1E)
--- B2: Keep on the Borderlands/Caves of Chaos (Starter Campaign)
--- T1: Village of Hommlet (Starter Adventure)
--- A1/A2/A3/A4: Against the Slave Lords (Campaign)
--- G1/G2/G3: Against the Giants (Campaign)
--- D1/D2/D3/Q1: Descent into the Depths of the Earth (Campaign)
--- C1: Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (Adventure)
--- C2: Ghost Tower of Inverness (Adventure)
--- I1: Dwellers of the Forbidden City (Adventure)
--- L1: Secret of Bone Hill (Adventure)
--- S1: Tomb of Horrors (Adventure)
--- S2: White Plume Mountain (Adventure)
--- S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (Adventure)
--- S4: Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (Adventure)
--- T2: Temple of Elemental Evil (Adventure)
--- U1/U2/U3: Saltmarsh Trilogy (Campaign)
--- Dragonlance Modules/Box Sets/Adventures/Quests/Expansions
--- Halls of Arden Vul (Megadungeon)
Adventures Dark and Deep
2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons (2E)
--- Dark Sun (Setting)
--- Al Qadim (Setting)
--- Planescape (Setting)
--- Spelljammer (Setting)
--- Forgotten Realms (Campaign)
--- Ravenloft (Campaign)
--- Kara Tur (Campaign)
--- Red Steel (Campaign)
--- Hollow World (Campaign)
3.5 Dungeons and Dragons (D20)
--- Castle Whiterock (Megadungeon)
--- Rappan Athuk (Megadungeon)
--- Worlds Largest Dungeon (Megadungeon)
--- Worlds Largest City (Mega City)
--- Ptolus: City by the Spire (Monte Cook)(Mega City/Dungeon/Campaign)
--- Midnight (Setting)
--- Dragonlance (Setting)
--- Eberron (Setting)
--- Dragonmech (Setting)
--- Iron Kingdoms (Setting)
--- Oathbound (Setting)
--- Iron Heroes (Setting)
--- Northern Crown/Nyambe (Settings)
--- Spellslinger (Setting)
--- Wilderlands (Campaign)
--- City State of the Invincible Overlord (Campaign)
--- Shackled City (Campaign)
--- Savage Tide (Campaign)
--- Age of Worms (Campaign)
4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons (4E)
Pathfinder 1st Edition
--- Rise of the Runelords (Adventure Path)
--- Second Darkness (Adventure Path)
--- Emerald Spire (Megadungeon)
--- Grande Temple of Jing (Megadungeon)
--- Rhune: Dawn of Twilight (Setting)
Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (2014)
--- Lost Mine of Phandelver (Starter Adventure)
--- Mythic Odysseys of Theros (Campaign)
--- Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage (Megadungeon)
--- Candlekeep Mysteries (Campaign)
--- Strixhaven (Campaign)
--- Journeys through the Radiant Citadel (Adventures/Campaign)
--- Castle of the Mad Archmage (Megadungeon)
Pathfinder 2nd Edition
--- Battlezoo: Indigo Isles (Huge Campaign)
In the Labyrinth (Melee/Wizard)
Dangerous Journeys (Gary Gygax)
GURPS 3rd Edition
Old School Essentials
--- Dolmenwood
Palladium Fantasy RPG 1st Edition
Rifts
Runequest 2nd Edition
--- Apple Lane/Rainbow Mounds (Starter Adventure)
--- Borderlands (Campaign)
--- Griffin Mountain (Campaign)
--- Pavis/Big Rubble (Campaign)
--- Trollpak (Campaign)
--- Snakepipe Hollow (Megadungeon)
Runequest Roleplaying in Glorantha
Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne
Talislanta
Arduin
--- Caliban (Megadungeon)
--- The Howling Tower (Megadungeon)
--- The Citadel of Thunder (Megadungeon)
--- Death Heart (Megadungeon)
Dragon Warriors
Dungeon Slayers
Barbarians of Lemuria
Crypts and Things Remastered
Fantasy Craft
Odysseys and Overlords
Mazes and Perils Deluxe
White Star
Worlds Without Number
X-Plorers
Colonial Troopers
Warriors of the Red Planet
Harnmaster 3rd Edition
Oldskull Swords and Sorcery
Adventurer Conqueror System II (ACKS)
Shadowdark
One Ring
Lord of the Rings RPG
Level Up 5E Advanced
Anime 5E
The Hero's Journey 2nd Edition
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition
--- Enemy Within (Campaign)
--- Doomstones (Campaign)
--- Castle Drachenfels (Adventure)
--- Death's Dark Shadow (Adventure)
--- Dying of the Light (Campaign)
--- Fear the Worse (Adventure)
--- Marienburg (City Adventure)
--- Middenheim (City Adventure)
--- Peril at Stopover (Adventure)
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition
Warriors and Warlocks (Mutants and Masterminds 2E Fantasy System)
Hero Kids
Shadow Sword Spell
Ancient Odysseys
Mazes and Minotaurs (Homage RPG)
The Black Hack 1st Edition
Castles and Crusades 8th Edition
--- Yggsburgh/Castle Zagyg (Megadungeon)
Star Frontiers
Champions 4th Edition
Crown and Skull RPG
Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (DCC)
Mutant Crawl Classics RPG (MCC)
Tiny Dungeon 2nd Edition
Esper Genesis
Phantasy Star
Powers and Perils
Dragonbane
Dragonslayer
Tales of the Valiant
Shadow of the Weird Wizard (evolved out of Shadow of the Demon Lord)
Fabula Ultima
Fantasy Age 2nd Edition
Shadowdark
Labyrinth Lord Revised and Expanded
Fateforge
Fast RPG
Daggerheart
Cosmere RPG
Codex Martialis
Mud, Blood, Rats RPG
Advanced Fantasy
Oath Hammer
OSRIC 3.0
Paleolithic
Cohors Cthulu
Star Adventurer
Household
Land of Eem
YS Age of Heroes
OVA
Mouse Guard RPG
Forbidden Lands RPG
Low Fantasy Gaming RPG
Warlock RPG (Inspired by Early British Gaming)
W.O.I.N. (What's Old is New)