Frequently Asked Questions
From Targawiki
[edit] What is TARGA?
TARGA is the Traditional Adventure Roleplaying Games Association. We're a bunch of gamers who like to play "old school" games---those being defined as "original" roleplaying games, most of which are now out-of-print. We organize old school games at conventions, game stores, events and even out of our homes. We try to keep the flames alive for these old games and provide resources, support and fellowship to all gamers who may feel like they're alone in their love of do-it-yourself, traditional, games.
[edit] Which games are you talking about, exactly?
Here's a non-exhaustive starting point:
Original D&D, Holmes (Blue Book) Basic D&D, AD&D 1st Edition, Classic Traveller, Tunnels & Trolls, Harn, Original Runequest, Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying, Rolemaster, Holmes/Moldvay/Mentzer Basic D&D, Bushido, Star Frontiers, Boot Hill, Gamma World, Chill, Empire of the Petal Throne, Arduin, The Fantasy Trip, Marvel Superheroes, Original Champions, Call of Cthuhlu, Chivalry & Sorcery, Mechwarrior 1st Edition, Original Hackmaster, Metamorphosis Alpha, Top Secret, and The Morrow Project
We also play and support modern "retroclones" or "simulacra" of these games, such as:
OSRIC, BFRPG, Castles & Crusades, Labyrinth Lord, Mutant Future, Swords & Wizardry, Spellcraft & Swordplay, GORE, Searchers of the Unknown (along with all its derivations!), and X-plorers
In a chronological sense, we support games mostly released in the 1970s and earlier 1980s (and the modern games that directly simulate/clone/emulate them). When we get to games in the 1990s, such as AD&D 2nd edition, things get blurred and murky. However, WE'RE NOT THE OLD SCHOOL POLICE---while we might not play or actively support the 1990s/2e and later games, if you want to play them, by all means, go have fun! It's just not our particular sweet spot.
[edit] What exactly is an "original" game?
It's a game that is no longer printed or actively updated, like the original 1974 version of Dungeons & Dragons, Gamma World, Arduin or Boot Hill. For those games still in print, it's usually the "first" version of the game.
[edit] Hey! Not all those games you listed above are out-of-print!
We support a lot of games. Some games are still in print today without having really changed or abandoned their old-school roots! For example: Call of Cthulhu, or Tunnels & Trolls. We also support the newer "retroclones" or "simulacra" games that directly clone/emulate/imitate the original, out-of-print games.
[edit] What is this so-called "old school" gaming of which you speak so ardently?
Do you have a few hours? "Old School Gaming" means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but there are some commonalities many of us seem to share:
- Old school gaming relies on the rules being guidelines more than the be-all, end-all, final word. The person running the game (GM, DM, Referee, Judge) has the "final say" on how any rules question is resolved, but a good GM is focused on the players and the campaign---meaning committed to making the game enjoyable for all involved.
- It's more about you playing your character than playing your character sheet. The fewer rules you have, the less you have (to be distracted by) on your character sheet. You always have the final say on what your character does---no GM can railroad you into a specific action.
- The feel of the game is more "average person" than "superheroic powerful being". The world around your character isn't fair, balanced, or particularly impressed by your heroic inclinations! Your character earns his name and gains his power through overcoming obstacles and opponents with whatever resources are available.
- Character creation often takes a minimal amount of time. A back-story is fine, but it's not the main point---in old school play, the character's history is often built of what happens in play (player choices!), not what supposedly happened before play.
- GMs run games based less on a strict plot of "encounters" or "acts", and more based on reactions to your decisions and what you do with your character, often including a healthy dose of randomness to spice things up. That's not to say you won't participate in harrowing adventures and grand epics, but an old school game is less concerned about a cinematic "plot" and more about people having fun exploring worlds (and possibly getting rich in the bargain!)
[edit] You mentioned "do-it-yourself"---so you like to play broken games?
Um, no. We like rules that have lots of wide-open space for customization. The early games usually had minimal rules, often with different systems for different parts of the game, which makes it easy to add or subtract whatever you please. Arneson had alien artifacts; Hargrave had crazy critical hit charts; St. Andre let anyone play anything (actually, Arneson did that, too...) We want the freedom to add all that and more, or strip it down to nothing but a 20-sider and Referee rulings. The point is simply for the whole group to have as much fun as possible, whatever form that might take.
(Dave Arneson was the co-author of Dungeons & Dragons and Blackmoor, Dave Hargrave wrote a fantasy game called Arduin, Ken St. Andre wrote the Tunnels & Trolls fantasy game).
[edit] Are you just about D&D?
Well, we DO love D&D, but we also love original games in general, regardless of genre---science fiction, espionage, fantasy, westerns, horror, you name it.
[edit] RetroWHAT? "SimulWHATRA"?
"Retroclones" are a recent phenomenon. Retroclones attempt to "clone" the rules and mechanics of original versions of games, restating them in (usually) more clear, modern formats with some twists and personal tastes included. "Simulacra" games have the feel and relatively similar mechanics of the original games, but are more about capturing the spirit of traditional play, rather than emulating exact rules.
Many retroclones, especially those of D&D/fantasy type, were born mainly from the fruits of the Open Gaming License that Wizards of the Coast published the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons under. For instance, OSRIC (Old School Reference and Index Compilation) is essentially a recasting of the 3rd edition SRD as the first edition game, complete with AD&D classes, spells and monsters.
These retroclones and simulacra have done two very important things: They've injected a new life into original rules and they've made it possible for publishers to release new material for original style gaming without trying to license for out-of-print games and intellectual property.
[edit] Yeah, but what can TARGA do for me?
TARGA wants to do one thing and do it really well---we want to put "butts in chairs" playing old school games!
That means that if you're someone who's interested in the original or out-of-print games, well, if you want to play, we're here to run the game. If you want to run the game, we want to play, and get other people to come play as well!
We want to reach out to every convention that we know of, every game store in the country (if not the world!), every event that we can put someone at and even in homes---we want people to know that they're not alone, that the old version of a game that they like isn't forgotten or lost. In fact, these days, it's probably better supported than they might think!
We want to reach the people who aren't sumulacra bloggers, old school forum members, or retroclone publishers as much or more as we want to reach all the people who are active on the Internet. We want to match you up with each other. We want to see you have fun playing old school games. The more of you we reach, the better chance we have of continuing to play these games for a long, long time to come.
[edit] Okay, you've got my attention---where can I get more information about TARGA and old school gaming?
We have a main website: http://www.traditionalgaming.org, where we maintain the TARGA wiki, a blog, and a link to our email list: TARGATalk@yahoogroups.com. The wiki has information on TARGA events and games being held, as well as contact information for TARGA Regional Coordinators.
[edit] What's a "Regional Coordinator"?
See that lonely hero on the hill? That's an RC---he or she is standing alone, holding aloft the flame of old school gaming...
Oh man, where did that come from? Anyway... Regional Coordinators (aka RC) are volunteers who organize and run TARGA events. These might be regular games, one-shot events at conventions, or demos at game stores. They've agreed to be "points of contact" for TARGA. They are the grassroots people who are actively playing and want YOU to play, too!
