Yesterday I came home from Continuum 2010, an excellent bi-annual roleplaying convention. Energised and revitalised by the ideas and conversations I had experienced, clutching a copy of the rather cool OpenQuest rulebook, I have been reflecting on what to do next within my own roleplaying hobby.
The answer, it turns out, lies with 100 possibilities.
My heart has been drawn back to d100 gaming.
You could see it coming…
Not many folk really read this blog, so perhaps you didn’t notice… but when, a few weeks ago, we ran our first session in the Dark Reich setting we used Chaosium’s Basic Roleplaying system. We also had a whale of a time.
d100 gaming has been around almost as long as roleplaying. It’s not too much of an exaggeration to point out that, as systems for gaming go, the d100 system has stood the test of time – some 30-40 years of honoured service to the cause.
It was no surprise then, when I reflect on it, to discover that if something works then you can seriously consider using it… and re-using it.
It was Newt Newport who did it.
Newt Newport is the author of OpenQuest. Having crashed into conversations between him and several other rather lovely roleplayers I had never met before, I was eventually involved in a gentle chat with the man himself.
Newt shared the why’s and how’s of his own journey into publishing both OpenQuest and the rather marvellous Monkey. One thought really stood out – the idea that from all of his gaming, from his own experience of play, taking what he enjoyed the most and sharing it with others was at the heart of D101 Games.
OpenQuest was born from the desire to do an easy set of d100 rules. Those rules, when I took a look at them, revealed themselves to be everything I needed to adapt d100 to Dark Reich and other gaming settings in my own hobby.
Where will the 100 possibilities begin?
It seems natural to pick up right where we are right now – in Ubel, seeking the chalice, and rolling d100 from time-to-time.
For me, the focus is drawn to the setting and the adventures we can have together with friends. The creation and development of Dark Reich inspires me… and OpenQuest takes away all worry of system-related issues.
This then is the first possibility: we can get gaming in Dark Reich… and everyone is welcome!
I completely managed to miss you at the con, though I was only there for a few hours on Saturday.
Planning to go to any more cons soon?
Yeah, shame to miss you Chris… but I did see your 6d6 cards around quite a bit.
As for future cons… well, I’m not sure. Post-Sept I think I may be pushed for time and cash. That said, I would love to!
Sounds interesting – you’ll have to show me the rules set on Friday. Started playing mainly D100 rule sets when started on this hobby – Rolemaster, etc.
Always seemed fun.
Cheers,
Ian.