Bloody 20s

60s NOT 20s or 30s

2011-04-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning and all I could remember was this...
Crime Story

Gangbusters Play By Post

2011-02-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Gangbusters PBP game - Take 2. Click here for the news

Original "Gangbusters" Poster

2010-11-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Roaring20s Game

2010-09-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Early entries in this blog showed the earliest rules for "Gangbusters". Since that time, I have uncovered the next edition of the edited rules for the game and they are available for your perusal. These pages are provided as historical reference and to provide a glimpse at the process of game design. All rights are reserved.

Roaring20s Game.pdf

Gangbusters by Post delayed 6 weeks

2010-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Gangbusters game delayed. Click here for the news

last words, Have a Happy Labor Day weekend

2010-09-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend...aah sweet melancholy (or the Spanish might say "Alegria"). But, the weather's cooler, day's getting shorter and one of the last of my file boxes is opened. Several dungeons done with #2 pencil decades ago are uncovered and are unfortunately a well faded blur of nothingness. But, then nothing says 1980s like a Dot Matrix printer. There in a dusty file folder is a never before published Adventure for Gangbusters by Rick Krebs. All rights are reserved, but feel free to share in my FUN and memories.

Download GBpdf.pdf

a fitting tune for the weekend.
"Famous Last Words" by Billy Joel

Others reflect on Gangbusters

2010-05-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

at Grognardia

Reflections

2010-03-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

When I first submitted my design for Bloody 20s, I would have been satisfied if it was published by TSR as another game booklet, similar to the original Boot Hill, or Cavalier & Roundheads (yes, I am a fan of ECW).
I was surprised when the decision was made to give B20 the full boxed treatment and I was delighted at the map presentations.

Some facts about the maps: Bud's Garage is named after my Uncle Bud, who ran a garage and kept my first vehicles on the road at affordable prices. Virginia Place is named after my late Aunt Virginia, Bud's wife.

Hardy's fine meats was for a dear friend since grade school through college.

Pauley Construction was for a group of 5 brothers I worked with in a Cemetery, during my college years.

I always wished I could have been an observer at the "Algonquin Round Table". I am getting old...for more info, google it.

If you're smart, you can figure out the tribute of Maxwell Street. And, if you have a sense of humor you can see the potential conversations when talking to the owner of Costello's Candy Store.

And in the end....

2009-07-08T03:02:00.000-07:00

"Come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out."

With this post, this blog will be taking a break, and I will be turning off Comments. So, I ask that any questions or comments be posted to The Gangbusters board at Original D&D Discussion

Thank you.

So You Really Want to be a Game Designer ?

2009-07-07T03:07:00.000-07:00

Alan Emrich's Top 10 Reasons to Become a Game Designer sums up the situation, as well as, I have seen game design described. But, I have also been privileged to meet some fantastic and creative people, of all ages, involved in the gaming hobby. And, then after 30 plus years, someone takes your game and makes a website like The Cleveland Stories, you smile, a sly smile. Thank you.

Thanks Michael, for your blog post . It, too, brought a sly smile to my face. "And, you're welcome."

After tomorrow, this blog will be taking a break, and I will be turning off Comments. So, I ask that any questions or comments be posted to The Gangbusters board at Original D&D Discussion Thank you.

As they said in the Gangster movies my Grandfather introduced me to, "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it." ;-)

So you want to be a Game Designer ? pt 12

2009-07-06T03:17:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Reasons to Become a Game Designer

So You Want to be a Game Designer ? pt 11

2009-07-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July extra

2009-07-04T03:16:00.000-07:00

Front and back from "Tee" shirts that were made for the original playtesters. Thanks Frank, my gaming buddy for 41 years, for finding yours and providing the photos.

So You Want to be a Game Designer ? pt 10

2009-07-03T04:04:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ? pt 9

2009-07-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

Historical Note: On May 30th, 1982, Gamer's Guild, the game store I owned, went out of business.

So you want to be a Game Designer ? pt 8

2009-07-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

So You Want to be a Game Designer ? pt 7

2009-06-30T03:05:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ? part 6

2009-06-29T03:05:00.000-07:00

So You Want to be a Game Designer ? part 5

2009-06-28T03:05:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ? part 4

2009-06-27T03:02:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ? part 3

2009-06-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ? part 2

2009-06-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

So you want to be a Game Designer ?

2009-06-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Quest continues

2009-06-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Onward

2009-06-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

Making progress ?

2009-06-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

One step at a time

2009-06-20T05:30:00.001-07:00

Today, Saturday, June 20th is Free RPG Day at your friendly neighborhood game store/shop/shoppe. As a former game store owner, I strongly encourage you to visit your favorite game store and participate in the day's activities. List of participating Game Stores .

1978 Foreword: B20s

2009-06-19T03:56:00.000-07:00

" As America entered the 1920s, historians described her as "a fairyland", a "fantasy world". The "Great War" was behind her, a "return to normalcy" was at hand, and every American saw prosperity ahead. The decade that followed saw the emergence of Jazz, the widespread availability of the automobile, Babe Ruth and Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, the 18th Amendment to the Constituion of the United States and its enablement, the Volstead Act stated "no person shall manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, or furnish any intoxicating liquor except as authorized by this act". During this period, it became a popular pastime for every citizen to circumvent the law. This activity literally bankrolled the entire underground world for thirteen years, at the end of which, organized crime was a part of American life."

" It was the era of John Dillinger, "Baron" Herman K. Lamm, "Scarface" Al Capone, "Pretty Boy" Floyd, "Baby Face" Nelson, "Ma" Barker, and Bonnie & Clyde. It was also the time of Eliot Ness and the "Untouchables", Melvin Purvis, J. Edgar Hoover, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, and a host of others, real and imaginary, who fought crime and injustice wherever they found it."

" Above all, the Bloody Twenties was designed to be a fun experience. Remember to treat it as such, and have fun and enjoy it."

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 20th is Free RPG Day at your friendly neighborhood game store/shop/shoppe. As a former game store owner, I strongly encourage you to visit your favorite game store and participate in the day's activities. List of participating Game Stores .

the Quest continues

2009-06-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

The Journey begins

2009-06-17T04:42:00.001-07:00

June 17, 1933, the Kansas City Massacre. Crime declares war on the United States.

1978 Cops & Robbers

2009-06-16T09:08:00.001-07:00

Original B20s rules, pages 6 & 7

2009-06-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

That's it 7 pages of rules and notes. Just add some creative players and an experienced DM to serve as Judge and let the fun begin. What happened next was interesting and at times unbelievable. Stay tuned for more.

Original B20s Rules (pages 3-5)

2009-06-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Original B20s rules (first 2 pages)

2009-06-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

WKRB Radio News

2009-06-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Explosion rips through the Doyle Building, killing one and injuring 2 others. The offices of private investigators Johnny Dollar & Maxie Rosenberg were destroyed by a bomb believed to have been delivered by a delivery boy, earlier in the morning. Police have apprehended and are questioning a suspect in the case. WKRB Radio has learned that Barry "the boy" Hogan was taken into custody after trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at Betty's Restaurant. During questioning at police headquarters, Mr Hogan was linked to the delivery of a package to the offices of Dollar & Rosenberg. The body recovered at the scene remains unidentified pending the notification of the next of kin.

Police raid charity social. In an effort to crack down on the illegal operation of speakeasies in Lakefront City, police today took in for questioning several members of the "Keep Lakefront City Beautiful" Association, which was holding its monthly meeting at the Blue Parrot Cafe.

Mom Keller's Rooming House was issued a warning that it will be closed within 30 days, unless Building Code violations are corrected.

Weather overcast with light rain. Highs today near 70.

Thank you

2009-05-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your various comments and suggestions. Here and at Michael's OldGuyRPG Blog . The first steps will be legal to see that the rights are passed to my grandson and then ....

Stay tuned and I look forward to your further suggestions.

The Future

2009-05-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Things have been a bit slow around here, lately. Well, there is a good reason. I have been busy, busy pondering the future. Where to from here, Rick ? The wisest man I ever worked with always said, "Life is choices". So, I ponder.

What is next for Gangbusters ? A reprint, published with my unpublished GB module ? A 5th edition, that would be kind of funny ? An entire redo, stripped to its most basic concepts ? Turning the file cabinets of materials into a textbook on game design ? Donate a free game for the Librarian's RPG project ? Return to my education roots and develop Gangbusters as an educational project ?

For now, I am still assembling files and correspondences on "the history of B20s" and looking for a personal intern to assist me in my efforts.

To you dear readers, feel free to add suggestions.

Public Enemies

2009-05-03T16:08:00.001-07:00

Johnny Depp as John Dillinger. Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis.
Public Enemies coming July 1, 2009.

Legendary Locale #2

2009-04-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

The Ivyland Ballroom: A 2 story building. Restaurant and dance floor located on first floor. Business offices for the legendary "Wisconsin Chopper" are on the second floor, as are living quarters for his 5 henchmen, who are always on duty. Access to the basement is gained by asking "what time does the next train leave for Lake Geneva ?" The basement is quite large and is the location for a gambling eneterprise as well as a bar. Visitors are always frisked before going upstairs or to the "train station" in the basement.

"Wisconsin Chopper" ('The man, the myth, the legend') MS=23 AG=24 OB=76 DR=88 PR=10 LK=79 HP=19
Special Weapons ability, Driving, 3 Street Contacts, 7 Political contacts, 1 Hospital contact
Weapon: Thompson machine gun Vehicle: 3 passenger roadster
Safe House: 18th & Clark Warehouse: Canal & 18th
4 units of gambling equipment, large still (20 barrels/week)

Legendary Locales #1

2009-04-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

Betty's Diner, ah the memories.
Betty McGill owner/cook (level 2 citizen, age=??)MS=91 AG=48 OB=96 DR=72 PR=8 LK=32 HP=18 PU=5 Police record: multiple petty crimes, 6 years in state prison
Betty is a feisty "broad", hardened by years of exposure to the rough & tumble life. Her diner is a well known hangout for low level criminals. The food is lousy and the coffee is drek. Don't mess with Betty as she carries a meat cleaver and a .38 revolver.

Mary Reagan (level 1 worker, age=17) MS=48 AG=52 OB=13 DR=29 PR=8 LK=22 HP=15 PU=1
The kind, sweet and innocent Mary Reagan, recently arrived from Ireland, doing her best to make a life in her new country. Volunteers at the animal shelter

Bob Flynn (level 1 criminal, age=22) MS=28 AG=61 OB=22 DR=50 PR=4 LK=33 HP=9 PU=4 Bald, Skills: Pickpocket=62 Hotwiring=55
Just hanging out at Betty's enjoying the lousy food and lousy coffee.

Betty's Diner: $40 in cash drawer $200 in safe in Betty's Office 30% chance of hearing a true rumor, 20% chance per 15 minutes that a foot policeman walks through the diner.

Another beginning, another trip down Memory Lane

2009-04-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

As Walter Winchell might report, today: "2009, Depression grips the country...."

I hope to use this Blog to post news, information and some history of the Role Playing Game, Gangbusters published by TSR Hobbies, Inc in 1982.

Me, I'm Krebs, Rick Krebs, the creator and original designer of a Role Playing game that began life as "the Bloody 20s".

I will continue to support and post at: Original D&D Discussions