Troll Lord Games

Well, chalk it up to being fashionably late but I've been recently interested in Lejendary Adventures. Mainly a thread over at the ODD74 boards asking if AD&D was Gary's definitive vision of fantasy gaming got me thinking about LA. In that thread, some posters - especially "jrt" (Jeffrey Talanian, perhaps?) - state that Gary really loved LA and was disappointed that it didn't catch on more. This endeared me more to the system and I am now looking to pick it up. That being said, I have some questions.

Hekaforge put out the core rulebook. Was it the only core book produced or did TLG do one?

Semi-related to the above question, how is the LA Essentials compared to the core book? I guess my question is how basic is it compared to the core rulebook?

Is the Hekaforge stuff and the TLG stuff 100% compatible? I assume it is.

What are some of the opinions of those who've played it?

Thanks!

Lord Dynel wrote:Well, chalk it up to being fashionably late but I've been recently interested in Lejendary Adventures. Mainly a thread over at the ODD74 boards asking if AD&D was Gary's definitive vision of fantasy gaming got me thinking about LA. In that thread, some posters - especially "jrt" (Jeffrey Talanian, perhaps?) - state that Gary really loved LA and was disappointed that it didn't catch on more. This endeared me more to the system and I am now looking to pick it up. That being said, I have some questions.

Hekaforge put out the core rulebook. Was it the only core book produced or did TLG do one?

Semi-related to the above question, how is the LA Essentials compared to the core book? I guess my question is how basic is it compared to the core rulebook?

Is the Hekaforge stuff and the TLG stuff 100% compatible? I assume it is.

What are some of the opinions of those who've played it?

Thanks!

I have the hekaforge core book and the TLG essentials, both are compatible as the essentials are just a very stripped down version of the core rules. I liked the game for what it was but find that I like more traditional forms of D&D to LA. One strength of LA is that it is very flexable.

concobar wrote:I have the hekaforge core book and the TLG essentials, both are compatible as the essentials are just a very stripped down version of the core rules. I liked the game for what it was but find that I like more traditional forms of D&D to LA. One strength of LA is that it is very flexable.

Okay, it's good to hear that they are compatible. That answers that!

Another thing, that I didn't mention in the OP, was that I've had a soft spot for skill-based systems for a little while now. GURPS, for example, is great but I think that (if anything) it suffers a little from having to remain completely balanced across every facet. I'm looking for a skill based fantasy game and LA seems to fit the bill. I looked at Rolemaster and while it does it well, there's a layer of complexity that is a little much. I get it and would love it, but my players wouldn't be very happy.

LA may be just the thing for you.

Check out the Essentials if you want to see how it works. Our group played for about 6 months. LA has some fantastic aspects. The ones I really like are: 1) the classless system (a character can be any combination of skills), and 2) the concept of skill bundles (Abilities), which rewards the player who is imaginative in deciding how have the character attempt something. Unfortunately, I feel it also has some strong limitations: 1) the d100 system (while it works great for “mid-level” characters) does not work well for low-level or high-level characters, and 2) all of the monsters are specifically designed for the system, so using “traditional” monsters (especially low-level ones) is difficult.

I own a signed copy of LA around here somewhere and for some reason never looked at it...may have to find it.

dunbruha wrote:Check out the Essentials if you want to see how it works. Our group played for about 6 months. LA has some fantastic aspects. The ones I really like are: 1) the classless system (a character can be any combination of skills), and 2) the concept of skill bundles (Abilities), which rewards the player who is imaginative in deciding how have the character attempt something. Unfortunately, I feel it also has some strong limitations: 1) the d100 system (while it works great for “mid-level” characters) does not work well for low-level or high-level characters, and 2) all of the monsters are specifically designed for the system, so using “traditional” monsters (especially low-level ones) is difficult.

Thanks for the reply, sir. Of course that leads to more questions but I'm not saddling you specifically with them...just to whoever's kind enough to answer!

I like the classless concept...might make for some interesting combinations. That leads me to a question, however - how does magic work in LA? Is it something anyone can learn, or does a character have to be built a certain way in order to be particularily proficient with magic?

dunbruha, you mention that the d100 system doesn't work at high and low levels. Care to elaborate? My first guess is that it's either too hard (low level) or too easy (high level) to succeed at something. Is this the case?

"Traditional monsters"...are there none in LA?

Lastly, I know there is a setting (Lejendary Earth) but was there a setting book for LA or was it just integrated in the syste, (akin to Greyhawk in 3.x D&D)?

Lord Dynel wrote: Thanks for the reply, sir. Of course that leads to more questions but I'm not saddling you specifically with them...just to whoever's kind enough to answer!

It has been quite a while since I have played, and I'm kind of foggy trying to remember. If anyone can correct me, please do...

Lord Dynel wrote:I like the classless concept...might make for some interesting combinations. That leads me to a question, however - how does magic work in LA? Is it something anyone can learn, or does a character have to be built a certain way in order to be particularily proficient with magic?

The rules for character creation are pretty complex. As I recall, you can build your character with any suite of abilities. There are some suggested paths (called Orders) available,

Lord Dynel wrote:dunbruha, you mention that the d100 system doesn't work at high and low levels. Care to elaborate? My first guess is that it's either too hard (low level) or too easy (high level) to succeed at something. Is this the case?

Yes. (not much elaboration, I know ) This was our experience.

Lord Dynel wrote:"Traditional monsters"...are there none in LA?

There are some, but most are unique. Which is cool, but it makes it hard to use other published modules, as it is hard to convert.

Lord Dynel wrote:Lastly, I know there is a setting (Lejendary Earth) but was there a setting book for LA or was it just integrated in the syste, (akin to Greyhawk in 3.x D&D)?

There is no separate setting book--lots of world info is in the Lejendary Rules (lots of new races). I don't have the Essentials, but I imagine there is less setting info there.

We had fun playing, but we switched to another game when someone else became the GM, and we have not gone back.

Well, here's my 2 cents

I have a lot of the books (well by have I mean I own them but they are in storage back in FL until I build my dream house or find one big enough that I can afford and move) and found the ideas behind them neat, but I was never able to play a LA game so can't talk smartly about the rules in play. I remember talking to Wulfgarn (I believe it was Wulf, but might be wrong) 4ish years ago when I first got the rules and he had played it and like it, so he would be able to answer your questions better than I could.

I like the idea that you could build you character to have any ability (in theory). Also, LA fit my idea for having a "high fantasy" and flexible home brew world better than C&C/D&D. - My normal C&C world is more historic/lower fantasy (think The War Lord movie with magic and monsters added) but when I read through LA I pictured Star fall & Princess Bride. However, that is just me so you might not chase that rabbit down the same hole.

Thanks guys, for all the insight!

Lurker, I find it interesting that a skill-based system leans toward a high fantasy feel (even if it's only your opinion, it's still interesting). I've often thought skill-based systems (GURPS and RM, come immediately to mind) as low magic in feel, but again that's my opinion.

Lord Dynel wrote:Thanks guys, for all the insight!

Lurker, I find it interesting that a skill-based system leans toward a high fantasy feel (even if it's only your opinion, it's still interesting). I've often thought skill-based systems (GURPS and RM, come immediately to mind) as low magic in feel, but again that's my opinion.

LA is not low-magic by any stretch. There are lots of spells.

Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

Julian Grimm wrote:Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

Perilous Journeys

Interesting. I hadn't seen this before.

That's odd the link is all jacked up...

Lord Dynel wrote:Thanks guys, for all the insight!

Lurker, I find it interesting that a skill-based system leans toward a high fantasy feel (even if it's only your opinion, it's still interesting). I've often thought skill-based systems (GURPS and RM, come immediately to mind) as low magic in feel, but again that's my opinion.

I know normally I default to at least a little lower magic (when looking at Erde or FR etc). That said, when I first read the rules I was in a mood to play something based on Princes Bride & Star Fall ... LA fit perfectly

LA is not low-magic by any stretch. There are lots of spells.

Rgr on that

JG, thanks for the link, I'll see if I can get it to work and give the rules a look see

Just try perilousjourneys.com and the link is right there on the front page.

I also found you can paste the link in your browser and get it to work. For some reason the site is not recognizing it as a link. It may be a leftover hiccup from the forum-fubar from a couple days ago.

Julian Grimm wrote:Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

Can you point me to the free PDF? I could only find the link to the print version.

redwullf wrote:

Julian Grimm wrote:Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

Can you point me to the free PDF? I could only find the link to the print version.

I think the print pdf is the only pdf now available.

redwullf wrote:

Julian Grimm wrote:Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

Can you point me to the free PDF? I could only find the link to the print version.

Paste this into your browser: perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

dunbruha wrote:

redwullf wrote:

Julian Grimm wrote:Somebody made a clone of it awhile back that is pretty slick. It's pretty close to LA but removes the clunky terminology and is easily expandable. The PDF is free and the hard copy is pretty cheap off Lulu.

perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

Can you point me to the free PDF? I could only find the link to the print version.

Paste this into your browser: perilousjourneys.com/downloads/PJrelease.pdf

That worked, thank you.

Thanks! I'll definitely have to look into that.