For about a year now I've been looking to try out either Basic or Original D&D out of dissatisfaction with both 3rd & 4th edition. I found a DM in my area that runs a megadungeon 1-2 per month and at local conventions. I tried it out at a demo session, and was invited to the DM's regular bi-weekly group. So far I've played 3 sessions and I'm having a blast.
Character is obviously very fast and very easy. I rolled average stats and decided to throw caution to the wind and play a Magic-User. Given that I didn't have an expensive suit of armor to buy I had plenty of money to spend on retainers.
We've made three expeditions into the megadungeon over the last three sessions. The majority of these expeditions are spent trying to get a feel for the first level of the dungeon, its layout, and the various groups inhabiting the dungeon.
I find I really like the exploration aspect - the mapping, the checking for traps/secret doors, the experimenting with various dungeon features, etc. My fellow players seem to think I'm crazy for using my MU to check for traps.
Combat flows fast, but the group doesn't seem big on describing the PCs or monster's actions in combat. One of my fellow players has a tendency to want to rush off and exterminate everything we run across, and so the rest of us have to convince him that that isn't always a good idea.
In three sessions I've only cast one spell - Sleep. I suppose my favorite moment so far has been when I convinced a group of hostile dwarfs to parley peacefully by telling them that if they harmed me or my companions I'd curse them. That apparently impressed a fellow player because it didn't occur to him that we could lie to NPCs like that.
Overall I'm really impressed with the game. I started playing D&D at the tail end of 2nd ed so nostalgia isn't really a part of my motivation. I appreciate the stripped down rules system, and the fact that my descriptions and imagination matter more than my character sheet.
tl;dr - played some OD&D and found that it really fits my play style, can't wait to play more.
OD&D probably is (with pre-UA AD&D) the absolute best version of the game to me, with the caveat that each version of the game, as you put it, serves a different set of aims and play styles at the game table.
That is great that you are having a good time. I had several 4e players in my monthly group at the Gold Star Anime in Edinboro and they have a great time with Swords & Wizardry.
I am huge OD&D / S&W fan and its great fun, but you need the right group of players. MUs and Clerics don't cast very much and the player has to be cool with that. Not just modern RPGs, but all computer RPGs have established the archtype of spell caster as "cast early, cast often" which isn't a realistic via OD&D RAW.
For players who want that OD&D experience with more magic use, I highly suggest Tunnels & Trolls. You get all the exploration, danger and fast combat of OD&D, but your Wizard will be slamming magic much more often by comparison.
Quote from: Spinachcat;411416Not just modern RPGs, but all computer RPGs have established the archtype of spell caster as "cast early, cast often" which isn't a realistic via OD&D RAW.
Well, unless your players are early 20-somethings who've devoted countless hours to nethack. Then they're fine with the wizard tossing rocks/darts and the fact that AC descends. ;)
Quote from: MonkeyWrench;411370I find I really like the exploration aspect - the mapping, the checking for traps/secret doors, the experimenting with various dungeon features, etc.
That's the big draw for me. It took a while to get out of the what-to-do-if-not-combat and roll-for-everything modes, but now the dungeon and environment seem so much richer. An empty room may have all sorts of features if the players interact with it descriptively, rather than walking in, rolling for a search check, and walking out again.
This is the way I've been wanting to play for a long time. In my regular group it's like pulling teeth to get them to describe anything. It's mostly "I'll roll my Perception to see if my guy notices anything." It seems silly but the lack of character build options promotes more roleplaying for me. I hate to bring up the ghost of immersion, but it really scratches that itch.
Having only one spell has really forced me to get creative in playing my character. I've learned to not be so afraid of getting in a fight. My MU has more kills under his belt that his bodyguard.
Really the one spell per day thing is a non-issue for me. That one spell is valuable. Having to anticipate which one would be most useful is part of the fun for me. Do I pick Floating Disk so that we can haul out more loot or do I pick Charm Person so we can interrogate one of those cultists?
Besides, now I get two spells. ;)
All told I think I prefer Basic, but the differences seem pretty minor, and I'm having a great time.
I made another character last night to participate in our wilderness adventure using Outdoor Survival.
As a break from our normal dungeon crawling we set out for the Barbarous Lands to the east in an effort to reconnoiter the region for our local lord. I had two characters, and MU(Mithras) and a Dwarf(Grognard), plus one 1st level retainer. The one other player there had is Elf(Palimar) and his 1st level retainer. Five of us. To explore unknown territory.
Here's a log:
Day 1 - set out from village with 2 weeks forth of food and water on three mules.
Attacked by three Giant Rattlesnakes. Mithras poisoned and severely wounded. Grognard slightly hurt.
Day 2 - returning to village in search of an herbalist.
Day 4 - No herbalist found. Mithras dies of poison. Palimar uses Magic Malted Milkball of Resurrection to restore Mithras to life.
Day 5 - set out again, reprovisioned.
Day 8 - Run into powerful Chaotic Cleric and his 7 retainers. Mithras put three to sleep. Cleric & co. charge. Our warriors unable to wound assailants. Palimar's retainer dies. Mithras knocked unconscious. Party hauls Mithras off, abandons mules, and hides in nearby woods.
Day 9 - Hid in woods. Evaded patrols from the Cleric. Waited for Mithras to recover. First day of no water.
Day 10 - Evaded Hobgoblin army estimated to be 80 Hobgoblins strong.
Day 12 - Mithras recovered. Third day of no water.
Day 14 - Barely made it back to the village. Recovering.
After the ordeal we reported that the lands were too wild to conquer at the moment, and recruitment should start immediately for a fifty man strong scouting force. The local lord agreed to partially fund this new expedition.
In the mean time the party decided to hire three new retainers, and set out for the dungeon. Mithras decided to sit this one out, and it's a good thing he did.
Long story short, we found a 100' leading into the depths of the earth. Against better judgment we descended. On retainer fell on the way down. Another was set to guard the top of the shaft, but ran away when a cleric assaulted him with 12 skeletons. Grognard and the final retainer fell to their deaths on the way back up. Palimar left by himself deep in the dungeon.
tl;dr - Played wilderness adventure with Outdoor Survival. Body Count: 5 Dead. 1 Resurrected. 2 Survived. Can't wait to play more.
Quote from: Peregrin;411418Well, unless your players are early 20-somethings who've devoted countless hours to nethack. Then they're fine with the wizard tossing rocks/darts and the fact that AC descends. ;)
Fuck yeah!
RPGPundit
Quote from: MonkeyWrench;411707tl;dr - Played wilderness adventure with Outdoor Survival. Body Count: 5 Dead. 1 Resurrected. 2 Survived. Can't wait to play more.
This sounds like a great game.
Campaign Update.
We made our fourth expedition into the dungeon this evening.
Dramatis Personae
Mithras (PC) - 2nd level MU, My PC
Palimar (PC) - 3/2 Elf
Grendeldorf (PC) 1st level Dwarf
Feodren (Retainer) - 1st level Fighting Man, Mithras' bodyguard
Saren, Laren, Garok, Epak - Hirelings
On our last expedition into the dungeon we found a huge stash of treasure that was so big we couldn't get it all in one go. We decided that on our next excursion into the dungeon we should make a mad dash for the treasure, grab it, and head out asap. A good plan, no?
No good plan survives contact with the dungeon.
On our way in we encounter two giant magic rats, one that can fly and another that can turn itself or anything it kills invisible. We lost Epak, but managed to destroy these abominations. We divided up his gear with Mithras getting his invisible sword, and Palimar getting his invisible chainmail. Palimar decides to stash the mail in a nearby alcove and grab it on the way out.
From our previous explorations we know that we need to pass through a summoning chamber. Mithras protects himself from Chaos and scouts out ahead, ad finds that, sure enough, there is a short, squat, greasy demon sitting inside the summoning circle.
Mithras warns the party not to speak to it, and not to break the circle. Well it turned out that the whole "trapped in a circle" thing was a ruse and the demon launches its attack by dropping a stinking a cloud on us. As luck would have it only Mithras passed his save. As the rest of the party dragged themselves out of the stench, Mithras tried to interpose himself between the demon and the party.
A fierce battle ensued with the party trying to break into the next room while the demon tried to get around Mithras. As we reached the relative safety of the next room the demon teleported behind us, and killed Saren and Laren before we could destroy it. We took time afterward to destroy the magic circle in the room so that no more demons could be summoned.
Now the fun really starts.
Bad Decision #1
As we looked around the room we saw a corpse with an arm stretched out towards an exquisite looking sword. Palimar warned us that the sword was cursed, but Mithras as determined to take it out of the dungeon. After a hurried debate we decided to return to the entrance for the invisible armor and clothes to wrap it up in. For some reason we thought it would be best to have it wrapped in invisible clothes so we could keep an eye on it.
We made our way back to the entrance, grabbed the goods, and started back towards the sword. However a priest and his skeleton entourage, alerted by the sounds of our previous combat, intercepted us on the way back. Mithras, Feodren, and Gark died, and Grendeldorf was knocked unconscious. Palimar with his awesme AC 0 managed to finish off the skeletons by himself. Using the last of the Miracle Max's Pills he resurrected Mithras, and together they drag Grendeldorf into the room with the sword.
Bad Decision #2
Mithras and Palimar decided to grab the treasure from the next room, and THEN leave the dungeon. The treasure it at the bottom of a 30' deep pit, but instead of a nice pile of coins we find a stone chest and something written in Dwarven.
Bad Decision #3
Against Mithras' warnings Palimar opens the chest and is doused with oil before a spark sets him on fire. Mithras rushes to his aid but Palimar is knocked out. In a panic Mithras drags Palimar into a nearby secret room we found on a previous expedition. He then goes back for Grendeldorf and the three hold up in there for four days while wounds are healed.
Bad Decision #4
The group agrees to leave, but Mithras still wants the cursed sword. A path out of the dungeon is secured, and the Elf and the Dwarf wait outside for Mithras to retrieve the sword. Mithras, Protected from Chaos, tried to grab the sword but can't because of his ward. He dispels his protection, throws his cloak over the sword, and picks it up...
DM: Make a save. You can use your bonus versus spells.
Me: *rolls a 10* Ten plus two is twelve. I needed a thirteen.
DM: The sword possess you.
I FAILED BY ONE! ONE!
The sword compels Mithras to kill his companions, but can be sneaky about it. Mithras convinces them that he's fine, but resolves to kill them in their sleep. Palimar and Grendeldorf wisely maintain a distance and make Mithras promise to keep the sword in a sack and tied in a tree on their first night's rest. Grendeldorf decides to stand watch all night, and so isn't surprised when Mithras attempts to put him under a Sleep spell. Mithras wins initiative, but the Dwarf passes his save. Grendeldorf and Palimar knock Mithras out, leave the sword in the wilderness, and drag Mithras back to town to be cured at the local Temple.
The curse on Mithras is lifted, and he vows to destroy the Chaotic Artifact. He also reached level three.
tl:dr - Six deaths. Many bad decisions. Four nights in the dungeon. One possession by a Chaotic artifact. Damn fine session.
Edit: Palimar survived the previous session by taking a shrinking potion and testing all the portals until he found one that took him outside of the dungeon.
Awesome.
Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun!
Hey, this is a good thread. I've enjoyed reading it. :)
Thanks for the encouraging comments.
This is a slight tangent, but I thought I'd share it anyway.
I've been reading a lot of Vance recently, and was inspired to rename the bland spell names of D&D with something more inspirational.
1st level
Detect Magic - Incantation of Arcane Revelation
Hold Portal - Zeno's First Spell of Threshold Warding
Read Magic - Thaumaturgical Lexicon
Protection from Chaos - Aegis of Order
Light/Dark - Luminous Glamor/Tenebrous Mask
Charm Person - Spell of the Ensorcelled Ego
Sleep - Severan's Seductive Sopor
2nd level
Detect Invisibility - Unveiling Sight of the Bright College
Detect Thoughts - Melius' Cognitive Filcher
Invisibility - Veil of the Grey Wizard
Knock - Zeno's Unlocking Charm
Phantasmal Force - The Grey Wizard's Deceiving Spell
Wizard Lock - Zeno's Second Spell of Threshold Warding
Some spells are missing, and I'm not entirely sure which spell list we're using (so far I've seen three, but it hasn't come up yet). If anyone wants to help contribute feel free.
Good names.
RPGPundit
Quote from: MonkeyWrench;418170Thanks for the encouraging comments.
This is a slight tangent, but I thought I'd share it anyway.
I've been reading a lot of Vance recently, and was inspired to rename the bland spell names of D&D with something more inspirational.
1st level
Detect Magic - Incantation of Arcane Revelation
Hold Portal - Zeno's First Spell of Threshold Warding
Read Magic - Thaumaturgical Lexicon
Protection from Chaos - Aegis of Order
Light/Dark - Luminous Glamor/Tenebrous Mask
Charm Person - Spell of the Ensorcelled Ego
Sleep - Severan's Seductive Sopor
2nd level
Detect Invisibility - Unveiling Sight of the Bright College
Detect Thoughts - Melius' Cognitive Filcher
Invisibility - Veil of the Grey Wizard
Knock - Zeno's Unlocking Charm
Phantasmal Force - The Grey Wizard's Deceiving Spell
Wizard Lock - Zeno's Second Spell of Threshold Warding
Some spells are missing, and I'm not entirely sure which spell list we're using (so far I've seen three, but it hasn't come up yet). If anyone wants to help contribute feel free.
I like your names much better.
Setting-specific always rules.
Ok, so updates.
Tonight's session marked Mithras' fifth expedition into the dungeon, and it also revealed some flaws in our group's play style.
Cast
Mithras: My PC
Palimar: a 3/3 Elf, our powerhouse
Grendeldorf: still 1st level
Preen: our Cleric who has been out for the last 3 sessions
Our 6 hapless retainers
The Folly of Bloodlust. In 2 parts.
1) Doomcreeper: Mithras' best friend
We decided to get straight to the dungeon as the last few expeditions haven't been very productive. However there was the matter of the cursed sword to handle first. We found the sword lying on the jungle floor underneath the tree where Mithras had tied it a week earlier. We were determined to destroy this thing, but were at a loss as to how to transport the sword back to the Temple. In the end Mithras tried a similar tactic as before, but this time manipulating the sword into the bag without ever touching it.
Apparently the sword didn't care about those things and took control of Mithras a second time. Even with a hefty bonus for the precautions I'd taken Mithras still failed his save. (It's worth a note that Mithras has never passed a save so far)
Doomcreeper, the cursed sword, grew impatient with Mithras' hesitation, and compelled Mithras to attack Preen on the first night traveling back to the Temple. The party subdued Mithras (again), covered Doomcreeper with brush, tied Mithras to the ground, and decided to send back two retainers to the Temple in order to get some help. Camp was set up, and watches were assigned.
Early in the morning Greneldorf spots four riders approaching our camp with two bound men following them. Palimar released Mithras, and the party prepared for a fight with four horsemen on the open plain. One rider approached and introduced himself as the Herald of Sidian Rokan, a local warlord. He wanted to pay us for the sword - 10,000 gp. Preen balked at the idea, but Palimar, Grendeldorf, and Mithras decided to hear the herald out. He promised that we would go unharmed once the deal was struck, and that Sidian would even release our two retainers.
While the party deliberated Mithras attempted to Charm the herald, but was uncertain that his spell worked. In the end a deal was struck. Mithras informed the herald that the sword was buried in a riverbank one day north, and that the location was marked by three stones. Once the riders were out of sight Mithras and Preen raced back to the Temple with the gold while Grendeldorf and Palimar guarded the real hidden location of the sword. In the end Mithras and Preen were able to obtain an armed escort and the assistance of a powerful Elf named Aelfinerad. Mithras and Palimar used the Floating Disc spell (should have thought of it sooner) to transport Doomcreeper back to the outpost keep, board it onto a ship, sail a few hours out to sea, and dump it over the side. We're all sure this will come back to bite us in the ass one day soon.
2) And now the Dungeon.
Palimar wanted to recover the last Miracle Max Milkball from one of the lower levels of the dungeon, but we were unable to use the most direct route. On our way through the alternate route Grendeldorf found a secret door hidden in an alcove near the room with the summoning circle. The party ventured into the cramped tunnel, and followed its twisting path to a room with many dried bones on the floor. As we searched the room two magically altered rats attacked from a hidden alcove. We dispatched the two vermin
easily, but one of our henchmen took a nasty bite and started to shed a blinding light.
A voice from a nearby staircase sent the party running for ambush locations. The voice called for the rats, and we prepared ourselves for battle. Five mongrel beastmen dashed into the room, and seeing themselves surrounded, formed a circle and brandished their crude weapons. Mithras called for them to surrender as they were outmanned and surrounded, but the leader foolishly attacked him. The mage attempted to blind the abomination with his magic lantern (a Continual Light spell placed in a hooded lantern) but the beast attacked regardless. Two retainers fell in the opening moments of the battle, and Palimar called for Mithras to unleash Severan's Seductive Sopor (Sleep) upon their foes. Two were overcome by the might of Mithras' magic and the other three fell to the blades of Palimar and Grendeldorf.
We bound the other two and set about questioning them. The malformed creatures were willing servants of the Red Wizard, one of two Wizards who are vying for control of Skull Mountain. The priests we kept encountering served the Black Wizard. The thing was unwilling to aid us further, and in the end Grendeldorf ended its miserable existence. We set about thoroughly exploring our surroundings and soon realized we were in rooms we cleared several weeks earlier.
Palimar, still hoping to find the last pill, plotted a course through the dungeon to his prize. Unfortunately our route would take us through the summoning room. We crept towards that ill-fated room, and realized that someone was inside. Using his ESP spell, Mithras determined that there were three workers in the room attempting to repair the damages to the circle. This would not stand, and a plan was formed to assault them. Preen and Palimar, along with two retainers, would sneak to another entrance to the room and rush in. Once Mithras and Grendeldorf heard fighting they would break through the other door and join the fun.
Yeah, right.
As Preen and Palimar emerged from the secret tunnel near the entrance alcove they were set upon by a priest and his three demon minions. The pair, along with their two minions, retreated back down the tunnel to warn the Wizard and the Dwarf about the priest. Mithras warded himself against demons while Preen tended to his wounds. We prepared an ambush for any enemies that might have followed, but none came. Palimar and Grendeldorf then decided to attack the three workers in the summoning room in an effort to
break out of the dungeon, but the door was barred from the other side. Frantic that so much noise would bring other denizens scurrying for a quick meal the group decided to try the secret passage again, and risk a second encounter with the priest.
We burst forth from the tunnel to find the priest, his trio of demons, and a dwarf waiting for us. A vicious melee broke out in the cramped confines of the corridor. Neither side gained an advantage over the other, but we were being worn down. The group decided discretion was indeed the better part of valor, and hightailed it out of there. We proceeded to trek through the jungle back to the safety of the fortress in disgrace.
Some Thoughts.
We've become very sloppy and aimless. Our last two expeditions proved to be failures that produced no treasure, and had us taking days to recover from. We've made little progress in our explorations as we keep backtracking over the same 3-4 rooms. Also those priests consistently either kick our asses or leave us severely depleted. We are easily distracted which seems to lead to haphazard exploration. And on top of all of that we usually do nothing to avoid fights. After the end of the session the group reached a consensus that we needed to change up our tactics. More stealth less bravado. I'm still having a blast, but we're
making little headway into uncovering the secrets of Skull Mountain.
tl:dr - more cursed sword shenanigans, more trouble with priests and demons, and a realization that we should probably avoid fights and look for loot instead of the other way around.