OSRIC -- update

[sjmiller]

Actually that was down to me. Matt Finch's original draft permitted halflings to be druids, and I changed that -- I felt that halflings should not be able to be druids for flavour reasons.

Having said that, it's easy enough for any GM to change or lift the restrictions.

I just find it strange that every other race has their own clergy, but halflings are either atheistic or they have to contract out to other races. Since nothing is mentioned about them not believing in dieties I just can't see what the "flavour reasons" would be for not having some form of religious leader.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

I just find it strange that every other race has their own clergy, but halflings are either atheistic or they have to contract out to other races. Since nothing is mentioned about them not believing in dieties I just can't see what the "flavour reasons" would be for not having some form of religious leader.

You are, of course, completely at liberty to house-rule this how you want.

The reason for the approach I personally took was that I use JRR Tolkein's hobbits as a model for halflings in my campaign, and they don't seem to have priests or druids. However, the fact that I used this approach in one draft of the rules doesn't mean that I'm unwilling to listen to dissenting views -- if a lot of people feel strongly that halflings should be able to be clerics in OSRIC, then I'm certainly prepared to consider changing.

 

[Particle_Man]

One could go the other way, and allow only humans and half-humans to have priests of any kind, with the other races having no souls.

Muhahahahahahha!

 

[T. Foster]

If leaving out halfling druids was actually a matter of the designer's personal taste rather than a legal issue then I feel very strongly that what's presented in OSRIC should be changed to match what was in AD&D. The "burden of houseruling" should always be on moving things away from the AD&D rules, not moving things towards them (except as necessitated by legal concerns). The mandate of OSRIC is not to "fix" AD&D in any way, shape, or form, but rather to provide a platform to facilitate publication of AD&D-compatible products. Leave the fixes to non-core supplements and individual campaigns.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

If leaving out halfling druids was actually a matter of the designer's personal taste rather than a legal issue then I feel very strongly that what's presented in OSRIC should be changed to match what was in AD&D. The "burden of houseruling" should always be on moving things away from the AD&D rules, not moving things towards them (except as necessitated by legal concerns). The mandate of OSRIC is not to "fix" AD&D in any way, shape, or form, but rather to provide a platform to facilitate publication of AD&D-compatible products. Leave the fixes to non-core supplements and individual campaigns.

Absolutely correct, of course.

I'll check how Myth feels about this.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

I've talked to Myth, and he's okay with the change.

So, shazam! By my l337 pow3rz, in OSRIC v1.00, halflings may be druids with a ceiling of 6th level.

 

[T. Foster]

(of course, I think halflings (who tend towards LG as a race) having druids (who are solely TN) as their only native priestly class is completely nonsensical, but I'm perfectly happy houseruling that myself, just like I've been doing all these years)

 

[Particle_Man]

So was the lack of a elven/dwarven/gnome clerics being NPCs a legal issue thing, or a designer's tastes thing? If the latter, could you switch that back too please?

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

So was the lack of a elven/dwarven/gnome clerics being NPCs a legal issue thing, or a designer's tastes thing? If the latter, could you switch that back too please?

I'm afraid the NPC thing was certainly suggested by the lawyers. Not open to switching, sorry.

Fortunately it's not hard to houserule.

 

[BroccoliRage]

The reason for the approach I personally took was that I use JRR Tolkein's hobbits as a model for halflings in my campaign...

First off, who are you and what have you done with PapersandPaychecks?

Secondly, you've done an admirable job of keeping our favorite game alive, and this is just another chapter in what I hope will be the success story of OSRIC. What's more, is you're free distribution only further illustrates that love of the game should be the primary force behind RPG products of any source. If things keep going the way they are, I'm sure folks will be playing OSRIC materials and discovering the best way to game for a long time to come. Good job, P&P, and hope to see you around DF again sometime soon. You're absence has been noted .

Jeremy.