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Dungeons & Dragons – Stranger Things Style

Dungeons & Dragons Blackrazor

If you enjoyed this post make sure to check out our weekly podcast, Roll For Combat, where a group of old-school gamers play Paizo’s new Starfinder RPG.

Also, make sure to check out Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.

After watching Stranger Things, I decided to dig into the attic to see if I could find some of my old books and Dungeons & Dragons characters when I was a kid playing back in the early 80s. Somehow, beyond all hope and logic, many of my original characters and play-aids were intact and in near mint condition. I share these with you for a look back to what D&D was like for a 11-year-old kid … way back in 1981!

AD&D Folder
Look at that custom-made folder of AD&D power! The sword is what makes it impressive!

 

AD&D Folder Spine
And the spine graphics don’t disappoint either!

 

D&D rules and The Rogues Gallery
My original 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules! These rules still have the best subheading of all time, “Rules for Fantastic Medieval Role Playing Adventure Game Campaigns Playable with Paper and Pencil and Minature Figures.” Not sure why The Rogue Galley was in there as well but that book is a treat.

 

Trapper Keeper
How do you know that this is from the 80s? I have two words for you … TRAPPER KEEPER!

 

1st Edition AD&D character sheets and NPC character sheet
The original AD&D Player Character Records and a bonus NPC character sheet. As a kid, I had access to a Xerox at my dad’s office (which was fairly rare for the time) and I remember trying to copy these suckers with that colored paper was a total nightmare.

 

D&D Index
Look at that folder index! Characters! Graph Paper! Modules! Monster Cards! Books! What more could you want in your D&D binder?

 

Index card of Dungeons & Dragons
Why I decided to do this, I’m not exactly sure, but I congratulate you my 10-year-old self! Look at that penmanship! What a great start to anyone’s D&D collection back then. I even listed my dice collection as you can see (dice were rare back then, you kids nowadays don’t know how lucky you are!).

 

Old campaign notes
Adventure notes, a map of an adventure I was playing (my DM made some crazy dungeons), and an envelope my DM gave with … something inside. I’m not exactly sure what was in there, but I’m sure it wasn’t good.

 

Samson, the Cleric-Fighter
I actually remember this character. Back then it was nearly impossible to identify magic items, and I only discovered that ring was a Ring of Feather Falling after I fell off a cliff and lived. What a mess of a character sheet!

 

Little Pseudo-Dragon
My Little Pseudo-Dragon (red) pet! My DM gave him to him (hence the different handwriting). Nothing is more awesome than having a small Dragon as a pet!

 

AD&D Conan
Come on, who didn’t make a character sheet for Conan back then? Fun note, the barbarian class didn’t exist at the time (and was later introduced in Dragon Magazine), so I had to make my version of Conan a monk. For some reason, there was also an Eastern boarding pass next to the character sheet as well … not exactly sure why, but I thought that was a fun touch.

 

Wizardry the Wizard!
Look at that artwork! And my character name was … not exactly original. I believe I made this guy to run him through the Tomb of Horrors … of course, we didn’t make it. But we did make it all the way to the room of fire (and then promptly died). I still say to this day that my DM gypped us with that TPK and we totally could have made it out in time.

 

Other size of Wizardry
The other size of Wizardry the Wizard (the name that’s so bad it’s good).

 

Level 6 AD&D fighter
Another one of my characters. Look at that crazy block of numbers! And this is a fighter!

 

2nd page of level 6 AD&D fighter
I think Rhialle the Wanderer was initially named Elric after looking at this side of his character sheet. I like how “apparent age” was a category on the character sheet back then.

 

AD&D 7th level druid
This character wasn’t actually mine but it somehow ended up in my binder. I don’t remember whose character this was … but if you are reading this and played D&D with me back in 1981, come forward and claim this character!

 

The trifecta of AD&D goodness!
The trifecta of AD&D goodness! Of course, like everyone back then, I had a set of these classic books as well. They really made these things tough as nails, after 30+ years of wear and tear, they still look amazing.

 

AD&D Monster Cards Set 1 and Set 2
And what is this? I found this in the back of my folder! Mint condition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Cards! These were awesome as you could show your PCs a picture of a monster … in full-color!

 

AD&D Monster Cards Set 1
Look at that artwork! I still think the Red Dragon looks a bit wonky, but that Neo-Otyugh is sweet!

 

AD&D Monster Cards Set 2
Set 2 was even better. My all-time favorite Gelatinous Cube! That Roper looks nasty! And what the hell is a Land Urchin?!? I need to add that to my current campaign.

 

Druid vs Mind Flayer
Color artwork was very rare back then, so everything was illustrated in black and white. This picture is from The Rogue Galley and looks fantastic.

 

Bad AD&D art
Of course, not all of them were winners…

 

The Rogues Galley
What I really miss were the endless tables and their descriptions of everything under the sun. Sanity charts! General Tenacity charts! Everything had a chart back then, and awesome bonus artwork as well.

So there you go … a snapshot of D&D from 1981. Things haven’t really changed that much. Today we will make D&D characters of our favorite characters of literature and film (Conan and Elric in my case), we still spend too much time organizing our collections (I really need to get a Trapper Keeper for my Pathfinder Society characters), and we never stop playing.

I guess we’re all just big kids at heart when it comes to D&D.

If you enjoyed this post make sure to check out our weekly podcast, Roll For Combat, where a group of old-school gamers play Paizo’s new Starfinder RPG.

Also, make sure to check out Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.

Dead Suns 005: And A Side Order of Rat

The trip to Mama Fat’s proves to be worthwhile. The sci-fi snacks are decent enough, but the membership card found at Kreel’s apartment lets the team order off the special menu – a meeting with Jabaxa, the leader of the Level 21 Crew. Jabaxa points the team toward the Fusion Queen nightclub, where the leader of the Downside Kings waits.

Also this week, GM Stephen also explains why level 1 adventures are so tricky for GMs and PCs alike and discusses his top three favorite level 1 modules of all time.

Also, make sure to check out the “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” with over $1000 in prizes and we announce another weekly winner! And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

Dead Suns 004: CSI: Absalom Station

A trip to Kreel’s apartment and further investigation reveal an intricate web involving Absalom’s street gangs as muscle for a miners’ labor dispute. Armed with new information, the crew sets off to find the lesser of two evils, the Level 21 Crew on … you guessed it … Level 21! Mo makes a new friend, and Tuttle learns a shocking lesson about using the key instead of hot-wiring things for fun.

Also this week, Stephen, Jason, and John review the Starfinder Alien Archive in detail.

Also, make sure to check out the “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” with over $1000 in prizes and we announce another weekly winner! And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

Roll For Combat Wallpaper and Sound Effects

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People have asked for Roll For Combat assets, and we have listened! Below you can find links to the desktop wallpapers and the Roll For Combat sound effect so that you too can put the fear of God into your players.

Click the image below to download desktop wallpapers sized 1920×1200, 1920×1080, 1680×1050, 1600×1200, 1440×900, 1280×1024, 1280×960, 1280×800, 1280×720, 1024×768, 800×600:

Click image below to download the wallpapers

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Click image below to download the sound effect

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Dead Suns 003: Cops, Cut-Throats, and Career Opportunities

Absalom’s Finest work a little “Good Cop, Emotionless Android Cop” against the boys, Tuttle engages in a little light invasion of a dead man’s privacy, and we learn about the biology of Starfinder – ysoki cheek pouches, lashunta antennae, and third-gender shirren. We also learn that time is money, and Mo is stingy with both.

Also, make sure to check out the “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” with over $1000 in prizes and we announce another weekly winner! And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

Dead Suns 002: Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right

The Roll For Combat crew hits the ground running as they’re dropped into the middle of a firefight between rival gangs. Hirogi learns the value of taking cover, Mo teaches the value of smashing things really hard with a hammer, Tuttle takes C.H.D.R.R. out for a test drive, and Rusty… well, he just talks to his imaginary friends.

Also, make sure to check out the “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” with over $1000 in prizes and we announce the first winner this week! And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

The “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” With Over $1000 in Prizes!

We here at Roll For Combat are extremely excited about our new podcast and to celebrate our launch we want to start it off in a big way with over $1000 in prizes. PLUS a special bonus prize for every single person who enters!

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Here is what you can win by entering:

  • Grand Prize when the contest ends: A $250 Amazon gift-card so you can buy as many RPG books as you want, plus a custom Roll For Combat t-shirt designed just for you!
  • 1st Prize: A $100 Amazon gift-card, plus a custom Roll For Combat t-shirt designed just for you!
  • 2nd Prize: A $50 Amazon gift-card, plus a custom Roll For Combat t-shirt designed just for you!
  • 3rd Prize: A $25 Amazon gift-card, plus a custom Roll For Combat t-shirt designed just for you!
  • EVERY SINGLE WEEK: A $25 Amazon gift-card will be given out after EVERY show EVERY week. So don’t delay entering as you can win as early as next week!
  • Plus for everyone who enters: When the contest ends you’ll be sent custom RPG content created specifically for the show and for use in your RPG campaign.
  • All winners will be announced when the giveaway ends on November 30, 2017

Ready to enter? Please follow the exact steps below to enter the giveaway and join in on the fun! (Please make sure that you have iTunes installed on your computer or mobile device first.)

Just Follow These Simple Steps to Enter using iTunes:

1) Click this link to go to the iTunes podcast page for Roll For Combat.

2) Click on the blue button that says “View in iTunes”. (It looks like this):

3) If you are prompted to launch iTunes, click the “Launch Application” button:

4) Now simply click on the “Subscribe” button! (You’re almost done)

5) Click on “Ratings and Reviews” and then click the “Write a Review” button below it.

6) A pop up window will appear where you can now leave a simple, honest review about my podcast.

You just need to give it a simple title, leave a short text review, give it a rating from 1 to 5 (with 5 stars being the best), and then click Submit!

7) Hooray! You did it! Now you just need to let us know about it so you are entered into the giveaway 🙂

Click here to submit your entry or send an email to contact@rollforcombat.com
with the following information:

  • Your email address
  • Your iTunes name (whatever name you left your review under) 

After that just listen to the show each week where we’ll draw a random name from the entries and if your name is called, you won! Just contact us after the show and claim your prize!

Just Follow These Simple Steps to Enter using Stitcher for Android:

For Android users follow the same general instructions as above, only write and post your review in Stitcher instead. Simply load the Roll For Combat page, scroll down, and write your review. Then submit your entry and you’ll be all set!

Stitcher review

Note: Don’t worry, we won’t resell your email or do anything with it, and all prizes must be claimed no later than December 31, 2017. Good luck!

Dead Suns 001: Greetings And Salutations

Note for new listeners: This episode acts an introduction episode to the characters, players, and Starfinder game setting. We don’t actually play the game much in this episode, it’s more of an overall introduction to the show and universe. If you wish to jump right into the action, we suggest that you start with Episode 2: Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right instead. (Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything as we recap the first episode.)

In the first episode of Roll For Combat, we meet GM Stephen and our intrepid crew – the reptilian ruffian Mo Dupinsky; the trophy-hunting Lashunta Hirogi; the self-proclaimed brains of the operation, Tuttle Blacktail, and the uncomfortably good-looking Rusty Carter. We begin with introductions, chat about the new Starfinder universe, and then finally get to learn about Absalom Station and the Starfinder Society with our Very Special Guest Thurston Hillman from Paizo as our tour guide.

Also, make sure to check out the “Big Podcast Launch Giveaway” with over $1000 in prizes! And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast at our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

Dead Suns 000: An Introduction to Roll For Combat

This episode will give you a quick rundown of what our show is, what to expect on each show, how our show is different from other “actual play” podcasts out there, and where you can jump right into the action.

Whether you are brand new to the show or a long-time listener, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to best experience our podcast and what to expect each week!

And don’t forget to become a supporter of the podcast our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/rollforcombat where you can help us while unlocking fun exclusive rewards for yourself!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast. We would also love it if you would leave us a review on iTunes!

Stephen Glicker

Stephen

Stephen Glicker (owner of Roll For Combat and GM) first got into tabletop gaming after getting the Dungeons & Dragons “blue box” edition … which was so old it didn’t even come with dice! Instead, there was a piece of laminated paper with numbers ranging from 1 to 20. The player was instructed to carefully cut out the number chits, put them into a cup and whatever number was pulled from the cup was your “roll”. Despite this poor excuse for a d20, Stephen was instantly hooked.

In addition to tabletop gaming, Stephen began his career in computer games when he founded his first company during high school, Creative Simulations. Stephen published his first computer game Mall Maniacs for the Apple II computer system – which he also wrote, designed, and programmed – where players had to fight to survive in an apocalyptic future shopping mall filled with mutant creatures. It was a modest hit due to its “unique” premise.

After attending college, Stephen started the Manhattan-based full-service digital media agency SuperNova Productions. This award-winning, multi-million dollar company specialized in creating a large variety of projects for a wide variety of media, including web-based games, CD-ROM games, children’s games, cell phone games, and games for museums and galleries. Stephen has worked with some of the largest licenses in the world including Harry Potter, The Lion King, and Blue’s Clues, as well as many others.

Adventures: Agents of Edgewatch (Pathfinder Adventure Path: Agents of Edgewatch), Three Ring Adventure (Pathfinder Adventure Path: Extinction Curse), Tales from the Black Lodge, Pathfinder Adventure: The Fall of Plaguestone, Starfinder Adventure Path: Dead Suns, Starfinder Society #1-04: Cries from the Drift, Starfinder Society #1-10: The Half-Alive Streets