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Half-orc

Character Classes, , , , , , , , ,
  • Prime Requisite: Strength. Other Requirements: Constitution 9, or better.
  • Experience Bonus: 5% for Strength 13-15; 10% for Strength 16-18.
  • Hit Dice: 1d8 per level up to 9th level. Starting with 10th level, +2 hp per level and Constitution adjustments no longer apply.
  • Maximum Level: 12 (36, if optional rules are used.)
  • Armor: Any; shields permitted.
  • Weapons: Any.
  • Special Abilities: Fighter Maneuvers (Lance Attack and Set Spear vs. Charge maneuvers at 1st level; at 660,000 XP, Fighter Combat Options); extra languages (Orc and player’s choice of: Ogre or Goblin); infravision; Hear Noise; Detect by Smell

Half-orcs stand between 5 1/2 and 6 feet tall, weighing in around 200 pounds. They are stocky, with course black or brown hair, dark skin and dark eyes. Some half-orcs have reddish hair, and lighter color eyes are not unknown, just very rare.

  • Combat Chart: Dwarf, if optional rules are used, half-orcs attack as fighters.
  • Saving Throws: Fighter. Half-orcs receive a +3 bonus on saves vs. Poison.
  • Hear Noise: This ability works exactly the same as the Thief ability with the same name.
  • Detect by Smell: This ability allows the half-orc to detect, and possibly follow, various scents that are beyond the smell of humans. The half-orc may be able to detect someone who is following the party (provided they have a scent,) or poisons in food, etc.
Level	XP	Attack Rank	Hear Noise	Detect Smell
1	0			25		5
2	2,200			30		10
3	4,400			35		15
4	8,800			40		20
5	17,000			45		25
6	35,000			50		30
7	70,000			54		34
8	140,000			58		38
9	270,000			62		42
10	400,000			66		46
11	530,000			70		50
12	660,000*	C	74		53
	800,000		D		
	1,000,000	E		
	1,200,000	F		
	1,400,000	G		
	1,600,000	H		
	1,800,000	I		
	2,000,000	J		
	2,200,000**	K		
	2,400,000	L		
	2,600,000	M

* Gain Fighter Combat Options: Two attacks are possible at this level.
** Three attacks per round are possible at this level.

If optional rules are used for level advancement, half-orcs advance exactly as do dwarves (page 266, Rules Cyclopedia.)

Modified Mystic or Monk

Character Classes, , , , , , , , , ,

Modified Mystic and Monk from Dragon Magazine 09/1981

  • Prime Requisite: Strength and Dexterity. Other Requirements: Wisdom 9, or better.
  • Experience Bonus: 5% for Strength or Dexterity 16-18; 10% for Strength and Dexterity 16-18.
  • Hit Dice: 1d6 per level up to 9th level. Starting with 10th level, +2/level after 9 with no CON adjustments.
  • Maximum Level: 21.
  • Armor: None; shield not permitted.
  • Weapons: Any.
  • Special Abilities: At 1st level — Armor Class bonuses, increased Movement, Find Traps, Climb Walls, Move Silently, Hear Noise, Martial Arts and Mystical Abilities.

All abilities and changes not noted here are no longer possessed by monks/mystics. In all other situations, use common sense and the Rules Cyclopedia.

  • Combat Chart: Thief.
  • Saving Throws: Fighter.
  • Find Traps, Climb Walls, Move Silently, and Hear Noise: These work exactly as the Thief abilities with the same name.
  • Armor Class Bonuses: The Armor Class of monks improve with experience.
  • Movement: Monks move faster than normal humans, this rate improves with experience.
  • Martial Arts: Monks are the masters of unarmed combat. They receive multiple attacks when unarmed and bonuses to damage done with their hands and feet.
  • Mystical Abilities: These work exactly the same as those listed in the Rules Cyclopedia.

[easytable]
Level,XP,”Attack Rank”,”Find Traps”,”Climb Walls”,”Move Silently”,”Hear Noise”,Move,AC,”Unarmed Attacks”,Damage,Ability
1,0,,10,60,20,30,120,6,1,1d6,
2,”2,000″,,10,61,25,30,125,5,1,1d6,Awareness
3,”4,000″,,15,62,30,35,130,4,1,1d6,
4,”8,000″,,15,63,35,35,135,3,1,1d6,
5,”16,000″,,20,64,40,40,140,3,1,2d6,Heal Self
6,”32,000″,,20,65,44,40,145,2,2,2d6,
7,”64,000″,,25,66,48,45,150,2,2,2d6,
8,”120,000″,,25,67,52,45,155,1,2,2d6,Speak Animal
9,”240,000″,,30,68,55,50,160,1,2,3d6,
10,”360,000″,,30,69,58,50,165,0,2,3d6,
11,”480,000″,,35,70,61,54,170,0,3,3d6,Resistance
12,”600,000″,,35,71,64,54,175,-1,3,3d6,
13,”720,000″,,40,72,66,58,180,-1,3,4d6,
14,”840,000″,,40,73,68,58,185,-2,3,4d6,Speak Anyone
15,”960,000″,,45,74,70,62,190,-2,3,4d6,
16,”1,080,000″,,45,75,72,62,195,-3,4,4d6,
17,”1,200,000″,,50,76,73,66,200,-3,4,5d6,Mind Block
18,”1,320,000″,,50,77,74,66,205,-4,4,5d6,
19,”1,440,000″,,55,78,75,70,210,-4,4,5d6,
20,”1,560,000″,,55,79,76,70,215,-5,4,5d6,Gentle Touch
21,”1,680,00″,,60,80,77,74,220,-5,5,6d6,
,”1,920,000″,H,,,,,,,,,
,”2,160,000″,I,,,,,,,,,
,”2,400,000″,J,,,,,,,,,
,”2,640,000″,K,,,,,,,,,
,”2,880,000″,L,,,,,,,,,
,”3,120,000″,M,,,,,,,,,
[/easytable]

Exotic Weaponry

Equipment, , , , , , ,

This post updates and replaces the previous exotic weapons chart.  Morning Star and Flail are both weapons in original D&D that somehow got left out of the Cyclopedia.  Broadsword is taken from AD&D where it is 2d4.  Rapier stats are also from D&D described in Dragon #175.

The optional rules are provided to add something unique to the weapons, so they’re a little more interesting than just finding “a different kind of sword” that different in name only.

[easytable]
Weapon,Damage,Range,Weight,Value,Notes/Optional Rules,Flags
Katar,1d4+1,,20,5,melee only,”w,S”
Hooked Net,1d4,5/10/15,80,15,”10′ diameter, struggle=damage, saves -2″,”s,t,w,M”
Chain Net,0,5/10/15,160,25,”10′ diameter, saves -6, enc x2″,”c,s,t,w,M”
Shurikin,1d3,10/20/30,5,1,,”t,w,S”
Barbed Whip,1d4,,80,15,8′ long,”s,w,M”
Butterfly Knife,1d4,20/40/60,10,5,”missile double dmg on 20, melee dropped on 1″,”s,t,w,S”
Flail,1d6,,40,5,”double dmg on 20, hit self on 1″,”c,M”
Morning Star,1d6+1,,30,5,”double dmg on 20, hit self on 1″,M
Rapier,2d4-1,,60,10,-1 AC for thieves,”s,M”
Tlacochtli,1d6,20/40/60,60,5,1d6 to pull out,”s,t,v,L”
Chakram,1d4,20/40/60,20,3,,”t,w,S”
Broadsword,2d4,,60,10,”double damage on 20, trip on 1″,M
Composite Bow,1d6,70/140/210,40,60,”strength affects damage”,”a,m,s,2H,L”
Katana,1d8,,50,12,”double dmg on 20, no penalty on 1″,M
Naginata,1d10,,80,15,,”2H,L”
[/easytable]

Descriptions

  • Katar: Also known as a “punch dagger,” this blade is much like a dagger, except that it has an H-shaped handle, allowing the wielder to deliver more powerful blows.
  • Hooked Net: This net’s mesh is entwined with hooks which do damage to the victim within. This net is 10′ in diameter. Struggling to break free inflicts normal damage each round. Victims make saves at -2 to avoid capture.
  • Chain Net: This net is 10′ in diameter and made of inter-linking chains instead of rope. It is heavier, but victims must save with a -6 penalty to escape.
  • Shurikin: These are small, sharp throwing starts, or similar object, originating from the far east.
  • Barbed Whip: This 8′ long whip is studded with thorn-like barbs, doing more damage than a normal whip.
  • Butterfly Knife: Butterfly knives are light, well balanced daggers. They receive a +2 on their hit rolls when thrown.
  • Flail: A flail is simply a heavy object, swung on a rope or chain.
  • Morning Star: This is typically a spiked ball swung on a rope or chain, however mace-like variations can be found.
  • Rapier: This is a well-balanced, fencing sword. It receives a -2 penalty to hit vs plate armor.
  • Tlacochtli: This weapon is a jagged harpoon on the end of a rope. The weilder scores a hit and pulls the harpoon back out for an extra 1d6 points of damage.
  • Chakram: A chakram is a sharp throwing disc, or often more of a ring. The edge of the chakram is sharpened enough to split hairs.
  • Broadsword: This heavy sword is used more to crush through the enemy.
  • Composite Bow: This well-made bow fires with equal pressure according to how far back the wielder can stretch the string. The wielder’s strength modifier affects damage.
  • Katana: This is a lighter, well-balanced eastern sword.
  • Naginata: This is a spear-like, eastern weapon. The blade at the end of the long pole-like handle is curved.

New Mystic Class

Character Classes, , , , , , , , ,

This is a combination of the Mystic/Monk classes I have posted before.

  • Prim Req: Wis and Dex; Other Requirements: Wis 13+, Dex 13+
  • Experience Bonus: 5% for Wis or Dex 16-18; 10% for Wis and Dex 16-18
  • Hit Dice: 1d6/level, +2/level after level 9 with no Con bonus
  • Maximum Level: 16
  • Armor: None; shield not permitted
  • Weapons: Any
  • Hit Rolls: as Fighter
  • Saving Throws: as Fighter

[easytable]
Level,Attacks,Damage,AC,Ability
1,1,1d4,9,
2,1,1d4,8,Awareness
3,1,1d4,8,
4,1,1d6,7,Acrobatics
5,2,1d6,7,
6,2,1d6,6,Heal Self
7,2,1d8,6,
8,2,1d8,5,Dodge
9,3,1d8,4,
10,3,1d10,3,Disarm
11,3,1d10,2,
12,3,1d10,1,Resistance
13,4,1d12,0,
14,4,1d12,-1,Mindblock
15,4,1d12,-2,
16,4,1d20,-3,Gentle Touch
[/easytable]
Notes:

  • No enchanted hand attacks
  • No increased movement
  • Can only Climb Walls, Move Silently, and Hide in Shadows as a thief
  • Multiple attacks are multiple actions: the mystic acts as if hasted, being able to perform more than one action
  • Gain XP normally, use Mystic XP chart from the Cyclopedia
  • No option to gain acrobatics at -20%
  • Acrobatics: same as the optional acrobatics of Mystics from the Cyclopedia
  • Dodge: similar to the Fighter Combat Option “parry”
  • Disarm: same as the Fighter Combat Option

Random Encounters

Monsters, , , , , ,

Tired of the tedious wandering monster charts in the Rules Cyclopedia that take forever to roll, and seem to produce the same monster over and over?  Try out these encounter tables instead.

  1. Roll 1d20 per day to determine if there is an encounter on that day.  Compare this to the chance of an encounter based on the type of terrain (for example there is a 6 in 20 chance of an encounter).
  2. Roll 2d10 to determine the encounter below.
  3. The DM can assume a 10% chance of bad weather when the encounter occurs.
Trail/Road (6 out of 20)	Normal/Grass (5 out of 20)	Forest (4 out of 20)
(2) Adventurer			(2) Tornado			(2) Adventurer
(3) Goblin			(3) Adventurer			(3) Dryad
(4) Orc				(4) Blink Dog			(4) Forest Giant
(5) Freeman			(5) Thoul			(5) Brownie/Sprite
(6) Peasant			(6) Merchant			(6) Forest Baboon
(7) Halfling			(7) Tiger Beetle		(7) Wolf
(8) Bandit			(8) Hobgoblin			(8) Woodcutter
(9) Traveller			(9) Berserker			(9) Bandit
10) Terrain Table		10) Riding Horse		10) Kobold/Goblin
11) Terrain Table		11) Animal			11) Elf
12) Merchant			12) Nomad			12) Animal
13) Berserker			13) Draco Lizard		13) Orc
14) Guard Patrol		14) Ogre			14) Boar
15) Dwarf			15) Boar			15) Giant Bee/Robber Fly
16) Elf				16) Wolf			16) Crab Spider
17) Ogre			17) Crab Spider			17) Insect Swarm
18) Troglodyte			18) Troll			18) Centaur
19) Animal			19) Insect Swarm		19) Minotaur
20) Kobold			20) Wyvern			20) Green Dragon

Mountain/Hill (3 out of 20)	Swamp (3 out of 20)		Broken (8 out of 20)
(2) Adventurer			(2) Adventurer			(2) Beholder
(3) Rockslide			(3) Medusa			(3) Adventurer
(4) Troll			(4) Panther			(4) Ghoul
(5) Giant Ant			(5) Robber Fly			(5) Troglodyte
(6) Hill Giant			(6) Displacer Beast		(6) Thoul
(7) Cave Bear			(7) Gecko Lizard		(7) Hobgoblin
(8) Mountain Lion		(8) Draco Lizard		(8) Gnoll
(9) Rock Baboon			(9) Wight			(9) Bugbear
10) Hobgoblin			10) Ghoul			10) Goblin
11) Ogre			11) Lizard Man			11) Orc
12) Orc				12) Insect Swarm		12) Kobold
13) Gnoll			13) Snake			13) Berserker
14) Harpy			14) Gnoll			14) Lizard Man
15) Snake			15) Hydra			15) Ogre
16) Stone Giant			16) Quicksand			16) Ogre
17) Gnome			17) Giant Toad			17) Troll
18) Manticore			18) Zombie			18) Nomad
19) Cyclops			19) Gorgon			19) Zombie
20) Red Dragon			20) Black Dragon		20) Any Dragon

Arctic/Snow (1 out of 20)	Desert (2 out of 20)		
(2) Adventurer			(2) Adventurer		
(3) Blizzard			(3) Sandstorm		
(4) Unsafe Ice			(4) Manticore		
(5) Frost Giant			(5) Nomad		
(6) Polar Bear			(6) Gecko Lizard	
(7) Polar Bear			(7) Draco Lizard	
(8) Animal			(8) Crab Spider		
(9) Animal			(9) Tarantella		
10) Animal			10) Giant Scorpion	
11) Nomad			11) Giant Centipede	
12) Nomad			12) Snake		
13) Nomad			13) Giant Ant		
14) Mountain Lion		14) Oil Beetle		
15) Mountain Lion		15) Tiger Beetle	
16) Neanderthal			16) Hobgoblin		
17) Neanderthal			17) Horned Chameleon	
18) Gnoll			18) Tuatara Lizard	
19) Mastadon			19) Cockatrice		
20) White Dragon		20) Blue Dragon

Example

While traveling between towns along the road, the DM rolls 1d20 per day.  On the second day, the DM rolls a 4, which indicates an encounter.  The DM rolls 2d10 and with a result of 10 sees that the encounter should be the same as an encounter from the “Wilderness Table.”  Since the road passes through the forest, the DM rolls 2d10 against the Forest table, and gets 14.  The characters encounter wild boar(s).

Poisons

Rules Hints & Tips, , , , , , , , , , ,

Typically poisons range from instant death (as found in the Dungeons and Dragons game) and the simple 1 point of damage per round (as found in video games like the Ultima series). These are both very simple, but don’t provide a wide range of possible outcomes. Some games have cumbersome charts that still have their limitations. And there is the matter of whether or not you want to randomly roll what a poison does. Instead we might be able to come up with some concepts that allow a DM to create a poison that’s appropriate on-the-fly.

Properties of Poison

Poisons have 4 or 5 properties in terms of game mechanics.

  1. Saving Throw: Adjustment to saving throw is generally an indicator of the poison’s strength. (Suggested range: +4 to -4.)
  2. Incubation Period: The time before poison takes effect can also be determined by how powerful you think the poison should be, or how fast it reaches the bloodstream (breathing, ingestion, injection, etc.) (Typical ranges: 1 day to instantaneous)
  3. Duration: This is the time the poison takes to run its course, after the incubation period.
  4. Effect: The effect of the poison can be damage, penalties to rolls, and any other quantifiable modification to game play. Effects should be used with the next optional category “appearance” for the best game play.
  5. Appearance: This is how the poison affects the non-quantifiable modification to game play. This is somewhat optional, but can include things like sores, vomiting, or anything else which can be part of the story, but doesn’t really affect the numbers of game play.

Poison Creation

DM:      You step on a block that depresses; a dart shoots out of a crack in
         the wall and hits you.  Make a saving throw vs poison.

Player:  I rolled a 10.

DM:      You can't feel any effects.

game hours later...

DM:      The ogre misses you.  Suddenly your arms feel strange and are becoming
         numb.  All your muscles are getting slower.

Player:  Hide in the shadows around the corner in the hallway.

DM:      You try to get out as quickly as possible, leaving to the protection of
         the corridor.  You become paralyzed.  You hear the ogre coming towards
         you and hope that you hid well...

As you can see from this example, the player wasn’t sure he had been poisoned, and the effects did not occur until later. This kind of situation could be very interesting and fun with other players to help out, but care must be taken not to let it ruin the game. This gives characters a chance to be cautious and makes antidotes and spells like neutralize poison more important.

The DM in this situation can easily create a poison ahead of time, or on the spot. The DM may want to make some charts for quick reference such as the ones below:

Simple Chart

This chart is a simple chart that contains weak, moderate, and strong poisons that do damage. This is particularly good for a DM who wants to give the players a chance to use their antidotes once the poison sets in.

             Save Bonus     Incubation        Duration         Damage
             -----------    ---------------   -------------    -------------
Weak:        +1d4           1d6 hours         1d8 hours        1d4 per turn
Moderate:    0              1d4 turns         1d6 turns        1d2 per round
Strong:      -1d4           instant           1d10 turns       1d20 per round

Effects Chart

This is a chart for the kind of DM who wants to give poison more “flavor.” Yum. You can use the chart above to supplement the results, or determine the missing pieces on your own.

1d6  Incubation         1d12   Effect                Appearance
---  -------------      ----  --------------------  ---------------
 1    instantaneous      1     -1 to combat rolls    pain
 2    1d8 rounds         2     -1 to hit, +2 to AC   numbness
 3    1d6 turns          3     partial paralysis     paralysis
 4    1d4 hours          4     -1 to hit, 1/2 CHA    sores
 5    2d12 hours         5     1/2 STR, +2 AC        weakness
 6    1d6 days           6     -1 hit rolls, saves   mild sickness
                         7     1/2 move, no actions  violent sickness
                         8     comatose sleep        sleep
                         9     1 dmg per round       poisoned
                        10     1d4 dmg per turn      poisoned/sick
                        11     1d10 dmg per hour     mildly sick
                        12     5d6 dmg per round     death

Dungeon Master Tips from the Astral Plane

Rules Hints & Tips, , , , , ,

Most of these personal guidelines should be obvious, but maybe we need a reminder from time to time.

  • Concentrate on role-playing monsters, think less of numbers
  • Create characters with different personalities
  • Create strong villains who fight intelligently
  • Don’t let all monsters always fight to the death
  • Don’t tell the players everything
  • Don’t give the players suggestions
  • Don’t let the players be in control, be fair, and don’t go ahead until you’re ready
  • Keep game rythm in mind and have encounters as neccessary
  • Use a monster menu to choose from, not a chart and dice
  • KISMIF (keep it simple, make it fun) – see Dragon Magazine issue no. 175
  • Action is more fun than architecture
  • People are more interesting than buildings
  • Don’t create lengthy battles with unworthy adversaries

Optional Rules for Classic Games

Rules Hints & Tips, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Written by Angelo and Jeff

Here are some optional rules that you may want to adopt in a more basic type campaign (which I find more fun). When deciding on a rule, go for whatever is more fun or will make a better story-line in the game.

Attributes

Even though it may not be fair to my old players, I think I might adopt this system also. Just roll 9d6 for each phsyical (STR, DEX, CON) and mental (INT, WIS, CHA) attributes and then let the players choose where they want to put them. Allow players to trade 2 for 1 between the 2 categories. If you want, you might consider just rolling 10d6 for each category to give a better chance of getting good scores. Also, don’t roll ability checks much, if at all. Too much rolling dice makes the game too random and not enough story. If you can’t base it on a saving throw, you probably shouldn’t roll it. How creatures react to players should be based on how the players have acted, not on a charisma check.

Alignments

Alignments don’t seem very important. Either just ignore them, or rule them out completely. Also, I would rule out alignment languages since they don’t make any sense. You can give a group of thieves a secret code but chances are the thieves in a city 1000 miles away won’t know it.

Classes

I don’t think every little sub-class should have it’s own class and an entire set of rules. I would say just add a little flavor to your campaign by giving guidelines for certain titles. Like a thief can be a ninja-type character, hiding in shadows, using assassin weapons, climbing walls, backstabbing, etc. So that could be his title if he dresses right. So you can make variations on any class. You can even offer/show these variations to players to see if they want to use it. However, I found that most players don’t want to go with something like that unless the rules change for their character and they’re getting extra bonuses. Class variations are a good way to add personality to your NPCs.

Equipment

Unlike just about any other game, D&D makes it easy to buy the best (normal) armor and weapons at the very beginning and makes no reason to buy the cheaper, crappy items (like a club). One way to get around this is to make your own treasure chart, plus don’t have every city and town sell everything on the equipment lists. Small towns and villages (perhaps where the characters come from) may have few items. Also, you might want to give players less gold to start with, maybe only 1d6 x 10 gp.

Food

I treat food very losely in my game and don’t count time spent very carefully. How much food you consume ends up being a DM discretion. However other people just throw the whole requirement out of the game.

Saving Throws

One thing that I like is making saving throw modifiers based on other abilities. This makes it a little more important to have good abilities, and makes certain classes generally more resistant to certain attacks.

  • STR – paralysis/stone
  • INT – mind attacks (charm, confusion, fear, sleep, etc.)
  • WIS – spells
  • DEX – wands and breath
  • CON – poison/death
  • CHA – none

Also, one optional rule is to make players request saving throws (say they are going to do something besides just stand there and take what’s coming). Ex: a dragon breathes on a fighter and a wizard. The wizard’s player says, “Jump out of the way.” The fighter’s player says, “Hold my shield up over my body.” The fighter makes his saving throw and lines his shield up. The wizard misses and jumps half-way out of the cone of fire and is blown back a few steps. This makes it a little more realistic… if you want a saving throw, you need to try and move out of the way or resist it somehow. Players get too used to automatically getting saving throws.

Monsters

Monsters can be really boring if all they do is attack and have nothing unique about them. One way I solved this problem was by creating monster variations. This is REALLY good if you have a basic game and not a lot of monsters to choose from in the book. One of the things I saw was how they had 10 types of giants when all they had to do was have 1 kind of giant and just make variations off of that. It makes the game a lot simpler. All you need to do is change the description a little bit.

A goblin attacks, an orc attacks, a gnoll attacks, only a few hit points seperates the monsters and all they are is a threat to the character’s life. An interesting way of changing that is to give each monster class a personality, such as making bugbears act like Klingons, having honor above life but still acting evil. Kobolds can usually have a lot of jewelry but never, ever fight, always running and finding a way to escape. Lizard men can be the rudest creatures in the campaign, flicking the characters off or waving their private parts in their general direction or something.

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