OD&D - AD&D: CHAR GEN: MEN & MAGIC

Character rolled up OD&D style, using Men & Magic only:

[in approx. 15 minutes]

ZIGGY OF THE DANGLING TREE, Acolyte, Lawful [+10% earned XP]

HP: 3 / AC: 4 [15]
STR: 10
INT: 6
WIS: 15
CON: 5  (-1 HD)
DEX: 9
CHA: 8  (3 hirelings max)

11 - Death Ray/Poison
12 - Wands/Polymorph/Paralyze
14 - Stone
16 - Dragon Breath
15 - Staves &Spells

LANGUAGES: Common, alignment, human

POSSESSIONS:

Chain-type mail
Shield
Silver Cross
Mace
6 torches
50' rope
Water/wine skin
Iron rations (1wk)
Large sack

gold: 0


Next will be a character considering Supplement I: Greyhawk as well.

The plan is to roll up characters from OD&D to AD&D to Moldvay & compare them.

ELVES & EXPERIENCE

My initial plan for this game was to treat elves like Moldvay Basic: they function as both magic-users & fighters @ any given time & b/c of this, their experience path reflects this mash up by requiring 4000 XP to reach 2nd Level, i/o/w the m-u & fighter XP paths have been joined together w/ a slight handicap. I think this is also an optional rule in the Swords & Wizardry White Box rules.

But I dont want to do it this way anymore. I wanna do it the old way, w/ a few mods.

The old way is this: elves are multi-classed: you have two XP paths: the magic-user path & the fighter/ranger/thief/whatever-else path. When you are given XP, you can choose where to put that XP: split it up, put it all in fighter XP, put it all in m-u etc. The only guideline I really have is that you put the XP in the appropriate place, i/o/w, if you just gained 500 XP & you havent cast one spell in the game, I would rather you not put 500 XP into the magic-user XP path. I'm not saying that you can't do that, but doing so would probably mean your character isnt getting much sleep since they must be secretly practicing magic in their downtime. Going this route will make it standard for an elf to have different levels in each class, e.g. Willowbrain is a 3rd Level fighter & 2nd Level magic-user.

This is basically OD&D, though I'm removing the need for an elf to specify each day (or before each adventure) what class they are playing. Likewise, I am removing total armor restrictions on elves that use magic: they can still cast magic while wearing leather armor, just no metal armor (unless magical, of course).

Leif, I've updated your character sheet w/ this info. You just need to assign your XP. Also, Robert, take note for your new dude.

QUIRKS OF THE DICE: OD&D - AD&D

The first time I ever played D&D was when I was 7. I remember it taking a bit to establish my character, but in the end, I was a fighter, named Kron. I know the module was T1: Village of Hommlet b/c I remember the artwork & the graphed map of the town inside (huge impression), but I dont remember seeing any other books present that day.

So was Kron a hero, or a superhero? Since there were no books involved, did we use D&D or AD&D?

AD&D character generation is when Old School became Old School. First off, I know there are those that will say that 1st edition AD&D is "Old School" & perhaps in some ways they are correct, but in the way I mean Old School, AD&D is actually the first move into modern RPGs or @ least modern D&D. Not that I am an expert in the history of RPGs, but let's take a look @ OD&D Men & Magic, where it is stated that the DM should themselves roll for any players' ability scores, etc.:

Prior to the character selection by players it is necessary for the referee to roll three six-sided dice in order to rate each as to various abilities, and thus aid them in selecting a role.

In OD&D, a player's role choices are dependent upon the rolls of the dice. After the DM rolls, you are given choices: trade certain abilities, one class over other, race, etc. If you go w/ the highest rolls, you are limited. You know what type of character you are playing quickly.

BASIC (Holmes Blue Book to Mentzer Red Box), DM rolling aside, continues this approach. Though a few more ability trading options, you have the OD&D approach to character generation intact. Roll 3d6 down the list of attributes, adjust where able, if you like, choose class/race, etc.

But ADVANCED D&D is much different. What kind of character do you desire? Let's look @ the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide:

As AD&D is an ongoing game of fantasy adventuring, it is important to allow participants to generate a viable character of the race & profession which he or she desires. While it is possible to generate some fairly playable characters by rolling 3d6, there is often an extended period of attempts @ finding a suitable one due to quirks of the dice. Furthermore, these rather marginal characters tend to have short life expectancy - which tends to discourage new players, as does having to make do with some character of a race and/or class which he or she really can't or won't identify w/. Character generation, then, is a serious matter, & it is recommended that the following systems be used. Four alternatives are offered for players characters:

Method I:
All scores are recorded & arranged in the order the player desires. 4d6 are rolled, & the lowest die (or one of the lower) is discarded.

Method II:
All scores are recorded & arranged as in Method I. 3d6 are rolled 12 times & the highest 6 scores are retained.

Method III:
Scores rolled are according to each ability category, in order... 3d6 are rolled 6 times for each ability, & the highest score in each category is retained for that category.

Method IV:
3d6 are rolled sufficient times to generate the 6 ability scores, in order, for 12 characters. The player then selects the single set of scores which he or she finds most desirable & these scores are noted on the character record sheet.

OD&D/BASIC had already factored in that any adventuring PC is of exceptional something. That's what qualifies them to be a 1st level adventurer vs. any "normal human" on the attack chart, etc. Personally, I find "quirks of the dice" to be a positive to D&D vs. a limitation of the earlier game.

THE CULT OF ROD RODDY

After graduating from Texas Christian University (TCU), Roddy was a disc jockey and talk show host on KLIF and KNUS-FM (Dallas, Texas). He also worked overnights and middays at the Buffalo, New York radio station WKBW AM, a big-signal station covering the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., and at other high-profile stations. Returning to KLIF and KNUS during the 1970s, Roddy hosted a call-in program, "Rod Roddy's Hotline," whose controversial host and topics made Roddy a frequent target of death threats. He conducted a long-running on-air feud with an elderly woman, dubbed "Granny Hate" by an earlier host, who claimed to represent the local Ku Klux Klan.

Roddy announced the situation comedy Soap from 1977 to 1981 (replacing Casey Kasem^{[citation needed]}), where he provided the opening and closing narration: "Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap!" Roddy's first work as a game show announcer was on Whew!, which aired from 1979 to 1980. From there, he went on to announce several other game shows, including Battlestars (1981–1982), Love Connection (1983–1985, 1986), Hit Man (1983) and the popular Press Your Luck (1983–1986). Roddy also voiced a number of national television commercials, including those for Pennzoil and Public Storage.

The Onion: Let's start with your job.

Rod Roddy: It's the best job in the world. I work three days a week, and I give away new cars. Everybody loves you, and you meet everybody everywhere you go, and it's terrific. Everybody watches the thing. It's an amazing show, because all the age-ranges from five years old forward watch it: We're big in kindergartens and nursing homes. We're number one in hospitals and prisons. And there's a tremendous college audience, you know, which is fortunate because they're the best in the studio. It's just amazing to me how many college people come here on breaks, and in groups. Apparently, they all watch it and love to play. And they're terrific in the audience. That makes my job really easy, because I do warm-up and they're already warm. [Laughs.]

DLIKY: Roddy, what about your thoughts on 4e?

RR: Well, I didn't want to participate in that, because Bob wasn't in it, and our models weren't in it, and they made a lot of changes that I didn't think were appropriate. And I really didn't want to participate in it—they asked me to participate in it, and I declined. I'm glad I did, because it didn't do too well. And the reason, I think, that it didn't do well is that people know this show. It is what it is, and if you're going to play the Range Game, they know how the Range Game is played. If you're going to play Plinko, they know how Plinko is played. You can listen to this show while you're getting ready to go to work, and you know what's going to happen. And all of a sudden, if they change the rules of the game—which they did on the nighttime show—people resist that. And they changed the set, they changed the music, and they changed everything about it, so it really wasn't The Price Is Right. And people responded the way I thought they would; they didn't accept it. So I was glad not to be a part of it. And I don't think it helped us any, because a lot of people probably thought, "Oh, they've canceled The Price Is Right." We heard that for a long time, because of the way it was promoted.

RE: MOOR'S END - 1 - GILEEGAN WRITES IN

There has been much speculation in town whether I would be a worthy successor to me Pops, Gilagan. Most of that talk is how I will surpass him as a spender of gold and smoker of smokeweed and nothing else. So when the FAE popped into town with a request to aid a lady cleric in finding some sort of diamond encrusted artifact I jumped at the chance to prove those bastards wrong and get my hands on some lovelies (I am of course referring to the golden, bejeweled, and fair haired variety). We had just had a jaunt around a war torn hill that netted me a little gold and less notoriety. The worst part was that the only damsels were a pair of wrinkled witches who only wanted to take our hard earned gold for some conversation! So I entered the carriage with a tall and serious fellow named Devedos. He only wanted to speak of righteousness and helping others and obviously had no gold to steal but he was not an unpleasant chap and treated me quite nicely. Upon arrival we met Mattie the Mournful. Such a sad and delicate pale flower! She relayed to us her plight and I knew this was going to be a fun little excursion, the hill could wait. We also managed to pick up a stowaway neanderthal, he was this strong simple minded fellow who aided us on the hill and was no doubt looking for adventure as well. Our first outing was nothing short of comical. The townspeople, although hospitable, were strange. The owner of the local store was trying to sell us what he called an orc grenade which contained the remains of an orc child. How it actually worked was beyond me but if I had some extra gold I would like try it! We picked up a mage named Renfro at the local pub and headed out to the caves to seek out the item Mattie so desperately sought. The caves were dark and smelled like rotten flesh and soon we found the reason why. We were set upon by some giant rats...ugh. One of the creatures bit me on the shoulder, I could smell it's rank breath as it sank it's teeth into me. I nearly passed out from the pain but I managed to push it off of me. My companions managed to dispatch of the rest of the rats.  I was liking them more and more. I was about to propose we leave and return when feeling a little better when the fair Mattie produced a vial of snow white liquid. She offered me a sip and I felt the pain in my shoulder disappear. I gave her the patented Gileegan wry smile and she responded with a look so awkward and sad it made me little hobbit heart flutter!

We made our way around the caves for a bit more then entered into what appeared to be a tropical jungle inside the underground caves! As strange as this appeared we soon saw something even stranger, a merchant right in the middle of this odd jungle cave. His voice was like serpent oil and when he asked what we sought Mattie fell prey to his charm. He instantly produced the very item Mattie sought. Now Mummy always told me that if it looks too good to be true then it probably isn't and Mummy is NEVER wrong. I pulled Devedos aside as I knew he was far too prudent to be fooled by this charlatan. Devedos quickly began his righteous speak with the merchant, show off... The merchant disappeared into thin air.

Moving on through the caves we happened upon a group of bandits. My new companion Devedos went into the fray all arms and legs and made short work of these poor fellows. I managed to get in a few arrows myself. After realizing our neanderthal friend Link had taken most of the blows from the bandits we decided to head back to town. I was determined to find out what kind of drink Mattie preferred!

MOOR'S END - 1

[Sorry for the "out of order" here, but finally, here is Mattie's angle on the FAE party's entrance & first day/night in Moor's End]

When they sent out the signal, I wasnt sure who to expect, or exactly how soon, but it was only a few hours until the Furthermoor Adventure Express (FAE) could be seen descending & then gently lighting on the field near the Church, there it pulled up w/ an exhausted Neanderthal hanging by an arm @ its side, which was quite a surprise to the Thief & Monk as they stepped from the conveyance.  The hobbit thief, was named Gileegan, & seemed the questionable sort, while the monk, Devedos, appeared much more respectable. I consulted them about why they had been signaled here, as a recent bandit attack during a procession, had claimed a priceless item from the Church, a foot long, diamond encrusted white widow which most likely is now being transfered through the caves west of Moor's End to potentially end up in the wrong hands. Devedos questioned his involvement, concerned that risking lives for a material possession such as this jewel, was not something he cared to be a part of, but then I explained to him the import: that this was not any ordinary jewel, that it also has magical properties which wielded by the wrong hands, could potentially mean not only the destruction of the Church of the White Widow, but also something much darker in the long run... Devedos agreed this was something the Order of the Guiding Star should be concerned w/ as well, & of course the Thief was ready to get his hands on the diamond spider when I first mentioned it. They asked if I cared to join them, I said I would if I would actually be of help, but first they wished to walk down into Moor's End to purchase armor for their Neanderthal friend they call Link, as well as other general adventuring products therefore I tell them about Oogy's Curiosity Shop that also carries adventuring supplies.

Link took to some leather armor his friends purchased & they bought some other things I wasnt really paying attention. Oogy tried selling them some jacks, as well as something he was calling an Orc Grenade, I felt sick when he said what was in it, they wanted to visit the Forgotten Worm Inn stopped in & they spoke w/ a magic-user @ the bar named Renfro the Regarded. He told us a story of how as a youngster in Furthermoor City he had been observing a battle between two powerful wizards in the street & been struck by a bolt from a Staff of Withering, therefore only 11, suddenly looked 21, & also, began his interest in magic. He also mentioned to the others that he'd heard about a barber in town that had a hair ointment that would increase one's strength. Gilleegan pointed out they were about out of money, so talk turned to venturing to the caves. Renfro was interested in joining us. We left for the Caves, my hopes for locating the Diamond Spider of the Church of the White Widow.

It was around 3 PM as I showed them the secret entrance I knew into the caves, though I had never been inside myself. Naturally, the cave was extremely dark, & narrow, a little less than five feet across, & maybe about eight feet high. Gileegan decided to lead out front w/ his lantern, Link, Devedos, me, then Renfro... The entrance was slow going when after a bit we cut south & then found ourselves rapping around in this thin tunnel until finally I had to stop b/c everything slowed; next thing I knew I heard something terrible, a high pitched scream of some sort & Gileegan was moaning, I was frightened, Renfro moved past me, but then I hastened, another nasty nashing sound & Gileegan clearly hurt, I began to worry, but then I could hear Devedos grunting & a gnarly sound from something... Then I heard Renfro chanting & could see his hands moving in the shadows of Gileegan's dropped lantern & suddenly the screeching of the Giant Rats was no more & a nasty snoring could be heard echoing. We moved into the room & Devedos, after stacking the remaining rats & doing something I had to turn away from. You hear of these Giant Rats, but seeing them is another thing; I hate any living thing to lose its life, but strangely, I felt nothing. Devedos took Gileegan's lantern & began moving around the cave room, examining the walls... In the back of the room, about 10 feet up in a small hole in the rock wall could be seen a small chest. Devedos climbed up the wall & w/ amazing skill both popped the chest out of the hole & then landed on his feet to catch it before it hit the ground. Inside the chest was a cache of silver weapons: a silver dagger & a quiver of silver arrows. On both the sheath & the quiver there was an eagle over a fleur-de-lys w/ some runes written below. I went over to Gileegan & offered him the secret I had brought w/ me, a vial of healing that Brother Lennox had given me. Gileegan drank half of it, feeling much better. Gileegan & Devedos decided to have Link adventure out front & Link seemed honored, we moved out & up a new passage from the room moving west untul we entered another clearing, this time the room was basically bare except for a tall, white stone in the center. The stone was pointed at top & wide & smooth @ it's base. Devedos moved around it a bit but we decided to move on, traveling into a north tunnel then turning northwest we came to a southern corridor - we traveled down it & eventually moved into a small clearing cave room, Link moving the lantern about to reveal silver & gold tossed about the floor in splotches. Happily, we collected the coins & then moved on up out of the other side of the room coming to another tunnel which led us for some time to the NW - eventually coming to a choice, either NW or E, we turned east, soon coming to a south passage into an opening - entering the opening, we found a sizable room filled w/ lush plant life, as if stepping into a jungle... No insects or animals or noises for that matter were about, it was completely still... After searching around the plants a bit, Devedos located 4 green mushrooms w/ white dots. He broke off a small piece & ate it. He said he felt radiant for a a few seconds. He pulled up the mushrooms & we moved back out the room, turning east where again we moved south into another room, this room bigger than any we'd seen, stalagmites about, as we moved down into the large cave room, we noticed someone there, a man @ a table, who greeted us... "Hello travelers," he said. "Can I offer you any of my items? What is it you seek?" I couldnt hold it in, asking if he happen to possess a diamond spider. "Why yes," the man said, "I believe I do have the spider you speak of." He leaned down behind the table. I couldnt believe it, my heart was in my throat. "How much?" asked Devedos. "How much do you carry?" said the merchant, "I believe it will take all that you have, this is a pricey piece." The merchant held up the spider & placed it on the table. Everyone held their breath. I wanted to run up & hold it in joy. But then Gileegan & Devedos began whispering, & then Gileegan stepped forward, "something is strange here, how did you come to gain this spider?" Devedos added, "No, we arent giving up any coin for this, I dont like this." It is then that suddenly, the merchant was no longer there. Disappeared. My heart fell into my toes. What is this place? I thought, where merchants disappear & jungles grow under the earth? We moved back out into the main tunnel & moved east where we soon came into a smallish opening & saw a number of men sitting about... 5 of them... they were surprised to see us enter, & here began the most dreadful part of our adventure. Though we were the ones to leave the cave w/ our lives intact, the five bandits were slaughtered, Link was badly wounded, & we did not find the spider, only more gold coin. Rushing, using Devedos memory, we retraced our steps out of the caves & got back to the Church around 10:00 PM. We brought Link inside & finding Brother Lennox we had him healed; we then moved to the Inn of the Forgotten Worm to split up the treasures we had found.

10:30 PM

MOOR'S END - 2

Treasure is divided from delve into caves west of Moor's End - Certain interest is taken in Clara & her dying dog, Joey & the stunted turnips he is fed - Tales are told to the party about a giant carrot that devoured a farmhand while men were trying to dig it up - Kruger the Blacksmith is met & then later challenged by Devedos to a duel - Renfro & Gileegan try to pick up the pieces...

PARTY CAST:
Gileegan, hobbit thief - MN
Devedos, monk - RM
Renfro the Regarded, magic-user - JT
Mattie the Mournful, cleric of the White Widow - NPC
Link, neanderthal - NPC

ENCOUNTERED NON-PARTY NPCs:
Iggy - barkeep @ the Forgotten Worm
Clara - young girl w/ dying dog named Joey
Mystery - Clara's mother
Cleatus Jeffers - veterinarian
Oogy - owner of curiosity shop
Gil Kruger - blacksmith/armorer

Having returned from caves late @ night the party divides the booty. Renfro gets the silver dagger & Gileegan the silver arrows. All retire for night, Mattie returns to Church of the White Widow.

Next morn, Devedos is watchful out front of Inn, watching the folk of Moor's End begin their day. He takes interest in a young girl carrying a dog up to the building next door. Clara tells of her sick dog, Joey, & soon Devedos is chatting w/ the veterenarian, Dr. Jeffers, about what he uses (herbs) to heal Joey & how often he comes in (once a month - takes a week for him to get better, etc) & asks what Joey eats (turnips & watermelon) & after vet, Devedos gathers the others (Gileegan & Renfro were now outside eyeing Oogy next door the other way who was smoking a pipe, Gileegan was talking about those "orc grenades" & his interest in them - Link is still alseep as his sleep is way off having lately been nocturnal on Horror Hill) & they follow Clara to her home which is a shack up NE from the Inn. There the party meets her mother, Mystery. Devedos examines the small garden plot they have. Strangely, here in the spring, when things should be growing, most of the garden is already dug & gone, minus a few turnips... Looking around, he sees the same in other plots nearby. Mystery tells them a story that her husband, Cujo, has told her: that out @ a farm one day not long ago, a number of men were trying to pull up a giant carrot from the earth, next thing they knew, one of their number was missing & they saw some legs & shoes disappear into the carrot like it had gobbled the man up. Devedos wants to investigate. They leave in search of Randy's Farm where Cujo is currently working. Mystery doesnt know how to get there (Cujo changes farms often).

Party decides to inquire about Randy's Farm @ the last establishment to the east of town as they walk from Clara's home. The establishment is a blacksmith's shop & armory. The owner, Gil Kruger proves to be an S.O.B. & the party clashes a bit w/ him in regard to their questioning. Irritated they take their leave & head back through the shacks up to the Church of the White Widow where Mattie rejoins the party. She thanks them again for the contribution she was able to make to the Church & her refreshed hope in locating the diamond spider. She spent the morning praying for Cure Light Wounds to aid in their adventuring. They head back to the Forgotten Worm Inn, only to find Kruger inside, inhaling his lunch while cutting it up w/ Iggy, the barkeep. Devedos is still hell bent on finding info about Randy's Farm, whereas Gileegan is now urging that their task lie elsewhere, as in, heading back to the caves... Iggy tells Gileegan that it is believed that Orcs of the Black Hole are building up forces in the caves & may soon threaten Moor's End. Seeing Renfro, Kruger asks if he's seen the librarian. He says there's a librarian in town who's known to have some of the oldest known books in all of Furthermoor. Renfro tries buying Kruger a drink to learn more but Kruger refuses & becomes an ass again. Devedos becomes highly irritated & after he's had enough, challenges Kruger to a duel.

Out front of the Forgotten Worm Inn, first, Renfro approached Kruger & tried to sneakily cast Charm Person upon him; however, Kruger just brushed him off, not sure what he was up to. Devedos & Kruger then went @ it. At first, Kruger blunders & Devedos is able to take advantage by dealing some significant blows to Kruger & then, Devedos w/ an impressive kick, not only rids Kruger of his two-handed sword, Delilah, but also, in struggling w/ it, the blade cuts into Kruger & does him damage as well, the blade flying to the ground 3 feet away, Kruger jumps for it... In a crucial moment, Devedos misses Kruger, Kruger pulling Delilah back up, Devedos chops again, but misses & then turns to feel Delilah slicing through his guts. Devedos falls into the dust, dead... Mattie begins sobbing & running over, falls over Devedos. Kruger wipes off Delilah, & injured, stumbles back up & into the Forgotten Worm, yelling.

Leaving Mattie w/ Devedos' body, Gileegan & Renfro quickly work out a plan & running across the street, they work their way behind a number of establishments until they get to Kruger's shop. They end up running around & trying the front door, which is locked, but Gileegan successfully picks it w/o any problem. They move in & relock the door. They search the place locating Kruger's bedroom & behind that the forge room w/ a window. They stake out in the bedroom, waiting. About 45 minutes later they hear Kruger unlocking the front door & stumbling in, tossing stuff onto the table in the main room. Before long he comes pushing the door to the bedroom open & before he even has any idea, Gileegan has backstabbed him w/ a dagger into the doors of death. Renfro & Gileegan find a key on his body that opens a chest near his bed. The chest contains 72 gold, 800 silver & 2 potion vials. They move into the forge room & stoke the forge & then lay out some cloth from Kruger's bedding to start a fire which will trail down & burn the place down... Gileegan moves out of the window & races to the Church of the White Widow. Renfro moves back toward the front door & grabs Delilah...he wraps the two-handed sword in cloth from the bed & then follows out the window, wrapping back around & then crossing the street, back toward the Forgotten Worm. Mattie is still out there in the street, though no longer crying, watching over Devedos. Every now & then, passersby will stop & inquire what happened. They dont seem surprised when they hear that Kruger is involved.

Before long, smoke can be seen on the eastern edge of Moor's End, twisting up from the back of Kruger's shop...

5:00 PM, Thursday, 14th day of the month of the Hummingbird, Moor's End, Furthermoor