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Post by Zenopus on May 2, 2023 22:14:34 GMT -6
Gamism
Narrativism
Simulationism
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 30, 2023 13:41:52 GMT -6
All characters have one ability score called "Ability Score" That's close to the Awesomesauce RPG, where you have exactly 1 stat named Awesomesauce: www.drivethrurpg.com/product/107162/Awesomesauce-The-Roleplaying-Game-Troll-Hammer-EditionIt's your generic skill and you can roll as many dice as you have in Awesomesauce, as long as you roll above the enemy's result in combat, you retain your score in Awesomesauce, if you lose, you lose the dice you used. I was thinking of TWERPS by Jeff and 'Manda Dee, which also did that back in the '80s with a single stat: Strength. But I did have a sense there were more recent RPGs that also took that approach. |
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 30, 2023 10:39:08 GMT -6
All characters have one ability score called "Ability Score"
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 27, 2023 19:18:50 GMT -6
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 27, 2023 8:12:44 GMT -6
My apologies, I approved him last night as it seemed straight forward.
One of my friends played in one of his games at this past Gary Con.
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 18, 2023 14:53:42 GMT -6
So, rather than Ernie Gygax taking stats for things like giant rats and carnivorous apes from a draft of the Monster Manual, he may have just sprinkled in real or nearly-real animals with whatever stats he felt fit because that was standard GM practice at the time. That's a possibility, but if so then the stats from the M&TA must have been used for the Monster Manual entries, because the two sets of stats are close. If we look at the Carnivorous Ape, entry #19 on Level 1, we see: Carnivorous Apes - (1) HP: 18; #AT: 3; AL: 6; ST/F 4-6; SA: if 2nd and 3rd attacks score, the ape does 1-8 points additional damage (rending). These entries are weird in that they don't give HD, only AL ("Attack Level"), which is THAC9 (score to hit AC 9) and "ST", which is Saving Throw. But this was early on and they were still working out how to present monster stats in abbreviated form. If we look at the MM, the C. Ape has a HD of 5, which fits with it saving as "F 4-6" (Fighter 4-6). Number of attacks, three, also matches, as does the Special Attack of rending, a term also used in the MM entry, and it does the same amount of bonus damage (1-8). The only stat that doesn't match is "AL" (THAC9). A 5 HD creature would have an AL of 5 using the "Monsters Attacking" table in Vol 2 of OD&D, where as an AL of 6 would be for HD "3-4". But maybe they only had 4 HD at this point and were later increased. |
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 18, 2023 9:08:55 GMT -6
It's possible that there were some changes made to a later printing, but I'd be careful spending too much time analyzing a PDF of uncertain provenance as it possible that the PDF itself was edited by someone. As in, someone may have edited the PDF to match the later set. We'd really need to see an original printed copy.
That said, the Monster & Treasure Assortment Set One was included in the first printing of the Holmes Basic Set, so was definitely out prior to the Monster Manual, and contains monsters that had not yet been given a full write-up in D&D: Centipedes (note the missing "Giant"), Giant Rats, Carnivorous Apes, Large/Huge Spiders, Giant Lizards, Giant Weasels. Probably some others. These were all mentioned somewhere in the OD&D booklets by name but not given stats until the M&TA and then the Monster Manual. I'd guess that whoever wrote up the M&TA (Ernie Gygax has stated that he did the work) was working off a draft of the Monster Manual.
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Post by Zenopus on Apr 3, 2023 12:55:42 GMT -6
I saw the movie on an IMAX screen with the family yesterday & enjoyed it as much as any of the various Marvel movies, which is to say, much better than I would have predicted. Tonally, it is very similar to a Guardians of the Galaxy movie in its mix of humor and action.
Z
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 21, 2023 7:30:19 GMT -6
Each of the subforums has a description listed beneath the title, and the description for each of the subforums for OD&D Volumes I-III indicates that it also covers the corresponding material from the supplements and strategic Review. For example, the Men & Magic forum covers character class info from the original volume as well as any supplements or SR.
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 16, 2023 23:24:15 GMT -6
Happy to see treasure granting XP
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 12, 2023 14:27:28 GMT -6
dicebro: I'm sorry to hear that! * * * * * If things look different above, It's because I merged together two separate Gary Con 2023 threads so all the info would be in one place. * * * * * This year there are at least 32 games listed that are described as Original D&D, which doesn't even include my two (which are under "D&D (Basic)" this year) * * * * * So who all do we have here that is attending this year? From above it looks like at least Finarvyn, grodog, stormberg, paleologos, fatdragontom, muddy, skars, chicagowiz and myself. I also know francisca, tetramorph and welleran who post more often at K&KA will be there. Anybody else?
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 5, 2023 14:24:18 GMT -6
Yes, but it's not a case concerning reproduction of humans by humans - e.g., contraception/abortion/etc. That was how I read your initial post when it just said "reproduction".
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 5, 2023 11:37:48 GMT -6
My mod note above was meant to clarify that the SCOTUS case does *not* concern human reproduction, which is how it confusingly read to me until I clicked the link.
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Post by Zenopus on Mar 5, 2023 11:30:47 GMT -6
Hello odd74 I've just requested to join as coffeeman. Hi. I saw one of your posts recently on reddit. However, I just rejected your application because we have a longtime user (over 2,000 posts) with the handle "coffee", so I think using "coffeeman" might be confusing. Re-apply with another name and I will approve it. |
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Post by Zenopus on Feb 28, 2023 22:47:44 GMT -6
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Post by Zenopus on Feb 22, 2023 17:53:56 GMT -6
You're right, Fin. There is no strict need to include the "N" result. You'll notice I've modified by own chart to make it more intuitive to use. How about Reversal or "Backfire" in place of negation? I do like to run my campaigns dangerously close to the goofy. But it sounds like fun to me. I like this CM based approach. I'm going to have to come up with a "pocket world" so that I can spring this approach on my players and see how they like it. If you don't want the reverse to happen too often, you could use the full reaction table bell-curve for more effects: Spell Success Table (roll 2d6) Immediate Effect, Double Strength: 12 Immediate Effect: 9-11 Delayed Effect: 6-8 No Effect: 3-5 Reverse Effect: 2 Add 1 to the caster's roll for each level of the spell under the caster's level, and subtract 1 from the caster's roll for each level of the spell above the caster's level. You'd probably only want to use the 2 and 12 results on natural rolls so they don't happen too often on modified rolls. Sort of like natural 1s and 20s for fumbles/crits. |
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Post by Zenopus on Feb 22, 2023 17:49:40 GMT -6
Yup, you are right. I think I mixed up my under and overs in that second to last sentence. Will correct!
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Post by Zenopus on Feb 22, 2023 12:20:36 GMT -6
tombowings , am I the only one who finds the layout of the spell casting table from Chainmail to be sort of confusing? A sample of the table reads: I 8 D 6 N 5 But what it really means is: I 8-12 D 6-7 N 2-5 It is confusing. However, assuming you are interpreting it correctly, your clarified table represents the chances for a magic-user casting a spell of the same level. That is, a Seer casting a Complexity 1 spell, a Magician casting a Complexity 2 spell, etc. You could simply use only this portion of the table, and then give a +1 to the roll for each level of complexity below the caster's level, and a -1 for each level above the caster's. For example, a Wizard casting a Complexity 1 spell would get a +4 on the roll, and thus succeed on a roll of 4 or more (4 + 4 = 8). It'd be easy to port over to D&D as well: Spell Success Table (roll 2d6) Immediate Effect: 8-12 Delayed Effect: 6-7 No Effect: 2-5 Add 1 to the caster's roll for each level of the spell under the caster's level, and subtract 1 from the caster's roll for each level of the spell above the caster's level. One could also bell-curve it to 2-5, 6-8, 9-12 to make it easier to remember. |
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Post by Zenopus on Feb 7, 2023 7:28:24 GMT -6
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 13, 2023 11:07:27 GMT -6
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 12, 2023 12:42:04 GMT -6
Zenopus do you mind if I ask why? Do you think you'll attract different/more players? I can't 100% speak for Zenopus on this, but I assume it comes down to the history of the development of Holmes Basic. AD&D wasn't "a thing" when Holmes created his rules, so he created rules as a cleanup of OD&D with a few new ideas and details dropped in to fill in some perceived gaps. The tie-in to AD&D was done after the fact and was somewhat artificial. Holmes Basic was never intended to be an introduction to AD&D, but was supposed to be an introduction to OD&D for players without the wargame background. Zenopus is the resident expert on Holmes, so he can probably provide more details.  It's not a huge issue for me, but the idea was that for con games, I want players to know what they are getting. The term "D&D Basic" is now so strongly associated with B/X and BECMI D&D, that I'd rather not get players who are expecting a game run according to one those systems. Just to avoid any differences between expectations and actualities. "OD&D" implies a lot of flexibility in how the game will be conducted. However, since I wrote the above, my games have been listed as "D&D Basic" by whoever entered them in the system. I guess I will see whether it makes any difference in who registers.  |
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 11, 2023 18:00:05 GMT -6
Just got notice that my events are scheduled! "The Forgotten Smugglers' Cave" is on Friday morning from 9-1; Level 3; 6 seats. tabletop.events/conventions/gary-con-xv/schedule/893"Expedition to Skull Stack Crater" is on Saturday night from 7-11; Level 3-4; 6 seats. tabletop.events/conventions/gary-con-xv/schedule/892I picked "OD&D" as the category for each - which I've always selected before for my Gary Con games - but whoever made the listing changed them to "D&D Basic". Which is also fine. I'm using the same pre-gens for each so I think I will advance any surviving characters from the first adventure for the second one. |
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 9, 2023 16:01:53 GMT -6
Which Wargame, if you don't mind me asking? It's a game that paleologos is putting together, and some details are still in flux, so I will defer to him until it is submitted. ' game that I mentioned above is now on the schedule: The Black Eagle Banner. |
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 9, 2023 15:56:51 GMT -6
The two games I am running, described in the other thread, will be listed under the category of Original D&D. Technically, they are Holmes Basic as expanded with OD&D, but I view Holmes Basic as one particular take on OD&D, so they are just OD&D to me.
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 8, 2023 14:03:19 GMT -6
Including XP values with the monster stat blocks only appears obvious in hindsight. The Monster Manual was still following the OD&D paradigm where XP values are calculated using the table. Even B/X still lacks the XP values in the stat blocks; it first appears in the Basic line in the Mentzer sets.
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 5, 2023 15:15:27 GMT -6
*bump* I'm registered, have a hotel room and plane ticket, and am planning on running two D&D games: 1. The Forgotten Smugglers' Cave (Lvl 3?) - likely Friday morning 9-1. 2. Expedition to Skull Stack Crater (Lvl 3) - likely Saturday evening 8-12. The first one is new, and the second one I ran last year, with paleologos, muddy and GRWelsh from these boards all playing in it. See the event description here, and my con write-up here. The pregens for the second one are 3rd level. I haven't decided on the levels for pregens for the first one, but may use 3rd level as well. Each is a Holmes Basic + OD&D (for higher levels) game. Times are tentative because I haven't submitted them yet, because I'm waiting on scheduling of a third game that I'm going to help referee (a wargame). I will put in for 6 or 8 seats for each game. As an update, I submitted each of these games for the indicated times, each at 3rd level and with 6 seats, and they are currently "Queued for Scheduling". |
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Post by Zenopus on Dec 22, 2022 11:11:37 GMT -6
Initiative is a dirty word, not found in the 1974 game, or in GREYHAWK, or in BLACKMOOR. With no explicit rules for who attacks first in those three products, it is an obvious solution to go with dexterity determining who is...most dexterous. One could argue that initative based on dexterity rule is "hidden" in OD&D Vol. I: Certainly, although that could refer to using either direct scores (as in Warlock/Holmes) or for a modifier to a d6 roll (as in the OD&D FAQ by Gygax) |
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Post by Zenopus on Dec 4, 2022 16:21:22 GMT -6
I recently realized that I never finished up my Gary Con XIV report, so here is the belated third installment covering Saturday and Sunday: Gary Con 2022: Days 3 and 4The first two installments can be found here: Day 1Day 2 |
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Post by Zenopus on Dec 4, 2022 16:18:09 GMT -6
... I'm waiting on scheduling of a third game that I'm going to help referee (a wargame). Which Wargame, if you don't mind me asking? It's a game that paleologos is putting together, and some details are still in flux, so I will defer to him until it is submitted. |
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Post by Zenopus on Dec 3, 2022 16:51:39 GMT -6
I'm registered, have a hotel room and plane ticket, and am planning on running two D&D games: 1. The Forgotten Smugglers' Cave (Lvl 3?) - likely Friday morning 9-1. 2. Expedition to Skull Stack Crater (Lvl 3) - likely Saturday evening 8-12. The first one is new, and the second one I ran last year, with paleologos, muddy and GRWelsh from these boards all playing in it. See the event description here, and my con write-up here. The pregens for the second one are 3rd level. I haven't decided on the levels for pregens for the first one, but may use 3rd level as well. Each is a Holmes Basic + OD&D (for higher levels) game. Times are tentative because I haven't submitted them yet, because I'm waiting on scheduling of a third game that I'm going to help referee (a wargame). I will put in for 6 or 8 seats for each game. |
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