Help with retro 1E game...

[benjamin]

So...

After reading some of the FANTASTIC boxed text from the "Forest Oracle" on this forum, our group has decided to have a retro game evening.

We are going to play 1E RAW, running "Forest Oracle", eat 80s food, dress as the high school nerds we were.

What I'm trying to think of is: classic Old-School, immature DMing cliches of play.

e.g. I am going to trying and kill the PCs at all times, and when I actually succeed we will have a new PC turn up, with all the same stats, and equipment, but just a different name.

Also, I thought I could describe only from the Boxed text, reading in a stilted voice.

I'm sure some of you can come up with some fantastic ideas.

PS We have nothing against 1E, just against the way we used to play when we were pimply faced teenagers!!!



Thanks in advance,

Ben


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[Stormonu]

One of the PCs needs to be named "Sir Robin the Brave"

The wizard must be named "Gandalf"

The rogue must carry a ten-foot pole - and be a halfling.

No battlemats should be allowed; miniatures should only be used for marching order.

Whoever is playing the fighter needs to be designated "the Caller". Everyone tells the Caller what they're doing for the round, and the Caller tells the DM what HE wants them to do instead.

 

[Chris Knapp]

Some ideas from my experience back then.

* Make sure to include the Comeliness ability so the players can hit on female elf NPC's.
* Make sure to have a huge ancient red dragon on standby for when the PC's thwart your plans or just piss you off in general.
* Make sure your adventure can come to a screeching halt if the PC's fail to find that secret door.
*Make sure to have at least 1 rust monster to mess with the paladin.
* Finally, make sure that the treasure at the end is completely level-inappropriate and includes a Holy Avenger, a Deck of Many Things, 1 of each of the ability-boosting tomes/manuals etc. and at least 1 artifact.


Not so much DM ideas, but more ambiance:

* Play some Led Zepplin in the background.
* Have an Atari 2600 on standby in the corner for when the Wizard needs to spend 30 minutes picking his spells for the day.
* Have your mom come in and tell you to take out the trash.

 

[Mark CMG]

* Finally, make sure that the treasure at the end is completely level-inappropriate and includes a Holy Avenger, a Deck of Many Things, 1 of each of the ability-boosting tomes/manuals etc. and at least 1 artifact.

Don't leave the Deck of Many Things until the end. Have it found midway through the night and take time to let the PCs screw themselves, and possibly several incarnations of themselves, with the results.

 

[joethelawyer]

I seem to remember a poll rating the worst modules of all time and the Forest Oracle taking first place...could be wrong, was a few yrs ago.

 

[Mark CMG]

I seem to remember a poll rating the worst modules of all time and the Forest Oracle taking first place...could be wrong, was a few yrs ago.

Here's a thread on it -

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/112201-forest-oracle-your-experiences.html

 

[Jimlock]

There's one poster you should hang in the room (even though from a different adventure...)

But... if you want to be really retro,
remove the funny text from the mouth on the poster,
and invite some conservative neighbors over while the session room is entirely lit with candles...

I mean... lets face it.

Retro D&D = Black Magic, Cultists, Satan lovers, Sacrifices.... etc etc...

If you want to do something good, I'm afraid you 'll have to go all the way.....

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Attack the party with 2-12 housecats from the MMII:

AC6 MV5 HD1-5hp #AT2 D1-2/1 Special: Rear claws for 1-2.

Tougher than kobolds and with up to 3 attacks per round (gets the rear-claw attack if both forepaws hit). Wouldn't normally attack man-sized creatures, but these are -- no doubt -- feral, chaotic evil cats that are part of the plague on the land, right?

 

[Filcher]

Don't forget to have the DMPC show up to save the day ...

 

[WheresMyD20]

* Finally, make sure that the treasure at the end is completely level-inappropriate and includes a Holy Avenger, a Deck of Many Things, 1 of each of the ability-boosting tomes/manuals etc. and at least 1 artifact.

...and make sure at least one of the items is cursed.