Questions For the DM

[dmw71]

Please try and keep all questions for the DM in this thread.

[Alethan]

Question: So you can use combinations of your d4 rolls to get a stat score up to 18. At what point do you add racial adjustments to stat scores? Before or after you apply your d4 rolls? (e.g. can an elf conceivably have a starting DEX of 19 after creation is all said and done?)

[Alethan]

After looking into it, let me partially answer my own question by stating that, statistically, it doesn't really matter. I'd be better off to try and come up with a 17 for a stat that offered a racial adjustment of +1, which would bump it up to 18, because there is no additional benefit to having a 19. The other d4 roll could be better used elsewhere.

You don't know how close I was to hiding the ability modifier tables until after the player decided upon their final ability scores; sending the actual modifiers to the player after the fact.

As a player, I'm occasionally guilty of shuffling my raw ability scores to my advantage, but that was more a response to how it was almost required to have a 15 or higher to gain any significant benefit from a stat.

I'm hoping, with my relaxed modifier tables, where benefits start coming into play with rolls as low as 12, that players will create the character to their liking without worrying too much about whether a point here or a point there will make a difference.

That said, everyone should feel free to create however they see fit (while abiding by the rules, of course).

(Comments in Green are apparently those of dmw71, who accidentally edited my comment instead of replying to it. )

[dmw71]

Question: So you can use combinations of your d4 rolls to get a stat score up to 18. At what point do you add racial adjustments to stat scores? Before or after you apply your d4 rolls? (e.g. can an elf conceivably have a starting DEX of 19 after creation is all said and done?)

Good question. I can't believe I forgot to include notes about this from the start. To answer your question, yes.

The following changes have been made to the 'Ability Scores' post:
1. The notes on the 'Die Roller Macros' became its own section.
2. The following note was added regarding racial modifiers to ability scores:

Note: Any racial adjustments to ability scores will be factored in after the above process has taken place, but the racial minimum and maximum limits (minus the gender differential) found on the 'CHARACTER RACE TABLE III: ABILITY SCORE MINIMUMS & MAXIMUMS' (1E PHB, page 15) will still be enforced.

[dmw71]

(Comments in Green are apparently those of dmw71, who accidentally edited my comment instead of replying to it.

I was in the middle of composing a PM to you to bring this to your attention when I noticed you already caught it. I guess I'm not used to having admin rights for this forum and must have pressed the 'Edit' button instead of 'Quote.'

My apologies.


I don't remember exactly what your original post said, but at least the heart of the edited post I edited was maintained:

After looking into it, let me partially answer my own question by stating that, statistically, it doesn't really matter. I'd be better off to try and come up with a 17 for a stat that offered a racial adjustment of +1, which would bump it up to 18, because there is no additional benefit to having a 19. The other d4 roll could be better used elsewhere.

My response to the above was:

You don't know how close I was to hiding the ability modifier tables until after the player decided upon their final ability scores; sending the actual modifiers to the player after the fact.

As a player, I'm occasionally guilty of shuffling my raw ability scores to my advantage, but that was more a response to how it was almost required to have a 15 or higher to gain any significant benefit from a stat.

I'm hoping, with my relaxed modifier tables, where benefits start coming into play with rolls as low as 12, that players will create the character to their liking without worrying too much about whether a point here or a point there will make a difference.

That said, everyone should feel free to create however they see fit (while abiding by the rules, of course).

- Dave

[Alethan]

No worries, dmw71.

You have everything I said in quotes; I thought I'd just leave it the way it was.

I've almost done this several times, myself, so no big deal.

[saalaria]

Having just read the interesting discussion on alignment in the RPG discussion section....how do you handle alignment in terms of expected behaviour?
eg is it law vs chaos/good vs evil - eg execution of opposite alignment prisoners/children unpenalised or is it more of a modern moral world?

[Alethan]

There's a pretty good explanation of alignment in the OSRIC manual under the appropriate section heading. Might be worth reading up on it there first.

I think it is more than just "opposites", though. For instance, an evil person might slay a prisoner with an opposing alignment. But that doesn't mean a Lawful Neutral or Neutral Good person would slay an evil prisoner. The Lawful Neutral person would want to hand the prisoner over to the proper authorities to be dealt with fairly. The Neutral Good person would probably see the slaying of a prisoner as not a good thing.

Personally, I'm going to let the DM know what my character's alignment is, but I'm not sure I'll post it on the character sheet. In fact, there might be a few things I leave off, just to make it interesting for the rest of you!

[saalaria]

Re your alignment - yes I like the sound of that - much more fun to be had roleplaying it and see how everyone takes interprets it . This then leads to an OOC 'what's everyone's alignment' game at some point further down the line which would be interesting to see the perception others have built up!

Re alignment in general - yes the books/ rules are all good but of course it depends how dmw runs alignment

[dmw71]

Re alignment in general - yes the books/ rules are all good but of course it depends how dmw runs alignment.

I'm pretty flexible when it comes to alignment. Honestly, I almost thought about eliminating it completely (I guess it's not too late) as I tend to believe that characters tend to reflect the personalities of the players controlling them to a certain extent. Not completely, of course. It doesn't help that the rules allow for alignments to occasionally "slip" without immediate consequence (unless, of course, you're playing a Paladin, or to a lesser extent, a Ranger (and maybe some others I can't think of offhand)).

I really do want to continue my work on the 'Classes' as it is probably more urgent, but I will provide an update to the 'Alignment' thread at some point in the near future. I just need some time to really think about it.

In the meantime, please continue to share your thoughts on the subject as well. I am more than willing to consider the thoughts of this particular group of players as this will be our game.

[Stonjuz]

So, can I start? Creation, that is.

[dmw71]

So, can I start? Creation, that is.

Feel free to roll for your ability scores. One player has already done that, which is totally fine. As for picking classes, however, you'll probably need to wait a bit. Most classes will be customized to some degree (Thieves will are the most heavily modified class... in a good way, I hope) so bear with me a bit longer.

I have some plans which will tie me up for a few hours tonight, but I hope to make a dent in formalizing my rules for the different classes soon.

I was planning on releasing the entire set of 'Classes' rules at the same time, but I might roll them out individually, as they're completed. If there are definitely classes that people know they are interested in playing (do I hear Thief?), let me know so I can focus my attention on pushing those rules out first.


Thanks,
- Dave

[onlyme]

Re your alignment - yes I like the sound of that - much more fun to be had roleplaying it and see how everyone takes interprets it . This then leads to an OOC 'what's everyone's alignment' game at some point further down the line which would be interesting to see the perception others have built up!

Re alignment in general - yes the books/ rules are all good but of course it depends how dmw runs alignment

Agreed all the way around... as long as the dm knows the alignment and the player's interpretation beforehand, any combo is easy ànd fun to roleplay...

[onlyme]

If there are definitely classes that people know they are interested in playing (do I hear Thief?), let me know so I can focus my attention...


I will most likely want to explore the cavalier idea... I have never played 2e or above, so I wouldn't mind doing something not in 1e. That said, since I am the least knowledgeable player, I will probably stick to simpler (fighterish) Pc.

[dmw71]

I will most likely want to explore the cavalier idea...

I actually decided today to eliminate the Cavalier as a class (the Paladin returns to being a sub-class of a Fighter) as it is just too wonky. Typing that sounds funny coming from me as I seem to be customizing everything, but the Cavalier class, as written in the 1E UA rulebook, would require a ton of customization to turn it into something I'd be happy with. If you really are specifically interested in exploring a Cavalier, let me see what I can do.

I have never played 2e or above, so I wouldn't mind doing something not in 1e.

The Cavalier was actually still a 1E class, introduced in the Unearthed Arcana rulebook. Do you have access to 1E UA?

That said, since I am the least knowledgeable player, I will probably stick to simpler (fighterish) Pc.

From a fighting perspective, the Fighter "tree" looks like this:

Fighter
- Barbarian
- Paladin
- Ranger

Any of those classes appealing to you?

[onlyme]

The Cavalier was actually still a 1E class, introduced in the Unearthed Arcana rulebook. Do you have access to 1E UA?

Actually in the mail, thanks to ebay.

[Stonjuz]

Would you allow tri-class halfling ranger/thief/mage?, if lucky enough on the rolls.
Also, i tried to roll stats with...non-human [1d4] [1d4],etc....and im getting this
Microsoft Cursor Engine error '80004005'

Data provider or other service returned an E_FAIL status.

/Default.asp, line 420

[dmw71]

Do you have access to 1E UA?

Actually in the mail, thanks to ebay.

Some of UA I like (and am using). Other parts I don't really care for.

Don't get me wrong, I've played a Cavalier or two in the past and they can be a lot of fun. That said, a single good roll (social class) and they can be insanely powerful, very quickly.

There are other things I don't agree with:
* Improving ability scores
* Functioning at negative hit points
* Multiple attacks with Weapons of Choice as if five levels higher

I'm sure there are others.

Again, if you want to try a Cavalier (and your rolls will qualify you for it), let me know. I'm sure I can work them back in somehow.

[dmw71]

Would you allow tri-class halfling ranger/thief/mage?, if lucky enough on the rolls.

If you get the rolls to qualify for those three classes (the Ranger might make it tough, but good luck!), I'd have no problem with that combination.

Also, i tried to roll stats with...non-human [1d4] [1d4],etc....and im getting this
Microsoft Cursor Engine error '80004005'

Data provider or other service returned an E_FAIL status.

/Default.asp, line 420

I only tested the [1d4] x10 in the Sandbox, but it worked there and assumed it would work in the actual application. I would recommend using the following macro, and just roll it twice:

Non-human: [1d4] [1d4] [1d4] [1d4] [1d4]


That should work without problem, but let me know if you do still do encounter any glitches.

[Alethan]

Would you allow tri-class halfling ranger/thief/mage?, if lucky enough on the rolls.
Also, i tried to roll stats with...non-human [1d4] [1d4],etc....and im getting this
Microsoft Cursor Engine error '80004005'

Data provider or other service returned an E_FAIL status.

/Default.asp, line 420

I think it's caused from rolling too many times at once. I broke mine up (who else would the one person be?) into 5/5/1 d4 rolls and it worked just fine.