Your review and content on it is fine, but you need to work on your presentation. The video volume is a bit on the low side and you have a tendency to present much of what you have in a monotone until you are near the end of this video. A little more enthusiasm on what is obvious a game product you like would be helpful in getting more folks interested.
@unquietsoul I agree and thank you for the comments. The low volume is a technical issue and one that can't really be helped much unless I buy a new webcam/mic. My monotone delivery is something I'm working to get rid of. My early vids were especially obvious but, like everything, it's a process of learning and evolving. I've made it a goal to continue to evolve my future vids to make them both more visually and audibly appealing.
@Webhead123 Sorry to hear that the volume problem is hardware one, I was hoping it was something that you could fix in regards to software settings. We all make do with the gear we have these days, so I understand the problems on that end.
I'll have to watch thru some more of your reviews, as I said the content is fine, and I can understand early work being not quite up to par on where you want presentation to be, we all have to start somewhere. Best Wishes.
The pervasiveness and mystery of magic(arcane, divine, psion... and a few oddballs...) in D&D is linked to specifications in the realm in question.
True in a setting like Waterdeep or Mercane these cities are steeped in knowledge and lore; but - 1. they still don't know everything - 2. there is enough variety to never be ABLE to know everything. - and 3. they are exceptions, and beyond these locations the pervasive saturation of lore drops exponentially.
@thespiritcoyote That there could *ever* be anything so mundane as a "Magic Item Shop" in any part of a Fantasy world just puts a sour taste in my mouth. A "magic item" should be a fantastically valuable, highly-regarded prize shrouded in lore and mystery and likely kept by kings and archmages. As Indiana Jones might say: "It belongs in a museum".
That and the idea that magical formula is so well-known and produces such predictable results without risk of "misfire" is just not my cup of tea.
@Webhead123 They existed in the same settings you praised... they just were not on the main routes displayed in all those stories.some not all... Conan and the Grey Mouser both held conference in such locations, in these scenes it just wasn't blatant, and they didn't buy anything... but they existed, never-the-less...
Not arguing with you for-or-against the ye-old-magic-shoppe trope... just pointing out that it is not a fault of a particular setting, it is an aspect a particular filter.
@Webhead123 I hear what you are saying about predictable results without risk of "misfire"...
if magical formula and scientific principles of esoteric paradigms were so predictable... I would never need tech-support for aether-linked lore-window... a mechanic for my rolling-golem... and there would never be a need for any highly trained and disciplined seers to plot the course of wandering celestials - for such, to time visitations and prepare provisions for other-worldly temples...
I'm currently in the process of creating a more sword and sorcery type rpg. I played a little D&D in my youth, but I too, find D&D inspiring sometimes, but certainly no longer that interesting because like you say, magic is commonplace rather than rare. I recently watched the classic movie Dragonslayer again, and I was so inspired by it in the sense of magic is rare and powerful, but has alot of consequence.
Thanks for the review, I will be DLing the pdf later and starting a campaign as soon as I find 2 more players...I have one devote:) I am also in thirties and just about done with D&D type RPGs. I am a devote to pulp fantasy Howard in general and can hardly wait to jump into this. P.S. you do have a Cruise/Bale nose and forehead so I can see why people have said that. Now just work on Cruise/Bale money and your the king!
@thepiperjordx Thanks. I find I'm eternally in 5 o'clock shadow as I don't like the hassle of shaving with a razor. I just use a beard trimmer instead.
@hussle Brad Miller the basketball player? I've never heard that one before. I've heard John Ritter, Christian Bale and even Tom Cruise...maybe a few others that I can't recall. Honestly, I never really saw the resemblences.
Having read some of the "Thongor" series upon which BoL is heavily based, I could easily get behind the idea of a campaign using this game. It is both "epic" and "perilous" at the same time and that's what is so much fun about it. When the current D&D campaign I'm in comes to a stalling point, I'm going to offer to run BoL for the group and see what they think of its contrasting style. I'm hoping that they like it and ask me to run further adventures.
Thank you. I like magic in my fantasy settings to feel "magical" (mysterious, impressive, deadly, hazardous, sinister and untamed). I also like "magic items" to be rare, elusive and mythical things whispered of in campfire stories, romanticised by old-wives' tales and exhonorated on ancient, cumbling tablets. A "magic sword" should be the object of a treacherous and lengthy quest. A lot of D&D's basic design makes that sort of thing hard to work around especially with things like "DR 5 / Magic".
I totally get what you mean about the magic. I do a lot of different things to make magic feel more like magic in my D&D game. I will agree it is one of the weaker points of the system.
I agree and I applaud DMs who tweak their game to change things up.
I think that is one of the (admittedly many) aspects that drew me to Dark Sun. Careless use of magic has literally sucked the world dry and the gods have abandoned it, leaving the only "Clerics" to be those that worship the ancient and all-powerful Sorcerer-Kings...and they are not nice people. That and the fact that it was so starkly different from the sea of Greyhawk/Forgotten Realms/Dragonlance-like settings out there.
I really like D&D, but I will admit that it needs the DM to do more with the matterial than hack n slash. If you focus the game with more rp, it can have great potential. I run D&D every friday & it is not hack n slash, it is high rp & as such it works as well as any other high rp game.
I meant nothing personal to those who like D&D. Many of my friends do, in fact. I'll always have some degree of respect for it (it was my first RPG and introduced me to the beyond-awesome "Dark Sun" campaign setting) but I've just come to realize that it's not a game that has long-term appeal to me anymore. Warhammer Fantasy and games like Barbarians of Lemuria are more my kind of fantasy these days.
lol, I don't think anyone would take that personal. By the way, what state are you in? I'm always interested to see where other gamers are. I'm in the tidewater area of VA, on the coast.
Throwing my "try this system!" card in, I think you would find Rolemaster to be an appealing game. It is definitely a low fantasy game, where it is possible to die, lose a limb, become brain damaged, and other wonderful things when casting spells.
Your chances of hurting yourself depend on your skill with the school of magic being used, the difficulty of the spell being casted, the volume of your voice, and other factors that are different for different schools of magic.
Though I fortunately never played D&D (I started playing RPGs with GURPS fantasy) I have the same issues with high fantasy as you. On top of that I also think fantasy tends to take itself way too seriously.
Brilliant review for a brilliant game. Your review is what finally made me decide tyo get it and I couldn't be happier. Cheers!
nerosfiddle 1 week ago
Your review and content on it is fine, but you need to work on your presentation. The video volume is a bit on the low side and you have a tendency to present much of what you have in a monotone until you are near the end of this video. A little more enthusiasm on what is obvious a game product you like would be helpful in getting more folks interested.
unquietsoul 1 month ago
@unquietsoul I agree and thank you for the comments. The low volume is a technical issue and one that can't really be helped much unless I buy a new webcam/mic. My monotone delivery is something I'm working to get rid of. My early vids were especially obvious but, like everything, it's a process of learning and evolving. I've made it a goal to continue to evolve my future vids to make them both more visually and audibly appealing.
Webhead123 1 month ago
@Webhead123 Sorry to hear that the volume problem is hardware one, I was hoping it was something that you could fix in regards to software settings. We all make do with the gear we have these days, so I understand the problems on that end.
I'll have to watch thru some more of your reviews, as I said the content is fine, and I can understand early work being not quite up to par on where you want presentation to be, we all have to start somewhere. Best Wishes.
unquietsoul 1 month ago
@unquietsoul Thank you and I hope you stay tuned!
Webhead123 1 month ago
The pervasiveness and mystery of magic(arcane, divine, psion... and a few oddballs...) in D&D is linked to specifications in the realm in question.
True in a setting like Waterdeep or Mercane these cities are steeped in knowledge and lore; but - 1. they still don't know everything - 2. there is enough variety to never be ABLE to know everything. - and 3. they are exceptions, and beyond these locations the pervasive saturation of lore drops exponentially.
...but I do understand the sentiments.
thespiritcoyote 2 months ago
@thespiritcoyote That there could *ever* be anything so mundane as a "Magic Item Shop" in any part of a Fantasy world just puts a sour taste in my mouth. A "magic item" should be a fantastically valuable, highly-regarded prize shrouded in lore and mystery and likely kept by kings and archmages. As Indiana Jones might say: "It belongs in a museum".
That and the idea that magical formula is so well-known and produces such predictable results without risk of "misfire" is just not my cup of tea.
Webhead123 2 months ago
@Webhead123 They existed in the same settings you praised... they just were not on the main routes displayed in all those stories.some not all... Conan and the Grey Mouser both held conference in such locations, in these scenes it just wasn't blatant, and they didn't buy anything... but they existed, never-the-less...
Not arguing with you for-or-against the ye-old-magic-shoppe trope... just pointing out that it is not a fault of a particular setting, it is an aspect a particular filter.
thespiritcoyote 2 months ago
@Webhead123 I hear what you are saying about predictable results without risk of "misfire"...
if magical formula and scientific principles of esoteric paradigms were so predictable... I would never need tech-support for aether-linked lore-window... a mechanic for my rolling-golem... and there would never be a need for any highly trained and disciplined seers to plot the course of wandering celestials - for such, to time visitations and prepare provisions for other-worldly temples...
XD
thespiritcoyote 2 months ago
I'm currently in the process of creating a more sword and sorcery type rpg. I played a little D&D in my youth, but I too, find D&D inspiring sometimes, but certainly no longer that interesting because like you say, magic is commonplace rather than rare. I recently watched the classic movie Dragonslayer again, and I was so inspired by it in the sense of magic is rare and powerful, but has alot of consequence.
pspboy7 4 months ago
Comment removed
pspboy7 4 months ago
Thanks for the review, I will be DLing the pdf later and starting a campaign as soon as I find 2 more players...I have one devote:) I am also in thirties and just about done with D&D type RPGs. I am a devote to pulp fantasy Howard in general and can hardly wait to jump into this. P.S. you do have a Cruise/Bale nose and forehead so I can see why people have said that. Now just work on Cruise/Bale money and your the king!
muvs32pap 9 months ago
i like your beard.
thepiperjordx 1 year ago
@thepiperjordx Thanks. I find I'm eternally in 5 o'clock shadow as I don't like the hassle of shaving with a razor. I just use a beard trimmer instead.
Webhead123 1 year ago
Has anyone ever told you that you look like Brad Miller?
hussle 1 year ago
@hussle Brad Miller the basketball player? I've never heard that one before. I've heard John Ritter, Christian Bale and even Tom Cruise...maybe a few others that I can't recall. Honestly, I never really saw the resemblences.
Webhead123 1 year ago
I like your accent when you say Lemuria. XD
iwazhear77 1 year ago
Great review man. I'm a big fan of BOL, and I've run lots of 1-shots with it. I have yet to ever run a campaign using it yet.
Samwise7RPG 1 year ago
Thanks.
Having read some of the "Thongor" series upon which BoL is heavily based, I could easily get behind the idea of a campaign using this game. It is both "epic" and "perilous" at the same time and that's what is so much fun about it. When the current D&D campaign I'm in comes to a stalling point, I'm going to offer to run BoL for the group and see what they think of its contrasting style. I'm hoping that they like it and ask me to run further adventures.
Webhead123 1 year ago
you make a good point about the D&D magic. Well done video, by the way.
woodwwad 2 years ago
Thank you. I like magic in my fantasy settings to feel "magical" (mysterious, impressive, deadly, hazardous, sinister and untamed). I also like "magic items" to be rare, elusive and mythical things whispered of in campfire stories, romanticised by old-wives' tales and exhonorated on ancient, cumbling tablets. A "magic sword" should be the object of a treacherous and lengthy quest. A lot of D&D's basic design makes that sort of thing hard to work around especially with things like "DR 5 / Magic".
Webhead123 2 years ago
I totally get what you mean about the magic. I do a lot of different things to make magic feel more like magic in my D&D game. I will agree it is one of the weaker points of the system.
woodwwad 2 years ago
I agree and I applaud DMs who tweak their game to change things up.
I think that is one of the (admittedly many) aspects that drew me to Dark Sun. Careless use of magic has literally sucked the world dry and the gods have abandoned it, leaving the only "Clerics" to be those that worship the ancient and all-powerful Sorcerer-Kings...and they are not nice people. That and the fact that it was so starkly different from the sea of Greyhawk/Forgotten Realms/Dragonlance-like settings out there.
Webhead123 2 years ago
I really like D&D, but I will admit that it needs the DM to do more with the matterial than hack n slash. If you focus the game with more rp, it can have great potential. I run D&D every friday & it is not hack n slash, it is high rp & as such it works as well as any other high rp game.
woodwwad 2 years ago
I meant nothing personal to those who like D&D. Many of my friends do, in fact. I'll always have some degree of respect for it (it was my first RPG and introduced me to the beyond-awesome "Dark Sun" campaign setting) but I've just come to realize that it's not a game that has long-term appeal to me anymore. Warhammer Fantasy and games like Barbarians of Lemuria are more my kind of fantasy these days.
Webhead123 2 years ago
lol, I don't think anyone would take that personal. By the way, what state are you in? I'm always interested to see where other gamers are. I'm in the tidewater area of VA, on the coast.
woodwwad 2 years ago
I'm currently in Dallas, TX, though I was raised in Alaska, Hawaii and Arizona (no, I'm not from a military family).
Webhead123 2 years ago
Throwing my "try this system!" card in, I think you would find Rolemaster to be an appealing game. It is definitely a low fantasy game, where it is possible to die, lose a limb, become brain damaged, and other wonderful things when casting spells.
Your chances of hurting yourself depend on your skill with the school of magic being used, the difficulty of the spell being casted, the volume of your voice, and other factors that are different for different schools of magic.
Nakasi100 2 years ago
Great review!
DeTzardis 2 years ago
wooot woooot lol never played it but sounds apiling well thats what i belive
Number1GamerAsh 2 years ago
Cool moos looking at this :)
zorlak21 2 years ago
Though I fortunately never played D&D (I started playing RPGs with GURPS fantasy) I have the same issues with high fantasy as you. On top of that I also think fantasy tends to take itself way too seriously.
VoraxTranstellaris 2 years ago
Try the Song of Ice and Fire series. I think you would like it. I have pretty much the same fantasy preferences as you and I love it.
Alakov 2 years ago