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1/15/2025 10:59 am  #1


Playing Facing BoL

I previously asked a question on whether anyone had a hack of playing BoL with Player Facing mechanics and the post seems to have disappeared, so here it is again! Luckily I kept all the responses and have repeated them below, with the comments from my last post on that thread.

Gruntfuttock wrote:

Personally, I'm not a fan. I like to roll dice too.

Me too, however as a GM I am thankful that I can offload some of my overheads.

Warlord of Lemuria wrote:

I find that style of play a bit odd. It is almost like solo play where I am the book. Am I needed at all?

From my experience of GMing rolling dice is only a fraction of what needs to be done.

CaptAdventure wrote:

Gruntfuttock wrote:

Personally, I'm not a fan. I like to roll dice too.

To me the emphasis on "player facing" mechanics seems to come from a distrust of the Game Master.

Which, to me, says you need to find a new gaming group, rather than seeking a different style of game mechanics.

I do know, however, that some GMs like player facing mechanics because it takes something off their already overfull plate.
 

Our gaming group is all player/GMs, all bar one prefer player facing mechanics and I trust them all implicitly.



SimonW wrote:

Venomous Filigree wrote:

Has anyone hacked BoL (or it's derivatives) to be player facing? What are peoples thoughts on a player facing BoL?

I haven't done it (but did consider it at one point) and it would be really easy to do in BoL. I would set out some ideas, but I can't be arsed (which is why I didn't do it before!). 
 

Just as well I’ve now got my own first draft to playest!


Pit Fighter wrote:

Venomous Filigree wrote:

Has anyone hacked BoL (or it's derivatives) to be player facing? What are peoples thoughts on a player facing BoL?

I think it's a great idea (and something I endeavor to do with my own custom heartbreaker ruleset someday).   If you want to see a good implementation of the style, feel free to check out the Symbaroum RPG by Free League if you haven't already.
 

Thanks, I’ve not got that one though unfortunately.

 

1/15/2025 11:40 am  #2


Re: Playing Facing BoL

Our gaming group is all player/GMs, all bar one prefer player facing mechanics and I trust them all implicitly.

Ultimately, it all comes down to what the group is happy with!
 


-- Paul
 

1/17/2025 9:08 pm  #3


Re: Playing Facing BoL

Venomous Filigree wrote:

Thanks, I’ve not got that one though unfortunately.

No worries but it's great setting to check out and I love the world building.   I just discovered this RPG which also is apparently player facing and has a free players guide to check out (which I'll be doing this week).   Crown & Skull seems to be getting some good reviews online but I have zero personal knowledge/opinion on that as I've only done a cursory skim of a few pages of the free players guide.

https://www.runehammer.online/crown-skull-rpg

 

2/08/2025 4:23 am  #4


Re: Playing Facing BoL

Crown and skull is interesting but I keep bouncing off it. Something doesn't click for me.


I actually love player facing rules. I'd love a version of bol with that.

 

2/08/2025 8:56 am  #5


Re: Playing Facing BoL

Since posting, I've discovered that the Black Hack 2e/Black Sword Hack OSR rpgs also have player facing rules for what its worth.   There is specifically a sword and sorcery hack of Black Hack 2e call By This Axe I Hack but I haven't looked through it or watched any reviews on it though.

 

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