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Original D&D Discussion :: Dungeons & Dragons (1971-1978) :: Men & Magic (1974) :: Random Character Generator
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AuthorTopic: Random Character Generator (Read 1,001 times)
funkaoshi
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Random Character Generator
« Thread Started on Sept 17, 2012, 12:01pm »
I wrote a random character generator. It defaults to making "Basic" D&D characters.

I added support for "Little Brown Books" D&D characters, but as I'm less familiar with that system I was hoping the people here could help point out anything I might have missed. Briefly: its 3d6 in order for attributes, random equipment based on buying things with 3d6 x 10 starting gold, d6 for hit dice, no no thieves, random languages when you have high intelligence, a random spell if you're a magic user. I want to add support for Greyhawk and Holmes D&D as well. The systems are similar enough it should be easy to do.

Thanks.
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Cameron DuBeers
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #1 on Sept 17, 2012, 12:22pm »
Hit dice are d6+1 for the Fighting-Man.

edit: And Fighters are called Fighting-Men!
« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 12:23pm by Cameron DuBeers »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
GOBLINS, Sir Rico! Thousands of 'em!
funkaoshi
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #2 on Sept 17, 2012, 12:32pm »
Thanks! This is exactly the sort of stuff i'm looking for. Also, Were there no women war gamers? (Actually, don't answer : I'm guessing that's a discussion that's happened a million times already.)

I'm going to guess someone here could also tell me if Mentzer and Moldvay are more or less identical at first level in terms of rules?
« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 12:33pm by funkaoshi »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
monk
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #3 on Sept 17, 2012, 12:59pm »
Base AC for Basic D&D is 9. I think 1e switched to 10. Cool generator!
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Cameron DuBeers
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #4 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:04pm »
Even in the Dragon Magazine, back in the day, there was a bit of discussion about the fairer sex and how many were involved in the hobby. I believe that, pre-1990's at least, the number was no more than ~10%, depending upon what source you used. TSR and Gygax spent a lot on market research regarding this subject.

Experiences vary. Most of the groups I have participated in here in Austin have included at least one woman.
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funkaoshi
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #5 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:44pm »
Good catch on the Base AC. I've fixed that and the fighting-man HD calculation.

I was just being a bit facetious with my comment about war gaming and gender ratios, because the fighter was formally the Fighting MAN. Fighting Man or Fighting Women seems more evocative.
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Cameron DuBeers
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #6 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:56pm »
Oh, I knew that was tongue-in-cheek ... but I rarely miss the opportunity to wax pedantic! 8-)
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funkaoshi
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #7 on Sept 17, 2012, 7:08pm »
It wouldn't be a gaming forum without a little pedantry!
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #8 on Sept 27, 2012, 9:06am »
I think there are one or two instances in the LBBs where fighting men are also referred to as fighters.
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #9 on Sept 27, 2012, 9:11am »
Depending upon how finely you slice it (do you count Tables? References to fighter ability?) there are just under 40 references to "fighters" as opposed to Fighting-Man or Men in the TLBB.
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #10 on Sept 27, 2012, 9:24am »
References to fighter or fighters in the OD&D TLBBs:

Volume I: 15
Volume II: 18
Volume III: 6

That's a quick search of the PDFs and not exhaustively checked.
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Koren n'Rhys
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #11 on Sept 27, 2012, 10:20am »
That's pretty cool, funkaoshi, thanks for sharing! I just spent some time clicking reload and cycling through characters and never saw any demihumans come up in either Basic or LBB. Are they in there at all?
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #12 on Sept 27, 2012, 2:09pm »
No, that's actually the next thing I need to work on. It works by using the prime requisite to pick your class. I'd need to make it a tiny bit smarter to pick between all 6/7 classes.
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #13 on Sept 27, 2012, 4:07pm »
funkaoshi, you get an EXALT for this. I just spent some time playing with it and seems like it could be really useful for throwing together a party quickly. (Or, creating some fast NPCs!)
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funkaoshi
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Re: Random Character Generator
« Reply #14 on Sept 27, 2012, 10:49pm »
Thanks. Glad you liked. I'm hoping it gets some use.
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