Shadowdark Unless I am wrong

[Bill Zebub]

Had a 2nd session with the newcomer today. They did something...let's call it "not bright"...that resulted in seven undead swarming them, and I was sure it was going to be a TPK.

And then, as everybody was about to roll initiative, the torch timer went off.

However, the PCs won initiative, and on the Priest's turn...as everybody was yelling "Cast Light!"...he cast Turn Undead instead, and rolled a nat 20 (25 total). Four out of seven undead obliterated. Five rounds to regroup, light torches, cast Holy Weapon, etc.

By the end of the fight, two of four PCs were on the ground dying, so you can imagine how it would have gone if the Turn Undead had fizzled.

Great times!

 

[Scribe]

However, the PCs won initiative, and on the Priest's turn...as everybody was yelling "Cast Light!"...he cast Turn Undead instead, and rolled a nat 20 (25 total). Four out of seven undead obliterated. Five rounds to regroup, light torches, cast Holy Weapon, etc.

Thats pretty awesome, I can imagine people were amped up.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Had a 2nd session with the newcomer today. They did something...let's call it "not bright"...that resulted in seven undead swarming them, and I was sure it was going to be a TPK.

And then, as everybody was about to roll initiative, the torch timer went off.

However, the PCs won initiative, and on the Priest's turn...as everybody was yelling "Cast Light!"...he cast Turn Undead instead, and rolled a nat 20 (25 total). Four out of seven undead obliterated. Five rounds to regroup, light torches, cast Holy Weapon, etc.

By the end of the fight, two of four PCs were on the ground dying, so you can imagine how it would have gone if the Turn Undead had fizzled.

Great times!

Epic…the dopamine that keeps us coming back

 

[Bill Zebub]

It's definitely getting added to that list of stories that gets told around the torch timer for years to come.

"Remember the time..."

 

[Greg Benage]

On ability modifiers, it’s swingy AF already and I don’t think weighting the die roll more heavily would improve the game. That said, it’s even more sensitive to bonuses than 5E for obvious reasons, so the DM should be careful handing out the +X loot.

 

[Scribe]

On ability modifiers, it’s swingy AF already and I don’t think weighting the die roll more heavily would improve the game. That said, it’s even more sensitive to bonuses than 5E for obvious reasons, so the DM should be careful handing out the +X loot.

Look at the Paladin design, the loot tables. The monsters that require magical weapons. Not saying +5 swords should be raining from on high in Level 1 Dungeons, but there is a clear progression/expectation imo.

 

[Bill Zebub]

And OSR aesthetic is very much putting cool abilities into magic items instead of into the characters. (It's easier to take away magic items, too...)

 

[Greg Benage]

Look at the Paladin design, the loot tables. The monsters that require magical weapons. Not saying +5 swords should be raining from on high in Level 1 Dungeons, but there is a clear progression/expectation imo.

Just curious, have you played the game at high levels?

 

[Scribe]

Just curious, have you played the game at high levels?

No, just lower level stuff, one shots, nothing long lasting sadly at this point.

 

[Greg Benage]

No, just lower level stuff, one shots, nothing long lasting sadly at this point.

A Str 18 10th-level fighter is at +10/+10 before any other talents or magic items. All I’m saying is, if you like some suspense in your game, you might want to keep an eye on those bonuses.