Another OSRIC Curiosity

The more I look...

Under Charisma, Maximum number of Henchman is now called, "Sidekick Limit".

Sidekick?

Yet, in the paragraph below, sidekick limit is described as the maximum number of "henchman" you can have. The word henchman is used once more. (Further rules for this are probably in the GMs guide).

Why the change? Why the new term "sidekick"? 

If OSRIC is supposed to be an efficient reorganization (clarification) of the original rules, why introduce a new term just to use the old term (twice) to explain the new term?

Table needs centering.

Nobody has 10 "sidekicks".  

The addition of the word "sidekick" is the very definition of unnecessary. You don't need another word to describe one that is already there. You'll only confuse the matter. It is terminology bloat. They clearly want to transition to a new term.

The original Player's Handbook calls henchman non-player characters who will "serve" as permanent retainers. OSRIC 3.0 says a henchman is someone who is "willing to accompany your character", it is a "long-term relationship".

Softening up the language is not rules clarification.

OSRIC is turning into something else.

Just saying.

OSRIC 3.0 Layout...WTF?

The OSRIC 3.0 layout sucks.

I backed this (of course!) and had high hopes that this would be THE definitive reference, even though I own all of the originals in fantastic condition.

I almost never bash other OSR products. From me it's usually praise or silence. I despise making this post, but it must be made. (I'll slaughter WoTC all day long).

Call me crazy, but I expected OSRIC 3.0 to be the most faithful adaption of AD&D 1E possible... with AMAZING layout.

By all that I've heard, Matt Finch is a great guy... so don't take this personal for God's sake! Doing this is no doubt a herculean effort... and it is much appreciated by many!

But I think many are about to be disappointed.

The art is fine. The font is fine. The layout... ugh. 

The center line between columns isn't necessary, unless there's a table on one side. And the columns are far too close together.

The tables are atrocious! They aren't centered properly and they often overlap onto the next page. Tables should always be self contained on one page, I don't care if this leads to white space and more pages. That's what filler art is for. (Weapon and equipment tables can be an exception here). What are you going to reference during play more than tables? They should be a joy to look at. As it stands, joy is not the word that comes to mind.

I was always tempted to purchase the previous OSRIC hardcover, but never did because the layout kind of bugged me. 

This is worse. This is in no way an improvement. Perhaps the rules are more accurate, but they're still not 100%. And the folks who'll buy this already know the rules.

THEY WANT A NICE LAYOUT.

OSRIC 3.0 won't inspire anyone and won't make it easier to play this game, so what's the point?

I hope to God this looks better in physical form, but I would urge serious layout changes be made, even if it takes another year. Treat the latest free release as just another beta. 

We can wait.

So Long Publisher

Microsoft recently announced that by October 2026, Publisher will no longer be supported. If you have a hard copy, you can continue using it without support, if not, too bad.

I'm in the too bad boat. 

Everything I've produced and worked on over the last decade or two, adventures, rules, character sheets, etc., was done with Publisher. I have projects that will never be finished now for sure, because with converting and reformatting, you're pretty much starting from scratch. Yet being realistic, my many little projects mostly served as distractions and were destined to stay that way.

So for now, I have archived some things in PDF form, if only for my own reference and have settled on using Word from here on out after researching and tinkering with a few of the other programs. My initial impression of Word was likening it to B/X whereas Publisher is AD&D. Adobe InDesign is another option but costs twice as much as Publisher did.

Blessing in disguise...

I've been diligently working on a new module that I fully intend to publish in 2026. I'm embracing a simpler, A5 format for this one and I'm becoming increasingly comfortable using Word. The original idea for this sprung a few years ago, but for some reason -- perhaps no more distractions -- I'm off to the races and this one's awesome. I'm basing it on 1st edition rules.

Until the New Year.

TMNT And Other Strangeness Redux Edition!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, Black, White, & Red Redux Edition, by Palladium Books, originally by Eric Wujcik, updated by Sean Owen Roberson.

Magnificent.

I was worried, can't lie. Usually when a game gets modernized, it loses its edge and becomes soft and glittery. Just look at all the latest versions of all the classic games. Can Palladium modernize their books and still be Palladium?

Yes. 

At least for now...

So, two books, reprinting six...

Other Strangeness contains:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
• Turtles Go Hollywood
• Truckin' Turtles

Transdimensional Adventures contains:

• Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Guide To The Universe
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures

It's the same basic Palladium layout, just cleaner. Black and white art with a red tinge... incredible! There is a full color version and alternate covers too, but damn, I made the right choice by going for red in the Kickstarter. Look at that art...

If Palladium plans to go full color, this is how they should do it. Stylize it. They already have decades of great and iconic art to work with. Stylize it.

Oh yes... The classic Palladium weapons chart!

Original Laird/Eastman art with a touch of red. Really pops.

Original covers included...

Just cool...

Nice paper, minimum gloss if any, extremely readable.

And it's not just the appearance... it's also the rules. 

Things are cleaner, tidier, simpler. Gone are the multitude of punches and kicks doing various damage. Now there is only unarmed doing 1d4 + strength bonus. Gone are redundant maneuvers, plenty still exist, but they're clarified.

The combat styles, Basic, Expert (sometimes referred to as Elite, typos I'm sure), Martial Arts, Assassin, Ninja, and Feral, are all redone, stating clearly what you start out knowing and what you gain as you level up. Expert is clearly better than basic, and martial arts is clearly better than expert. Simply put, these charts make sense now.

Combat is cleaner. You start with 2 actions. Skills can give you more and more are gained at higher levels. It's basically the same; just explained better.

Skills are listed with starting percentages right next to them and they simply improve by 5% per level. There are Professional skills and amateur skills. Depending on your origin, you get a combo of both. Professional skills allow an IQ bonus. And note: IQ is no longer I.Q., the periods have been removed from the abbreviated attributes.

All weapon proficiencies improve at the same rate: +1 at level 1, and levels 4,7,10, and 13. That's it.

Everyone starts knowing three basic skills:

• Basic Academics: The general info you know.
• Basic Athletics: Climb ,prowl, swim, etc., but at a basic level, actual skills will supersede this.
• Perception: Self explanatory.

Basic and Advanced mathematics still exist if you want them, in fact, the skill list is the exact same.

Character creation is nice and smooth.

This one's a winner.

Seriously, well done Palladium!