OSR Dolmenwood Books

[Mannahnin]

@Whizbang Dustyboots "flowchart" is perfect for me:



So essentially, I'll handle skils:

• Only call for a roll using the flowchart above
• as ability checks (roll under ability score, like in Shadowdark).
• If the skill is one that is explicitly mentioned in a Class or Kindred-Class (eg, Detect Magic, Legerdemain etc.) the PC gets advantage on the roll

Nice and simple for me. Intuitive, even...

Cheers for the advice folks!

Seems straightforward!

Although for the record, Shadowdark doesn't use roll under ability scores for checks. It uses d20 + mod vs a DC, like 3E-5E, though usually lower DCs.

 

[Bae'zel]

Seems straightforward!

Although for the record, Shadowdark doesn't use roll under ability scores for checks. It uses d20 + mod vs a DC, like 3E-5E, though usually lower DCs.

Oops you're right! Yikes.

Okay, gotta re-read some things.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Although for the record, Shadowdark doesn't use roll under ability scores for checks. It uses d20 + mod vs a DC, like 3E-5E, though usually lower DCs.

Yeah, I believe a DC 18 is the hardest difficulty recommended, which is still a 15% chance of success.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Thaumavore's got a new Dolmenwood book look through up, focusing on all the ways monsters in the bestiary can wreck a party. It mostly seems like a way to warn would be buyers that OSR games involve avoiding combat as a general rule.

Trolling video title aside, he praises the monster book and shows off its gorgeous art and flavorful monsters.

 

[Mannahnin]

Yeah, I believe a DC 18 is the hardest difficulty recommended, which is still a 10% chance of success.

*15% assuming no bonus to the roll.

Which actually lines up pretty nicely with Dolmenwood's 6+ on a d6, which is of course 16.16%

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

*(15% assuming no bonus to the roll)

Math is hard!

And yeah, that's before stat bonuses or advantage or disadvantage.

 

[Mannahnin]

Hey, noticing that also prompted me to check, and I confirmed that in fact the four standard DCs of Shadowdark (9, 12, 15 and 18) exactly align with my suggested hack for converting Dolmenwood skills - just multiply the target number by 3 and use a d20.

Which I will hazard a guess is no accident, because I'll bet Kelsey partly derived them from the B/X d6 check difficulties. Other OSR designers have also discussed this hack as well, naturally. I'm sure Delta talked about it years ago, but of course he's a math professor.

Omitting DC 6 aka 2+ of course makes sense because she allows bonuses to the rolls and Advantage.

 

[zakael19]

FWIW, I believe the intent in Dolmenwood is that if you don’t have a Skill via your Class or a Kindred ability, you can’t do the thing. Find another way (break the door, get Knock, be creative, find a Sage or Bard to decipher your documents, create a distraction so you don’t need to sneak, etc). They’re exceptions to the laws of the world - like how an Enchanter can feel magic or a Thief can just do mundane basic climbs without tools or checking dex.