You’ll need your wiles, your wits, and what few strengths you have to endure. Balance is never in your favor. Death is but a moment away, a black vulture feasting on your fears, a vampire leech sucking the essence from your limp flesh and feeble mind. Trust that your success is dependent upon strength of mind and strength in numbers. Your life, a pastel field of nightmares, a grinding of bone and flesh against a landscape of pain and suffering, has bred you for this day.
These rules are strictly fantasy. Those wargamers who lack imagination, those who don’t care for Burroughs’ Martian adventures where John Carter is groping through black pits, who feel no thrill upon reading Howard’s Conan saga, who do not enjoy the de Camp & Pratt fantasies or Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser pitting their swords against evil sorceries will not be likely to find DUNGEONS & DRAGONS to their taste. But those whose imaginations know no bounds will find that these rules are the answer to their prayers. (E. Gary Gygax, Men & Magic Book I, 1973)
But Seriously: We’re just looking to have fun, to kick some monster butt, take all the treasure, and build castles and strongholds and wizard towers and cleanse the land of dirty denizen spawn, or for selfish reasons ☺
You will start as a 0-level character (commoner) and work your way up, fighting tooth and nail, to 1st level where you will choose a class for your character. I would like to make this a space for everyone to sample the “Old School” style of game play, or play the long game, and to give DM’s the opportunity to run an “Old School” module without the challenge of a full time commitment. DM’s and players are expected to bring their unique imaginations to this campaign. I truly believe we can all learn something from each other and am very excited to embark on this journey.
Game Mechanics/Rule System: D&D White Box books 1,2, & 3 (Swords & Wizardry White Box 1st Printing is a close representation) – House rules to be identified & discussed in the campaign thread. (NOTE: You will not be required to purchase anything to play here). Post Rate: 2 times per week Dice Rolls: Players will make most die rolls for themselves, aside from DM adjudication scenarios.
Campaign Info
General Info: This campaign will be a rules lite “Old School” gaming experience. Players will be encouraged to participate in building the world.
Campaign World: Generic world with no specific background except as detailed in each module, to be designed as we move forward. Players will influence the level of depth.
Background/Setting: “A world of the DM's making as a faceless rube exploring for fun and profit” (Paladin).
Adventure Modules: Modules will be a combination of homebrew and published OD&D.
DM(s): DM’s will trade off running modules (DexterWard, Paladin, etc.) as schedules allow. DM’s will be impartial to players or creatures.
Characters start out as commoners (blacksmith, farmer, sailor, cook, etc.) with no backstory (0-level characters).
Players will choose a class for their character upon reaching 1st level.
Run adventures in the classic 0e Old School fashion (see 0e System Concepts section below).
Keep things fast and loose favoring gaming experience over rules.
Willing to allow drop-in players for one-shot adventures
0e System Concepts
Some Basics
NPC's have varying skills based on age, profession, experience, personality traits, motives, goals, etc.
A 0-Level character is an NPC that has chosen to become and Adventurer.
All characters use a single level advancement system.
0e is as much about exploration, searching, and using your brain as it is about combat.
Adjudication, Not Rules
We don’t use Rules, the DM makes Rulings.
Make observations about the environment, then use description to act.
Describe any action you like, seriously, any (use your brain not your character sheet).
DM uses common sense and character pathology to adjudicate the action (DM may ask for a check or roll it himself).
Player Skill Vs. Character Ability
Tell the DM where you’re looking, what you’re doing, and how you’re going to do it (be specific).
There are no rolls to see if an NPC is lying, or to search for traps (use your brain).
Try to keep your character and other part members alive.
Player skills count as much as character skills (use your brain, not the character sheet).
Challenges wont always be tailored to the party’s level (run if you have to).
Heroic Vs. Superhuman
0e begins at a human-sized scale. 0-level characters are barely better than NPC’s.
Character’s never become invincible; they gradually become stronger (think Conan, or Batman).
Player Tips
Use you Player brain and your Character brain to analyze the environment.
Scout, look, listen, and think. Don’t try to kill everything you come across (depletes resources).
Don’t assume you can defeat every obstacle/creature.
Asking lots of questions helps you make informed decisions (DM should paint a detailed picture of the environment; use it).
Protect the weaker members of the party. They have a significant/important role to play. Use them.
Hire and use Cannon Fodder.
Why is your character with the Party? Why?
Action (Intent) Vs Consequence
Success vs. failure is not always black and white (pass/fail). Sometimes your character must weigh taking a chance over staying safe. Will you need a resource later on, or is right now the time to use it? Every action has a consequence. Sometimes it is phenomenally good and other times it will be devastatingly bad. Your character may eventually get the door open, but is what’s behind that door worth the risk? Did beating the devil out of the door for five rounds warrant the reward? Creating a hellish racket might well result in notifying every dungeon denizen within earshot.
What Do You Do?
Try to imagine your character in a living, breathing world, then describe what actions they will take based on the knowledge at hand. Don’t limit yourself to placing your character’s actions into a “skill” or “feat.” Doing so just turns that living, breathing world into a clunky broken one-armed robot with a personality disorder. Describe the actions your character will take based on what you think they can realistically accomplish (within the bounds of their pathology and the environment) or must take to affect a desired outcome. Describe anything you can think of, seriously, you can attempt anything you think your character can mange to pull off. Sometimes you may even need to take an iffy chance to move toward a goal. Swing from the rafters; jump down on unsuspecting (or even suspecting) creatures; Perform acrobatics, slide between the legs of a giant, leap over desks, slap the guard captain, put on a dress and try to woo the Orc sentry, or throw a piece of furniture at the enemy.
What outcome do you hope to accomplish?
What are your intentions?
What approach will bring your character closer to achieving those intentions (goals)?
Is the approach possible (based on pathology and environment)?
Now describe, in as much detail as is needed, your character’s actions. Sometimes more is better, but not always. You want to make sure the DM and the rest of the party understand your intentions. If an approach is even remotely possible, if beating the door senseless for five rounds will open it, then the approach is possible and there is no sense in making a roll. Simply state your intension: “I/we beat the door senseless until it opens”. The DM will adjudicate accordingly.
Consider The Following:
ACTIONS VS. OUTCOME: What possible outcomes can your actions produce?
APPROACH VS. INTENT: Does your approach move the character or party toward a desired goal?
SUCCESS VS. FAILURE VS. CONSEQUENCE: What possible consequences can the success or failure of your character’s actions produce (for themselves and the party)? (This is a tough one, because you don’t know what might be around the next corner, and you don’t know what action right now will hinder or help a subsequent encounter later on; resources are always a premium)
BAD, WORSE, & OH CRAP!: You may have to choose between the lesser of three evils, or give up one thing for another—or even worse, choose between what your character would do (pathology/desire) and what they should do (the greater good of the party).
What If An Action Is Borderline Pass/Fail?
If the approach has no hope whatsoever of succeeding, if it is absolutely outside of the realm of possibilities, the DM will most likely suggest you modify your character's actions prior to the summary round (if they’re nice).
If the approach is borderline, if failure will have a significant outcome on the trajectory of the character/party, the DM will ask for a check or roll it for the party. The outcome of the roll will determine the level of success or failure (scaled: 1 very bad, 18 awesome).
Adjudication
The DM will analyze the environment and the character’s pathology to determine if a character's actions are possible. If they are easily or moderately accomplished…Whoohoo! Success! If they straddle the line, the DM will ask for a check (or roll it himself) based on the appropriate attribute. The DM will only ask you to roll if the action has a significant chance of adversely affecting the character or party in some significant way. The degree of success or failure will then be based on a roll of the dice (random, fate, or otherwise). Not all characters have the same chance of succeeding at a particular task (a Halfling has a much better chance of sneaking up and stabbing the guard captain than a Half-Giant).
Reference Material/Inspiration
A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming (Matthew J. Finch and Mythmere Games)
D&D White Box (Books I, II, III)
Swords & Wizardry White Box (1st Ed.)
Last edited by DexterWard on Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:19 am, edited 3 times in total.
Yes, thank you, DexterWard, happy to join the list of players. After reading through the Campaign Info and hidden 0e System Concepts sections, I have a few character options prepared. I will standby for your character creation guidelines and take your lead on what works best.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
DexterWard, any idea when the Admins will be able to respond to your request for a new game fourm? or how long it typically takes to turn around such a request?
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
The forum was created earlier today. I will start adding the pertinent threads and populating with campaign info tonight and tomorrow. I will post Campaign ID and forum link here shortly.
Bluetongue wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 5:10 am
Do you have space for another old timer playing 'grandad's edition' of d&d as my cheeky kids describe?
Hogan, dungarees and pitchfork off the farm to adventure.
Absolutely!!!
Happy to have you.
I would challenge your "cheeky kids" as to why there are so many new OSR RPG's out now
Also I'm fine with playing the "grandad edition."
But yeah, it's not for everyone. I've played many different RPG's and they all have a place in their own unique way.
I will get you added to the Forum here shortly. Expect a PM from me as well with next steps.
Hello. Any more room for this game? I'll admit that I'm a newbie to OD&D, but I'm willing to pick up the rules. I already created a quick character and post it to the forum.
Last edited by Nemesis on Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Welcome Nemesis. Dig the lich avatar!
Just an FYI we have a two post moderation policy. It’s been a big anti-spam aid. Since your first two posts require Admin approval they will be a wee bit delayed. But after that you are free to post without delay, join games and use the Private Messaging function. Again, welcome to Unseen Servant it’s a great place to game with lots of great supportive folks to game with!
This is a game about killing things and taking their stuff so you can become more powerful in order to kill bigger things and take even better stuff.
Alethan: I'm good with NOT pressing our luck this time. mjulius: That's how I know I'm home. Pulpatoon: The whole point of PbP is to take the scheduling pressure off the game. We're just chatty because we're so eager! Scott308: ...everyone should be reminded of just how wonderful the people they play games with here can be in real life. Leitz: Quality and quantity wise, I think US is the best I've seen. Paladin: I can promise terror, glory, and riches...or a quick and brutal death. Inferno: Come on! That's was Vicar's Head, a completely different doomed village! Rex: I can move to the wait list to let someone else into the game.
Nemesis wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 3:51 am
Hello. Any more room for this game? I'll admit that I'm a newbie to OD&D, but I'm willing to pick up the rules. I already created a quick character and post it to the forum.
Definitely have room for you. Welcome to The Party. I will add you to the forum now and PM you some info.
Nemesis wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 3:51 am
Hello. Any more room for this game? I'll admit that I'm a newbie to OD&D, but I'm willing to pick up the rules. I already created a quick character and post it to the forum.
Definitely have room for you. Welcome to The Party. I will add you to the forum now and PM you some info.
