[Ptolus/AD&D] OOC Thread #1

Benoist · November 30, 2010, 07:05:46 PM

You guys are playing well.

PS: Good man, winkingbishop. Good man indeed.

winkingbishop · November 30, 2010, 07:11:43 PM

Quote from: Benoist;421486You guys are playing well.

PS: Good man, winkingbishop. Good man indeed.

Healbot, GO!

You know, he will probably stay standing through this immediate spat, but my faith doesn't extend to this entire battle. And it occurred to me - his bloated entourage might kick our ass if we let their leader die

thedungeondelver · November 30, 2010, 07:39:13 PM

"Bloated entourage" - I'll have to sic Rob Kuntz on you guys, let him tell you about the 20+ players each with retinue Castle Greyhawk games he and Gary used to run!

(oh to have been there!)

Benoist · November 30, 2010, 07:45:16 PM

LOL Indeed.

You might want to consider hiring your own henchmen at some point guys.

It actually makes the game more interesting in some respects, makes it way more survivable, and changes the game play in interesting ways harkening back to the roots of the hobby (not only in terms of wargaming combat in some cases, but in role playing also). In many ways the AD&D game play is predicated on the idea you will have your own retinues. You will be able for instance to switch between characters in your retinue and play at different levels, switch from one main character to a henchman-upgraded PC in case of death, and so on, so forth.

I'm certainly not going to force you to, but be aware of this.

Cole · November 30, 2010, 07:50:30 PM

Quote from: Benoist;421494LOL Indeed.

You might want to consider hiring your own henchmen at some point guys.

It actually makes the game more interesting in some respects, makes it way more survivable, and changes the game play in interesting ways harkening back to the roots of the hobby (not only in terms of wargaming combat in some cases, but in role playing also). In many ways the AD&D game play is predicated on the idea you will have your own retinues. You will be able for instance to switch between characters in your retinue and play at different levels, switch from one main character to a henchman-upgraded PC in case of death, and so on, so forth.

I'm certainly not going to force you to, but be aware of this.

Technically assassins can't have henchmen 'til higher levels (though I don't know if that precludes 0-level stooges working for a wage).

It was moot this time around - I didn't have enough cash to hire any.

Drohem · November 30, 2010, 07:57:58 PM

Quote from: Benoist;421494You might want to consider hiring your own henchmen at some point guys.

Does anyone take credit? LOL!

Yeah, just didn't have the cash starting off. He'll put it on the list of things to buy out of his first paycheck.

winkingbishop · November 30, 2010, 08:04:44 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;421492"Bloated entourage" - I'll have to sic Rob Kuntz on you guys, let him tell you about the 20+ players each with retinue Castle Greyhawk games he and Gary used to run! (oh to have been there!)

Only bloated in contrast with the rest of us who have ... zero. I had actually planned on bringing a few at the get-go, but changed my mind when I saw how many folks were signing up to play. I suppose we'll remedy that if we survive.

Benoist · November 30, 2010, 08:11:21 PM

Quote from: Drohem;421496Does anyone take credit? LOL!

If anyone takes credit, make sure you watch your backpack, alright?

Benoist · November 30, 2010, 08:16:28 PM

Quote from: Cole;421495Technically assassins can't have henchmen 'til higher levels (though I don't know if that precludes 0-level stooges working for a wage).

It was moot this time around - I didn't have enough cash to hire any.

Yeah. Which makes me think, I'm glad someone's playing an Assassin. It's an awesome class. The fact it was taken off 2e was such a blunder. Both from a rules standpoint (oh noes, the class got a % death attack), and a flavor standpoint (players really shouldn't play morally ambiguous characters), it was a stupid decision.

thedungeondelver · November 30, 2010, 09:13:16 PM

I think some clarification here should be made that henchmen, hirelings and followers are all separate. Hirelings (the type I have) are generally-0 level types who'll work for the course of a single adventure (although when I DM if the players try to entice them to stay on for longer stints I'll let them try, at least). Expert hirelings are things like dedicated engineers, officers and noncoms to lead large formations of soldiers, cartographers, sages, armorers, and so forth. Henchmen are fully-statted and classed NPCs (and good "backup characters") and typically demand a full share of treasure, and suffer all the shortcomings and benefits of characters (for example, we couldn't have a paladin adventure with us). Followers are of the type acquired at high levels when you create a stronghold or guild/den/etc. and run the gamut from unexceptional 0-level serfs to fully leveled NPCs.

Benoist · November 30, 2010, 09:32:04 PM

Yes. I was lumping everything together just for the sake of argument.

Cole · December 01, 2010, 03:20:49 AM

Ramón, since you're going to try to make a backstab attack, just in case you didn't notice him, there's another guy in the shady area behind the giant.

Cole · December 01, 2010, 03:22:23 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;421516I think some clarification here should be made that henchmen, hirelings and followers are all separate. Hirelings (the type I have) are generally-0 level types who'll work for the course of a single adventure (although when I DM if the players try to entice them to stay on for longer stints I'll let them try, at least). Expert hirelings are things like dedicated engineers, officers and noncoms to lead large formations of soldiers, cartographers, sages, armorers, and so forth. Henchmen are fully-statted and classed NPCs (and good "backup characters") and typically demand a full share of treasure, and suffer all the shortcomings and benefits of characters (for example, we couldn't have a paladin adventure with us). Followers are of the type acquired at high levels when you create a stronghold or guild/den/etc. and run the gamut from unexceptional 0-level serfs to fully leveled NPCs.

That's what I figured, but I wasn't entirely sure.

In the day my group used a lot of henchmen, but not that many hirelings on an extended basis.

Imperator · December 01, 2010, 03:30:24 AM

Quote from: Cole;421641Ramón, since you're going to try to make a backstab attack, just in case you didn't notice him, there's another guy in the shady area behind the giant.

I noticed, but the huge guy scares the fuck out of me and I want him OUT ASAP.

Also, the one behind him was scared and shocked by the flaming hulk, so if he sees it getting beaten maybe he will flee. I will try to sword-rape the giant in the most impressive manner I can.

If that doesn't work, I'm going to RUN LIKE A WIMP.

Cole · December 01, 2010, 04:20:27 AM

Quote from: Imperator;421645I noticed, but the huge guy scares the fuck out of me and I want him OUT ASAP.

Also, the one behind him was scared and shocked by the flaming hulk, so if he sees it getting beaten maybe he will flee. I will try to sword-rape the giant in the most impressive manner I can.

It's a reasonable strategy, just checking to make sure you saw the little guy's token - I didn't at first.