tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post4474231561089390172..comments2024-03-19T04:29:47.922-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Dwimmermount (Session 4)James Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-41813629092795793392009-02-05T14:45:00.000-05:002009-02-05T14:45:00.000-05:00the more I read of this, the more I feel like runn...the more I read of this, the more I feel like running a dungeon of my own, but one where you have to really use terrain to improve your chances of survival: maps would be real cave systems (no 10 by 10 corridors); barricades, missile weapons and strategically-placed light sources would play a large role. Thanks for keeping us posted.richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517340075234811323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-39186805135400668502009-02-02T14:03:00.000-05:002009-02-02T14:03:00.000-05:00>Having a bunch of orcs kitted out in chainmail...>Having a bunch of orcs kitted out in chainmail and carrying shields makes the encounter a lot tougher than if they had less impressive armor; I was rather pleased to note this<<BR/><BR/>Heavily armored orcs seem a bit tough for 1st level. If using some orcs there, I would tend to have them in some shoddy leather at best. Let the players's think "ha ha ha - the orcs suck in this dungeon. Then you hit 2nd or 3rd and there's the orcs beefed up with looted armor components. <BR/><BR/>The one thing that is a must for me as far as AC - I have to have a book in front of me open to the hit charts. I know there are easier ways, but It just seems like such a long tradition for me.Kevin Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122665488285424578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-78083293736204092822009-02-02T01:48:00.000-05:002009-02-02T01:48:00.000-05:00I hear you, sounds good.I hear you, sounds good.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-16699044085883226042009-02-01T19:55:00.000-05:002009-02-01T19:55:00.000-05:00You say "regular play that picks up (more or less)...<I>You say "regular play that picks up (more or less) precisely where the last session left off is key." So you don't encourage the PCs to leave the dungeon at session end? I do, and it seems to help versimilitude (also recommended in 1E DMG, etc.)</I><BR/><BR/>Oh, I do. What I meant was that I treat play as continuous from session to session rather than dividing it up into anything more coherent. There's no climax to a session: each session ends where it ends and we continue from there.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-69686118089070250512009-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:002009-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00"You take away armour class from THAC0 to get the ..."You take away armour class from THAC0 to get the target number, but you also take away bonuses and add penalties."<BR/><BR/>Worse, my groups were into asking what AC you'd hit. So we'd roll the d20, add any modifiers, and subtract that total from THAC0 to find the AC (which may also by modified down by situational bonuses).<BR/><BR/>d20 was quite a relief. 1d20 + mods = AC is much easier than THAC0 - (1d20 + mods) = AC.tussockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01624091727724404725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-88872226483515978052009-02-01T08:50:00.000-05:002009-02-01T08:50:00.000-05:00"For anybody who does not like to deal with number..."For anybody who does not like to deal with numbers (a surprising number of people)"<BR/><BR/>Some of us were English Majors for a damn good reason....<BR/>;)Blotzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06993967190131485391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-75225387826256179172009-02-01T01:41:00.000-05:002009-02-01T01:41:00.000-05:00"Risk management", that's a good ins..."Risk management", that's a good insight.<BR/><BR/>The method of rolling d20 + attack bonus + AC + modifiers >= 20 is the way I've done it since late 1E, use it likewise for saves/thief skills in all my games, and I personally refer to it as the "Target 20" system.<BR/><BR/>You say "regular play that picks up (more or less) precisely where the last session left off is key." So you don't encourage the PCs to leave the dungeon at session end? I do, and it seems to help versimilitude (also recommended in 1E DMG, etc.)Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-32744754730892646392009-01-31T22:19:00.000-05:002009-01-31T22:19:00.000-05:00Sure, it is the way it is explained in 2e. You tak...Sure, it is the way it is explained in 2e. You take away armour class from THAC0 to get the target number, but you also take away bonuses and add penalties. Sometimes the books would say stuff like "+1 AC" and leave you to guess whether it was a penalty or bonus (usually obvious from the context, but frustratingly ambiguous for some more rules bound folks).<BR/><BR/>For anybody who does not like to deal with numbers (a surprising number of people) this is quite an annoying state of affairs, moreso if they are not used to it, asked to do it within a group of their peers, and frequently fail, they find it embarassing and it detracts from their enjoyment of the game.<BR/><BR/>A lot of it has to do with how people's brains are wired up (not an accurate statement I realise). My girlfriend found the D20/3e approach (roll dice, add this number, reach target number) more difficult than THAC0 (subtract this number from this number to find your target number).<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, both are just processes you can learn to get used to, but then I don't really know what it is like to be somebody else, so maybe not.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-38455850562542582832009-01-31T21:40:00.000-05:002009-01-31T21:40:00.000-05:00Care to explain the dislike? Because I don't get i...Care to explain the dislike? Because I don't get it at all.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-69640717215711901912009-01-31T20:53:00.000-05:002009-01-31T20:53:00.000-05:00I always understood the dislike well enough, I jus...I always understood the dislike well enough, I just didn't sympathise. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-46800647514816589592009-01-31T19:48:00.000-05:002009-01-31T19:48:00.000-05:00Funny thing is I never understood the hatred for T...Funny thing is I never understood the hatred for THAC0 that some people seem to have. It always struck me as pretty straightforward, but so does descending AC.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-33114726386429215672009-01-31T19:42:00.000-05:002009-01-31T19:42:00.000-05:00Ha, ha. Welcome to the wonderful world of THAC0 (o...Ha, ha. Welcome to the wonderful world of THAC0 (or in this case THYN20), it is only natural to want to short cut the charts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-40640136798861654052009-01-31T18:23:00.000-05:002009-01-31T18:23:00.000-05:00Are you going to use some pig-faced orcs in the ne...Are you going to use some pig-faced orcs in the next session? Those are such great figs!<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>Christian<BR/>www.iridiazine.netchristianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09650456794111980661noreply@blogger.com