In the comments of a previous post, reader Bluebear Jeff highlighted some of the D&D do's and dont's he learned when he started playing D&D. Two in particular resonated with me, so I thought I would make this a collaborative post wherein we could generate a top 10 list of recommendations to new D&D players who are playing old school editions. Bonus points for humour. We'll begin with Jeff's contributions, in no particular order (yet):
1. Never fight anything that you don't have to.
2. Nothing is ever what it seems to be.
DMs should allow player characters max HP at first level and roll over all rolls resulting in 1 when creating player character ability scores.
ReplyDeleteAny npc over age 40 is hiding something
ReplyDeleteSave your gold. You're going to need it to res the figher (again).
ReplyDeleteNot every cow is a polymorphed dragon.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it is a polymorphed dragon. Don't try to milk it.
ReplyDeleteDon't thrust the thief! (Especially if you are the thief!)
ReplyDeleteI thrusted a thief once, and no cleric could heal me afterwards.
ReplyDeleteHead back out of the dungeon before you are dangerously low on resources, because anything can happen on the way out.
ReplyDeleteHead out of the dungeon if you've scored some good loot, so you can benefit from the experience points.
Never press onward into unknown areas on a whim, or if you should be following one of the above commandments instead!
Everything at your disposal is a vital resource to be conserved.
ReplyDeleteAll shields must be shattered!
ReplyDeleteThe last words of many a good party were, "Let's just go one more room, and then rest."
ReplyDeleteOil is your best friend.
ReplyDelete"I have these Fifteen..." *slide* *crash* ... Ten..Ten Commandments!"
ReplyDeleteThe subset to the second commandment should be, "This is especially true of nubile slave girls chained to the wall."
ReplyDeleteOh, and a serious one: Never forget to look up.
ReplyDeleteoh yea, that looking up rule is one I try to to adhere to, especially after a series of some unfortunate incidents.
ReplyDeleteHey Alex,
ReplyDeleteYou should get Andrew to read these comments lol (poor guy).
The next room is always occupied with over a dozen bugbears.
ReplyDeleteThou Shalt Never Split Thine Party!
ReplyDelete