October's Backpacker magazine

[Spinward Scout]

Travellers,

If you never ever read another Backpacker magazine, this is the one to read. It says right on the front:

THE SURVIVAL ISSUE

It includes America's Most Dangerous Hikes, The Ultimate Checklist: a survival kit from a Yosemite rescue ranger, When Disaster Strikes, and The Ultimate Survivor - even an article about the Bataan Death March in World War II.

For all of you evil Referees out there that want to throw some realistic (non-exotic - or maybe even partially exotic) nasty weather or environment at your players.

For all of you cunning players that want to know how to get out of those nasty things your evil Ref throws at you.

And even for anyone in a real-life environment that has a potential to have a natural disaster (hurricane, blizzard, even lightning strikes!).

You'll want to read this magazine.

If you don't have access to the magazine, Backpacker.com has a ton of info and their newly added Survival 101.

"Oh, the pain..."

 

[tim_manley]

I grew up in desert, woods, mountains... all over; spent all my time outdoors. Hikers get lost out where I live now a lot... and I'm always amazed at how fragile these folks going into the woods are.

I find it laughable in fact..

But, as for survival issues in a game there is an old boardgame (yes, I have it at home) called survivor or survival (dont' recall) where you move on a hex map. I used that for game purposes.

I had a D&D game years ago (was AD&D if I recall) where characters were all geared up and honky dory in their levels so I said "screw you" and tossed them with nothing, stark naked, into the wilds.

Was pretty fun seeing them struggle with the "WTF???" and one guy almost cried cuz his +whatever sword was missing......

aaahhhh.... the old days back in college.....

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Grrrrr...

...

I had a D&D game years ago (was AD&D if I recall) where characters were all geared up and honky dory in their levels so I said "screw you" and tossed them with nothing, stark naked, into the wilds.

Was pretty fun seeing them struggle with the "WTF???" and one guy almost cried cuz his +whatever sword was missing......

aaahhhh.... the old days back in college.....

Well, I remember that happening to me too, had three first level spells only, MM, Shield, and don't remember the third...wow, a Barbarian and a Wizard and we almost lost to a bloody wolverine...mean DMs, nice to know they're everywhere.

Oh and I will have to pick this up and check it out, thanks for the info.

 

[Merxiless]

Avalon Hill, OUTDOOR SURVIVAL.

I think I have two copies of it.

 

[BlackBat242]

Funnily, Gary Gygax, in the original D&D rules, said to use that game for conducting outdoor adventuring between combat/dungeon interludes.