Post by blackadder23 on Mar 5, 2013 10:51:14 GMT -6
I'm preparing to start my new campaign, and it looks like I may have a mix of grognards and people who have either never played or only played newer "superhero" editions. I put together this document containing some advice for "old school" play. I want to make sure we're all on the same page so no one gets a nasty surprise!
SOME HINTS TOWARD SUCCESSFUL PLAY
Your number one priority (apart from whatever personal goals you may set for your character) is getting your grubby paws on loot – gold, silver, gems, jewels, and anything else that isn’t nailed down. Treasure is worth far more toward advancement than killing things, and treasure allows you to buy more and better equipment and maybe eventually afford better sleeping quarters than a dirty pallet in the back room of the inn. Never lose an opportunity to earn (or otherwise obtain) money any way you can. Search for potential treasure everywhere and don’t overlook possibilities like skinning monsters with valuable hides or stealing their eggs to sell. If you can get treasure without fighting, so much the better.
Not every problem can be solved with a sword. You won’t be able to take on the entire city watch or a whole tavern full of thugs singlehandedly – certainly not at low levels, and maybe not ever. Be smart and don’t get in over your head. Gather as much information as possible before taking action. Know when to talk, when to run, and when to fight. There is no shame whatsoever in achieving your goals without combat. Discretion is the better part of valor; kicking down every door and just charging in will probably get you killed.
By the same token, the other part of valor is in fact valor. If all else fails – attack! But not everything can be killed with steel. Flaming oil, holy water, and silver weapons are good things to have. Magic, if available, is even better. If nothing you have is making any impression on a monster, it’s time to beat a hasty retreat.
The underworld is a dangerous and unpredictable place, and you never know what obstacles you’ll encounter. Never go there without every available resource. Torches and lanterns are a must. Ropes and iron spikes are a good idea. Carrying food and water for at least a week would be wise; you could well be trapped away from supplies for that long. Try to strike a balance between carrying what’s needed and not overburdening yourself - and don’t forget to leave some room to carry out loot! Venturing into the underworld or wilderness is a dangerous expedition into the unknown and should be treated as such. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail… and likely die.
Don’t overlook the possibility of using animals such as pack mules and attack dogs where appropriate – just keep in mind that they can be noisy and unpredictable. Also don’t forget that mercenary warriors and other hirelings (such as torch and pack bearers) are available for hire. This can be very useful provided you don’t make too many demands on their courage and loyalty. As long as you have gold to spend, you don’t have to go it alone.
If you miss a session, your character will spend it passed out drunk at the inn (or in a bush somewhere, as appropriate). The only penalty is missing out on a chance to gain experience and loot. If your character dies your new character will get into the game as soon as possible – it’s not the end of the world, just a minor setback. You can’t really lose this game. But if you follow these hints and play smart, with a little bit of luck your character will succeed and grow in experience and power and wealth. When that happens, everybody wins.
Does anyone have any suggestions to add to this?
SOME HINTS TOWARD SUCCESSFUL PLAY
Your number one priority (apart from whatever personal goals you may set for your character) is getting your grubby paws on loot – gold, silver, gems, jewels, and anything else that isn’t nailed down. Treasure is worth far more toward advancement than killing things, and treasure allows you to buy more and better equipment and maybe eventually afford better sleeping quarters than a dirty pallet in the back room of the inn. Never lose an opportunity to earn (or otherwise obtain) money any way you can. Search for potential treasure everywhere and don’t overlook possibilities like skinning monsters with valuable hides or stealing their eggs to sell. If you can get treasure without fighting, so much the better.
Not every problem can be solved with a sword. You won’t be able to take on the entire city watch or a whole tavern full of thugs singlehandedly – certainly not at low levels, and maybe not ever. Be smart and don’t get in over your head. Gather as much information as possible before taking action. Know when to talk, when to run, and when to fight. There is no shame whatsoever in achieving your goals without combat. Discretion is the better part of valor; kicking down every door and just charging in will probably get you killed.
By the same token, the other part of valor is in fact valor. If all else fails – attack! But not everything can be killed with steel. Flaming oil, holy water, and silver weapons are good things to have. Magic, if available, is even better. If nothing you have is making any impression on a monster, it’s time to beat a hasty retreat.
The underworld is a dangerous and unpredictable place, and you never know what obstacles you’ll encounter. Never go there without every available resource. Torches and lanterns are a must. Ropes and iron spikes are a good idea. Carrying food and water for at least a week would be wise; you could well be trapped away from supplies for that long. Try to strike a balance between carrying what’s needed and not overburdening yourself - and don’t forget to leave some room to carry out loot! Venturing into the underworld or wilderness is a dangerous expedition into the unknown and should be treated as such. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail… and likely die.
Don’t overlook the possibility of using animals such as pack mules and attack dogs where appropriate – just keep in mind that they can be noisy and unpredictable. Also don’t forget that mercenary warriors and other hirelings (such as torch and pack bearers) are available for hire. This can be very useful provided you don’t make too many demands on their courage and loyalty. As long as you have gold to spend, you don’t have to go it alone.
If you miss a session, your character will spend it passed out drunk at the inn (or in a bush somewhere, as appropriate). The only penalty is missing out on a chance to gain experience and loot. If your character dies your new character will get into the game as soon as possible – it’s not the end of the world, just a minor setback. You can’t really lose this game. But if you follow these hints and play smart, with a little bit of luck your character will succeed and grow in experience and power and wealth. When that happens, everybody wins.
Does anyone have any suggestions to add to this?
To be quite honest, I am particularly concerned about former White Wolf players.