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Post by murquhart72 on Sept 3, 2017 20:42:09 GMT -6
Sounds like a case to me of reading too much into an undead encounter...
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Post by murquhart72 on Sept 2, 2017 19:30:07 GMT -6
I'm afraid there isn't much in the way of consistency. It's pretty much an ebb and flow. An art form if you will. The best thing you can do is jump in, make mistakes, find your flow and run with it! Start with Gygax's view in OD&D: a score of below 9 is below average (BAD). Abilities from 9-12 are average (nearly ALL characters, PC or NPC, will have these scores in everything). Abilities above 12 are above average (GOOD). Start there and refine by acknowledging that scores above 14 are "exceptional". Practice and you should be able to take it from there
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Post by murquhart72 on Sept 2, 2017 14:00:57 GMT -6
I do not use ability score checks. For some physical things, like bashing doors, I'll require a roll (since, in this instance, it can affect surprise conditions), but most of the time, if the high stat person tries it, I'll just say it works. That makes sense, thank you. I really dig the speed and simplicity. This is actually what I meant by Referee fiat: using the scores subjectively to make decisions or at least influence die rolls. Sometimes my own simplicity doesn't convey enough information.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 28, 2017 18:45:21 GMT -6
Biggest thing you missed is Referee's fiat! Player want to do something not otherwise covered in the 'rules'? Well, is your relevant ability below or above average? If so, by how much? Very subjective, I know, but that's how The Game is played! The abilities give a good guideline, and (if needed) the dice can nudge the judgement towards success for failure. This is IMHO, THE reason abilities exist in the first place. They make the character who (s)he is and dictate (more or less) what (s)he is capable of.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 28, 2017 18:27:15 GMT -6
I made sure to do this. Doesn't hurt that I own everything for 5th edition either
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 28, 2017 18:15:07 GMT -6
One last reiterated question, because I'm a glutton for punishment: Does the Referee roll all the dice in the game (ability rolls, hit dice, saving throws, combat & damage rolls, etc.)? If not, what types of dice (or situations), if any, are PLAYERS expected to roll? I'm wondering how much control over dice-rolling I should have in my games as opposed to when the players get to roll some bones.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 28, 2017 18:09:48 GMT -6
Yes exactly! And that's why the booklets (as written) lead one to think that Clerics (again, just as an example) cannot use regular armor & weapons, but can use them if they're magical. The text says what it says. It COULD seem pretty clear and unambiguous. An elf may use MAGIC armor and still cast spells, but not while wearing mundane (non-magical) armor. This is what I'm seeing, I'm just trying to see if it's how things were actually done.
I also hope my retorts were taken with a grain (or pile) of salt. They certainly weren't meant to be taken personally, or as insulting as they may have seemed. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Mornard, and hope to find wisdom in all his answers. Even the grumpy ones!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 26, 2017 16:08:55 GMT -6
To be fair, some players are crappy in different ways than others As far as abilities go, I like to play those fast and loose. Very subjective. In that way, they become much more valuable and useful, in a narrative sense. They pretty much give me a vague look at what any character can accomplish as far as skills and such go. Not counting player skill at any rate. As far as I'm concerned, character type (class) is the least important 'stat' as it basically just lets everyone know whether you use magic or not (give or take). The real difference isn't in "character builds" or "skill lists" or even how they equip themselves. The real difference is in how they're described and played. Saying all Fighting-Men are the same is the equivalent of saying all pro-wrestlers are the same. Why root for one or the other when they're all just powerful athletes who battle in the same ring? All this post is about is not complaining about what many think to be a design flaw, and just putting some CHARACTER in their character!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 26, 2017 15:52:59 GMT -6
6) Rounds and turns. Are these messed up a little? I'm looking at troll regeneration and ooze damage and it seems... slow. So what? If it's too slow for your taste, change it. I think you misunderstand my question: it's not that 10 minute turns are slow. It's that a troll regenerating 3 HP per turn seems more like just healing instead of "regenerating". But the words clearing state that a turn is 10 minute representation, including 10 rounds. The troll's entry does not make mention of these turns being special 'combat turns' or anything. But again, with my level of reading, what can I do but seek more definitive answers elsewhere. Like Carl Sagan once put to ink: "There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question". I do appreciate your "if you don't like it, change it" answer (a VERY common one), but that pretty much negates any and all questions anyone could ever have about this game. I'll not bother asking further; If there's a rule that's not laid out in a "See Spot Run" fashion, I'll simply change it. Gaming is all about just guidelines and having fun after all. No need for anything definitive
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 26, 2017 15:44:54 GMT -6
enaries? 5) Are all magic swords supposed to have alignment, intelligence and ego? Is there a random way to tell which do and which are "just magic swords"? Since the text clearly says "Swords have an alignment (Lawful, Neutral, or Chaotic), an Intelligence factor, and an egoism rating", take a guess. I'm not going to teach you to read. Oh dear, I guess I'll have to learn English. Because to me, what's literally written is that magic swords, among weaponry, HAVE the ability for intelligence. But not necessarily that they ALL swords do. Now I want a Paladin just to see how smart my Holy Avenger can be!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 26, 2017 15:41:58 GMT -6
I had several questions that I know have come up often, but was wondering Gronan's take on things, having been there and all: 1) Elves: know any that played 'em? If so, how did one divvy up hit dice between two classes or otherwise run them before the Greyhawk supplement came about? Regarding armor, I see many consider elves can only use magic armor, which makes no sense to me as that would indicate the Clerics can only use weapons and armor if they're magical also. I'm assuming that "magic" armor also includes the more mundane stuff too. I know one woman who played an Elf. I have no idea how the mechanics worked other than what's in the book. Your questions on armor make no sense to me. The text says "They may use magic armor and still act as Magic-Users." It says nothing about restricting armor when Elves are acting as fighters. The text also says clearly they must choose to be one or another during the adventure. "I'm assuming that "magic" armor also includes the more mundane stuff too." I am unable to figure out what this means. To put the armor statement in longer context: I'm assuming that, when pertaining to class descriptions (such as a Cleric being able to use all magic armors), "magic" armor also includes the more mundane (non-magical) armor as well. My apologies for making the sentence to concise and straight forward. Sometimes context helps a lot. Otherwise it makes the person reading not quite understand and wonder if they need to be taught how to read or something, haha.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 25, 2017 15:39:49 GMT -6
When your shoulder's feeling well enough of course. I know there are a LOT of questions, but I'm curious as to how these things were handled in the 70's by any with memories that long.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 24, 2017 16:14:16 GMT -6
My questions never got answered. Now I has a sad
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 21, 2017 12:22:36 GMT -6
That! And having plenty of HP to soak up what hits you DO take help too. Regarding Conan: He rarely wore armor unless of course he was planning to fight big time. Then, I've seen him mostly go for hauberks, but even plate mail here and there as king or commander!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 19, 2017 22:24:20 GMT -6
You tear that box open and enjoy foxroe! My first exposure was Moldvay, my first owned set was Mentzer. One could imagine my confusion when I heard of things like OCE, or Holmes. When I saw my first Holmes boxed set I thought it was some kind of knock-off! History is a good thing to learn!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 19, 2017 8:26:20 GMT -6
I have two: Not quite shrink-wrapped, but "like new". The older, faded one has B1 (In Search of the Unknown), the newer, brighter one came with B2 (Keep on the Borderlands). I also have several brand new sets of those old dice that used to come with, chits too. Only copy I don't have is one containing Dungeon Geomorphs and such. I don't peruse them much anymore though, concentrating on my earlier stuff (white boxed D&D and all it's supplements). It's great seeing that there ARE such nice, new shiny copies still out there.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 18, 2017 17:26:59 GMT -6
I wish I had the materials to play a campaign or two of Chainmail, followed by some OD&D using Chainmail as the combat rules. Wouldn't mind getting my act together to consolidate and complete my CROM & Moons of Metal stuff too.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 18, 2017 12:39:01 GMT -6
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 16, 2017 11:01:40 GMT -6
It is definitely gaming philosophy that I'm talking about, not original intent. Kind of a "shower thought" on how to work with the archetypal loincloth-clad barbarian while not seeing Conan get cut down by kobolds. Also: I'm thinking this with just the original rules, not the variable weapon damage and hit dice variants found in the Greyhawk supplement.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 15, 2017 17:15:39 GMT -6
So one would naturally think that the higher level your dude is, the better armor they can afford and/or wear. I'm thinking the opposite way though: Levels 1-3, "waste" gold on the best armor money can buy (plate mail, shield, etc.). Levels 4-7, maybe just "heavy armor" is good enough (chain mail, all that). Finally, if your dude is level 8+, why bother with armor at all, unless it's "light" (leather, etc.)? My reasoning? You can't get hit at low levels or your dude's as good as dead! But the higher their level, the more Hit Dice they have (the better they can survive the hits). Also means better speed, buoyancy, stealth and HELLO, LOOT CAPACITY? Not to mention the plethora of magical protection higher level characters can come across! This line of thought leads to lower level characters being rightly paranoid with the heaviest armor gold can buy, but Heroes (and especially Superheroes) running into adventure practically nekkid (John Carter anyone?), and running back out with more treasure and "Conanesque" panache! Been wondering what other thoughts on this may be...
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 15, 2017 10:27:36 GMT -6
Old School Dungeon Mastering AKA "I'll give you something to cry about!" You'd think one would be happy getting a weapon that can be used against certain undead and magical nasties...
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 14, 2017 15:45:08 GMT -6
In other words, D&D wasn't manufactured so much as hand-crafted and organically grown
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 13, 2017 15:14:07 GMT -6
I liked the movie (own it too), but had some small issues with it: including the river and White Martians too soon (they should've been in sequels). But mostly I get the impression the producers didn't understand that Fighting-Man is slang for soldier. It doesn't necessarily mean someone that punches everyone/thing in the face anytime their fists are free to do so. The opening scenes especially made him look more like a sociopath thug than the "peace loving" noble characteristics they tried to force onto him later in the film. Having JC punch people before they finished their sentence was "funny" once or twice, but like, seven times in the first 10 minutes? I didn't like that.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 13, 2017 12:28:12 GMT -6
Ha, that would essentially mean this supplement DID finally get published: As Unearthed Arcana
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 12, 2017 17:02:18 GMT -6
From The Strategic Review #4:
How cool would this have been? This issue came out just before BLACKMOOR, I wonder what happened to go from there to ELDRITCH WIZARDRY? Maybe Geoffrey should go back in time and submit some Carcosan lore to TSR c.1975? WHERE'S MY FLUX CAPACITOR? Did I leave it in the other TARDIS? What would some things that you'd like to contribute to such a hypothetical booklet be? Myself: Probably the stuff I've posted here under Creature Feature or my Moons of Metal/CROM posts.
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 12, 2017 16:48:44 GMT -6
Parallel system that's prettier but predictable? B/X and BECMI maybe?
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 10, 2017 9:19:31 GMT -6
I see ulfire, jale AND dolm in that picture!
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 3, 2017 16:42:40 GMT -6
I always figured this was the way The Game was played anyway. If a player comes in with a Staff of Infinite Resurrections and the Ref didn't have that in his game, the item would be "on hold" or hidden in a pocket universe until said player finds another game. Or maybe I just skimmed too much and don't know what I'm talking about...
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 2, 2017 18:21:46 GMT -6
Very kind, really, but I don't think we could tell the same story and change the names around like 50 Shades did. The link to the history of D&D is too integral to this story. Don't change a thing! My point was, he can call this "fan fiction", but that doesn't take away it's genius. It could go pretty far IMHO
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Post by murquhart72 on Aug 1, 2017 14:13:32 GMT -6
Well, 50 Shades of Grey is fan fiction... Let's get this set up for a MOTION PICTURE DEAL! Or maybe an HBO series?
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