First or early experiences with BECMI / D&D
Sept 1, 2021 18:55:53 GMT
Ironnerd, The Perilous Dreamer, and 1 more like this
Post by hengest on Sept 1, 2021 18:55:53 GMT
I'd be interested to hear about people's first experiences with BECMI or D&D overall, whatever version, in whatever context.
As I said in my into post here, I first encountered the game at recess under the tutelage of a slightly older kid. Can't remember his name now, sure wish I could (if I ever figure it out, I'll let you all know). A small set of bleachers ("the bench") was where you had to sit during recess if you had committed some kind of crime. I first sat there in first grade (crime: entering the room after an authorized activity, finding no teacher there and everyone sitting in silence, and asking what was going on) and on a number of other occasions. Although sometimes I sat there just to keep someone company, and I'm not sure which kind this was.
Anyway, to be on-topic about it, I remember the guy had at least a couple dice and a piece of notebook paper with some sort of map or room drawn on it. Was he running a pre-made adventure? Something he made up during class? No idea, but it seems bold to me now. He had at least one floppy book with him, I suppose some portion of BECMI (likely B, I guess). I remember only fragments of what he said: it was good to be a cleric because you could fight and cast spells (did I even know the phrase "cast a spell" before this?), clerics had to "chant" (another new one for me), something about a mace. I remember no explanation at all of the basic idea of the game, such as is found at the beginning of just about every major clone.
This didn't last long. Later, I was involved (as "the kid") at a church group of adults. My folks knew all those people and assumed they were fine (and they were fine) and let me stay out til late with them. They played AD&D modules. I remember that it was fun although I was probably not the world's greatest 14-15 year-old player. I was lucky that those guys let me play, very lucky.
A couple years off, then, but I got several AD&D hardbacks at used bookstores (for about a dollar, as I recall), memorized them and was generally obsessed with the flavor. To me, the AD&D DM guide was not a guide to worldbuilding or reffing. It was a book for how things work in this alternate world that is called a "game." And I have to say I think that's an achievement, or at least a memorable experience of a consumer product!
At the end of high school, I played a bit of White Wolf stuff with some friends. D&D was considered too hokey and "dungeon-crawly." No one had the notion of DIY; you had to do what was in the book. So, White Wolf (Mage) was the thing: storytelling was in and the magic system was considered to be creative, and so on. I have to say, I remember having fun.
In my 20s I played 3E with friends on a chatbox with some basic mapping software, dice code, etc. Loved it. We played once a week for maybe two years. I didn't love the system, but the ref kind of took care of most of it. Again, I think she ran modules, but hey, no problem.
In my early 30s I played Smallville for a season with friends. The woman who reffed did a nice job. It was really fun, too.
I guess a lot of it has been fun.
Anyway, in 2013 I discovered OSR stuff while on an extended "business trip." Man, did I ever get sucked in. In 2015 I discovered the Ruins of Murkhill forum and the rest (not much gaming, a lot of talking, learning, and planning) is history.
As I said in my into post here, I first encountered the game at recess under the tutelage of a slightly older kid. Can't remember his name now, sure wish I could (if I ever figure it out, I'll let you all know). A small set of bleachers ("the bench") was where you had to sit during recess if you had committed some kind of crime. I first sat there in first grade (crime: entering the room after an authorized activity, finding no teacher there and everyone sitting in silence, and asking what was going on) and on a number of other occasions. Although sometimes I sat there just to keep someone company, and I'm not sure which kind this was.
Anyway, to be on-topic about it, I remember the guy had at least a couple dice and a piece of notebook paper with some sort of map or room drawn on it. Was he running a pre-made adventure? Something he made up during class? No idea, but it seems bold to me now. He had at least one floppy book with him, I suppose some portion of BECMI (likely B, I guess). I remember only fragments of what he said: it was good to be a cleric because you could fight and cast spells (did I even know the phrase "cast a spell" before this?), clerics had to "chant" (another new one for me), something about a mace. I remember no explanation at all of the basic idea of the game, such as is found at the beginning of just about every major clone.
This didn't last long. Later, I was involved (as "the kid") at a church group of adults. My folks knew all those people and assumed they were fine (and they were fine) and let me stay out til late with them. They played AD&D modules. I remember that it was fun although I was probably not the world's greatest 14-15 year-old player. I was lucky that those guys let me play, very lucky.
A couple years off, then, but I got several AD&D hardbacks at used bookstores (for about a dollar, as I recall), memorized them and was generally obsessed with the flavor. To me, the AD&D DM guide was not a guide to worldbuilding or reffing. It was a book for how things work in this alternate world that is called a "game." And I have to say I think that's an achievement, or at least a memorable experience of a consumer product!
At the end of high school, I played a bit of White Wolf stuff with some friends. D&D was considered too hokey and "dungeon-crawly." No one had the notion of DIY; you had to do what was in the book. So, White Wolf (Mage) was the thing: storytelling was in and the magic system was considered to be creative, and so on. I have to say, I remember having fun.
In my 20s I played 3E with friends on a chatbox with some basic mapping software, dice code, etc. Loved it. We played once a week for maybe two years. I didn't love the system, but the ref kind of took care of most of it. Again, I think she ran modules, but hey, no problem.
In my early 30s I played Smallville for a season with friends. The woman who reffed did a nice job. It was really fun, too.
I guess a lot of it has been fun.
Anyway, in 2013 I discovered OSR stuff while on an extended "business trip." Man, did I ever get sucked in. In 2015 I discovered the Ruins of Murkhill forum and the rest (not much gaming, a lot of talking, learning, and planning) is history.
