Raging Owlbear
@ragingowlbear.bsky.social
AKA Marty. He/Him. Geek Dad, DM, Child of the 70’s #TTRPG blogger. #DnD #RPG #StarWars #CarWars #AFOL
http://Twitch.tv/RagingOwlbear
🐘RagingOwlbear@dice.camp
http://Twitch.tv/RagingOwlbear
🐘RagingOwlbear@dice.camp
What I see in Black Company is fairly close to what I assumed Wizards would do for Wheel of Time since TSR had designed the SAGA game, but they probably just wanted a low effort reskin of D&D to not spend too much design / playtesting on the project.
December 11, 2025 at 7:06 AM
What I see in Black Company is fairly close to what I assumed Wizards would do for Wheel of Time since TSR had designed the SAGA game, but they probably just wanted a low effort reskin of D&D to not spend too much design / playtesting on the project.
Did a quick search on Black Company and it reminds me a bit of the SAGA magic system in Dragonlance 5th Age.
Spell points were calculated based on range, duration, area of effect, etc. and then you played the cards (DL5A was diceless) for casting and paid the spell points.
Spell points were calculated based on range, duration, area of effect, etc. and then you played the cards (DL5A was diceless) for casting and paid the spell points.
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Did a quick search on Black Company and it reminds me a bit of the SAGA magic system in Dragonlance 5th Age.
Spell points were calculated based on range, duration, area of effect, etc. and then you played the cards (DL5A was diceless) for casting and paid the spell points.
Spell points were calculated based on range, duration, area of effect, etc. and then you played the cards (DL5A was diceless) for casting and paid the spell points.
Yeah, I’m trying to play rules as written, but I can already see using banes during casting as a DCC-style mishap if I wanted to be a truly evil GM. 😄
December 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Yeah, I’m trying to play rules as written, but I can already see using banes during casting as a DCC-style mishap if I wanted to be a truly evil GM. 😄
Just started my group into the box set campaign. I’m hoping it sticks. My wife generally just wants to play D&D because she likes the way you “get stuff” when leveling. I’m hoping the skill system will appeal enough to keep her hooked.
I may have to be over-generous with the Heroic Abilities. 😄
I may have to be over-generous with the Heroic Abilities. 😄
December 10, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Just started my group into the box set campaign. I’m hoping it sticks. My wife generally just wants to play D&D because she likes the way you “get stuff” when leveling. I’m hoping the skill system will appeal enough to keep her hooked.
I may have to be over-generous with the Heroic Abilities. 😄
I may have to be over-generous with the Heroic Abilities. 😄
When the Wheel of Time RPG (based D&D 3.x), I really wanted WotC to present an alternative magic system that would better fit the WoT weave.
Sadly, it was just D&D Vancian spells with a slightly different presentation. Something like the Dragonbane system would have been a much better fit.
Sadly, it was just D&D Vancian spells with a slightly different presentation. Something like the Dragonbane system would have been a much better fit.
December 10, 2025 at 6:55 AM
When the Wheel of Time RPG (based D&D 3.x), I really wanted WotC to present an alternative magic system that would better fit the WoT weave.
Sadly, it was just D&D Vancian spells with a slightly different presentation. Something like the Dragonbane system would have been a much better fit.
Sadly, it was just D&D Vancian spells with a slightly different presentation. Something like the Dragonbane system would have been a much better fit.
In summary, there’s much to love about this gritty, lower powered D&D adjacent fantasy #TTRPG. I’ve played it a couple times in a con setting but really looking forward to running (and hopefully playing) #Dragonbane more regularly with my home group.
9/9
amzn.to/3Mjgl3N
9/9
amzn.to/3Mjgl3N
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amzn.to
December 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In summary, there’s much to love about this gritty, lower powered D&D adjacent fantasy #TTRPG. I’ve played it a couple times in a con setting but really looking forward to running (and hopefully playing) #Dragonbane more regularly with my home group.
9/9
amzn.to/3Mjgl3N
9/9
amzn.to/3Mjgl3N
Spells also have a more gradual power curve and can be upcast based upon available Willpower Points. The spells are also more in-line with melee PC capabilities.
I’ve always wanted a spell point system like this, but not as crunchy as something like GURPS.
8/
I’ve always wanted a spell point system like this, but not as crunchy as something like GURPS.
8/
December 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Spells also have a more gradual power curve and can be upcast based upon available Willpower Points. The spells are also more in-line with melee PC capabilities.
I’ve always wanted a spell point system like this, but not as crunchy as something like GURPS.
8/
I’ve always wanted a spell point system like this, but not as crunchy as something like GURPS.
8/
6) Spells and Heroic Abilities are powered by Willpower Points which are better than spell slots or similar Vancian styles. Some spells also have a lower power pre-requisite. I love this thematically. You have to light a candle before you learn to burn down a village.
7/
7/
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
6) Spells and Heroic Abilities are powered by Willpower Points which are better than spell slots or similar Vancian styles. Some spells also have a lower power pre-requisite. I love this thematically. You have to light a candle before you learn to burn down a village.
7/
7/
5) When a player misses a roll, there is a push-your-luck re-roll that adds a negative condition on the PC. I really like this. There are similar “stress” mechanics in other games, but I don’t believe any D&D-like systems do exactly this.
6/
6/
December 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
5) When a player misses a roll, there is a push-your-luck re-roll that adds a negative condition on the PC. I really like this. There are similar “stress” mechanics in other games, but I don’t believe any D&D-like systems do exactly this.
6/
6/
I’m not entirely sold on automatic damage, but it does make the average damage per round more predictable. They also don’t “crit” as the damage output is based on which attack the monster takes. You can roll randomly, or select the attack type that fits best narratively.
5/
5/
December 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I’m not entirely sold on automatic damage, but it does make the average damage per round more predictable. They also don’t “crit” as the damage output is based on which attack the monster takes. You can roll randomly, or select the attack type that fits best narratively.
5/
5/
4) Monsters never miss. This is a wild one. Every monster has a different series of varying attacks which may do different levels of damage or buff/debuff effects… but when they attack, they don’t miss. You go right to rolling damage.
4/
4/
December 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
4) Monsters never miss. This is a wild one. Every monster has a different series of varying attacks which may do different levels of damage or buff/debuff effects… but when they attack, they don’t miss. You go right to rolling damage.
4/
4/
3) No Hit Point inflation. Your CON score determines HP at character generation and stays the same as your skills progress. Some Heroic Abilities may make you slightly more durable, but stationary HP means ** combat stays very dangerous ** throughout a campaign.
3/
3/
December 4, 2025 at 8:52 PM
3) No Hit Point inflation. Your CON score determines HP at character generation and stays the same as your skills progress. Some Heroic Abilities may make you slightly more durable, but stationary HP means ** combat stays very dangerous ** throughout a campaign.
3/
3/
2) Heroic Abilities are similar to D&D Feats, but they are gained less frequently which also keeps the power curve low.
For me, this is crucial. My biggest issue with most modern systems is PC power creep.
2/
For me, this is crucial. My biggest issue with most modern systems is PC power creep.
2/
December 4, 2025 at 8:52 PM
2) Heroic Abilities are similar to D&D Feats, but they are gained less frequently which also keeps the power curve low.
For me, this is crucial. My biggest issue with most modern systems is PC power creep.
2/
For me, this is crucial. My biggest issue with most modern systems is PC power creep.
2/
So here’s a few awesome mechanics that sets #Dragonbane apart in my mind.
1) It uses a d20 mechanic similar to D&D but there are no levels. Everything is skill based. Advancement is mostly through skills, keeping the PC power creep very low.
1/
1) It uses a d20 mechanic similar to D&D but there are no levels. Everything is skill based. Advancement is mostly through skills, keeping the PC power creep very low.
1/
December 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
So here’s a few awesome mechanics that sets #Dragonbane apart in my mind.
1) It uses a d20 mechanic similar to D&D but there are no levels. Everything is skill based. Advancement is mostly through skills, keeping the PC power creep very low.
1/
1) It uses a d20 mechanic similar to D&D but there are no levels. Everything is skill based. Advancement is mostly through skills, keeping the PC power creep very low.
1/
Signs point to Yes.
November 26, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Signs point to Yes.
Even back then there were slivers.
I always read Dragon. Never Polyhedron. Rarely Space Gamer.
I had friends who had acquired fan zines. I didn’t. I read USENET news groups. Most didn’t.
And some who never interacted with “the community” outside of our own gaming group.
I always read Dragon. Never Polyhedron. Rarely Space Gamer.
I had friends who had acquired fan zines. I didn’t. I read USENET news groups. Most didn’t.
And some who never interacted with “the community” outside of our own gaming group.
October 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Even back then there were slivers.
I always read Dragon. Never Polyhedron. Rarely Space Gamer.
I had friends who had acquired fan zines. I didn’t. I read USENET news groups. Most didn’t.
And some who never interacted with “the community” outside of our own gaming group.
I always read Dragon. Never Polyhedron. Rarely Space Gamer.
I had friends who had acquired fan zines. I didn’t. I read USENET news groups. Most didn’t.
And some who never interacted with “the community” outside of our own gaming group.
It’s about the real estate footprint required.
Most of the areas I’ve lived, the gas stations do not have room for a long row of parked cars. Truck stops already have the large parking footprint, but most standard gas stations do not.
Most of the areas I’ve lived, the gas stations do not have room for a long row of parked cars. Truck stops already have the large parking footprint, but most standard gas stations do not.
September 1, 2025 at 3:55 AM
It’s about the real estate footprint required.
Most of the areas I’ve lived, the gas stations do not have room for a long row of parked cars. Truck stops already have the large parking footprint, but most standard gas stations do not.
Most of the areas I’ve lived, the gas stations do not have room for a long row of parked cars. Truck stops already have the large parking footprint, but most standard gas stations do not.
I had to look harder than I was comfortable with to understand this image.
September 1, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I had to look harder than I was comfortable with to understand this image.