Old School Reanimated - Absurdly Using Lester Bangs Quotes For OSR Purposes

"Nothing ever quite dies, it just comes back in a different form." - Lester Bangs

The above quote is true in the sense of Old School RPGs. D&D has certainly gone through it's lean years and it's fat years, but people still use the rules in it's many incarnations. Sure the rules have changed the demographics have changed but the game remains ever the same.

I love the fact that a lot of fans of OD&D never gave up on those rules, the kept using them because...well they weren't broke. And the OSR has breathed new life into the original rules, but also bringing new ideas and taking different paths that weren't taken in the 70s and 80s. In this way the Retro Clones have become something similar but completely new, a sort of "Reanimated" version of the older rule sets.

"The First Mistake of art is assuming it's serious."

This quote made me laugh! Thinking about the OSR rip-off logo, how it was made more as a tongue-in-cheek parody of officialdom, and how it's spun off in other directions. I do like seeing the OSR logo on game books though, and hope to see other versions of the logo. Gaming as a pass-time should never be taken seriously unless you're having serious fun!

"The ultimate sin of any performer is to have contempt for the audience."

This is probably what has driven a lot of gamers to the OSR, or at least the old guard. They've felt alienated by the glut of a bloated RPG system intent on selling products rather than tools for spinning a good yarn. I hope the OSR will always hang on to it's DIY roots and never lose sight that the most important part about gaming is having fun.

Now some of you are asking yourselves, "What does Lester Bangs have to do with the OSR?"

I reply, "Absolutely nothing."

He's my favorite rock critic, and I've always thought he had a way with words, even in everyday life situations. He had a great sense of irony, and I have a weird sense of humor!

What ever you do this weekend, even if it's not gaming related, just have fun!

Keep rockin' and roleplayin'!