Lacking Natural Simplicity (Posts about b/x)https://tkurtbond.github.io/categories/bx.atom2024-01-23T18:49:39ZT. Kurt BondNikolaBX Options: Class Builderhttps://tkurtbond.github.io/posts/2021/07/25/bx-options-class-builder/2021-07-25T15:17:09-04:002021-07-25T15:17:09-04:00T. Kurt Bond<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58611940-bx-options" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="BX Options: Class Builder" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627016897l/58611940._SX98_.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58611940-bx-options">BX Options: Class Builder</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21678093.Erin_D_Smale">Erin D. Smale</a><br>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4130207047">5 of 5 stars</a><br><br>
If you are looking for a way to customize existing classes or create new classes for B/X D&D style games, especially Old-School Essentials, this book is a wonderful resource. It breaks the original classes down into their fundamental parts and provides a simple system for building those parts into new or customized classes. It presents the breakdown for each of the original classes, then provides a list of class variants, customized versions of the original class, as well as sub-classes, heavily redesigned classes. For instance, for the Cleric, the class variants are: Cleric (Dead God), Cleric (God of Death), Cleric (God of Knowledge), Cleric (God of Life), Cleric (God of Nature), and Cleric (God of War); and the sub-classes are Crusader and Shaman. Class variants and sub-classes are presented for Cleric, Dwarf, Elf, Fighter, Halfling, Magic-User, and Thief. It also provides a version of Thief skills using the d6, other d6 skills that can be used in creating classes, some additional armour, weapons, and ammunition, an optional table for spell failure in appropriate circumstances (for example, when non-casters read a spell scroll), a table of special abilities gained by classes that have animal companions, differing depending on the animal in question, and options for characters to gain at high levels, beyond the limits of their level progression tables.<br><br>I'll definitely be using this in my next B/X-style game!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/13454227-t-kurt">View all my reviews at Goodreads</a>I wish the B/X and OD&D retro-clones had added a "Saving Throw" entry for spellshttps://tkurtbond.github.io/posts/2021/07/23/i-wish-the-bx-and-odd-retro-clones-had-added-a-saving-throw-entry-for-spells/2021-07-23T04:08:53-04:002021-07-23T04:08:53-04:00T. Kurt Bond<p>One simple improvement on B/X D&D and OD&D that wouldn't have been a
change in the rules, just a change in presentation, that I've wished
that the B/X and OD&D retro-clones had made was adding a “Saving
Throw” entry to their spell descriptions, like that of AD&D. As it
is, you have to read the spell description to figure out if a saving
throw is allowed and what it means.</p>
<p><cite>Basic Fantasy</cite>; <cite>Labyrinth Lord</cite> and <cite>Advanced Edition Companion</cite>;
<cite>Old-School Essentials</cite> <cite>Classic Fantasy</cite> and <cite>Advanced Fantasy</cite>;
<cite>Sword & Wizardry Complete</cite>, <cite>Core</cite>, and <cite>Whitebox</cite>; and <cite>Delving
Deeper</cite>, all fail to do this.</p>
<p>I'm <strong>really</strong> surprised that <cite>Old-School Essentials</cite> didn't do this,
with all its other improvements to the presentation of B/X style
games.</p>
<p>Oh well. Maybe OSE will add it in a later edition.</p>
<p><em>Last edited: 2021-07-25 13:23:05 EDT</em></p>
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