Worlds Without Number - Part 1: Open-World Old-School RPG Review

[@QuestingBeast]

Get 10% off of Into the AM apparel: bit.ly/IntoTheAM10 Get the abridged, free PDF version: bit.ly/WWNFree Get the complete edition in PDF or Print: bit.ly/WWNComplete Get the deluxe, offset edition of Worlds Without Number: bit.ly/WWNOffset

[@yugiohsc]

I really thought this said “World without Numbers” and as a mathematician, I was extremely curious about how they managed to concoct a whole world where numbers don’t exist

[@gen-x-dad]

yep, i thought the same thing...as a non-mathematician i was good at math when it was just numbers...then y'all started to put letters into my math..

[@DaDunge]

When I first heard the name I thoght it was a ttrpg system without math.

[@demongustavditters7150]

Your a mathematician? Name every number

[@jerrywhoomst1116]

@@DaDunge same I thought that was going to be sick.

[@DevineInnovations]

NNNNNEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[@Baulderstone1]

The best thing about shock damge is that using a shield negates it. I'm always annoyed by the way shields provide so little defense in D&D relative to their usefulness in real combat. WWN makes shields a very useful option.

[@Yora21]

Yeah, shields are actually really good in this. As is grappling.

[@AlVainactual]

Negates it once per turn or once per combat if I remember correctly. It's semi reliable

[@midshipman8654]

I think its also nice that it gives a mechanical reason why heavily armored individuals dont need sheilds. since depending on the weapons of their oponent, they wont be inflicting shock anyways. just like how later full plate knights often went into battle with 2 handed weapons since the sheild was largely redundant with good enough armor. this makes both sheilds and ultra heavy armorhave their own uses. it still makes sense a hauberk mail clade knight would have a shield, while a renaissance Maximilian armor would not. a lot of the book makes me think Kevin really put a lot of effort into even the historical use of a lot of weapons and equipment. Same with the Stilleto.

[@jasonnewell7036]

Reminds me of Dragon Warriors where a shield allowed you to successfully deflect a successful attack on a d6 roll of 1.

[@andrewwright1374]

This absolutely my favourite OSR system I've ever seen. Compatible with most of the great older adventures, it adds a massive amount of support for worldbuilding and higher level play. It has skills, feats, plenty of player options but it keeps the focus on helping the GM run the game. If you've ever wanted a toolkit to build your own sandbox you'll never find anything better. Thanks for reviewing this, Ben.

[@PulpHerb]

As for why it took so long, I asked Kevin during an earlier KS when we would get his version of BX with all his world building tools. He more or less said he was waiting until he'd have something more to offer than just another version of BX with the setting tools from Red Tide attached. I think it was worth the wait.

[@Parker8752]

So, system strain only goes down when you sleep if you have sufficient shelter/warmth, food, and water. If you don't have sufficient shelter or warmth, it just remains as it is. Your first day without sufficient food, you don't gain any system strain, but every day after that you gain an additional point. Your first day with insufficient water you gain 2 points of system strain, and every day after you gain 3 more. If this drives your system strain above your CON score, you die. So the more healing you've had (magical or otherwise), the more dangerous starvation and thirst become.

[@AlVainactual]

When WWN was released I was sick of 5e and wanted a system that was OSR but without silly subsystems like AD&D and more fleshed out than B/X. WWN is now my favorite system. I love it so much that I don't think I'll ever switch to another fantasy rpg unless it's something else from Kevin Crawford like Godbound for epic level campaigns. I haven't bought a physical rulebook in the last decade but I'm seriously considering it. I love this shit so much my comment looks like a paid ad. It's not. The game is just that good.

[@jackhill3273]

With this comment along with the video I'm gonna have to get this now! Thank you!

[@AlVainactual]

@@jackhill3273

[@viliharkonen3778]

Heavily considering it myself too!

[@ssaberwolf]

Forbidden Lands is nice too

[@Yora21]

I got the free pdf a while back and only really looked into it a few weeks ago. And I absolutely love it. The system strain mechanic is just brilliant, and the grappling system is not easy enough to remember so that it can actually be used in play for once, it's also actually effective to take down enemies that are threat. It's now my favorite D&D hack by a long shot.

[@colerape]

Offset versions of these books are available at Sine Nomine Publishing.

[@pranefuji]

Been using Stars without Number for a variety of RPGs and writing. He makes really good / useful stuff. Excited to see this review. Ah, looks like I'll need to wait to see the next video. Wanna see that world building stuff

[@vastlyblank]

Thanks for the review! I like the magical workings section. Great time and resource sink for mages and you get to affect permanent changes to the world. It's always bugged me in fantasy rpgs that there are these magical workings out there with never any mechanical, in game way of them being created. Now a PC or NPC has a mechanical process/justification say for creating a magical golem like guard creature that isn't tied to a spell that may or may not exist in whatever game is being played. Love the modularity too! You can cherry pick bits and pieces without having to take the whole book if you want

[@alicesmith5361]

Exactly this! I picked up WWN during the OGL fiasco and the workings system blew me away. That and the renown system; it's incredible to have real rules for players to make such wondrous structures and changes (and magic items to boot!)

[@midshipman8654]

Sweet! i really appreciate you making this. you have a good way of getting to the point and going over all the major elements while not waffling on or underexplaining stuff. Its just a really good wholistic review. Ive been reading wwn and have heard good things about it! I really like how mechanically solid it is. straddles the line of having a decent bit of crunch, but not pages and pages of excessive info. Having each topic taking up 2 pages is great format wise. so far, it might turn out to be my go to b/x ish sort of game. cant believe their not much content about it on youtube yet. Its also nice that I might be able to use some swn stuff and make a spelljammer-esque adventure of spacemagic.

[@lazarus-lake]

I wish I would've been able to get the offset print! I hope they do another kickstarter like they did with Stars Without Number.

[@teavo3808]

laz have you heard about cities without number?

[@evrypixelcounts]

I've been working on my own RPG, and now I realize that most of my ideas were already in WWN.

[@drivers99]

Don’t let that stop you!

[@dminard1]

As a fan of 3e who loves OSR's less super hero-esq feel this sounds so good.

[@Parker8752]

I haven't had the opportunity to play it, unfortunately, but based on the mechanics it really does look like a mix of the best bits of the two.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

That makes two of us.

[@svankensen]

If you have time, please review the elixirs in your next video. They are a hidden feature. reasonably priced, straightforward to craft, weird and interesting effects. If your mage is not making strange blue powders to snort, and anchoring themselves to a place in order to teleport back there later, you are missing half the fun of being a mage.

[@jbirmingham2380]

The artwork in this book is phenomenal! The magic oasis appearing around 23 minutes in sold me on this book.

[@DaDunge]

Foci is the plural of focus and the c in foci is like the c in focus.

[@SwiftJustice]

It's either.

[@Brigtzen]

well what is it then?@@SwiftJustice

[@TheAurgelmir]

The free version of this book on drive-through RPG comes with a second page for the Character Sheet, which contains a lot of the things that was mentioned as missing.

[@MrHoleinthevoid]

Just got my book today! If I knew about the offset print I totally would have got that one. So glad you are reviewing it! Love your channel and your efforts!

[@messenger3478]

This is amazing! It has a lot of what I want in a game. I really want this now even though I a few games I like that I still need to play!

[@Kaiyanwang82]

Seeing skills math-ed as less swingy (2d6 vs 1d20) is intriguing and kinda overdue, on a general level of course, not on the specific authors part.

[@mateofantasma]

Bought this one, looks great and can probably use the tables in my game right now. Thanks for sharing!

[@Yora21]

Shock damage does not only speed up combat by increasing the average damage per round. Getting the AC required to ignore shock damage from most attacks is pretty easy. So what it really does is giving a big advantage to character who wear armor against anyone who does not. Getting caught in a fight without your armor now appears much more unpleasant, even if you fight enemies who barely can hit anything.

[@johnlong3570]

Been waiting for your review on this one!

[@dicequixote]

Me too!

[@colinflanigan9153]

3:58 Will the One D&D have any effect on this?

[@stillmattwest]

Looks super cool so far! I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this system and I've had my eye on SWN for a long time now.

[@IVIaskerade]

A few years ago, when 5e was starting to wear a little thin, I threw together a bunch of rough ideas of how I'd rework the classes to be simpler and easier to run but also more interesting and thematic. When Worlds Without Number released, I was reminded of that text file and went back to look over it - lo and behold, the game does almost all of them and far more. It's amazing how simple changes make for a game that I'd say is almost entirely superior to 5e.

[@legomacinnisinc]

I am so excited for this! I will be ripping a ton of this for my 5E campaign. I always love Crawfords work.

[@Sabra13]

I would be interested in using this with 5e what were some of things you were able to use?👍

[@legomacinnisinc]

@@Sabra13 Hm...probably a fantasy based and hex based faction turn. I've wanted to convert the Stars Without Number faction system to D&D for a long time but never wanted to put in the work. I'm real interested in the magic and spells. The whole idea of making long term magical effects and your own magic items and mods is just something that I and my players have wanted supported in D&D for a long time.

[@andressblabla]

Amazing review! You should really pick up Cortex Prime, I'd love to see your take on it, it's a really good system, the art-style is phenomenal and they have amazing GM advice. It's also great for open world campaigns.

[@QuestingBeast]

This channel focuses on OSR and OSR-like systems

[@TheAurgelmir]

Picked the free version up. It's more or less exactly what I need for my next campaign. Sort of glad WotC screwed themselves, that way I have become a lot more open to trying new systems, since I no longer have the same "buy in" as before.

[@VosperCDN]

I'm so torn on getting this in print, or just PDF .. I've got so many rpg's already (who doesn't?) that I don't really need yet another full system, but there's so many good ideas that I feel could be used piecemeal for the system(s) I already have in print. Thank you for the review, and looking forward to the next part.

[@Yora21]

There is a free version of the pdf that includes all the crunch. You can take look at that before you decide if you want to spend money on it.

[@VosperCDN]

@@Yora21 Oh cool, thanks!

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Very cool!! I'm liking this. Also looking forward to the world building tools particularly...

[@AlexnicholasBlakely]

good break down, easy listening

[@federicoriva3592]

This is Gold. Thank you Ben!

[@misomiso8228]

Good old Kevin Crawford!!!

[@scionofliberty2967]

So would you not need something like the Mythic GM Sim with this for solo play?

[@TroubledViking]

Do you have any suggestions for campaigns to run that are suitable and compatible with WWN?

[@LorakVoyager]

Wanted to mention that roll20 now has a character sheet made for the game.

[@razorboy251]

I am playing in WWN campaign right now and I've also used the book a lot both for setting building and in a couple of my current campaigns. It's an amazing GM tool, but I'm not greatly fond of the system. It's fine, it's not quite OSR enough, but nor is it quite as just fun to play as D&D5e. There are some interesting ideas in it but mostly I'd rather play other systems and then use the rest of the book (so that's like 90% of the book) as great GM tool. Thank you for finally reviewing it!

[@NewWorldSinner]

A scene is literally a scene

[@Vodrilus]

I got the POD version along with SWN, but both books were dented during delivery. 😖 Dtrpg sent replacements and they're waiting at the local post office. Fingers crossed...

[@psytek1978]

Sooooooo muuuuuuuuch teeeeeeeeeext

[@paavohirn3728]

I've delved into my free pdf little by little since it came out. It's pretty overwhelming and I'm definitely considering a physical copy eventually. The world building material is great and I think the system is very inspiring as well for adding to my homebrew.

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@vgmaster9]

Wonder if the next game will be about superheroes, called "Heroes Without Number".

[@himurogentoku7117]

I only have the free version of Worlds Without Number but it's already 358 pages. How many pages is the deluxe version?? 700 pages?

[@Parker8752]

Only about 400 pages - it's basically a collection of additional cool options, such as more heroic PCs (with more hp and some extra abilities), legates (essentially epic level PCs), some extra mage traditions from the default setting, and some additional tables for GMs. You get the overwhelming majority of the game just in the free version. I'd still say it's worth getting - there's some really nice stuff in there - but you're not missing out too much with just the free version.

[@himurogentoku7117]

@@Parker8752 Thank you so much for the reply Hector. I understand. I'll surely save up for the deluxe version.The Deluxe Version of Stars Without Number is amazing. I love Mr. Kevin Crawford's work.

[@ssaberwolf]

He used a lot of stock art, unfortunately. Saves a lot of money, but it could have been much, much better with commissioned art.

[@deecap71]

Not his first trip into fantasy, see Scarlet Heroes.

[@bugzilla1]

Hell, even before that, he wrote the Red Tide source book for Labyrinth Lord which ended up being the setting for Scarlet Heroes.

[@aloneinthelabyrinth]

Also Spears of the Dawn, inspired by medieval Africa.

[@AlVainactual]

Also the Petal hack, a Tekumel hack of SWN v2.

[@aloneinthelabyrinth]

@@AlVainactual not the same author

[@AlVainactual]

@@aloneinthelabyrinth Same author, wrong game name. It was Swords of the Petal Throne

[@dubuyajay9964]

Review of "Stars Without Number" plz?

[@svenk5221]

Why have I heard about Kevon Crawford´s work just yet? I feel like I lived behind a rock. This is incredible and most of it is free. I don´t get it...

[@samchafin4623]

Tried reading the free PDF version of this, and just could not get through it. There weresome neat ideas, world-building, and mechanics, but the way it was written and laid out, it absolutely refused to stick in my head.

[@richardextall2002]

Pages and pages of huge blocks of text puts me off. I love reading, but when running a game I don't want to refer to a novel.

[@patrickfitzpatrick2945]

Agreed. High quality stuff, but way too much for me. Bible-sized books makes me tired. lol.

[@QuestingBeast]

@@patrickfitzpatrick2945 The nice thing is that all of the rules systems are highly modular. So you only have to use the parts that you like. Anyway, 75% of the book is the toolkit, which I think is what most people will use the book for.

[@patrickfitzpatrick2945]

@@QuestingBeast All true, but that assumes I read it all in order to know what to exclude, and for me personally, its daunting. Anyhow. Great vid as always! Appreciate your hard work. Cheers!

[@beaudacious]

Part 2 is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHbNo6GChcdrhs0

[@ericdunsker2550]

This seems like a well thought out system, but... no clerics? No gods? Is Sine Nomine saying the only reason for clerics is healing? I've always played my clerics as a sort of moral compass for my party and occasionally have affected the storyline in significant ways. Does WWN acknowledge the character motivation aspect of roleplaying or do they not want to deal with it in the system?

[@itsyagirlVofficial]

Seems cool but not the game for me.

[@digitalspecter]

Classes and levels feel so.. artificial and restricting. World building and GM sections are very good in X without number books and I think they're worth getting/reading for that reason alone.. but the actual game system is not very inspiring.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

I am so tired of hearing this trite meme.

[@mikegould6590]

Foci - plural of Focus. Hard "C". "Foke-eye"

[@QuestingBeast]

I looked this up, and apparently both a hard C and a soft C are acceptable.

[@philalethes]

@@QuestingBeast Depends if you're tying to say it in Latin or "English", really. There are no soft Cs in Latin.

[@mikegould6590]

@@QuestingBeast In 55 years I have never heard "focus" (hard C) turned from singular into the plural "Foe-Sigh" (soft C), including from the doctor of English literature in my friend group.

[@mikegould6590]

@Hans Otterson As a rebuttal, the "I before E, except after C" has more exceptions than followings. English breaks it's own rules.

[@tracecalloway1583]

@@mikegould6590 While true from a purely numerical point of view, more common words are more likely to follow that rule of thumb. It's also just a mnemonic to help people remember how to spell words they're likely to spell not a rule English has to follow. Saying both are accepted pronunciations is the most "English" thing, especially American English

[@TheThakattack]

Has he done shadow of the demon lord before?

[@QuestingBeast]

I have not

[@Raphaelus13]

Its not really OSR, but a rethinking of the ideas of modern D&D. its a cool package, though. A new version with a different setting focus is coming.

[@TheThakattack]

@@Raphaelus13 I’m sorry I thought it was osr, my bad. I just discovered it

[@lucaricciardi8253]

Amazingly boring