Gygax + Conan + LotFP

Across this site, posting elsewhere, and various drunken ramblings I have suggested a half-dozen variations of D&D - covering my ideal version of AD&D, AD&D with the best elements of newer editions, or even a fix for 4th edition.  Here is my latest crazed concept:


Reduce the available classes to two:  Fighter and Magic-User.  How is the Cleric functions replaced?

• Convert some existing spells become Rituals
• Convert some existing spells to the Magic-User spell list
• Convert some functions or spells into equipment -- more healing potions, scrolls and holy symbols to allow for some degree of Undead Turning, etc

Why drop the cleric?  There are many justifications in this thread.

Thief roles are handled like skills for the Specialist from Lamentations of the Flame Princess.  We can a few additonal "skills" to the list fill any gaps as well as structure the Magic-User.  Magic-Users allocate a single pip to "unlock" equivalents of Sorcery Styles from the Conan RPG:

• Counter-spells
• Curses
• Divination
• Hypnotism
• Nature Magic
• Necromancy
• Oriental Magic [okay, maybe we should skip this one]
• Prestidigitation
• Summoning

One or two styles are added to accomodate key spells from the Cleric spells list that we wish to maintain.  We allow Fighters to access limited spells (to replicate the role of Paladins, AD&D style Rangers, and cultists).  These are granted by a single skill pip for each level of casting (2 pips to be able to cast 2nd level spells from a single Sorcery Style).  

Alternately we can allow expanded access (or provide additional limits) based on the use of Insanity/Corruption or Faith points.  A fighter of the cultist ilk can gain an Insanity Point in exchange for a single pip in Summoning, for example.  

Sorcerer's Helm and Magician's Blade

My peak D&D years in middle and high school coincided with my exposure to Warhammer Fantasy and Citadel miniatures.  My location in the Harrisburg, PA area made day trips down to Maryland Games Workshops stores easy day trips.  I wasn't into wargaming, but would spend an hour or two a time pouring through racks of blisters for the ideal PC/NPC/villain models.  Chaos Sorcerers were more varied (and easier to come by) than the Gandalf-sort.  I never recovered, and as a consequence all well-appointed spell casters wear helmets.

Sorcerer's Helm
XP Value: 2,000
GP Value: 5,000

The Sorcerer's helm is usually a large or ostentatious helmet, covering most or all of the face. Unlike other forms of armor, it's metal presence does not detract from spell casting or magic use (though no such guarantee exists for peripheral vision!).   It does not interfere or limit the protection of other magic items (bracers, rings, cloaks) which normally would provide protection to the sorcerer.

The standard form of the helm provides an overall +1 bonus to armor class, and an AC of 3 to attacks directed towards to the head.  It will reveal itself as magic to spells and items of detection.  Greater Helms are rumored to exist, but are strongly aligned to Law, Chaos, or Neutrality.


Magician's Blade
XP Value:  1,000
GP Value:  2,500

Any wizard or magician proficient in the use of the dagger can use one of these magical blades, which come in forms of short or broad swords, as well as rapiers.  Regardless of form they do 1d6 hit points of damage.  The weapon will detect as magic, but grants no additional bonus to hit or damage from its enchantment.  In the hands of fighters, thieves, and others proficient in the weapon it responds as if a normal sword of it's make.

It does not glow nor shed light, but can harm creatures normally immune to non-magical weapons.

Pissing on Ability Scores

Normally I'm a Gygax man when it comes to D&D attributes: Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma as Xagyg intended (even he thought Comeliness was a bad idea).

Then in my moments of fancy I think about additional or secondary attributes, perhaps as a result of that time I read Top Secret on cold medicine.  Since I'm apparently unable to maintain any semblance of a posting schedule I'd put down what I recall as they come to mind.

• Perception:  I mixed thoughts on this from the usual old school player agency angle, but there are plenty of areas (sleeping characters, tracking, this passive perception junk from 5E).  But it's certainly better than a skill point tax, using Wisdom as a pseudo perception score, and more reasons from that Dragon Magazine in issue #133. It will certainly make surprise easier to deal with.
• Agility: Targeting skill and dodging ability combined is a little two convenient and the first change I'd make.  Break this off from Dexterity, and suddenly not every fat sniper has ninja style.
• Memory vs Reasoning vs Intelligence:  A few games have broken these out.  I don't know if it's worthwhile, as Intelligence isn't terribly worthwhile outside of AD&D style spell learning. It feels right, but I don't have the purpose for Reasoning yet. Unless...
• We ditch wisdom.  In D&D terms, it's willpower plus cleric power.  Being "wise" itself isn't significant.  Other games use Spirit, Power, Psyche, etc.  The Mythus breakdown of Metaphysical and Psychic is vague, but useful.  A wizard could have potent talent, but not be a genius, or some font of knowledge with an eidetic memory.  Somehow getting willpower out of the mix does explain weak-willed cultists and the like. 
• Physical attributes: I'm content to leave Strength and Constitution as-is. Stamina, health, etc are mostly thesaurus workarounds for the traditional D&D stat.  Size and Speed do little for me, as they're tied more to race than anything with a large enough variance to matter.  Maybe in a Super Advanced version, I could tie race, size, and constitution together to reflect starting hit points, the fit of armor, tallfellow halflings that are close to the height of elves.

Mindspur of the Depths

Mindspur of the Depths

The Mindspur is a tentacle segment one inch in diameter, from a creature deep below the surface.  Wizards and others of their ilk driven to knowledge have formulated a technique to alter the tentacle length to provide increase mental prowess typical of the species. A properly prepared tentacle with dig into the exposed flesh of a living beings head, worming it's way beneath the skulls.  The use of this item is not without cost, as the use gets a hunger for the brains of the sentient and under examination the presence of the tentacle can be seen writhing beneath skin.

Once in place the character gains a +1 to intelligence, but only as long as he consume the brain of another member of his species once a year.  Failure to consume the brainmeat results in a loss of the gained point of Intelligence and the doubling of the hunger (i.e., two brains a year).  The tentacle can only be removed through the use of magic or the death of the host.

Higgins Armory Museum to close

The collection will be relocated a a nearby museum, but the current building (and arrangement) is beautiful.  Check it out if you're in/near Boston this year.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20130307/NEWS/130309688

Houses of the Gygax

If you're familiar with some of the ancient history of D&D, you know that some of the regions of Blackmoor and Greyhawk were laid out through wargames, where original wargamers named, led leaders of, and fought over the lands that were later codified into maps of settings used in various supplements and books.

The combination of my current nonavailability for actual regular D&D sessions, a fondness for "domain/resource building" games, and those stories of the old days drive me to do something similar.  Here's my first brainstorm for a setting-build email game that becomes a setting for a D&D campaign, primarily using the structure of Houses of the Blooded, though I expect to steal liberally from Game of Thrones, Aria, Warhammer, and other sources as it rounds into form.


1.  Start with a copy of these for reference:

• http://housesoftheblooded.net/downloads/HotB_CharGenReference.pdf
• http://housesoftheblooded.net/downloads/HotB_SeasonsReference.pdf

2.  Create a character with the following in mind:
A.  Pick a house, noting that Bear/Fox are non-human:

• Bear (Strength) = Dwarf
• Elk (Cunning) = Human
• Falcon (Courage) = Human
• Fox (Beauty) = Elf
• Serpent (Wisdom) = Human
• Wolf (Prowess) = Human

B.  Start in the Spring Season
C.  Don't worry about Aspects, just count how many you have.
D.  Skip Step 4 (Devotions)
E.  I'm making this up as I go along, so don't spend your bonus points yet.
F.  Give everyone and everyplace names.

3.  Send out a character summary  (Name, House, Province, any special) to the list so people can have you as a contact/enemy/frenemy.

D&D Combat on TV

Has anyone seen the last two weeks of The Walking Dead (Season Three) ?  I'm talking about the fights in the prison and the surrounding grounds.  People attempting some sort of close formation, covering each other, blocking with shields, attacking in ranks, and guys with missile weapons waiting for a clean line of fire. *THAT* is what I imagine D&D combat to be (particular in dungeons).  None of that chessboard, taking turns crap.

Six Demon Bag

Six Demon Bag
GP Value: 3,000
XP Value: 20,000

The bag is the size of a large belt pouch, and is constructed of heavy black velvet with runes stitched in red.  When found, the Dungeon Master rolls 1d6 (in secret), representing the number of demons left in the Six Demon Bag.

If the the command word is utter and one reaches into the bag, a slimy fist-size blob is felt.  Upon pulling it out, it takes shape 10' away from the summoner.  The Dungeon Master rolls 1d6, representing the type (Type I through Type V, with a roll of "6" indicating a simple Manes demon) of demon summoned.  The demon will remain for 2 turns, otherwise acting as if summoned by Monster Summoning I.

Once summoned, a demon can not be returned to the Six Demon Bag.  Once all of the remaining demons have been summoned from the bag, the velvet fades to a dark gray and becomes inert.

Black Blood of the Earth

Jack Burton: That is not water. 
Egg Shen: Black blood of the earth. 
Jack Burton: Do you mean oil? 
Egg Shen: I mean black blood of the earth. 

Stay Tuned!  I'm mapping my house and detecting traps in each room.

New Thief Ability - Skim off the Top

Skim off the Top
New Class Ability of Thieves and Burglars

Members of the underworld can't keep their hands off loot.  Characters of the thief (and burglar) class automatically get %1 per level of coin and non-precious stones loot collected by the party before any shares or divisions are calculated.  This represents their penchant for being the first with their hands in the sack, lifting of small amounts of coins during sorting, and intentional miscalculations during the actual division of shares ("one for you, two for me").

Thieves and burglars gain experience points for any of the above skimming activity as they would for any other treasure.