* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Time to die in Hommlet Started at 04-29-05 08:03 AM by Erudite Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=421563 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Erudite Date : 04-29-05 08:03 AM Thread Title : Time to die in Hommlet I just picked up T1-4 (Temple of Elemental Evil), A1-5 (Scourge of the Slavelords), and Gda1-4 (Queen of the Spiders) fromm www.rpgnow.com to kickstart a 2e game. Having read through Hommlet, then the Moathouse, I see that the players should pick up a level of experience before hitting the Moathouse. Looking over the village, I am asking myself, is this possible? There are plenty of role-playing possbilities. While agents of the Temple are in town, and savvy investigators could root them out, most players will find out about the brigandage and ruined Moathouse quickly enough and set out away from the village. From anyone who has played or run this old classic, any advice to make the time in Hommlet an interesting time (with XP) in and of itself? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 04-29-05 12:19 PM I just picked up T1-4 (Temple of Elemental Evil), A1-5 (Scourge of the Slavelords), and Gda1-4 (Queen of the Spiders) fromm www.rpgnow.com to kickstart a 2e game. Having read through Hommlet, then the Moathouse, I see that the players should pick up a level of experience before hitting the Moathouse. Looking over the village, I am asking myself, is this possible? There are plenty of role-playing possbilities. While agents of the Temple are in town, and savvy investigators could root them out, most players will find out about the brigandage and ruined Moathouse quickly enough and set out away from the village. From anyone who has played or run this old classic, any advice to make the time in Hommlet an interesting time (with XP) in and of itself? The journey from the village to the moathouse is, unless the party has some sort of supernatural means, overland. There should be ample opportunity for low-level wilderness encounters between Hommlet and the Moathouse. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Torack Date : 04-29-05 02:09 PM Well, I'm currently playing and DM'ing it. As a player we headed straight to the Moathouse and are currently searching through it. Well, not my character, he's on st00pid guard duty. Bleh. As the DM, I decided to run the group through the Assault on Raven's Ruin. 10 goblins, 2 hobgoblins and a Galumph should be enough for them to gain that precious level. Especially since I intend to have them start off with a few of the giant ravens. Granted I altered the module a bit and decided to perma-kill Raven as the money in that dungeon is a lot and they need it to help the economy back in Homlett. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : weasel fierce Date : 05-02-05 01:52 PM Give them some RP opportunities and some XP for acting well, or just in character -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Erudite Date : 05-03-05 02:18 PM Thanks for the feedback. I'm transfering the series to The Realms. Possible setting arrangement: Hommlet will become Daggerford, the Moathouse will be located in the Lizard Marsh to the west, and I have yet to decide where to locate Nulb/the Temple of Elemental Evil. Dragonspear Castle is a nice idea, since it recently invaded Daggerford, but there should be no nearby town (Nulb). Perhaps Nulb is located further away, just off the Trade Way, between Dragonspear and Baldur's Gate. Any ideas would be welcome. Rufus and Burne can translate easily into the Duke of Daggerford and his court wizard. Suspected Zhent agents can play the red herrings, since the shennanigins have nothing to do with the Zhents. The Elemental Evils are simply duped cults of Auril, Grumbar, Kossuth, and Umberlee, while Zgutmoy can be translated out to Moander. The Moander cult is trying to bring the dead god back. Since adventurers arriving in Daggerford will eventually need to join the militia, overcome suspicious townsmembers, dealt with persistent banditage, and then eventually figure out the role of the Moathouse, I feel comfortable with the amount of XP they may earn before hitting the Moathouse. Former Zhents laying low in town may mistake them for Zhent assassins. Non-Zhents may mistake them for Zhent agents. Both groups may act agains them. Temple spies will keep an eye on them, but will not act yet. Scourge of the Slave Lords will bring them north along the Sword Coast, with Luskan taking the place of The Pomarj. Against the Giants will take them to the Spine of the World, while Queen of Spiders will bring them to Faerun's massive Underdark, Menazoberrazen, and eventually, The Abyss. Any additional ideas are welcome! FYI, my players are a half-elf Cleric of Lathander, a human Wizard, a half-elf fighter/wizard/thief, and a human Paladin. I allow Dual-Class humans to return to their former class, provided the current class is the highest one. Humans also get a +10% experience point bonus. Some PO stuff is in effect (not much outside of C&T). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-04-05 12:31 AM You can hit the message boards at www.dragonsfoot.org and ask the author of T1 Village of Hommlet, or the author of T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil. Both are receptive to questions about their older publications. As to additional ideas...at the risk of sounding snarky (and I'm not trying to, not this time anyway) why not leave it in Greyhawk? There's a lot to be said for that campaign setting and there's never the chance Elminster is going to stroll by, wave his hand, and give everyone a lollypopstaff of the archmagi. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : Elendur Date : 05-04-05 11:50 AM Thanks for the feedback. I'm transfering the series to The Realms. :eek: :confused: :weep: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 8] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-04-05 05:20 PM :eek: :confused: :weep: See? Forgettable Realms makes people cry. Cry! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 9] Author : Ourph the Mingol Date : 05-04-05 06:23 PM See? Forgettable Realms makes people cry. Cry! Unfortunately, there is no emoticon for how the Forgotten Realms makes me feel. But if there were, it would be coded like this.... :puke: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 10] Author : boschdevil Date : 05-04-05 09:06 PM As to additional ideas...at the risk of sounding snarky (and I'm not trying to, not this time anyway) why not leave it in Greyhawk? There's a lot to be said for that campaign setting and there's never the chance Elminster is going to stroll by, wave his hand, and give everyone a lollypopstaff of the archmagi. I'm thinking this is one of those things that fall under the better something becomes the longer the time that has transpired since it was the dominant campaign setting. I remember DMs handing out magical items as if they were candy in Greyhawk setting games ran back in the early 1980's as well. This is more of how a DM operates than the campaign setting background. If you don't want Elminster handing out magic items, just don't have him do so. (In fact he'd be more inclined not to do so) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 11] Author : Erudite Date : 05-04-05 09:09 PM Gee. At least my choice provoked some sort of emotional response! FR is the setting (aside from homebrews) that I am most comfortable with, which explains why I am transfering the series there. I am not at all offended by anyone who feels differently, since I understand how strongly Greyhawk fans feel about their own setting. I tend to ignore Elminster, The Simbul, etc. I also view much that has been written about them as propaganda. In any case, my campaigns are always run with the players as the stars, not the NPCs. DD, thanks for that great Dragonfoot link. I'm going to explore it some more over the next few days. I settled on having Nulb and the Temple be in the Trollbark Forest west of the Tradeway, and NW of Dragonspear castle. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 12] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-04-05 10:08 PM Gee. At least my choice provoked some sort of emotional response! FR is the setting (aside from homebrews) that I am most comfortable with, which explains why I am transfering the series there. I am not at all offended by anyone who feels differently, since I understand how strongly Greyhawk fans feel about their own setting. Okay, the next question I'd ask is: Why are you comfortable with FR? Is it just because it's the one you started with? I tend to ignore Elminster, The Simbul, etc. I also view much that has been written about them as propaganda. In any case, my campaigns are always run with the players as the stars, not the NPCs. I think you're being totally honest about that, but here's the thing that hitches on the discussion: if you make the PCs and not the NPCs the ones who drive the story in the FR, then you aren't following the FR storyline, or you're putting the players in the shoes of those NPCs in which case you are following the FR storyline, just fettering the players with the job the NPCs should be doing. And by "you" I don't necessarily mean you, now, just "some DMs". So my interest is piqued: how, exactly, do you not end up on the railroad tracks that crisscross the FR? Honest question. DD, thanks for that great Dragonfoot link. I'm going to explore it some more over the next few days. No problem. Come on over, sign up and join in. There's a small-but-active 2e forum there, a huge and active 1e forum, Gary Gygax, Rob Kuntz, Steve "Sauhagin" Marsh and of course Frank Mentzer all post over there so there's a wealth of information to be had. Plus there's a locally published 'zine, etc. etc. All good stuff. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 13] Author : Erudite Date : 05-04-05 10:28 PM Hmm. I don't worry about following the railroad. I never felt that there was one, quite frankly. The large shadow of Elminster and Company does not bother me. When I run FR, it is my FR. I am comfortable with Faerun's history, geography, cultures, gods, and all the rest. My first DND setting was actually the Known World (a.k.a. Mystara), then homebrews, then FR in the nineties. For me it is a setting with a wealth of material that I can use comfortably. The feel I try to get for FR at this point is similar to the one that Black Isle captured for the Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II PC games (not BG: Dark Alliance). If you've played either one, you'll get my point. If not, pick them up together for $19.99 or less, should you get the chance. My brain is fried tonight, so I can't properly express the 'feel' right now. Ack. I am much less familiar with GH, with my last tour being the Gord the Rogue books, and the original Greyhawk setting material (I have none of this stuff now, to my regret. I am a collector). I am not interested in working up a comfortable, working familiarity with the setting. My time is limited, and so is my budget. Thank you very much for the invite; I'll wander over quite soon and sign up. While I am playing in a current 3.5e DND game, re-starting 2e reminds me how much I like the older game, too. Fewer fantastic powers, grittier adventures, and looser rules. Cool. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 14] Author : boschdevil Date : 05-04-05 11:42 PM I think you're being totally honest about that, but here's the thing that hitches on the discussion: if you make the PCs and not the NPCs the ones who drive the story in the FR, then you aren't following the FR storyline, or you're putting the players in the shoes of those NPCs in which case you are following the FR storyline, just fettering the players with the job the NPCs should be doing. And by "you" I don't necessarily mean you, now, just "some DMs". So my interest is piqued: how, exactly, do you not end up on the railroad tracks that crisscross the FR? Honest question. Hmmm ... I've always played it so that the players were the focal point of a Campaign, though not the most dominant characters in the setting, even for Forgotten Realms. Yes, there are powerfuls NPCs in FR, but using that logic one could say that Greyhawk requires that Bigby, Tenser, Rary, or Mordenkainen to be the dominant characters in Greyhawk campaign setting run game. After all, they were the noteworthy NPCs for Greyhawk. It really depends on the DM - I've had a party run across Elminister about the same amount of times that they would have run across Bigby. (which really isn't that often) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 15] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-05-05 12:39 AM Hmmm ... I've always played it so that the players were the focal point of a Campaign, though not the most dominant characters in the setting, even for Forgotten Realms. Yes, there are powerfuls NPCs in FR, but using that logic one could say that Greyhawk requires that Bigby, Tenser, Rary, or Mordenkainen to be the dominant characters in Greyhawk campaign setting run game. After all, they were the noteworthy NPCs for Greyhawk. It really depends on the DM - I've had a party run across Elminister about the same amount of times that they would have run across Bigby. (which really isn't that often) But the plots were never centered on those NPCs - there's no module published that says "If Bigby dies, the world ends, so you the DM have to make sure he stays alive, even if it means handwaving it." FR and Dragonlance are full of nonsense like that (albeit moreso in DL). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 16] Author : boschdevil Date : 05-05-05 01:12 AM Dragonlance was big into that (yes, the dragon series modules was railroad central), but I never remembered Forgotten Realms campaign setting modules too much like that. Even so, then that shows the weakness of a module, not a campaign setting. The module U2 I thought was worthless and lame the plot was pathetic, but that doesn't mean that Greyhawk campaign setting is lame since it was the campaign world for U2. And I vaguely remembered that N1 required that you drag around an old magic-user for the final encounter. However, as a rule of thumb, I do agree that keeping an NPC alive as a requirement for the module plot is weak: it's just that Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance weren't the only perpetrators of this. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 17] Author : realmaster Date : 05-05-05 02:37 AM Hi Guys, I am reading this thread and it gets me more and more into running these three modules in my next DMing round in our group. One question that I have some of the players have gone through (one of them was the DM) the return to the temple, Is this going to ruin it for me to run them through the T1-4 (Temple of Elemental Evil), A1-4 (Scourge of the Slavelords), and GDQ1-7 (Queen of the Spiders)? I have all three in hard copy and have been wanting to run these modules consecutively for a long time. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 18] Author : Elendur Date : 05-05-05 10:35 AM The original module is sufficiently different from Return that you shouldn't have a problem. In fact sometimes having things that are similar but different is actually more confusing than something completely new. One note about running these 3 modules series back to back, the level requirements don't match up. T1-4 should take you to 8th, but A1-4 is for 4-7. The G series is 8-12. Maybe you could figure out a way to run the A's in the middle of the T's. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 19] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-05-05 11:14 AM Hi Guys, I am reading this thread and it gets me more and more into running these three modules in my next DMing round in our group. One question that I have some of the players have gone through (one of them was the DM) the return to the temple, Is this going to ruin it for me to run them through the T1-4 (Temple of Elemental Evil), A1-4 (Scourge of the Slavelords), and GDQ1-7 (Queen of the Spiders)? I have all three in hard copy and have been wanting to run these modules consecutively for a long time. Run T1, then do some overland encounters on the party's way to the Pomarj and A1-A4. Then they can head back towards Hommlet/Nulb/Temple of Elemental Evil -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 20] Author : Elendur Date : 05-05-05 06:31 PM Sounds good. Any ideas for a hook? To get them down south. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 21] Author : TheDungeonDelver Date : 05-06-05 12:02 AM Sounds good. Any ideas for a hook? To get them down south. Yes. The party rescues a sacrifice victim being held by Lareth the Beautiful in the Moathouse dungeons who tells of being captured in the distant south and brought north, of a terrible journey in which slave after slave died or were killed for sport by the horrible slavers, etc. and that the slavers (who spoke indiscreetly around the slaves they were sure would be dead soon) about how the "Masters in Drachensgrab" were going to reward them. Rescued slave can sketch out a VERY rough map to the city A1 is located in. After that the party has to explore a bit. The slavers in the "A" series provide slaves to various folks, not the least of which are for sacrificial purposes. Remember, one of the Slave Lords is a drow, and she would likely be a good "hook" to at least tie G/D/Q in to A. Just a thought. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 22] Author : realmaster Date : 06-04-05 01:53 AM I think this hook would work very good. I also have the box set "the night below" and it is becoming a real decision on which road to send the characters down. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 23] Author : Faraer Date : 06-04-05 04:36 PM . . . if you make the PCs and not the NPCs the ones who drive the story in the FR, then you aren't following the FR storyline, or you're putting the players in the shoes of those NPCs in which case you are following the FR storyline, just fettering the players with the job the NPCs should be doing. And by "you" I don't necessarily mean you, now, just "some DMs". So my interest is piqued: how, exactly, do you not end up on the railroad tracks that crisscross the FR? Honest question.There is no single 'FR storyline'. There are some novels that occur in the official timeline; they make up a tiny part of what's going on in the Realms at any one time. Look at the year's current clack in the Old Grey Box, or the year in the life of a Harper in FOR4 The Code of the Harpers, to get an idea of how the stories of the Realms work: a massive web of parallel and interconnecting strands of which only a little is known by anyone in Faerūn, or told in any book. There are a hundred times more evil plots in the Realms than the established good-aligned NPCs could even be aware of, let alone deal with.There's a lot to be said for that campaign setting and there's never the chance Elminster is going to stroll by, wave his hand, and give everyone a lollypopstaff of the archmagi.What's the point of obviously silly rhetoric like this? There's no precedent for this in Realmslore, and even if there was, it would happen if and when the DM wanted it to. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 24] Author : Ivid Date : 06-05-05 05:39 AM Thanks for the feedback. I'm transfering the series to The Realms. Uh, not to start up with you, but that hurts. Buy the core line of the WoG universe and then set it in another world... I mean, if you'd say you'd substitute at least ONE part with a realms adventure, but transfer it completely? -Come on, just a get a cheap LGG at ebay and read it through, you won't regret it, I promise. ;) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 25] Author : chatdemon Date : 06-05-05 11:07 AM I'm as big a Greyhawk fan as anyone, but I've also been guilty of adapting material from other settings now and then, even :eek: the forgotten realms! So this guy plays in FR and wants to run Hommlet/TOEE there, is that such a crime? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 26] Author : Ivid Date : 06-05-05 01:46 PM If I understood him right, he's about to convert all the modules he bought. Of course that's no crime, everyone bastardizes his material in some way, but, really, I'd highly recommend that before one changes an entire series that was meant to fit together, one uses the default campaign world for which it was made for. Besides, if it works for you, Erudite, I wish you best luck with your campaign! However, you don't know what you are missing! :) Uhhh... And I must confess, I betray good old Oerth with Toril. Three times, and I'd even do it again. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 27] Author : Nellisir Date : 06-06-05 08:30 AM Frankly, I think he's outlined a pretty good conversion and I hope he has a blast with it. There's nothing mechanical in any of those adventure's that's exclusive to Greyhawk (unlike, say, preservers & defilers in Dark Sun), and he's more comfortable with the story elements in FR terms. So be it. If I ran the modules, I'd convert them all to my house campaign. Cheers, Nell. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 28] Author : Treymordin Date : 06-07-05 04:40 PM I know, I know, lets do the War of the Lance outside of Krynn! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 29] Author : Nellisir Date : 06-07-05 06:01 PM I know, I know, lets do the War of the Lance outside of Krynn! Good Heavens, Dungeon Master! We Can't Do That!! The whole foundation of RPGing could CRUMBLE if we took ideas from one setting and used them in another, in our house games!!! It would be Anarchy!!!! All of your ideas must be 100% Original!!!!! Sheesh, Nell. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 30] Author : Elendur Date : 06-08-05 11:14 AM Alright guys, this is the OOP forum. We bash rules editions here, not campaign settings. :) If he wants to port GDQ to FR, it may make me cringe a bit, but hey, at least he's running the mods. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 31] Author : chatdemon Date : 06-11-05 01:49 AM If he wants to port GDQ to FR, it may make me cringe a bit, but hey, at least he's running the mods. But he's running them in 2e! :eek: :eek: :eek: Get a rope! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 32] Author : RobertFisher Date : 06-11-05 08:25 AM The funny thing is that a campaign playing T1-4 set in the FR using 2e rules was the initial turning point that got me on the road back towards OAD&D & classic D&D from the "rules heavy" simulationist path I was on. (Of course, we didn't use kits or players options or any of those later 2e developments. I think we used FR over GH only because none of us had tried it before.) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 33] Author : Erudite Date : 06-19-05 08:44 PM Update: I ran the game last weekend, in Greyhawk (gasp), using Rules Cyclopedia DND. We had a Mystic, Fighter, Cleric, Thief, and an Elf. TPK. :( The Cleric refused to hire Zert (he was a tight wad) for a share of the treasure, and they decided to not have Spugnoir along. Trekking off to the moathouse, they did okay at first. They chased off the bandits without too much trouble, missed most of the cached loot, and were jumped by the giant tick in the kitchen. Good bye Elf. With no real wounds otherwise, they put their friend to one side, promising to return in 'just a bit' and stalwartly proceeded Down the dungeon stairway, the Mystic is slimed by the green slimes (well, one of them). Thinking there was only one, they rushed to help, but then the Thief was slimed too. By the time they cleared off the Thief, the Mystic was a pile of green goo. [edit above , caught misreference] Angry at losing two party members, but playing it safe, they returned to Hommlet, passing both Kobort and Turuko, who were hiding by the road, and who decided not to take on three fairly intact party members. The Fighter, Cleric, and Thief decide to hire Zert anyway, and Spugnoir persuades them to let him tag along. They still think Elmo is a useless lush. Zert is approached by Kobort and Turuko to double cross the party, he accepts, knowing he will triple cross them to safegard his Temple masters. The party returns to the MH, the bandits decide to leave early and not return, and the party ends up in the zombie room. Poor planning, the find themselves outnumbered quickly, and Zert does little, while appearing to fight, instead fleeing in mock fear as the Thief and Spugnoir are overwhelmed. The Cleric and Fighter are doing better since the cleric is turning, but with the loss of the Thief and Spugnoir, they decide to return to town and see if Elmo can really use an axe. They spend a few minutes telling Zert what a coward he is, and end up being ambushed by Kobort and Turuko, with Zert wounding Turuko after the Cleric and Figher are hurt, then turning about and slaying the Fighter. The Cleric knocks off Kobort with a lucky hit, and Zert finishes off Turuko after Turuko kills the Cleric (thinking Zert had switched sides). Zert grabs the gear he can carry and cash in and whistles home with two hit points. The players were bummed, but I thought they played clumsily, without the caution due 1st level RC DND characters. They are reluctant to play again, and want to return to 3.5 (please, no edition bashing!). I will run something 3.5 (Age of Worms or Eberron) for them, but still dream of running a game with people who know how to use a 1- foot pole! They are actually a smart bunch of people, but their gaming style is not a fit currently for ODND. :allalone: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 34] Author : Ivid Date : 06-20-05 02:11 AM Update: I ran the game last weekend, in Greyhawk (gasp), using Rules Cyclopedia DND. We had a Mystic, Fighter, Cleric, Thief, and an Elf. :w00t: TPK. :( :raincloud The players were bummed, but I thought they played clumsily, without the caution due 1st level RC DND characters. They are reluctant to play again, and want to return to 3.5 (please, no edition bashing!). :noway: I will run something 3.5 (Age of Worms or Eberron) for them, but still dream of running a game with people who know how to use a 1- foot pole! They are actually a smart bunch of people, but their gaming style is not a fit currently for ODND. :allalone: :pint: ;) What a weekend you gave them! :D *Welcome to the club of EVIL Judges!* -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 35] Author : Erudite Date : 07-10-05 01:26 PM Just as an update, in particular for Dungeon Delver: Okay, TPK, everybody whining to go back to 3.5. Fine. However, good came out of all of this. My interest in Greyhawk has been stirred with the mighty wooden stirring spoon of the gods. I have switched from running Age of Worms in FR to Age of Worms in GH, and have the Gazateer (for my players) and the larger Living Greyhawk Gazateer on order and coming in a few days. We start The Whispering Cairn this week. You won, DD. :bow: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 36] Author : Elendur Date : 07-10-05 06:00 PM Wow, I feel empowered. We actually got someone to change settings. "For Greyhawk!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 37] Author : Erudite Date : 11-03-05 05:40 PM I just wanted to put an update up here about my ODND experiences. I have few opportunities now to play online ( :( ), and the Age of Worms game set in GH never came off the ground either. I finally managed to convince my wife to play. She has played FRPGs before, long ago, (Amber and Everway), but has consented to play either a Fighter or an Elf. I am going to run a game with my wife, and three friends through Temple of Elemental Evil. Of course, we'll use Rules Cyclopedia DND (one book, yay!). I'll post how well it goes. I think we can get the classic four, F, W, T, C. None of them have played together before. I plan to use the Alfheim, Rockholm, and Glantri options for Elves, Dwarves, and Wizards respectively. Let's hope this game gets some momentum! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 38] Author : weasel fierce Date : 11-04-05 12:24 AM The Halfling master from the shire book is fantastic as well. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 39] Author : Gutb0yBarrelh0use Date : 11-05-05 09:04 PM Erudite, I enjoyed your game report. Question for you about the Total Party Kill: had your group ever played all together in a pre-3.x game before? In addition to the obvious differences in mechanics, tone and feel, those old modules for 1e are mercilessly deadly to players who don't slow down, think ahead, use caution or employ sound strategy & tactics. Or turn tail and run away when needed! Don't get me wrong - I'm not criticizing your group! For all I know they're all old fogeys like me with hundreds of hours in ye olde 1e dungeons. Those modules have wiped out plenty of veteran parties too! :) But I have seen right at my own table, gamers who started with 3e get their 1e PCs murderized at first, before they get their heads around how different the Elder Edition is. Then we all have a blast. Eh, and you're a good sport for not letting us Old Crusties get under your skin when we rant about FR. Old sailors want wooden ships, old soldiers want horse cavalry, etc. ;) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 40] Author : Varia Date : 11-30-05 10:04 AM You could just pillage the ToEE PC game for a quickie conversion of ToEE to 3.5 if you really want to play that seriers. :) I'm still not sure why everyone thinks 1.0 is so much more deadly than 3.5 though, apart possibly from traps. I never had much trouble in it. *Hugs* Varia -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:18 AM.