Post by waysoftheearth on Apr 20, 2014 3:20:41 GMT -6
Many of us have read and enjoyed the The Rythlondar Chronicles that document an early D&D campaign, possibly running 1975-1977.
Right up front the Ryth Chronicle states that rules clarifications were sought--and had!--from EGG. I've transcribed these clarifications here:
(The blue highlighting added by me).
Question for Gronon:
Do you recall whether EGG ever played/used the "The particular spells need not be selected in advance" magic-use rule in the early days of D&D?
We got started in D&D when Gary Gygax and his wife attended a Michicon convention to peddle the very first edition of D&D rules.
Right up front the Ryth Chronicle states that rules clarifications were sought--and had!--from EGG. I've transcribed these clarifications here:
MAJOR RULE CLARIFICATIONS
With profound thanks to Gary Gygax, the following rule clarifications are in effect immediately:
EXPERIENCE POINTS are awarded only monsters killed and for treasure gained. Sleeping, charming, or driving off monsters will not gain experience unless the monsters are then killed. It is now considered "lawful" for you to kill sleeping or charmed monsters. Also, the automatic effect of clerics upon the undead does not gain EP.
The point value of monsters and treasure will be adjusted on the basis of the average character degrees (levels) in the group, rounded up. Thus a group of 2 first level characters and 2 third level characters would have an average group level = 2 which would be used to determine whether the group gains full or partial EP credit for the various monsters and treasure.
The adjusted total EP for monsters and treasure is then divided b the number of characters in the expedition, giving each player's EP gain. Thus experience will be equal for everyone in the group except for their individual prime requisite bonuses or penalties.
MAGIC. The "Spells Table" gives the maximum number of times a magic-user or cleric can cast spells of the indicated levels during an expedition. This means that a third level M-U (Conjurer) can cast one second level spell once and three first level spells once (or one first level spell three times). The particular spells need not be selected in advance, but can be chosen during the expedition as circumstances require. This will balance the game more and will make the expeditions even more interesting. The caller will have to select the time and type of spell carefully!
Spells on scrolls disappear after being used once.
Potions can only be duplicated by alchemists if a wizard gives the alchemist the formula.
With profound thanks to Gary Gygax, the following rule clarifications are in effect immediately:
EXPERIENCE POINTS are awarded only monsters killed and for treasure gained. Sleeping, charming, or driving off monsters will not gain experience unless the monsters are then killed. It is now considered "lawful" for you to kill sleeping or charmed monsters. Also, the automatic effect of clerics upon the undead does not gain EP.
The point value of monsters and treasure will be adjusted on the basis of the average character degrees (levels) in the group, rounded up. Thus a group of 2 first level characters and 2 third level characters would have an average group level = 2 which would be used to determine whether the group gains full or partial EP credit for the various monsters and treasure.
The adjusted total EP for monsters and treasure is then divided b the number of characters in the expedition, giving each player's EP gain. Thus experience will be equal for everyone in the group except for their individual prime requisite bonuses or penalties.
MAGIC. The "Spells Table" gives the maximum number of times a magic-user or cleric can cast spells of the indicated levels during an expedition. This means that a third level M-U (Conjurer) can cast one second level spell once and three first level spells once (or one first level spell three times). The particular spells need not be selected in advance, but can be chosen during the expedition as circumstances require. This will balance the game more and will make the expeditions even more interesting. The caller will have to select the time and type of spell carefully!
Spells on scrolls disappear after being used once.
Potions can only be duplicated by alchemists if a wizard gives the alchemist the formula.
(The blue highlighting added by me).
Question for Gronon:
Do you recall whether EGG ever played/used the "The particular spells need not be selected in advance" magic-use rule in the early days of D&D?
