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In 1e, Gary, did you ever find the Ranger's +1 HP/level damage bonus to "Giant-class Creatures" to be a problem, at higher levels? (Sir Robilar, for example, was a Ranger, for a while, as was Ararat.) Did this cause problems, at higher levels? Would you change it, now?
Happy new thread, Gary! (wow, part 8... where does the time go?)
Gary, thanks to D&D you have introduced many of us - of not most of us - to an unforgettable experience:
The use of the d4 as a caltrop.
Many has been the time that I've got out of bed at night, only to suddenly feel something sharp and painful digging into my foot. If my mind worked faster at such times, I might have been calling down imprecations on your name, but as it doesn't the most I can normally manage is "Ow!" (or some choice swearing).
Could you please tell me if you had any idea what you were unleashing on the world when you included the d4 as part of the standard D&D game (and whether you've ever experienced this exquisite sensation yourself)?
In 1e, Gary, did you ever find the Ranger's +1 HP/level damage bonus to "Giant-class Creatures" to be a problem, at higher levels? (Sir Robilar, for example, was a Ranger, for a while, as was Ararat.) Did this cause problems, at higher levels? Would you change it, now?
Robilar was a Ranger at one point? Huh, I never heard that before. Is this info from Rob and/or Gary?
If he was a Ranger I assume he experienced normal penalties when he went to an Evil alignment (or even a Neutral one on his way out of Good).
I don't use any alignments in my game campaigns nowadays because the concept caused so much misunderstanding and confusion; but actions speak louder than words, and as clearly as words on character sheets
Cheers,
Gary
This is pretty interesting, Gary. Is this a fairly recent development or did you stop using Alignment (and I assume alignment languages) back in your TSR days? Any problems rear up when DMing or playing a traditionally alignment-bound class (viz., Paladins, Druids, Assassins, etc.)?
Personally, I never had a problem with alignments as I was a big Michael Moorecock fan (I also thought that the 9 alignment variations was a marked improvement over the L/C/N triad). I know some people don't like alignments, or try to use alignments that are some "realistic", e.g., Palladium's alignment system (at least the one it used to use, it's been a while).
I got tired of having only basically good gnomes hanging around. I thought that the svirfneblin would add some spice to the otherwise dull race. Of course my gnome illusionist/thief PC was always trying to do much the same...
Heh, any memorable escapades with your Gnome PC? What was his name, btw?
I always liked Gnomes, myself. Letting them be Illusionists was a great idea!
Hey gary, Did you roll up Bigby at first level and play him from the start? I heard a story which made it sound like Bigy was an npc that you charmed and later became your PC.
In the back of UA there is an appendix with an example demihuman pantheon in it. Was this *officially* given the OK by you to become canon for the Greyhawk campaign?
I've got a feeling it wasn't. I felt that it was only an *example* pantheon presented in UA and it was only later (after you left) that TSR decided to make it GH canon.
If this is the case, did you have your own original thoughts on what the gods of the elves, dwarves, halflings, etc. should be? (And monsterkind.)
Certainly Lolth and Bibdoolpoop are your creations, so drow and kuo-toa are accounted for.
Perhaps you envisioned dwarves as just worshipping Ulaa and elves just worshipping Ehlonna? Or are the gods as presented in the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting just human gods?
1st of all thank you for making a great game, and inspiring so many adventures for 28 of my 35 years.
My long-term gamer buddies and I (all veterans of OD&D) all joke about going through those old modules and running past the bad guy to look for something in his treasure that would be sure to defeat him. While we overexagerrate this point for laughs it does have some truth to it.
Was this to get players to try to that very thing? Or perhaps some more sadistic purpouse? *smiles evilly*
Gary, will you share the orgin of the the "Kewl River" on the Greyhawk map with us?
Reason I ask is the very first time I saw that word was on the Greyhawk maps. The "Kewl River" near the Gnarley Forest. This was way back in 1980. Does word Kewl have a history before GreyHawk?
Flip a few letters around and you get "Welk" as in Welkwood Forest also in Greyhawk. Is there some sort of anagram connection?
Or have I just spent too much time looking at Darlenes wonderful maps of your Greyhawk setting?
In 1e, Gary, did you ever find the Ranger's +1 HP/level damage bonus to "Giant-class Creatures" to be a problem, at higher levels? (Sir Robilar, for example, was a Ranger, for a while, as was Ararat.) Did this cause problems, at higher levels? Would you change it, now?
Howdy Steveeroo!
First, I must say that Robilar was never anything other than a fighter.
The ranger's bonus of +1 damage per level was very annoying to me as the DM, but that encouraged the logical addition of damage for the big old giant class members, so that a couple of solid hits from a member of same could flatten the cheeky little ranger attacking him.
What the heck, though: clerics beat up on undead, rangers on giant class critters, and it's all in a day's adventuring. As should any DM, some of the kicked around thus will have special defenses and offenses devised to make life difficult for the bully PC
Happy new thread, Gary! (wow, part 8... where does the time go?)
Gary, thanks to D&D you have introduced many of us - of not most of us - to an unforgettable experience:
The use of the d4 as a caltrop.
Many has been the time that I've got out of bed at night, only to suddenly feel something sharp and painful digging into my foot. If my mind worked faster at such times, I might have been calling down imprecations on your name, but as it doesn't the most I can normally manage is "Ow!" (or some choice swearing).
Could you please tell me if you had any idea what you were unleashing on the world when you included the d4 as part of the standard D&D game (and whether you've ever experienced this exquisite sensation yourself)?
Best wishes,
Merric
Hi Merric
As the real old timers know, I was always an active gamer since I discovered there were fanzines offering a forum for one's gaming thoughts, opinions, and play offerings. In short, I've been balbbering thus for about 40 years, so it's no wonder a lot of my fellows are familiar with my name.
The d4 was one of the five Platonic solids sold by the school supply company in California from which I obtained the first of the new milti-sided dice that were introduced in the first edition of the D&D game, I have indeed stepped with stocking feet on one of those yelow caltrops--also a d8, that being back in the early 1970s. Thereafter I made a point of picking up all of my dice and keeping them off the floor.
Cats seem to love to play dith d20s, BTW, and a few were lost that way to various felines that resided in my house.
When I'd leave my dog "Bowser" (a bull mastiff) alone he would get revenge that included shredding my dice bag and leaving a minefield of milti-sided dice in my bedroom and in the kitchen...the devil know where I was sure to go :\
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