The Old Warlock Podcast #19

[@CaptCook999]

Squad Leader was a great game! Was watching 2 of my friends play. The one seemed to be doomed saying he couldn't see a win in this one. That is until he set the woods on fire! Totally changed the odds for him forcing the enemy to retreat and creating a smoke screen for him to move his troops into position. Most exciting game ever!!

[@Wraithing]

If you're going full-on TOW nostalgia for Podcast #20, there has to be a return to mooching around the flea markets! Thanks so much, Jim, for the mention of Squad Leader. Back when I started gaming I remember seeing at least one box of the game in our wargaming club; but we were the table of young 'pups' playing Traveller and the first edition of Twilight 2000 at the time. Doing a quick Web-dive into Squad Leader, it's fascinating to see the similarity of some of the combat mechanics to the high-realism, high-lethality Phoenix Command and Living Steel RPG (1987), which I've been re-reading (after blowing the dust off my original books) this past month. Irresistible and diverting rabbit hole to fall into. BTW: kinda back to the flea markets, or at least Mayberry Mania, I wonder if you've seen Steve Johnson's new Castaways and Conspiracies adventure (and, obviously, potential campaign) based on Gilligan's Island with a few twists. Not sure it's out on general release - the KS is fulfilling, so it'll be soon. Great fun. Cheers for the chatter. KYSAF

[@theoldwarlock]

Thanks - I'll check out Castaways and Conspiracies!

[@torinmccabe]

"I don't understand people who PLAY sports. Isn't sports just something you WATCH the professionals do on television?"

[@ken.droid-the-unique]

I agree that the Deck of Contradiction was very cool. I find it very inspiring

[@theoldwarlock]

Glad you liked it KD!

[@Scutifer_Mike]

David Wesely’s Braunstein was definitely THE precursor to D&D. I’d like to more about that time in our gaming history

[@theoldwarlock]

Doing some research on it now. Peterson's book talks about it a lot but I'm trying to ferret out more.

[@Scutifer_Mike]

@@theoldwarlock the Secrets of Blackmoor documentary is quite detailed

[@VMSelvaggio]

Squad Leader was released by Avalon Hill in 1977. I remember we still carried it in my "Game Keeper" store that was owned by WotC when I worked there back in 2000.

[@antonymcewan9987]

Hey! I fell behind a bit with your videos. First off, I notice that Alex is in a different space in this video. Is he safe to be let out on his own? Interesting points in this video. I played AD&D back whrn it was fresh and new, and I played it with a group of schoolfriends. Now when we left school and split up, and all went different ways, it didn't really occur to me that I could play with different people! It was like it was just "our thing", you know? Anyway, all through the next 20 years or so, fantasy, D&D etc was always in the back of my mind. I played the computer games, read fantasy, remembered fondly, tracked the release of new editions, etc, but it was only when I was INVITED into a game with friends I'd made at work that I played again - and continue to play and run games. One of the few benefits of the modern world is that it's easier to now to find people with the same levels of wierdness as oneself. If I hadn't been invited into that game which rekindled my active playing, I wonder if I would have got involved again? I really don't know - but I'm so glad I accepted the invitation!

[@theoldwarlock]

Nothing has burned down since he's been out so, so far so good. We've had similar experiences with the group we learned to play with. It was almost as though the game was only meant to be played with the people you learned it with. Like you, we're glad to have expanded the group.

[@j.rinker4609]

It's interesting what field crews do on their off hours. Our paleo crew has included people who taught swing dancing, someone who writes and sings parody songs, artists, a Rubik's cube enthusiast, someone learning to play chanter (lead up to bagpipes), playing board/card games like Cards Against Humanity, Concept, Taphonomy, Poetry for Cavemen and even a role-playing game (I think using Kids with Bikes rules).

[@ChrisField-eg8lb]

Love me some Squad Leader....And War and Peace, I have often thought of what kind of wargame could be designed with more than just d6 as an option......

[@CaptCook999]

I agree that some magic items need to be touched to be activated. Or at least be concentrated on. Some items like wands need to be described such as "it is bone and has a large crystal on one end". So you know which end to point at the bad guy and there's no mistakes.

[@ken.droid-the-unique]

I need those thunder bunny stats! That sounds like fun.

[@theoldwarlock]

Here you go: HD 1/2 to 1+1, AC6, Speed 28, Dext 14-18, Numbers 100-100,000, Attacks 2 kicks for 1 each, 1 bite for 1-3 (which is diseased 1-3 turns after bite victim is dizzy and has blurred vision -3 on all attributes). Travelling in large herds, their sound is like distant thunder.

[@JohnLee-cc4kx]

Also starship troopers had that mapping feature...

[@FinieousFingers1976]

Drunk blogging the stream. (Well, I am working on it. It was a long and challenging week.) Alex kind of looks like Cookie Monster if you close one eye and turn your head a little to the right. You guys deserve way more subscribers. The question I am asking was Alex just pressing the bar, or did he add a couple weights? ;) I love charts and tables, but then I am OCD. And I remember Panzer General. Love board games. Clue is awesome. Professor Jim did it in the library with the dice bag. They were very heavy metal dice, just saying. Squad Leader was awesome too. Yes, society beats it out of you unfortunately except for a fortunate few (well, there were girls, clubs, and music parties too. I did grow up in Athens GA watching REM and the B52s pre-national success doing clubs and Frat parties. Don't ask.). Don't know that game. I have the NATO game though. Something is just special about the old board games with little cardboard playing pieces. I do miss the old ADD 1st edition that was chart based compared to newer editions. Statistics rule. Weapon speeds impacting initiative, You took a friendly fire burning hands and shouldn't everything you are wearing should make a saving throw or be destroyed? Where did that all go? I admit it was cumbersome. Jim does seem to enjoy TPK though. Does Alex have back-up characters pre-rolled? How does Jim integrate a 1st level character into a party of 5th level characters since I don't think anyone makes it to 6th level? Thunder Bunnies. It's like 1975 D&D all over again. Thunder Tribbles? Say goodbye. Good thing you guys know who you are. I was wondering which one of you was the Old Crusty Warlock. Great podcast lads. And sorry if this post makes no sense, but it was done live as I was watching the video. Lot of fun and lot of great info. Cheers gentlemen.🍷

[@FinieousFingers1976]

I think I should drunk blog all the streams, but depends on the release day. This just happened to fall on a Friday of a holiday weekend. LOL Again sorry guys, but I had fun watching ...

[@theoldwarlock]

Thanks FF!

[@j.rinker4609]

If you are going to give monsters possible magic resistance against a particular player using a particular spell, I think you should ALSO give players possible magic resistance against monsters/environment. It's a cool idea, but for balance I think it should apply to BOTH allies and enemies.

[@ChrisField-eg8lb]

Risk was a role-playing game where everyone plays themselves.

[@theoldwarlock]

You are exactly right with that!

[@sketchasaurrex4087]

I need to know more about Thunder Bunnies. Is this a twist of the fearsome rabbit from Search for the Holy Grail?

[@theoldwarlock]

I don't think so but Holy Grail came out in '75 and the AG in '77. Maybe the rabbit from HG got separated from its herd?

[@tombraider862]

Public Education is the source in the US. You are discouraged from using your imagination. No what if? Type questions. This was one of several reasons I wanted to home school our kids.

[@ChrisField-eg8lb]

discouraged from using critical thinking.

[@brianevans9719]

Fortress America? I enjoyed that game

[@theoldwarlock]

Our favorite was Invasion America but Fortress America was good as well.

[@ChrisField-eg8lb]

I hope I never grab the wrong end of a wand of fireballs. That's not the way I want to transition into my next state,

[@99zxk]

42 hundred people of good taste

[@theoldwarlock]

Thank you!

[@jaedeng2428]

I’ve never heard of Squad Leader, but I recommend you both check out the modern war game called “Bolt Action”. I bet you’d both enjoy it!

[@jaedeng2428]

Also, I recommend Jim check out Shadowdark’s rules for the spell casting and the “Wizard mishap table.” I could especially see him enjoying the table.

[@theoldwarlock]

I've recently taken up both Bolt Action and Shadowdark! Loads of fun!

[@solomani5959]

Controversial opinion - I don’t think barunstein is the same lineage as d&d. it’s more an offshoot of larping.

[@ChrisField-eg8lb]

Chainmail.