Anyone who is familiar with the 1st edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons will know that there is much more to the combat round than first meets the eye. Those coming to AD&D from original or basic versions of the game won't easily grock the game's combat, nor will those coming from later editions. This is largely, but not solely, due to the disordered presentation of the rules. I don't intend to get into the minutiae of AD&D combat here, but if you're interested, a comprehensive reordering of the rules (with references) can be found at: https://idiscepolidellamanticora.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/addict.pdf In this post, I'd like to take a look at the simple d6 initiative mechanic with reference to OSRIC (which in my opinion is a remarkable revision/reiteration of the 1st edition rules (and too often unfairly maligned)). Most older editions of, or variations on, D&D simply require each side to roll a d6 to determine the order of initiative, with t...
Old-School Essentials (OSE) and 1980s "basic" D&D restrict magic-user spell acquisition to mentoring and research, as described here: https://oldschoolessentials.necroticgnome.com/srd/index.php/Spell_Books Notably, magic-users cannot learn new spells from scrolls or spell books that they obtain, as is the case in AD&D. At my group's OSE table, however, we've adopted the Advanced Rules for this part of the game, and have rejected the common idea that magic-users obtain a new spell upon advancing a level. As such, I've hammered out some rules of thumb for spell acquisition with the player running the magic-user . Returning to the Classic Rules for a moment, we know that researching a new spell costs 1000 gp per spell level (taking 2 weeks per spell level), whereas recreating a lost spell book requires that each spell be rewritten at the cost of 1000 gp per spell level (taking 1 week per spell level). Presumably the costs involve materials for special inks, p...
Sunday’s Greyhawk game (AD&D module A2) went well, and despite a one-month hiatus (I had to cancel our previous session at the last minute), we were straight back into the action with the party having to fight a cloaker. Despite taking great precautions due to the strange droning sound and stunned slaves in the great chamber they’d arrived at, they didn’t plug up their ears and decided to don the conspicuous black cloaks at the end of the chamber – one of which was the cloaker! This adventure was the first appearance of that weird monster in D&D, and it’s sonic attacks (causing Fear, Hold Person) – as well as consistently unlucky roles – really made for a tough and memorable encounter. This was our sixth session of the current module, and we’re about halfway through (no spoilers, please, as players may be looking). When we finally finish A2 after another 2 or 3 months, I intend to put AD&D to one side for a while and run the Six Seasons in Sartar campaign for Rune Que...
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