Running OD&D Sunday

[jrients]

So this Sunday at my local con I'll be running my second ever session of OD&D. I'm really looking forward to it. I've stocked a six level dungeon using the methods outlined in Book 3. And unlike last time I tried this, I think I've worked out a clear interpretation for most of the ambiguous sections of the rules. We'll see.

The mission is to find a quick route to level 4 and loot the hoard of a recently deceased dragon. The lizard in question was killed when it flew over a hero who used the rules in Chainmail to shoot it down. There are several routes from level 1 to level 4 on my map, whole levels can be skipped if the party finds the right path. I can't wait to see how it plays out.

[makofan]

Hey, I like that setup! Let us know how it works.

[wulfgar]

what level are the pc's?

[jrients]

wulfgar said:

what level are the pc's?

We'll be making PCs on the spot. I have a 3d6 chart that hands out XP, with prefigured modifications for high or low prime requisites. A roll of 3 nets you 0 xp, while an 18 gets you just enough for 6th level. Most rolls put the character at 3rd or 4th.

[Deleted]

Sounds like a good time; Definitely would like to hear about it after it ends.

[Zulgyan]

jrients said:

wulfgar said:

what level are the pc's?

We'll be making PCs on the spot. I have a 3d6 chart that hands out XP, with prefigured modifications for high or low prime requisites. A roll of 3 nets you 0 xp, while an 18 gets you just enough for 6th level. Most rolls put the character at 3rd or 4th.

Nice

Could you share that chart?

[jrients]

Jeff's XP Chart for Quick OD&D Parties

Prime Modifier	-20%	-10%	0	+5%	+10%
3d6
3	0	0	0	0	0
4	800	900	1,000	1,050	1,100
5	1,600	1,800	2,000	2,100	2,200
6	2,210	2,485	2,750	2,888	3,025
7	2,800	3,150	3,500	3,675	3,850
8	3,200	3,600	4,000	4,200	4,400
9	4,400	4,950	5,500	5,775	6,050
10	5,400	6,075	6,750	7,088	7,425
11	6,400	7,200	8,000	8,400	8,800
12	9,000	10,000	11,000	11,550	12,100
13	11,200	12,600	14,000	14,700	15,400
14	12,800	14,400	16,000	16,800	17,600
15	19,200	21,600	24,000	25,200	26,400
16	24,000	27,000	30,000	31,500	33,000
17	25,600	28,800	32,000	33,600	35,200
18	28,500	31,500	35,000	36,750	38,500

If anyone spots an error please speak up. The original was done by hand.

[foster1941]

I really like the idea of this table. I especially like how (intentionally or otherwise) your numbers seem to allow characters with +10% to get an extra level in several cases, and in fact I'd probably tweak the numbers a bit so that happened even more often -- for instance, if a roll 4 gave a baseline 1,100 instead of 1,000 then the +10% character would get 1,210 -- just enough for a thief to hit 2nd level

[Zulgyan]

That table is totally awesome. It's very OD&D. I'll use it for one-shot a bunch of guys wants me to run them.

So, average level is 3 and 4?

[foster1941]

zulgyan said:

So, average level is 3 and 4?

Depends on the class: an average roll (10 or 11) is 4th level for clerics (unless they roll a 10 and have a -20% XP penalty), 3rd or 4th for fighters (roll 10 = 3rd, roll 11 with least avg PR = 4th), 3rd for magic-users, and 4th for thieves.

[calithena]

The table is brutally OD&D, but I like it very much. A modern designer would give you higer experience points for low attribute scores as a compensator.

Interestingly, if you look at the pregens in S1 or S3, for example, they seem to follow this pattern: higher level characters with 15's and 16's in prime requisite, then lower level ones with the 18/91 strength and such. I imagine it was perceived as a compensating factor for tournaments.

Your method is more Darwinian and excellent for a non-tournament con game though.

[jrients]

foster: I hadn't really taken thieves into consideration when making the table, as I only plan on using the original 3 classes. However, I plan on handing out monster xp after each encounter, so starting out close to the next level amount will be important.

cal: Part of the point of figuring in the prime requisite goes back to the fact that the players are making their own characters. If a player rolls a low Int but still wants to play an MU the choice comes with a downside. Since I'm not using Greyhawk, the prime requisite rule is the most important function of Str, Int, and Wis.

[Deleted]

Hey, Jeff,

I actually only registered to let you know, but that XP table is an great idea. I just may steal that for a B/X Basic game I'm running at a small con coming up. Cool stuff, man!

DYA

[carjack]

Officially snagged. Very cool. I was going to use use pre-gens for my upcoming game, but this just seems much cooler!

[jrients]

Recap of the adventure as it went down here:

jrients.blogspot.com/2008/02/winter-war-recap-part-iii.html

[makofan]

Hey that was fun - players just surprise you every time!

[Deleted]

Sounds as if a good time was had by all; That's what it's all about.

[carjack]

Awesome story. The poison gas thing is just classic!

[Rhuvein]

jrients said:

Recap of the adventure as it went down here:

jrients.blogspot.com/2008/02/winter-war-recap-part-iii.html

That was great, Jeff.

Say I meant to respond to your thread last week, but was just overwhelmed with . . . stuff. Been oddly busy lately.

Anyway, what is name of the CON down there? I'm just north of you in Frankfort and lived in Champaign for a couple of years whilst in college. So maybe next year, I can visit.

[Very cool that rogue_attorney was there as well

;D

[jrients]

rhuvein said:

Anyway, what is name of the CON down there? I'm just north of you in Frankfort and lived in Champaign for a couple of years whilst in college. So maybe next year, I can visit.

Winter War

[Zulgyan]

Just read the story.

It was so freaking hilarious! Very cool game and way of running/building the dungeon.

I'm going to steal the dragon baby ideas.

[Rhuvein]

jrients said:

rhuvein said:

Anyway, what is name of the CON down there? I'm just north of you in Frankfort and lived in Champaign for a couple of years whilst in college. So maybe next year, I can visit.

Winter War

Thanks. It looks like a great CON!

[simrion]

Hey Jeff,

Have you expanded any more of this dungeon? I noticed you made references to shafts going deeper than the initial six levels. Just curious.

Randy/simrion

[jrients]

I haven't done any more levels yet. For the lower levels I can't quite decide whether to stick to the Book 2 monster lists, add some Arduin critters, or strike out on my own for new high level beasties.