PARTY LIKE IT'S 1974

[sparkletwist]

Added an introductory story. It's short and simple, but that's probably the point of this kind of game. :D

Also, let's start trying to schedule this. When, generally, is good for everyone? I figure earlier in the day, North American time, would be better so Kindling can play. I'll make a Doodle once I'm able to come up with a few more specific options.

[Steerpike]

My December is busy, but my work can mostly be done whenever. No-go days are the 8th, the 20th, and the 25th. Everything else is probably at least theoretically do-able, especially if we play early in the day from a North American perspective. I might also potentially be able to play for longer chunks than I am sometimes able to commit to during other parts of the year (luxuries of an academic life).

[Kindling]

My work schedule is kind of all over the place, some early mornings, some late nights. Probably easier if you just suggest some dates/times and I'll say what I can and can't make

[sparkletwist]

Certain monsters in OD&D get multiple attacks, but the topic of whether or not (and when) PCs get multiple attacks is a pretty tricky one. The OD&D books don't talk about it at all, but they make reference to the Chainmail rules, which do, and that "2 Men + 1" stuff is a direct reference to it. There was also some later article written by Gary Gygax where he drew a contrast between "normal" and "fantastic" combat and heavily implied that higher level fighters got more attacks when fighting common orcs, or whatever, but the example was strange... maybe it made sense 40 years ago, I don't know. There seem to be as many interpretations as there are tables.

The way Dave Arneson did it during his games was pretty simple and elegant, and is the solution I'm leaning towards: If you take down a monster with an attack, you get to make another attack, up to a maximum of your level. It's pretty similar to the Cleave feat from 3.x, basically. This means you can probably mow down goblins or zombies, while boss monsters are pretty much unaffected.

[LoA]

Is it okay if I use this as a reference? This copy you gave us has blank pages.

[sparkletwist]

That's weird. I wonder what's wrong with the PDF. It looks fine in Chrome but on my iPad it didn't look right, either.

Anyway, that page includes all of the Greyhawk rules, which includes a lot of stuff I'd rather not use. So it's probably not the best reference to use, actually.
Try this: https://img.fireden.net/tg/image/1446/12/1446126540069.pdf

[LoA]

That's weird. I wonder what's wrong with the PDF. It looks fine in Chrome but on my iPad it didn't look right, either.

Anyway, that page includes all of the Greyhawk rules, which includes a lot of stuff I'd rather not use. So it's probably not the best reference to use, actually.
Try this: https://img.fireden.net/tg/image/1446/12/1446126540069.pdf

Thank you! This made it much easier.

Shirka the Plague Bane

Cleric level 2 (Adept)
STR 9
DEX 13 (+1 to Missile attacks)
CON 10
INT 9
WIS 17 (+10% to all XP)
CHA 13
HP: 10
AC: 3
BAB: +1
Saves: Death 11 / Wand 12 / Stone 14 / Breath 16 / Spell 15
Spells: Cure Light Wounds (heal 1d6+1 HP)
Gear: Chainmail, mace, Sling, leather backpack, standard rations (1 week), waterskin, 39 gold pieces

There's probably more I can do. Are my saving throws right, because I can't find a chart for clerics.

[Steerpike]

I think your saving throws are correct, according to p. 20 on the original PDF sparkletwist supplied.

[LoA]

I think your saving throws are correct, according to p. 20 on the original PDF sparkletwist supplied.

Ok, thanks!

[Rose-of-Vellum]

This whole project seems super-fun. I first started playing D&D with with Larry's awesomely illustrated red box back in the 80s. Is the intention of running this as a primarily handful of sessions during the nominal holiday break?

[sparkletwist]

Here's a doodle to schedule this: http://doodle.com/poll/4n6kiur3wiyyf8nm

Are my saving throws right, because I can't find a chart for clerics.

Yes, they are. There are a few problems, though:

• Somehow you ended up with 13 HP, which is impossible since your hit dice are 6+d6 right now. So use this:
  [blockquote]Rolled 1d6+6 : 4 + 6, total 10[/blockquote]
• If you're wearing chain mail, your AC should be 5, not 3. You can afford plate, though, so you could spend the extra gold and buy plate if you want to be AC 3.
• Clerics can't use crossbows because crossbow bolts are pointy and this is OD&D. You can use a sling, though.

Is the intention of running this as a primarily handful of sessions during the nominal holiday break?

Hopefully, yes.

[LoA]

Here's a doodle to schedule this: http://doodle.com/poll/4n6kiur3wiyyf8nm

Are my saving throws right, because I can't find a chart for clerics.

Yes, they are. There are a few problems, though:

• Somehow you ended up with 13 HP, which is impossible since your hit dice are 6+d6 right now. So use this:
  This dice roll has been tampered with!
  Rolled 1d6+6 : 4 + 6, total 10
• If you're wearing chain mail, your AC should be 5, not 3. You can afford plate, though, so you could spend the extra gold and buy plate if you want to be AC 3.
• Clerics can't use crossbows because crossbow bolts are pointy and this is OD&D. You can use a sling, though.

All right, sorry. I had just copied Kindlings character info and put in my info, but forgot to adjust HP. I rolled a 9 on my dice roll (6+3), so should I just use what you just rolled or what I originally.

And I will change crossbow to sling. I thought by "pointy" you meant blades.

[sparkletwist]

10 is fine!

[sparkletwist]

I forgot to note, the times in the Doodle are CST.
http://doodle.com/poll/4n6kiur3wiyyf8nm
(If that changes anything!)

[Kindling]

I have doodled. Also, between Steerpike's character background and the mention of dark elves in your opening vignette, I feel like there is potentially a highly anti-elf sentiment to this game. Perhaps the church my character belongs to considers elves to be abominations and servants of the Deep Chaos?

And speaking of the church, here is Jackdaw, a mercenary they've hired to protect Brother Aibek on his sacred mission... My secondary semi-NPC character.

Jackdaw
Fighting-Man level 2 (Warrior)
Alignment: Neutrality
STR 10
DEX 17 (+1 to missile attacks)
CON 9
INT 8
WIS 13
CHA 12
HP: 7
AC: 5
BAB: +1
Saves: Death 10 / Wand 11 / Stone 12 / Breath 13 / Spell 14
Gear: Chainmail armour, battle axe, dagger, longbow, quiver of 20 arrows, leather backpack, standard rations (1 week)