tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post964542901301568088..comments2024-03-28T23:33:47.438-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Back to the Caves of Chaos (Part III)JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-23559600239901402572010-09-20T14:03:53.808-07:002010-09-20T14:03:53.808-07:00Okay, so in the case of the elf above, if he was t...Okay, so in the case of the elf above, if he was third level, does that mean he gets statted up as if he were a third level elf player-character? Or do you just make him a 3HD elf? Or does it not matter?<br /><br />I suppose part of my confusion is seeing stat blocks in old adventures, and you'd get NPCs (from adventuring races/classes) with full write-ups, ability scores and everything, but the average orc or whatever would be statted up as a monster.<br /><br />I still have trouble with that.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-66580638546511763752010-09-20T12:57:06.294-07:002010-09-20T12:57:06.294-07:00@ Kelvin:
Well...
A) Any non-PC is technically a...@ Kelvin:<br /><br />Well...<br /><br />A) Any non-PC is technically a "monster."<br /><br />B) RE: Elves specifically (or halflings or dwarves) while these are a particular species of monster, they are also a potential "adventuring class." The leader type present in groups of 20+ would be one of those exceptional individuals that learn from experience and progress upwards.<br /><br />C) Most monsters are non-adventuring classes; however that doesn't mean there aren't the occasional exceptional individual. Usually this is represented by a change in hit dice (+1 or +2 upwards for an exceptionally large individual), but it could include better damage (perhaps from greater strength or a better weapon) or special armor class. Often, DMs will need to make judgments regarding these things. In my game, the PCs never actually purchased the chain mail (they had it on "special order" from the blacksmith), but they got the gnoll a shield. Since Witherdrool was never actually IN combat (he just got directed to pursue retreating goblins) it never came up, but based on the gnoll illustrations I've seen (specifically in the 1st ed. AD&D MM), I'd probably rule the gnoll's "standard AC5" is a result of ring mail + hide + shield...and since Witherdrool was naked except for an extra large cloak (which they purchased) and a shield, I probably would have given him an overall AC of 6 or 7. With the chain? Probably a 4. <br /><br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-27694321856189823342010-09-20T11:02:42.128-07:002010-09-20T11:02:42.128-07:00Why did they buy chain for Witherdrool? Isn't ...Why did they buy chain for Witherdrool? Isn't his natural AC already equivalent to chain?<br /><br /><i>D&D</i> NPC stats confuse the heck out of me. Sometimes they're monsters, sometimes they're not. I don't get it:<br /><br />"When encountered in a group of 20 or <br />more, one [elf] will be present, whose level will be determined by rolling 1d6+1"<br /><br />what does that mean? How do you apply levels to a monster stat block? Or do you work him up as if he were a player character?<br /><br />I don't think I'll ever understand <i>D&D</i>. :(thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-42050441522454008992010-09-20T06:08:05.587-07:002010-09-20T06:08:05.587-07:00@ Fumers: Luke? Hi! Thanks for reading...don't...@ Fumers: Luke? Hi! Thanks for reading...don't remember mentioning the blog the other night, but welcome! Hope you don't find my re-counts (or my opinions) too negative/discouraging!<br />; )<br /><br />And your dice SEEMED to roll fine, earlier in the evening (at least, I didn't have an inkling of what was to come)...I'm sure that with the G.S. dice, it's just a matter of time until you get on a "hot streak."<br /><br />@ Anthony & Ed: It has proven dangerous so far, but I've had a lot of players do just fine. Maybe I'm not "taking it easy" on the players, maybe MY dice have just been streaky about bleeding 'em, but this has been a lot more wanton player death than I've seen in a while.<br /><br />@ Grat Sax: : )<br /><br />@ Harv: Thanks, man. In the old days, I always played with the DMG "death at -10" rule (that was present even before Death's Door appeared in the Unearthed Arcana)...but now I'm playing a zero-sum kind of game. I AM giving the PCs max hit points at level 1 (ooo...I'm sooo lenient...)<br /><br />@ Icarus: In the past, I've found I've had an annoying tendency to upstage PCs with my personal NPCs (yes...I was one of THOSE kind of guys), so recently I've been trying to keep my own personalities completely out of the game.<br /><br />Plus, I LIKE the players to figure things out...they generally collaborate pretty well, I think. Though perhaps not in "the heat of the moment."<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-45252903841196338662010-09-19T23:50:06.197-07:002010-09-19T23:50:06.197-07:00Playing Hensvik, I had a good time but I'm pre...Playing Hensvik, I had a good time but I'm pretty sure I didn't roll over an 11 the entire night. The dice gods weren't with me.Fumershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14156302616243889562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-82949588133800198022010-09-19T20:46:50.341-07:002010-09-19T20:46:50.341-07:00About 15 years ago I ran Caves of Chaos for 5 or 6...About 15 years ago I ran Caves of Chaos for 5 or 6 of my friends. Each of them ran two PCs, and it was still a slaughter. Then they learned about the benefits of men-at-arms, so the PC attrition rate declined somewhat, though the men-at-arms death rate was so high I ruled no one would sign on with them anymore. That was a fun game.Ed Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18365270396203067098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-20328470805148474882010-09-19T19:31:48.745-07:002010-09-19T19:31:48.745-07:00Chello!
Well, even when you play to -HP, only hav...Chello!<br /><br />Well, even when you play to -HP, only having a NPC alive in the middle of a goblin warren...not good odds for the party surviving. Really, the Caves of Chaos are tough for a full party of 5-6 with NPCs, especially when the DM is on his game.Anthony N. Emmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017952532295866111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-66451487726583013912010-09-19T19:23:02.452-07:002010-09-19T19:23:02.452-07:00Your body-count is putting Pat to shame.
So. The ...Your body-count is putting Pat to shame.<br /><br />So. <i>The Further Adventures of Witherdrool</i>?<br /><br />A crazed Gnoll with fond memories of how nice Elves are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-20361144279067968022010-09-19T19:11:37.399-07:002010-09-19T19:11:37.399-07:00Loving your recounts JB, they are quite interestin...Loving your recounts JB, they are quite interesting to read (which cannot be said of many recounts). The death toll is certainly quite high, but the players seem to be having a great time and keep coming back. I do not think I have ever played where 0hp = dead but rather some variant of death's door from ADnD, so it is interesting to see the result of a less forgiving RAW B/X rules.Stacktracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05778633676064958982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-68919335800080955072010-09-19T17:35:08.540-07:002010-09-19T17:35:08.540-07:00Man, your PCs are dying like flies. I advise the u...Man, your PCs are dying like flies. I advise the use of tactics(tm) and perhaps you can yourself can play an PC who can act as the party's advisor/failsafe/troublemaker. While there are many stories of badly played GM-played PCs a well played one can add great flavor and longevity to the game. You can always kill him off (or he can do something that get's him killed in his sleep by the PCs) if you feel too attached. He can even be a long time nemesis and oooo...I'm having an evil-gasm..must stop now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com