Announcing the Swords & Wizardry Quick Start

I'd like to announce, in cooperation with Three-Headed Monster Games, the release of the Swords & Wizardry Quick Start module (download PDF here, purchase print copy here).

The Swords & Wizardry Quick Start is an introduction to the world of Swords & Wizardry(tm), the popular recreation of the original 1974 edition of Dungeons & Dragons(tm). It contains everything you need to play:

• Character creation
• Play and combat rules
• Game Referee Guidance
• A complete adventure – The Dungeon of Akban

It's audience is for new players and new Game Referees of Swords & Wizardry. With extensive help, suggestions and examples laid throughout the simple rules and adventure, novices can quickly immerse themselves into a fantastic world of adventure and danger. Upon completing this Quick Start, players and Game Referees will be able to easily master the full Swords & Wizardry Core Rules.

The Swords & Wizardry Quick Start represents the first full length publication from Michael Shorten of Old Guy RPG Blog. Michael has been published in Fight On! and Knockspell magazines. He's also authored original edition D&D gaming aids and accessories as well as writing for Examiner.com as the Chicago Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)/RPG columnist. He also recently co-produced the 2009 One Page Dungeon Contest.

Michael writes:

Why does S&W need a Quick Start? Well, I don't know that it necessarily NEEDs one, but it was something I wanted to do, for a couple of reasons. It start with Jeff Rient's Cinder Player handout that he used at WinterWar 2009. I loved how you could get started playing on 2 pages of notes. I did something like that at CodCon 2009 for my S&W event and I really saw the value of having something quick and easy to use. The problem was, how could I express the simplicity and yet give some guidance for newbies with whom I wanted to share the love and coolness of original edition style play?

I also wanted to give newbie Game Refs some guidance. I've heard of GMs new to S&W struggled with things like coming up with seat of the pants odds, with how to run monsters without the huge stat blocks or explicit rules or how to handle some of the free-wheeling environment that S&W has. I think the Quick Start does that. Finally, I got to scratch an itch and fully populate the dungeon that is featured in the Core Rules book that only had the first 6 rooms laid out. So I did so. I think it turned out pretty nice.