[Ptolus/AD&D] OOC Thread #1

[Lilaxe]

Has the monk reacted to Smeads crawling along?

[Benoist]

Has the monk reacted to Smeads crawling along?

He did not react at all. His robes are covered with flaming oil that drips on the floor and are slowly consumed at this point. He does not move at all.

On a side note, I'm going to make a first XP count at some point.

Also, you guys rock. I'm loving it.

[Lilaxe]

The monk is facing the door correct?

Did it react to the flaming oil?

How far from the door is it standing?

It is a door correct? Not a blank wall?

[Benoist]

Behind the Scenes: "Roll 1d100"

So. What happens in the game when I ask any of you to roll 1d100? That's what I want to get into with this post.

Back two years ago, when I actively started to run OD&D, the rules of 1974, I had clearly in mind to start with the basic rules of the game, and then let the campaign dictate the way the game's rules would be shaped, so that we would end up with "our D&D," with a set of procedures that would really stick to the way we played the game, as opposed to some vague theoretical idea of the way we wanted to play the game before hand.

This process evolved very quickly. We started with the d6 mechanic to detect secret doors and traps, changed for a d12 very early on. At some point afterwards, I started to modify the combat procedures using the Perrin Conventions and naturally, from there, came up the d100. What I would do is basically use the ability scores as values opposed to some other elements of the game world, other ability scores, difficulty levels expressed as ability score values, and so on, on the RuneQuest resistance table. Later in the campaign, this would actually become a d20 mechanic with a paradigm of its own (which I'm still exploring right now).



In this AD&D game, I am basically operating in a completely different paradigm - the fully Gygaxian take on the game. Among other things, this includes the d100 abilities of characters like Thieves and Assassins. Just plugging my OD&D house rules on this would have been kind of weird, from my perspective, so what I decided to do was to reverse engineer my rules to come back to the Perrin d100 paradigm, which I knew would blend well with the other elements of the AD&D game.

That's where we are in this game. I basically run the game with an attention towards rolling dice for stuff where random outcomes actually do matter in the way the game unfolds. Snave searching for an oil flask, sliding over a pressure plate to not trigger it, are examples of this: they have an impact on the way the game unfolds, and in my mind should not be a result of fiat. Some actions, however, are actually the point of the game to such an extent that they should not be solved by such die rolls, but rather by your own wits, planning, and so on. Getting past the candles in the corridor you are currently exploring is just one of those things. This might include some dice rolls, but if the dice rolls are determining some random outcomes of some actions you undertake to overcome the challenge, they do not determine the overall outcome of your confrontation with the challenge: the way you choose to deal with the challenge does.

So. The d100 rolls basically are used in a number of situations that may or may not be related to my own house rules. Sometimes, you are rolling on random tables of my making. Sometimes, you are actually rolling with your ability scores against some other force or factor in the environment (the house rule proper). Sometimes you roll actual Thief/Assassin percentage abilities. Sometimes it will be System Shock, or some other AD&D rule that is already there in the game.

It's part of the shell game I'm playing with rules, and this is part, to me, of the AD&D paradigm. There's a double level of shell game going on here: in some instances, you roll this or that different die, and you might wonder "what the hell is this for?" That's the shell game right there. In other instances, you will roll a d100 and naturally wonder "what the hell is this for? Is it an ability score check, a system shock roll, a random table outcome I'm rolling?" That's the second level of shell game going on.



I know some of you playing and/or reading the game are interested in these aspects of the DMing going on, so I thought I would oblige and explain some of the rationale involved. If you have some comments, or want to discuss it in any way, don't hesitate to post here, or PM me if you prefer.

[Benoist]

The monk is facing the door correct? Yes.

Did it react to the flaming oil? Not at all.

How far from the door is it standing? Just a few feet away. He is standing in front of it, pretty much.

It is a door correct? Not a blank wall? It is a door. An iron, reinforced door, to be precise.

[skofflox]

Consider away. If nobody else steps forward and you're up for it, you're it.

will give it a go...!

[Benoist]

will give it a go...!

Alright. Just check the Characters thread, and you'll see direct links to each character in the OP there. Then post for Nimten in addition to Runch from there.

[Benoist]

Last chance for Gareth, Smeads, Nimten and Runch to indicate their intents for round 3. If by tomorrow they haven't posted in the IC thread, I'll move on and their actions will be delayed!

[Benoist]

Ulas and Ylarum have not posted their intents for the 4th round of combat yet. Last chance before their actions are delayed.

[Cole]

Ulas and Ylarum have not posted their intents for the 4th round of combat yet. Last chance before their actions are delayed.

Ulas will just hold his position for the moment - don't want to fire into the melee.

[Benoist]

OK, seen the post.

[Drohem]

Rissthil needs healing.

Although, I would definitely say to heal anyone in the party who is conscious and injured currently; or, better yet, save until this mix up is over just in case.

[Benoist]

Ah. Trust the player of the character to think about it.

[skofflox]

Rissthil needs healing.

Although, I would definitely say to heal anyone in the party who is conscious and injured currently; or, better yet, save until this mix up is over just in case.

So be it. You are on the top of the list when the scrum is fate accomplii!

[Benoist]

So be it. You are on the top of the list when the scrum is fate accomplii!

So are you doing something else instead this round?