Search results

Why do you say that?

I talk about distribution of monsters and treasure in my "Creating a Mythic Underworld Dungeon" musing. I use the treasure types as guidelines for treasure in a lair (with a full complement of monsters per the number appearing guidelines). (OD&D Vol 2. Monsters & Treasure notes that "All...

There seems to be continuing interest and growth (new products, new publishers, new blogs, forum activity, two magazines: Knockspell and Fight On!, etc), but I wouldn't say that they're taking the market by storm, or anything (i.e. WotC doesn't need to worry). Here's one example: the new...

I'd have to say Wilderlands of High Fantasy (although I prefer the less-detailed originals over the NG version). However, if I was going to run a 3.x game, I think I'd embrace its 3e-ness and use Ptolus. I think it's the setting with the most natural fit for the 3.x rules.

Heck, going beyond D&D editions, I think it's possible to take a Tunnels & Trolls module, or a Rolemaster module, or a Runequest module, and "translate" it to the D&D edition of your choice. Depending on the skill of the DM, the amount of work (or on-the-fly changes and improvisations) he's...

I think the design considerations for a good 4e module are different from those of a good 1e or 3.x module. Just converting the stats probably wouldn't cut it, in my opinion. And with an increasing number of modules being released for my preferred system (or one that is highly compatible in...

How many of the 1st-4th level encounters do you have in mind, for the harpy setup?

I don't know if 1e generates more heated discussions than 3e or 4e, but I suspect it does generate more contentiousness than the other TSR editions. I think that's definitely a factor. I currently play OD&D, but I still consider AD&D to be the de facto standard that defines "this is D&D." If...

I think my first choice would be Go Fer Yer Gun. My other picks would by Aces & Eights or the venerable Boot Hill.

So, assuming you want to scale the XP, here's one way (the "advanced" way) to approach it. OSRIC Giant Spider (4+4HD) with 22 hp = 435 XP Monster level is 4, but I'd adjust it for poison and for the +4 hit point add, for an adjusted level of 6. (Webs might also be considered a special ability...

The OSRIC rules say: So OSRIC expects the DM to reduce the XP according to the relative levels of the PCs vs. the challenge, but only when the fight is significantly lopsided in the PCs' favor. OSRIC does present the concept of scaling the XP to the challenge, but leaves it up to the DM to...

Were you using the Esoterror Factbook? It has some additional crunch for a game where combat is more important (e.g. called shots, criticals, extra actions, reckless attack, etc).

I don't have Esoterrorists, but I do have Trail of Cthulhu and Fear Itself. I like the GUMSHOE approach. You might check out the Yog-Sothoth forum for Trail. Even though it's focused on Trail, there's a lot of discussion of GUMSHOE and how to run it that would apply to Esoterrorists. You...

My AD&D house rules: Clarify spellcasting and initiative. Assume anything from Unearthed Arcana or the survival guides is ignored unless I specifically include it (check with me on individual spells). Unarmed combat from UA instead of the DMG system Secondary Skills from the DMG Ignore the...

Pretty much true, but there are a couple of "buts" in there. For example, the Wintercon V/1976 version of The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth was published, and pre-dates AD&D. The original versions of B1 and B2 were both released for Holmes Basic, which I think of as a flavor of OD&D (its rules are...

30 and 6 works out pretty well in leagues, too, if you're using a 3 mile league. On the 6 mile hex map, each hex is two leagues (i.e. a two hour walk for normal terrain). On the 30 miles hex map, each hex is 10 leagues (10 hours walk for normal terrain).

That sounds reasonable. It's also a perfect match for Gary's advice. Gary describes a "referee's map" at 5 miles per hex scale that shows a starting village, the location of the nearby dungeon/ruin, and the wilderness area immediately surrounding these locations. He also mentions a "campaign...

Even on success, it often didn't make a hell of a lot of difference. For example, consider that the Players Handbook equates moving silently with magical silence, and goes on to give an example where a party that is both invisible and magically silenced gets a 2 in 6 better chance to surprise...

Heck, none of the Thief's functions are essential, anyway. Making him "look" essential is about the best that could be expected. ;)

That line from Men & Magic never fails to make me chuckle. (I'm not a fan of halflings, or their many variants, as a PC race. I love hobbits as a literary device in Lord of the Rings, but find them a poor fit in my D&D games.)