Mythras Miscellany

I thought that I would mention two cool things for Mythras that might be of some interest.

The first is the Unearthed Companion for Mythras Classic Fantasy. Here’s the blurb from the Design Mechanism folks: 

Delve deeper than ever before, with the Classic Fantasy: Unearthed Companion, the highly anticipated expansion for Mythras Classic Fantasy! 

Classic Fantasy has become a popular branch of the Mythras family, blending the Mythras rules with traditional dungeoneering adventure mechanics. The Classic Fantasy core book presented everything needed for Ranks 1 to 3. This volume, long in the making, expands Classic Fantasy to Ranks 4 and 5, with updates and expansions to certain rules, but more importantly providing the additional magic, monsters and treasure for higher Rank characters and adventures. 

Unearthed Companion is compatible with Classic Fantasy core, and Classic Fantasy Imperative.  

More information here.

Classic Fantasy provides rules and guidelines for running Mythras games with the flavour of “Gygaxian” Dungeons & Dragons (i.e., first edition AD&D). Why do this? Perhaps you like the ethos and adventures of early TSR-era D&D/AD&D – but like combat to be interesting.

I have yet to play Classic Fantasy myself. But I’d be interested in running a short campaign using it someday, perhaps focused on an adapted version of a classic AD&D or D&D module (like Tom Moldvay’s The Lost City or the Saltmarsh series).

The second item is something that hopefully will be coming out in 2025: Mythic Armorica.

I assume that this will be a supplement for Mythic Britain (but am not certain about that).

Anyhow, Happy Boxing Day!

My grievances concerning 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons: a final statement

Let me start with some background about what “fantasy” means to me and hence what I generally look for in fantasy role-playing games (FRPGs).

I saw The Lord of the Rings animated movie when I was 9 or 10 at a repertory theatre. Then I read The Hobbit. That got me really interested in fantasy stuff. It’s what motivated me to then ask my parents for the Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set for my birthday. (It was the one written by Dr. Holmes – hence it had those annoying chits instead of dice.)

As an adolescent I became interested in other works of fantasy – especially, in the early-mid 1980s, Michael Moorcock and Robert E. Howard (along with a lot of related pastiche “Conan” stories) – because of D&D and AD&D. The “Melnibonéan Mythos” in the Deitites and Demigods was one of my favourites in the book even before I read anything by Moorcock. 

 

Given these influences, I would say that Tolkien, Moorcock, and Howard had the most influence in shaping how I interpreted D&D/AD&D when I got into FRPGs in the early-mid 1980s. (I eventually would go on to play games directly based on the writings of Tolkien and Moorcock; indeed, these eventually supplanted AD&D in my high-school group.) Perhaps this is why – more than any particular set of rules – the more recent Wizards of the Coast versions of the game leave me cold. Over the past 25 years the game has felt more like “fantasy superheroes” than the kind of fiction that I had associated with it – and, I suppose, still do, when I think of “classic D&D.”

Turning to my experience running a “World of Greyhawk” campaign using the fifth edition rules – and leaving aside the game’s overall “ethos” and “aesthetics” (including its unfortunate recent turn towards “twee”) – there are three elements of the game that especially came to vex me:

a. Its “superhero” “no-wounds-are-serious” system of rest and recovery; 

b. Its “unmagical” magic system; and

c. Its flavourless, often tedious combat system.

(For further explanation of each of these points, go to the posts to which I’ve linked above.)

I recently managed to sell most of my WotC 5e D&D collection (I kept the core rules and a few books I liked, such as Saltmarsh and Yawning Portal). I used a local used bookstore for the sake of convenience. It felt good to free up the shelf space. I don't know why I bothered getting most of those books originally – even when I was playing 5e, I barely used most of them. (I stopped buying WotC stuff years ago when I realized this, as well as the declining quality of the line.)

I will say this for 5e D&D: it’s far better than 3e was. I mean, if 5e D&D were the only FRPG available, I would play it – whereas I would just abandon the hobby if 3e was the only option. And I would not rule out occasionally playing 5e D&D in the future (say, running a game for a friend’s kids or something like that). And I would be happy to play the Middle-earth variant, The Lord of the Rings RPG (indeed, I greatly enjoyed that game’s predecessor, Adventures in Middle-earth, having run a successful campaign about seven years ago).

But as for my “main” FRPG, I’ll never use 5e D&D again. Hence, I don’t have any interest in the new 2024 books. There are just too many superior alternatives (including, of course, earlier editions of D&D/AD&D, and related “retro-clones” and “near clones”).

Mythras Imperative enters the Age of the Orc

The Classic Fantasy Imperative variant of Mythras already is offered under the ‘ORC’ license. Soon an expanded version of Mythras Imperative will be offered under the ORC license as well!

Here’s a brief description:

This edition of Mythras Imperative has additional rules for character creation, firearms, and vehicles. Like Classic Fantasy Imperative, it is completely open using the ORC license and will have an accompanying SRD. The PDF is completely free, and there will be a Print on Demand edition for those wanting a physical copy.

The Design Mechanism hopes to release the new version of Mythras Imperative in December.

Classic Fantasy Imperative now available!

Classic Fantasy is the Mythras version of classic (1970s and 1980s) “Dungeons & Dragons.” The “Imperative” version is a somewhat stripped-down version of CF – think “Basic” D&D rather than “Advanced” – but a complete game (i.e., it does not require the use of the Mythras core rules) and offered under the “ORC” License. 

If I weren’t currently focused on developing my “Ukrasia” setting for a future Against the Darkmaster campaign (and already playing in a Mythras campaign) I’d be sorely tempted to use CFI to run a classic adventure like B4: The Lost City.

Here’s the announcement from the folks at The Design Mechanism:

It's here...

Classic Fantasy Imperative introduces role-players to old-school dungeoneering and high adventure through the lens of the Mythras rule system. A complete game, with all you need for play (barring dice), Classic Fantasy Imperative provides full character creation, with four classes (Cleric, Fighter, Mage and Rogue), four separate cultures, and six races. Extensive rules are provided for Class optimization and Rank abilities, along with a comprehensive system of skills, innovative combat mechanics, and an extensive list of spells and magical effects. The book rounds out with sample monsters and enemies, and magic items. As it is based on the Mythras games system, Classic Fantasy Imperative is fully compatible with the Mythras range of games published by The Design Mechanism.

Classic Fantasy Imperative is a broad canvas intended for individual and third-party development. It is published under the ORC License, meaning that its Licensed Material content can be freely used and adapted, and even combined with other ORC Licensed systems. Developers are free to create their own variations, supplements, adventures and expansions, as long as they abide by the terms of the ORC license.

Classic Fantasy Imperative is available as a free, 155-page PDF with an accompanying Word file containing the entirety of the game text as a System Reference Document (SRD). The game is also available as a Print on Demand (POD) softcover book, priced at $29.99, from The Design Mechanism webstore and Lulu. A POD version will be available through DrivethruRPG in due course.

The Design Mechanism store
https://thedesignmechanism.com/free-downloads/
https://thedesignmechanism.com/publications/rulebook/

Lulu
https://www.lulu.com/.../paperback/product-kyzjvq.html...

DrivethruRPG
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/.../Classic-Fantasy-Imperative

Don your armor, grasp your holy symbol, memorize your spells, and ensure you have all your lockpicking gear. Rumour has it that someone at the tavern is seeking adventurers for a special task, and your group may just fit the bill…

[The usual suspects…]