Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
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Monster & Treasure Assortment « Thread Started on Oct 17, 2011, 10:17am »
I've had a copy of this for years and hardly ever used it, but I'm thinking of running my crew through a megadungeon and the MTA seems to be great for randomly filling up rooms.
1. If you've used it, how balanced is it? Are monster levels appropriate to dungeon levels? Do you have to continually modify what is there or can it be used pretty much as-is?
2. I'm trying to copy-paste from a PDF to a Word doc and am frustrated by the number of mis-interpreted characters. (Must be a poor scan.) Anyone clean this up? I forsee a number of hours of trying to catch every typo....
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,673 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #1 on Oct 17, 2011, 1:40pm »
Another thing that occurs to me: magic user "monsters" are listed by level name (e.g. Sorcerer) but no spells are listed. It would probably be wise to add to this and put in a spell list so I wouldn't have to do it "on the fly" during an adventure.
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Joined: Nov 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 724 Location: London, Canada Karma: 28
Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #2 on Oct 18, 2011, 12:03pm »
I once designed (back in grade 10) a nine-level dungeon, with 300 rooms per level, using just the M&T. My players made it down to the 4th level IIRC. You get the odd easu encounter, and the occasional OOPS WE ARE GOING TO DIE, so overall I'd say the balance is good
HIT POINTS Kelmult 15/22, William 12/20, Patronus 11/16, Jariel 14/14, Flandil 15/15, Asta 5/6, Einarr 5/5, Zaleeg 4/4
HIRED HELP Highdly 7/7, Sean 2/8, Jorman 7/7, Garfund 10/10, Kris 1/4, Petr 4/4
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Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #3 on Oct 18, 2011, 12:25pm »
It’s worth noting that the version that is broken up into three packets (levels 1-3, 4-6, 7-9) is for OD&D + Supplements, while the single-volume book is for Moldvay (treasure is gimped, fewer types of monsters and characters represented, all-around less kewl).
A man may do both. For not we but those who come after will make the legends of our time. The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day! —J.R.R. Tolkien
"Those who swallow the camel of the entire concept, then strain at gnats of a particular monster or situation seem to be be losing much of the basis for playing. However, that sort of thing happens as one becomes familiar with the fanciful and begins to qualify the experience by comparison to reality." - EGG
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
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Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #5 on Oct 18, 2011, 3:41pm »
It’s worth noting that the version that is broken up into three packets (levels 1-3, 4-6, 7-9) is for OD&D + Supplements, while the single-volume book is for Moldvay (treasure is gimped, fewer types of monsters and characters represented, all-around less kewl).
Drat. I know I used to own all three of the individual packets but I have this feeling that all I have now is the combined booklet. I'll have to check.
I'd prefer to go with the origninal, given an choice.
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,673 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #6 on Oct 18, 2011, 3:43pm »
I once designed (back in grade 10) a nine-level dungeon, with 300 rooms per level, using just the M&T. My players made it down to the 4th level IIRC. You get the odd easu encounter, and the occasional OOPS WE ARE GOING TO DIE, so overall I'd say the balance is good
This is a lot like my Master Plan concept, to have a 9-level dungeon and make use of as much of the booklet as possible. Nice to know that it has a nice mix of encounter difficulties!
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Re: Monster & Treasure Assortment « Reply #7 on Oct 18, 2011, 11:38pm »
The original versions also don't list Hit Dice. Instead they have an eccentric attack level (AL) = score to hit AC 9, and saving throw level (ST) - e.g., ST/F4-6 = saves as 4th - 6th level fighter). No damage is listed for standard monster attacks, making it less useful if using Greyhawk variable damage.
The tables are heavy on the "monster" humans - a nice old school feature. Dungeons chock full of roving packs of Warrior Paladins, Seers, Shamen etc.
I believe at least one monster, the Carnivorous Ape, made its first appearance here (and only OD&D appearance?). There may be others. I have only the set for levels 1-3, courtesy a Holmes Basic Set (naturally).
"Story tellers are always careful to point out that the reputed dungeons lie in close proximity to the foundations of an older, pre-human city, to the graveyard, and to the sea.” - Holmes rulebook
Zenopus Archives - Holmes Basic D&D - website & blog
Another option would be just to roll the spells with each encounter using the reference sheets: roll N dice per spell level, then just take the dice away as you cast them.
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