Friday 18 March 2011

5 reasons you should play Tunnels and Trolls


It was around 3 years ago when I first got into Tunnels and Trolls and I haven't looked back since. The unbridled joy this game has brought me over the years is unparalleled in any other game and part of the reason I write this blog is to share my experiences in the hope that more people will get into the game.

Here are five reasons I think you should pick up Tunnels and Trolls and get stuck in:



Simple, elegant mechanics

Tunnels and Trolls was the first roleplaying game to use a universal saving roll. Couple this with the sole use of six-sided dice, simple combat and monsters you can create on the fly, this game is easy to pick up and play.



A sense of humour

With spells names like Hidey Hole and Take That You Fiends, it's clear that Tunnels and Trolls doesn't take itself seriously. Adventures are laced with pop culture references and humour and the characters you will come across are wonderfully zany. This isn't to say that you can't play a serious game with these rules, but light-hearted definitely works best.



Easy to play alone

Not only was Tunnels and Trolls designed as an alternative to Dungeons and Dragons, it was also made to allow for easy solitaire and play-by-mail games. There is a wealth of solitaire adventures to get your hands on and sites such as Trollbridge host numerous play-by-post games if you can't get a group together.




A tight-knit community


Although Flying Buffalo isn't an industry giant like Wizards of the Coast, Tunnels and Trolls has a fantastic and burgeoning community. The main hub of activity is in the hallowed halls of Trollhalla, a members-only online club for players. The site is run by Ken St. Andre himself, who is easily accessible unlike many other RPG creators. Trollhalla is home to some of the nicest people I've come across and it's a brilliant place to make new friends



Inexpensive

Getting a copy of the latest rules, which is a boxed set chock full of material, will set you back about $20 more or less. After this initial purchase pretty much everything else is cheap and cheerful compared to other RPGs, and in some cases completely free. Also you don't need to fork out for funny-looking dice - just take them straight out of any boardgame you have lying around.

So there you have it, five reasons why you should play Tunnels and Trolls. Let me know if you decide to pick up the game and try it out and tell me your experience.

7 comments:

  1. It has been many, many years since I actually had an opportunity to play T&T, but I have admired the game from afar for as long as I can remember. I played a handful of games back in high school, but that was the extent of my hands on experience with the game. I would really like to remedy this soon, and I would also like to try Monsters! Monsters!, as well as Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes eventually. Unfortunately, T&T was a game that few people I knew took seriously back in the day. I guess this was due to the less than serious approach the game took. I am glad to see T&T getting some recognition, and it is blogs such as your's that is helping to bring it much needed love.

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  2. I was introduced to T&T in 1980. A year after I started playing AD&D, our campaign ended abruptly with a total party kill. Well discussing our options on whether to create new players or simply break out a boardgame for the rest of the night. Another player chimed in and said "How bout a quick session of T&T. Character creations is a snap and the rules are simple."
    And like Paul Harvey once said... and that's the rest of the story. It was love at first sight. :)

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