Messages

1

First Edition AD&D / DM first, player later

« on: November 22, 2016, 05:39:17 PM »

I started off DM'ing, too, which was strange considering that I didn't have all of the rules in 1978.  I had the Holmes Blue Book, the Greyhawk Supplement, the 1E Monster Manual, and Metamorphosis Alpha.  So I built a D&D game, of sorts, on one of the levels of Starship Warden.

2

First Edition AD&D / Re: Favorite House Rules

« on: November 22, 2016, 05:34:29 PM »

I've used spell components in different fashions. The best thing about requiring components is that it limits the use of spells on extended outings, which can make MUs really cautious about unleashing some of their best spells.

I think the approach I liked best was to simply handwave components for 1st and 2nd level spells by charging a couple of gold pieces for generic components kept in a couple of small pouches and readily available in most places. Higher level spells required specific components that had to be tracked.

That'd be especially helpful for new players. It makes bookkeeping simple early on while the players learn the system.  Good idea.

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First Edition AD&D / Re: Favorite House Rules

« on: November 21, 2016, 12:00:46 PM »

Do y'all use spell components?


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4

First Edition AD&D / Re: Favorite House Rules

« on: November 20, 2016, 08:42:01 PM »

I now use Ascending AC.  I just do the simple arithmetic on the fly.

Max hp at 1st, mostly to help magic users.

Natural 20 is crit, and they get a choice of max damage from their weapon or rolling double damage. But Not both.

Natural 0 is a fumble. I used to have a fumble table back in the day. That was fun and funny (for me anyway... bwa ha ha)

I've finally thrown in the towel and let them do a Perception Roll.  They love doing perception. Just love it.


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5

First Edition AD&D / Re: Good Rules Set for AD&D 1 or 2?

« on: November 20, 2016, 01:42:28 PM »

I would vote for
the actual 1E books
(or OSRIC) or S&W Complete. But honestly, I'd go with the original 1E books. They're not that expensive on eBay, and like somebody said above, I like the fact that the DM knows the monster's AC and tells the player whether the he hit based on the combat tables. That's always seemed more like what D&D is supposed to be, at least  to me.


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6

First Edition AD&D / Re: NPC Classes

« on: November 15, 2016, 11:23:48 AM »

I've always allowed Barbarians, and I also had Alchemists, although I cannot remember where I got the class info.  Seems like it came from the Dragon, but maybe it was a homebrew...

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Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: What do you want to hear on the show?

« on: November 14, 2016, 11:52:02 AM »

I dug back through the early episodes and found:

Issue 22 -- White Plume Mountain
Issue 41 -- Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
Issue 44 -- Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth


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8

Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: What do you want to hear on the show?

« on: November 14, 2016, 10:20:29 AM »

Blackstone's Vault is typically just a segment of the RFI podcast. They occured much more often in the first 100 issues it seems. I believe they already did S4 much earlier. In the first 50 issues if I remember correctly.

I started wondering if that was the case after I posted my question.  I listen in the car, so I will sometimes miss pieces of podcasts. 

I'll dig back through the archives for a review on S4... thanks for the tip.

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Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: What do you want to hear on the show?

« on: November 13, 2016, 08:16:30 PM »

I'm listening to Blackstone's Ghost Tower of Inverness review, and it's excellent. Is  Blackstone a separate podcast that you broadcast, or are these special editions of RFI? If it's a separate podcast I want to subscribe, but I can't seem to locate it.

Also, I'd like to suggest an episode on the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.  It's one of my favorite 1E modules.  I actually used it as the setting for the adventures I ran in college.


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10

Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: What do you want to hear on the show?

« on: March 05, 2016, 09:05:11 PM »

I would like to hear your thoughts about the running a 1E game with just one DM and one player.
It could cover topics such as identifying one on one modules out there (Expetitious Retreat Press has done such a series for Pathfinder), adapting classic modules, and any special changes needed to game mechanics; plus your thoughts in general.

  I get the feeling there are a lot of us grogs in this situation. We *might* be able to find one other player, and that's under the best of circumstances.

11

First Edition AD&D / Re: High-level 1E module with one player?

« on: March 04, 2016, 11:00:05 AM »

It was in issue 10.

http://www.purpleworm.org/tools/DungeonMagazineIndex.htm

Excellent... and what a great link; that'll be very useful.
Thanks!

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Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: Volume 5 Issue 175 – Things That should not be at the table!

« on: February 29, 2016, 11:02:07 AM »

Another excellent episode.

I never even considered the concept of pay for play, which is odd considering that I used to play poker (not quite the same, but similar).
The problem with D&D in this regard is that every campaign, and every session for that matter, is so subjective.
Fascinating topic, to say the least.

And, good to hear that Sal and I are kindred spirits on all things oozy, gooey, slimy and sloppy. Those have been some of my favorite monsters since those early, heady days of the first Monster Manual.

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Roll for Initiative Podcast / Re: Volume 5 Issue 174 - Round Table Talk – Community Hot Topics!

« on: February 27, 2016, 09:39:34 AM »

Excellent show, folks.

The segment on FB, G+, forums and message boards was particular fascinating for me. I suggested it to a couple of writer friends who're trying to build writing platforms and decide the best way to reach their audience. 

14

First Edition AD&D / Re: High-level 1E module with one player?

« on: February 23, 2016, 08:59:23 PM »

The last one-on-one high level Adnd I ran was from a Dungeon Magazine, A Threshold of Evil. Fantastic adventure. Ended up whacking the PC and his friends had to come rescue him. Good times!

Do you remember which issue?
I've never run anything out of "Dungeon"... it was coming into its own as my gaming days were winding down.


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15

First Edition AD&D / Re: High-level 1E module with one player?

« on: February 23, 2016, 08:56:23 PM »

Q 1: Would it be fun?
A : I'm sure most of us at one time or another had wished to do something along these lines. But 'fun' is something only you and he can make happen.

Q 2: (If so,) which one would be best for a one player-one DM game?
A : 'Best' or, easiest (to run)? The S 1-2-3 can certainly be modified to accommodate a single character (and companion). IotA is a grinder, even for adults in a large group. I don't know if it could be easily altered without destroying the wonderfulness of it.

1. Point well taken...

2. I was hoping for that sweet spot between easy for me to adapt to 1-on-1 while staying as close as possible to the original flavor.  You mention S1-2-3.  Is there some reason S4 might not be a good candidate here?  "Tsojcanth" is one of my all-time favorites.  FWIW, the most fun we ever had in college was "White Plume Mountain".  Also, FWIW, I've never run or played "Isle of the Ape."

S1 and S2 are easy to do solo with the right level character and the right equipment. Most fights are already with single creatures. S4 would be doable too if the numbers of monsters in some cases were reduced. Drelzna should be interesting.

Very cool.
I'm leaning toward S2 since it's a dungeon crawl, let him get his feet wet with 1E rules, then give S1 a shot simply because EVERYONE should have a chance to die in S1


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