Hi all,
So tomorrow is our first session of Red Box Niagara.
I'm looking at 5-7 players roughly 19-24 years of age. A couple have 4E experience and a couple have never played before. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm going to start by handing out some introductory sheets on style of play and role-playing, then character generation, and finally on to the Keep on the Borderlands.
I've created point-form sheets for the classes (nobody will have the ruleset in front of them). For those who want to get their own copy I will be directing people to the Labyrinth Lord core rules.
I have to tell you, I'm fighting serious urges to begin this group with the Advanced Edition Companion as gospel. I'm back and forth on the issue. The only thing keeping me back is that several people haven't played before. I should keep it simple, right? Or am I just totally overthinking this?
I've made several additions and house rules. I've created Latin corruptions as spell invocations. Spell-casters must use these when casting spells. When turning undead clerics must exclaim, "In the name of [Deity’s Name in Ancient Common], I banish you unholy abominations!” Sweet eh? I always liked that from the second D&D movie. I've added a couple weapons and one suit of armor. Magic-users can use the longsword (Gandalf-like). Don't give me any of that stealing the fighter's thunder stuff. I have no problem with this because if they need to use their longswords they are likely dead anyway. Also, excluding ranged weapons, the halberd, and the two-handed sword, fighters can use any weapon two-handed and increase the damage die of that weapon by 1. Dwarves can do the same thing but only with hammers and axes. Elves need magic armor to cast spells. I've created another category for ranged attacks called "Point Blank Range." We will be using minis as well. I've added two deities for each of Law, Neutrality, and Chaos. Hopefully the players over time can develop these areas further. I am setting things up to use the AEC even if I don't use it right away.
I realize that it's common to do zero character background but I'm having each player answer the following two questions to stimulate thought about their characters and role-playing: Write a short, creative background for your character. Answer two questions: 1) Who are you? 2) How did you end up at a remote, god-forsaken, borderland keep inhabited by criminals, barbarians, and cut-throats at the ass-end of the civilized realm?
So, that's the quick and dirty version. I can't wait to get them hyped about playing.
Showing posts with label Labyrinth Lord. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Labyrinth Lord. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Random Hireling Generator (Revised)
I was quite taken with the Bulette's random hireling generator for Labyrinth Lord.
I've made a few revisions that I think build on an already excellent idea.
I would have no problem using something like this for any D&D game that I play (LL, B/X, 1E, or whatever).
Please let me know what you think. I'd like to continue tweaking.
Dungeons and Dragons Hireling Generator
I've made a few revisions that I think build on an already excellent idea.
I would have no problem using something like this for any D&D game that I play (LL, B/X, 1E, or whatever).
Please let me know what you think. I'd like to continue tweaking.
Dungeons and Dragons Hireling Generator
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Our LL-B/X (OD&D & AD&D) House Rules
Much like the D&D game, our house rules are a pastiche. We base our game on Labyrinth Lord (LL) and are excited to see what the Advanced Edition Companion (AEC) has to say in a few months.
Our primary gaming experiences are from Moldvay Basic (B/X) and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D). Add on top of that a healthy interest in Sowrds and Wizardry (S&W) and you arrive somewhere close to our house rules. Our minis-lite approach stems from 3rd Edition and there's even one item from 4th Edition (Gads, I guess we just blew up the edition wars, ha!) Fun is always the final arbiter in our game.
We enjoy playing with minis and tiles. In our view, there's nothing wrong with a wee taste of tactical play. To that end we decided that the emphasis on rules-lite that suits our busy lifestyles does not exlcude a rule-lite approach to minis. We aren't power gamers and don't sit up at night finding new ways to bust the rules. So the below works for us:
Character Generation:
•Abilities: 4d6, [drop lowest], arrange to taste or 3d6 depending on adventure
•Hit Points: Maximum hp at 1st level
•Darkvision: Demi-human have vision in the dark instead of heat-sensing infravision
Clerics:
•Spontaneous Casting: Clerics can spontaneously cast any spell for a healing spell of the same level.
•Double (Spell) Dipping: Clerics may not memorize the same spell twice in one day without the use of magical items.
•Turning: For every turn attempt per day after the first the player adds +1 to the difficulty number on the Turning Undead Table.
•Bonus Spells: Clerics with Wisdom 15+ receive 1 bonus 1st level spell/day.
•Scrolls: Clerics may write their own spell scrolls at a cost of 250gp per level of the spell. The writing time is one week per spell level. Up to three spells can be written on a scroll.
Magic-Users:
•Spontaneous Casting: Magic-Users may spontaneously cast any spell for Detect Magic or Read Magic.
•Weapons: Magic-Users may use dagger, dart, quarterstaff, or sling. Human Magic-Users may use the longsword. Elven Magic-Users may use the longbow.
•Double (Spell) Dipping: Magic-Users may not memorize the same spell twice in one day without the use of magical items.
•Initial Spell Books: Magic-Users/Elves begin play with Detect Magic, Read Magic, two 1st level spells, and one 2nd level spell, of the player’s choosing.
•Scrolls: Magic-Users may write their own spell scrolls at a cost of 250gp per level of the spell. The writing time is one week per spell level. Scroll can hold a maximum of three spells.
•Bonus Spells: Magic-Users with Intelligence 15+ get 1 bonus 1st level spell/day
Thieves:
•Thieves use d6 for HP
Fighters:
•Only the human fighter may use the two-handed sword
•Excluding obvious two-handed weapons (halberd and two-handed sword), a fighter may wield any weapon on the weapon list two-handed and increase the damage die of that weapon by 1 (example: Battle Axe d8, wielded with two hands d10)
Dwarves:
•Hit Points: Dwarves use d10 for HP
•Racial Enemy: Dwarves are +1 versus Orcs and Goblins
•Two Handed Weapons: Dwarves may use the spear and the halberd, but not the two-handed sword.
•Armour Class: Armor class (+2) improves when attacked by creatures larger than man-sized (7 feet and over)
Halflings:
•Armour Class: Armor class (+2) improves when attacked by creatures larger than man-sized (7 feet and over)
Elves:
•Racial Weapon: Elves receive a bonus of +1 with the longbow
•Two Handed Weapons: Elves may use the halberd, but not the two-handed sword.
•Armour and Spell Casting: May only cast spells while wearing magical armour.
•Initial Spell Books: See Magic-User.
•Scrolls: See Magic-User.
•Bonus Spells: Elves with Intelligence 15+ get 1 bonus 1st level spell/day
Gods:
Lawful Gods:
Torm, God of Duty
St. Cuthbert, God of Justice
Neutral Gods:
Obad-Hai, God of Nature
Mystryl, Goddess of Magic
Chaos Gods:
Tiamat, Goddess of Vengeance
Orcus, God of (Un)Death
Combat:
•Ascending Armor Class
•Critical Hits: Natural ‘20′ roll DMG dice x2
•Critical Fumble: A natural ‘1′ means consult critical fumble table
•Hammer, light 1d6
•Hammer, War 1d8
•Heavy Crossbow 2d4 (Rate of fire ½)
•Mace, Heavy 1d8
•Two-Handed Sword 2d6
Mini Rules:
•To Hit Bonuses: Flank +2, Prone +4, Attack from Behind either +2 or +4 to hit circumstance bonus (DM call).
•Coup de Gras: Helpless opponent (Auto-Hit Save vs. Death + DMG or die)
•Moving: Any direction 5ft
•No Threatened Squares, No Attacks of Opportunity, No 5ft Step
•When adjacent to an opponent, movement is reduced by half
•Spears/Halberds: Have 5ft reach (1 Square); can also attack from the 2nd rank
•Missile Attack into Melee: Attack at -2, a natural low roll may hit party member (DM call).
•Missile Attacks: Must be more than 5ft (1 square) from target.
•The universal point blank range: 15ft (or 3 squares away). Any missile attack within PBR (or from either 10 or 15ft away) is +1 to hit. Any weapon listed at long range is -1 to hit (see page 54).
Combat Movement:
Human/Elf: 30 ft or 6 squares
Halfling/Dwarf: 20 ft or 4 squares
Death and Dying:
•Hit Points:
0 HPs: Unconscious for 1d6 turns then revives to 1 HP
-1 to -10 HPs: Save vs. Death, Save means 0 HPs (as above)
Below -10 HPs: Dead, No Save
•Bind Wounds: Heal 1-3 hit points after each combat if 5 minutes spent
Can bind unconscious character’s wounds to revive (with 1 hp)
•Funeral Pyres: If the body of a fallen fellow adventurer is recovered it may be burned on a funeral pyre. PCs may donate up to 100gp/level of their fallen comrade in gold, jewels, etc and earn an equivalent level of experience point bonus.
Our primary gaming experiences are from Moldvay Basic (B/X) and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D). Add on top of that a healthy interest in Sowrds and Wizardry (S&W) and you arrive somewhere close to our house rules. Our minis-lite approach stems from 3rd Edition and there's even one item from 4th Edition (Gads, I guess we just blew up the edition wars, ha!) Fun is always the final arbiter in our game.
We enjoy playing with minis and tiles. In our view, there's nothing wrong with a wee taste of tactical play. To that end we decided that the emphasis on rules-lite that suits our busy lifestyles does not exlcude a rule-lite approach to minis. We aren't power gamers and don't sit up at night finding new ways to bust the rules. So the below works for us:
Character Generation:
•Abilities: 4d6, [drop lowest], arrange to taste or 3d6 depending on adventure
•Hit Points: Maximum hp at 1st level
•Darkvision: Demi-human have vision in the dark instead of heat-sensing infravision
Clerics:
•Spontaneous Casting: Clerics can spontaneously cast any spell for a healing spell of the same level.
•Double (Spell) Dipping: Clerics may not memorize the same spell twice in one day without the use of magical items.
•Turning: For every turn attempt per day after the first the player adds +1 to the difficulty number on the Turning Undead Table.
•Bonus Spells: Clerics with Wisdom 15+ receive 1 bonus 1st level spell/day.
•Scrolls: Clerics may write their own spell scrolls at a cost of 250gp per level of the spell. The writing time is one week per spell level. Up to three spells can be written on a scroll.
Magic-Users:
•Spontaneous Casting: Magic-Users may spontaneously cast any spell for Detect Magic or Read Magic.
•Weapons: Magic-Users may use dagger, dart, quarterstaff, or sling. Human Magic-Users may use the longsword. Elven Magic-Users may use the longbow.
•Double (Spell) Dipping: Magic-Users may not memorize the same spell twice in one day without the use of magical items.
•Initial Spell Books: Magic-Users/Elves begin play with Detect Magic, Read Magic, two 1st level spells, and one 2nd level spell, of the player’s choosing.
•Scrolls: Magic-Users may write their own spell scrolls at a cost of 250gp per level of the spell. The writing time is one week per spell level. Scroll can hold a maximum of three spells.
•Bonus Spells: Magic-Users with Intelligence 15+ get 1 bonus 1st level spell/day
Thieves:
•Thieves use d6 for HP
Fighters:
•Only the human fighter may use the two-handed sword
•Excluding obvious two-handed weapons (halberd and two-handed sword), a fighter may wield any weapon on the weapon list two-handed and increase the damage die of that weapon by 1 (example: Battle Axe d8, wielded with two hands d10)
Dwarves:
•Hit Points: Dwarves use d10 for HP
•Racial Enemy: Dwarves are +1 versus Orcs and Goblins
•Two Handed Weapons: Dwarves may use the spear and the halberd, but not the two-handed sword.
•Armour Class: Armor class (+2) improves when attacked by creatures larger than man-sized (7 feet and over)
Halflings:
•Armour Class: Armor class (+2) improves when attacked by creatures larger than man-sized (7 feet and over)
Elves:
•Racial Weapon: Elves receive a bonus of +1 with the longbow
•Two Handed Weapons: Elves may use the halberd, but not the two-handed sword.
•Armour and Spell Casting: May only cast spells while wearing magical armour.
•Initial Spell Books: See Magic-User.
•Scrolls: See Magic-User.
•Bonus Spells: Elves with Intelligence 15+ get 1 bonus 1st level spell/day
Gods:
Lawful Gods:
Torm, God of Duty
St. Cuthbert, God of Justice
Neutral Gods:
Obad-Hai, God of Nature
Mystryl, Goddess of Magic
Chaos Gods:
Tiamat, Goddess of Vengeance
Orcus, God of (Un)Death
Combat:
•Ascending Armor Class
•Critical Hits: Natural ‘20′ roll DMG dice x2
•Critical Fumble: A natural ‘1′ means consult critical fumble table
•Hammer, light 1d6
•Hammer, War 1d8
•Heavy Crossbow 2d4 (Rate of fire ½)
•Mace, Heavy 1d8
•Two-Handed Sword 2d6
Mini Rules:
•To Hit Bonuses: Flank +2, Prone +4, Attack from Behind either +2 or +4 to hit circumstance bonus (DM call).
•Coup de Gras: Helpless opponent (Auto-Hit Save vs. Death + DMG or die)
•Moving: Any direction 5ft
•No Threatened Squares, No Attacks of Opportunity, No 5ft Step
•When adjacent to an opponent, movement is reduced by half
•Spears/Halberds: Have 5ft reach (1 Square); can also attack from the 2nd rank
•Missile Attack into Melee: Attack at -2, a natural low roll may hit party member (DM call).
•Missile Attacks: Must be more than 5ft (1 square) from target.
•The universal point blank range: 15ft (or 3 squares away). Any missile attack within PBR (or from either 10 or 15ft away) is +1 to hit. Any weapon listed at long range is -1 to hit (see page 54).
Combat Movement:
Human/Elf: 30 ft or 6 squares
Halfling/Dwarf: 20 ft or 4 squares
Death and Dying:
•Hit Points:
0 HPs: Unconscious for 1d6 turns then revives to 1 HP
-1 to -10 HPs: Save vs. Death, Save means 0 HPs (as above)
Below -10 HPs: Dead, No Save
•Bind Wounds: Heal 1-3 hit points after each combat if 5 minutes spent
Can bind unconscious character’s wounds to revive (with 1 hp)
•Funeral Pyres: If the body of a fallen fellow adventurer is recovered it may be burned on a funeral pyre. PCs may donate up to 100gp/level of their fallen comrade in gold, jewels, etc and earn an equivalent level of experience point bonus.
Monday, September 7, 2009
New Labyrinth Lord Website
Dan Proctor of Goblinoid Games just unveiled a spanky new website to conincide with his launch of a revised Labyrinth Lord Ruleset and the much anticipated Advanced Edition Companion later this fall. Both the website and the books highlight the new old school art of Steve Zieser. I'm excited to take a look at any rule tweaks and adjustments. I wish Dan Proctor great success.
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