tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post5832798287812318015..comments2023-06-08T08:26:07.304-05:00Comments on Advanced Gaming & Theory: The Complete Thief's Handbook: Book ReviewRipperXhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506064393275174920noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-10971961977606663372016-05-04T05:35:43.088-05:002016-05-04T05:35:43.088-05:00I tend to agree with everything you said - the sol...I tend to agree with everything you said - the sole reason I bought the books and was so happy I found actual physical copies, was so I could get away from the PC at the table. <br /><br />Like I said, I wish I could afford and have the space for all the books!<br /><br />Right now I think I've found a nice compromise, where I read all the obscure stuff on the PC and use analogues on game-day itself. Down the line, the goal is to go all analogue. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06758819882957808512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-92091415528425725032016-05-03T09:09:16.592-05:002016-05-03T09:09:16.592-05:00I don't like PDFs, Martin. I own them, well, a...I don't like PDFs, Martin. I own them, well, as much as one CAN own them. They aren't permanent, not like a book is. I don't buy into all of this digital age stuff. I want the book, and one can usually find what they want on-line now for a very reasonable price. Last year I picked up the Forgotten Realms box set for around $25, yes I had to shop around, but I wanted a physical copy. It didn't come with the MM sheets, but I bought it to be functional, I'm not a collector, so the MM sheets aren't something that I'm really going to use anyway. I wanted the booklets, the maps, and that is all. <br /><br />Not to say that this is always an option, I hate the collectable stuff. I'd love to get a decent Dark Sun boxset, but with prices for that product, that probably isn't going to happen. <br /><br />As far as computers at the table go, I avoid it. I either write in a notebook, or on the PC, sometimes both, but if it is on the PC I print off what I need. THAT is cool! A nice polished look for home-brewed adventure is amazing, my handwriting, especially when I'm writing fast, can be difficult to read, even for me, but I can glance at a printed copy and get everything quick.<br /><br />The only time the PC comes out is if somebody asks a question that I need to check my master notes for an answer, which happens. Other than that, it is turned off and in the corner. I can't fathom how folks play the game using only digital materials, it would drive me nuts! I want everything that I need right near me, and I want it now. I like looking at multiple things at once, and having to dodge through windows and tabs is not something that I willing to do. <br /><br />Always go physical! If you don't have a book, then don't use it on gameday, or print off just what you need. We sometimes have to resort to miniature play to resolve a situation; we've only got one book that details the rules, so I printed off a couple of pamphlets which we all can share to keep these rare rules consistent. RipperXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506064393275174920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-46639880027487488232016-05-03T05:48:12.260-05:002016-05-03T05:48:12.260-05:00I recently found a huge collection of 2nd Edition ...I recently found a huge collection of 2nd Edition at a small local store. Now, I have most/all books on PDF, but I still bought a Player's Handbook (2nd print), because it's really nice to have around the table and look things up.<br /><br />A thing I'd appreciate (and maybe more will) if you gave some words about how nice each book is to have in physical copy for quick reference or other reasons. We live in a digital age, etc. I love the physical books, but I honestly don't have the money or the space for the whole collection.<br /><br />I got DMG, Player's Handbook and Monster's Manual as physical copies. Any others you'd recommend getting in real life rather than PDF? Or Rather, is there any there are significantly easier to work with?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06758819882957808512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-43979402999050535162016-05-02T20:40:42.650-05:002016-05-02T20:40:42.650-05:00Re: Worksheet, I will post a link here if I find o...Re: Worksheet, I will post a link here if I find one on-line, if not, I will scan the copy I have and post in on Midlands Blog.<br /><br />I agree with your notion of Fantasy, however, at the level the Fantasy gets presented for D&D, a historical setting will add vividness and complexity, and that is the root of the problem. I will address this in greater detail when I review the Grand Duchy of Karameikos supplement, that came out in 1987. Stay tuned.Brooser Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08487438364129415650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-13739966774213433272016-04-29T16:16:07.338-05:002016-04-29T16:16:07.338-05:00I don't find it as a flaw, Brooser. The key wo...I don't find it as a flaw, Brooser. The key word is Fantasy. To impose historical setting into the book would serve only to create an necessarily limitation on the user. As it is currently written, if you want to set your world to a medieval England, you can. If you want to set it in some magical world of your own concoction, you can do that too. It doesn't say, This is how you HAVE to do it, it says "What if we tried doing this?" <br /><br />In regards to the street gang worksheets, are they available for free online somewhere? RipperXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506064393275174920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-7231548087578275822016-04-29T13:30:49.057-05:002016-04-29T13:30:49.057-05:00I agree that the Complete Book of Thieves is one o...I agree that the Complete Book of Thieves is one of the better books in the series. I think that this book embodies one of the major flaws of the AD&D 2nd Edition in that it dresses our own modern day society masquerading as medieval fantasy. Security system testers for the thieves' kits? Medieval security alarm systems? How about medieval forensics experts for analyzing tool and die marks? You know - those scratches around the lock that will allow modern detectives identify individual set of lock picks? Old art, as forensics goes, scratches on metal were first analyzed forensically in 1830's, though a forensic examination of a pistol was used to get a murder conviction in the US in 1700's. Old but, still not the middle ages of D&D.<br /><br />As to creating your own thieves' guilds, better idea than the system in the Complete Book of Thieves is to get a hold of one of those street gang history worksheets used by cops and social workers. It gets typically reduced to a single page form with meaningful questions and check-boxes. I tried filling one out for each of the thieves guilds in my campaign, and OMG, the ideas and inspiration, and the more colorful process in general!Brooser Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08487438364129415650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-34205993476292494572016-04-27T09:24:21.132-05:002016-04-27T09:24:21.132-05:00As far as getting a bang for your buck, PBHR2 nail...As far as getting a bang for your buck, PBHR2 nailed it, and it was one of those books that you didn't even know that you needed until you started reading it, and it was a great read! Even by today's standards, it has a good mix of Crunch and Fluff, which is rare to find in a 2e product. Sure, some of it went above and beyond what the average player uses, but it is nice to see that. It makes you want to ask the DM for a 1-on-1 session so that you can break into the castle of the richest flake in the city, just to see if you can get in, and get out again without being detected. RipperXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506064393275174920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370162161693557709.post-67748341695167853612016-04-27T08:22:33.321-05:002016-04-27T08:22:33.321-05:00One of the better "Complete XX" books, p...One of the better "Complete XX" books, probably my favorite. Nothing too gonzo, nothing too trivial, and I really enjoyed rolling up thieves' guilds. I wish all the books in this series evidenced as much thought and restraint.KenHRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613789646908929989noreply@blogger.com