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Post by Random on Apr 21, 2010 18:48:32 GMT -6
You guys are thinking too much about this. We're talking about if we lived in OD&D world not about if we tried to state our real-world capabilities in terms of semi-abstract game rules.
In OD&D, a dexterity score of 18 is really no different than a score of 13. Professional athlete? Not necessarily.
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Thorulfr
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 264
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Post by Thorulfr on Apr 22, 2010 10:03:55 GMT -6
Well, in that vein, I will dispense with stats (though I think I have a pretty solid claim to an INT of 15) and just think about class/career.
What would I be?
Well, I had a great-grandfather who was a mining engineer, his son was a pretty important metallurgist (every time you pick up an aluminum soda can, you can thank him) - he passed along his silversmithing tools to me - his daughter married an engineer (my father), who was in turn the son of a pipefitter. So... My great-grandfather's job, plus my longstanding interest in runes and all things Scandinavian might make me a dwarf...were I not so tall. Maybe I would be a big dwarf. Were I human, I would probably have been a silversmith or blacksmith, and thus one of the NPCs in town. If I could have my choice of medieval career paths, I'd want to have gone to one of the great universities - Oxford or Heidelberg or Paris, to spend my youth copying books in a tiny garret apartment, or arguing metaphysics in the tavern nearby, eventually becoming a lecturer...or more likely a priest in a minor parish in the middle of nowhere, writing books on magic and natural history like the person who would undoubtedly have been a personal hero: Albertus Magnus. If I had to be a PC, that would tend to push me into the cleric class, or possibly a Magic User, but...
If "real life" were to intrude a bit, my actual medieval ancestors might have had some say in the matter - one of my 30-times great-grandfathers fought at the battle of Hastings (as did a couple of other ancestors), and the family held an estate in Devon until the 16th century, when being Catholic suddenly became rather unhealthy. In that sort of a family, I would have been a Fighter, while my brother would have gone into the priesthood, becoming a Cleric. Of course, since I have contemplated entering a monastery on several occasions in my life, while my brother is both a black belt and a rabid atheist, I have a feeling we would both be far more comfortable if we could swap those roles (primogeniture be d*mned.)
So...Cleric. Chainmail, Norman kite shield, and a mace. Rather high in INT and uncomfortably lacking in WIS for the job, and far more suited for being a Magic User, my parish would probably appreciate me for my efforts to improve their irrigation system with strange contraptions to lift the water up from the wells, but never quite understand the sermons. My level advancement would probably be slowed by the lack of a wisdom bonus.
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Post by murquhart72 on Jul 23, 2017 16:33:42 GMT -6
Well, I'm several years older now, so let's see about a revisit (with a bit of a "fantasy boost" considering abilities)...
The Green Man Lives in a stone cabin out on the heath, far from civilization.
Class: Warrior/Theurgist
Strength: 15 Intelligent: 16 Wisdom: 17 Constitution: 13 Dexterity: 11 Charisma: 6
Gold: Who needs it?
Alignment: Neutrality (tend towards Chaos)
Equipment: Green cloak & wide-brim hat, ceremonial silver dagger, Staff of Striking, lantern, "pouch of ill-repute", Crystal Ball, various potions.
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Post by tkdco2 on Jul 29, 2017 15:17:51 GMT -6
In the OD&D world, I'd be what I am in the real world: a low-level wandering monster.
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Post by Starbeard on Aug 4, 2017 9:38:07 GMT -6
In reality I'd probably be a sage who rolled up the most useless subjects as his areas of expertise.
As an adventurer I'd want to be a full-fledged magic-user, but I like swashbuckling too much and so realistically I'd probably be an elf and split my levels evenly. Then again, I also study religion and church history, and I can't say no to a good xp rate, so maybe I'd be reborn as a cleric instead; but only if we're talking super old-school clerics who still use spell books and do their whole magic thing just like magic-users, only with a different spell list.
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Post by magremore on Aug 4, 2017 15:18:53 GMT -6
STR 9 INT 10 WIS 9 CON 10 DEX 9 CHA 2
GOLD = not enough HP = run away
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Post by oakesspalding on Aug 4, 2017 19:22:36 GMT -6
Okay, here's who I want to be (in Judges Guild City State style):
OD&D TAVERN (the ampersand on the sign is often painted over by vandals)
This is a semi-clean place (at least relative to some of the others in the quarter), though cigar smoke is ever-present. Books on various obscure subjects line the walls, along with an ample supply of games for the amusement of patrons. The owner SPALDING is a retired adventurer (11th level FIGHTER, INT 12, WIS 4). His wife JOOLIE (13th level SAGE, CHA 18) also keeps order, and his four children rotate tending bar. One of them, LIDIA, is a 7th level MAGIC-USER (Chaotic Good leaning towards mischievous) and likes to draw pictures of Unicorns for the patrons. His oldest son OLLY has a collection of miniature chariots.
Glass of Wine (Malbec): 1 CP, Bombay & Tonic: 1 SP, Porterhouse Steak: 8 SP, Cigar (Arturo Fuente 8-5-8): 3 CP
SPALDING has a strongbox under the counter containing 17 GPs, a potion of CHILD CONTROL and a RING OF THREE WISHES.
Rumor: People are being robbed in the Thieves Quarter
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Post by dragondaddy on Aug 4, 2017 20:22:29 GMT -6
Wizard, 9th Level
Str: 9 Int: 17 Wis: 13 Con: 13 Dex: 11 Chr: 9
Aln: CG
Weapons +2 Staff 1d6+2 +1 Longsword 1d8+1 +2 Dagger 1d4+2
Equipment (mostly in backpack) ============================ Spellbook Caltrops x3 bags Flask of Oil x4 Torches x6 Flint & Tinder Dagger x3 Extra wizard's robes & hat Extra pair of soft leather boots 50' rope Small grappling hook Flasks of Holy water x2 Small Box with 3 vials of ink & 10 pens 50 sheets of parchment paper Wax Seal 1 Weeks Iron rations 3 Large Sacks (for treasure & loot) Spell components pouch
Spells 43321
Spells Readied 1) Light 1) Hold Portal 1) Magic Missile 1) Read Magic 2) Locate Object 2) Invisibility 2) Knock 3) Fireball 3) Fly 3) Dispell Magic 4) Polymorph Self 4) Dimension Door 5) Conjure Elemental
Mount: None (pack pony for loot and to carry extra stuff found or gathered)
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Post by scottenkainen on Aug 5, 2017 11:25:46 GMT -6
Scottenkainen
STR: 9 INT: 14 WIS: 16 CON: 9 DEX: 10 CHA: 12
Alignment: Law (Neutral tendencies) Armor Class: 9 Hit Points: 2 Level: 1
I would be classless unless the illusionist class was in play; Phantasmal Force would be such a good creative outlet.
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Post by Starbeard on Aug 5, 2017 11:43:56 GMT -6
Indeed, who needs D&D when you can cast phantasmal force on each other?
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Post by Scott Anderson on Aug 5, 2017 13:36:51 GMT -6
Who's to say we don't live in ODD world?
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 5, 2017 20:55:36 GMT -6
Oh it's quite odd in many ways... I once wrote myself up as a half-elf fighter/magic-user for an AD&D game a long time ago. I almost died in that adventure, too! I also wrote up my cousin as a human fighter. He approved of the write-up, and I ran a game for him and my sister. We never got to finish that game, though.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 7, 2017 23:11:43 GMT -6
Maybe write myself up as a monk? I got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do years after I made my write-up.
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Post by clownboss on Aug 8, 2017 3:59:10 GMT -6
Nik, the Human Cleric
Str 9 Int 10 Wis 12 Con 8 Dex 7 Cha 15
That's right.
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artikid
Level 3 Conjurer
Artist for hire
Posts: 70
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Post by artikid on Aug 9, 2017 0:56:06 GMT -6
A 5thish level chaotic thief with rather average stats and low strength.
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Post by Porphyre on Aug 21, 2017 9:52:36 GMT -6
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Post by tetramorph on Aug 23, 2017 13:07:00 GMT -6
FM
Law
Strength 8 Dexterity 13 Constitution 7 Intelligence 14 Wisdom 9 Charisma 13
Yes, that is right, I would take a penalty to XP for my low PR score.
Oh well!
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Post by Scott Anderson on Aug 25, 2017 23:30:04 GMT -6
I'd be that farmer holding a pig and a pole arm.
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Post by tkdco2 on Aug 26, 2017 1:53:05 GMT -6
I'd be that farmer holding a pig and a pole arm. You mean this guy?
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Post by Porphyre on Aug 26, 2017 2:15:52 GMT -6
Who's to say we don't live in ODD world?
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Post by Scott Anderson on Aug 26, 2017 8:38:19 GMT -6
I'd be that farmer holding a pig and a pole arm. You mean this guy? Quite so!
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