Simon Hogwood
Puritan Bearbearian
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- Aug 20, 2017
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According to the rulebook...HP: 1
Here's how I interpret this rule: if you roll 1HP and there is a chance you could do better, you get to roll again, once. If you have 2HP and you could do better, you can choose whether or not to re-roll, but you have to stick with whatever you get.Old-School Essentials Core Rules (p. 13) said:Re-Rolling 1s and 2s (Optional Rule)
If your roll for hit points comes up 1 or 2 (before applying any CON modifier), the referee may allow you to re-roll. This is in order to increase the survivability of 1st level PCs.
This post initially made me sad until I realized the same conversation with my wife would have ended right there with her eyes clouding over.I explained to my wife that we were gonna do some old school D&D...
Mine would have involved some vague "uh huh"'s and some "oh"'sThis post initially made me sad until I realized the same conversation with my wife would have ended right there with her eyes clouding over.
I'll have to get back to you on that. I have to go over the OSE rules for hirelings and start there.If the town is "in on it" are there folk willing to accompany adventurers into the dungeon for a few coins? I imagine they might be dregs like drunks, gong farmers, rat catchers and runaway teens but I can work with that. What's the uh.. going rate?
Yes, but I'm treating them as sort of Infernal/Angelic, so your average orc wouldn't know Chaotic. Another consequence of this is that there's no Neutral language.Are alignment languages being used?
Noted.Yes, but I'm treating them as sort of Infernal/Angelic, so your average orc wouldn't know Chaotic. Another consequence of this is that there's no Neutral language.
I dig the pic, she looks bad-ass.Edited in a pic of my character in my earlier writeup.
Yea I like it too and am stealing the idea for myself.Love the sound of the modified Half-Elves.
I'm fine with either as well.Do we have a consensus on ascending or descending AC? I am a heretic who prefers ascending but can roll either way.
Thanks. Took me a while to find one I thought fit the character concept, but the look helps to cement how I want to play her.I dig the pic, she looks bad-ass.
I'm usually a fan of ascending but all the entries in Stonehell are descending, so I would probably lean towards that. So anyone who has a preference: weigh in and I will decide.I'm fine with either as well.
It makes sense that Hildegard would be sponsored by her wizard's coven, and the rest of you are somehow associated with her. It's simpler if there's one rationale for the whole party rather than a separate sponsor for each PC.Added name, secondary skill, image and reason for being in Stonehell there now.
Perhaps Hildegard helped Tessa out of a tight spot (or the other way around), and a favor is owed. It doesn't have to be super-complicated, and these things can evolve.Can't think of any particular reason why someone would sponsor Tessa for Stonehell, or any particular ties to the other PCs off the top of my head, but will go along with whatever anyone else comes up with.
I assumed the default character in this game would be some kind treasure hunter and made my character based on that assumption. A typical old-school set up is that the characters have pooled their resources from previous endeavors to assemble an adventuring company dedicated to wresting as much wealth as possible out of the dungeon. It's easy, simple, and explains why we cooperate and have a base level of trust for each other. It also syncs nicely with the major source of experience points in B/X, hauling treasure out of dungeons. This all being said, I am open to ideas and would love hear what everyone else thinks!It would be helpful if you guys can decide how you got together in the first place. Someone had to sponsor you to be put on the waiting list for Stonehell, 150 GP per person, so it would be good to build-in an explanation for that. I can come up with all of this, but I figured you guys might want to. It might be nice if some of the PCs have pre-existing relationships, especially familial. I just think it adds something. It also helps explain why they would risk life and limb together.
That's totally fine and it obviously works. Of course, I'm totally fine with any character who has a reason to want to crawl through a dungeon.I assumed the default character in this game would be some kind treasure hunter and made my character based on that assumption.
Something like that works here. There are some specific assumptions to this setup, though, so it helps if you gets can fill in the gaps. I just need to explain why someone would sponsor you ( Séadna took care of that) and why you'd be connected to each other in the beginning. I'm not looking for a backstory so much as a pretense. But it never hurts to have a relationship between two characters that will motivate them.The typical old school set up is that the characters have pooled their resources from previous endeavors to assemble an adventuring company dedicated to wresting as much wealth as possible out of the dungeon.
The OSE rules offer a set of possible mercenaries and their prices (CFG pp. 36-37). Of those, what you'll find in Ogdenburg are crossbowmen, light and heavy footmen. As well as peasants, of course. We'll go with those prices. You have to hire an armorer to hold on to any of them between delves. Otherwise, you'll have to see how many you can recruit from scratch for the next expedition.@Edgewise What's the word on hirelings?
Pardon me, I don't get the sponsorship thing. I assumed Bron would plunk down the the 150 gold and "sponsor" himself. The whole point of going into a dungeon is to get filthy rich and retire instead of working your entire life to enrich your boss; if someone sponsors Bron I assume they want a cut of the action which uh, is the kind of thing Bron's trying to avoid by becoming a treasure hunter. If I am not grokking this set up please explain it like I'm 5.I just need to explain why someone would sponsor you ( Séadna took care of that) and why you'd be connected to each other in the beginning. I'm not looking for a backstory so much as a pretense.
I agree that connections between characters are definitely cool and desirable. Here's a list of stuff if anyone wants a connection with Bron (or any other character for that matter).But it never hurts to have a relationship between two characters that will motivate them.
This is also cool and desirable. Can we name heirs so our loot goes to our replacement character?When PCs die and are replaced, I'd probably want you to come up with a really simple connection between the replacement and the existing party. Someone's cousin or whatever. It can be really simple: this is my friend Dave the Wizard and he likes money. Done! That's fine!
A couple peasants would be fine at this point. They just have to hold gear and torches. How much do we have to spend to get them on board?The OSE rules offer a set of possible mercenaries and their prices (CFG pp. 36-37). Of those, what you'll find in Ogdenburg are crossbowmen, light and heavy footmen. As well as peasants, of course. We'll go with those prices.
Stonehell lies near the town of Ogdenburg. The Mayor of Ogdenburg has decided that he should be able to control who delves into Stonehell, and since he's nearby with armed men, he does. Adventurers must pay a fee of 150 GP per person in the group to get their party on the waiting list. Once everyone ahead of you on the list has died or mustered out, your party gets exclusive access, and keeps it for the price of 100 GP per month (for the entire group).Pardon me, I don't get the sponsorship thing.
No, I'm not assuming that at all. Séadna has provided a premise that his wizard's coven wants him to hunt for a rare spell which is reputed to lie in the depths of Stonehell. I'm guessing this is a pretty valuable spell to sponsor an entire party. The wizards aren't interested in the loot, so you can keep all the filthy lucre. They just want the knowledge that man was not meant to know....if someone sponsors Bron I assume they want a cut of the action which uh, is the kind of thing Bron's trying to avoid by becoming a treasure hunter.
Sure, although it's up to the rest of the party to respect that or not. I imagine they would, but still...This is also cool and desirable. Can we name heirs so our loot goes to our replacement character?
They cost 1 GP per month, but I'm going to say that's the minimum for any dangerous adventure even if it lasts a couple of days.A couple peasants would be fine at this point. They just have to hold gear and torches. How much do we have to spend to get them on board?
There will be time for rumor-mongering after the "briefing," but due to your backstory, I will give you a rumor here:I was wondering if there was maybe a rumour table?
That's correct; I should double-check the usability of mercenaries for adventuring. But peasant torchbearers, at least, are going to be fine either way.Regarding hirelings - B/X differentiates between 'retainers' and other types of hirelings e.g. mercenaries, who typically don't go adventuring and usually only become relevant at the domain level of the game.
Are you talking about retainers? That's something you could look into longer term - at this point, you've freshly arrived in town. That will give me time to be absolutely clear about these rules. I'm willing to deviate from OSE/BX, but I want to do it intentionally.Orym would be much more interested in trying to hire a couple of level 1meatshieldsFighters than some peasants to carry torches.
Why not both? I like rolling into dungeons with a big crew.Orym would be much more interested in trying to hire a couple of level 1meatshieldsFighters than some peasants to carry torches.
Well more like recommended and hard to avoid.Okay, I'm on board with the sponsor thing, I didn't realize it was non-negotiable.
I suppose there's no reason members of the same party can't have different sponsors. Since Bron and Hildegard have different sponsors, I'm guessing that they know each other or someone in common and decided to join forces. How about Hildegard was ordered by her superiors to negotiate with pirates, and the pair struck up a mutual respect when they fought off the ambush of the rival pirate - Savage Quenn - together? Just an idea.Morgulwen, the self-styled pirate queen of Brineville, sponsors Bron because she believes the fabled Ruby of R'lyeh is somewhere in Stonehell and she wants him to retrieve it.
Bad choice of words on my end. I wasn't trying to be snarky. one.Well more like recommended and hard to avoid.
Again I misunderstood and was under the impression we'd all have our own sponsors instead of agreeing upon one for the entire party. If it's simpler for everyone to work for the wizard we can just do that.I suppose there's no reason members of the same party can't have different sponsors.
I like it. @Séadna what do you think?Since Bron and Hildegard have different sponsors, I'm guessing that they know each other or someone in common and decided to join forces. How about Hildegard was ordered by her superiors to negotiate with pirates, and the pair struck up a mutual respect when they fought off the ambush of the rival pirate - Savage Quenn - together? Just an idea.
Are you talking about retainers? That's something you could look into longer term - at this point, you've freshly arrived in town. That will give me time to be absolutely clear about these rules. I'm willing to deviate from OSE/BX, but I want to do it intentionally.
Why not both? I like rolling into dungeons with a big crew.
Charm Person is the free hireling spell. Dude get yourself something cool like an orc (or whatever humanoids live in Stonehell). Although, if all else fails he'll just drop Charm Person on the first mighty-thewed oaf he spots
No worries at all, I just want to make sure it all makes sense.Bad choice of words on my end. I wasn't trying to be snarky. one.
Only simpler for you guys to come up with a backstory. It's all good from where I stand. All I need to do is figure out where to place two different treasures - easy enough in a megadungeon.Again I misunderstood and was under the impression we'd all have our own sponsors instead of agreeing upon one for the entire party. If it's simpler for everyone to work for the wizard we can just do that.
I'll definitely read up on that a bit more then. Thanks for the heads up.Yes, retainers.
That can work, but just be aware that you'd be run out of town, at best, if anyone catches on.Although, if all else fails he'll just drop Charm Person on the first mighty-thewed oaf he spots
Seek, and ye shall findDude get yourself something cool like an orc (or whatever humanoids live in Stonehell)