The Unseen Servant forums

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Board:

Rules. Note we'll use the Optional Rules.








Gardner Fox is credited for game design and the rules. Anyone read his stuff? I have a Kothar book as yet unread on my shelves. Kothar and Lin Carter's Thongor and John Jakes' Brak the Barbarian were all capitalizing on Lancer's paperback Conan bonanza. I've read a couple of Thongor and Brak short stories and they were alright. As Appendix N aficionados will know, Fox was an influence on Gygax for his sword-and-sorcery books like barbarian swordsman Kothar and the warlock warrior Kyrik in the '60s and '70s. Fox was more popularly known as the co-creator of DC's Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Zatanna and the original Sandman.


Portrait of Gardner Fox by Gil Kane

James Ward of Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World fame is co-developer.

Game Set Up:

Choose your color piece (including a second choice) among the options in the spoiler below. Announce if you will be a warlock or a warrior, and feel free to add character color if you'd like.

Then roll a d100 (to avoid ties compared to 2d6), highest goes first and rest follow in order of rolls.

I'll be green (2nd choice red), a barbarian warrior named Kothar and I rolled a 53. Play order [1d100] = 53
Play order/color based on rolls (see below):

1st: DadsAngry/Red/Warlock Samson
2nd: Rex/Green/Warrior Rex
3rd: Norjax/White/Warrior Throll
4th: Grog/Blue/Warrior Kothar
5th: Mant72/Yellow/Warrior Boris the Brave
6th: OgreMage/Black/Warlock SnakeEyes

I’ll be yellow (2nd choice blue), a warrior named Boris the Brave. I rolled a 38. Play Order: [1d100] = 38

Rex

First choice is Green, second is Black

[1d100] = 95

I'll choose Black (Red second).
I will play a Wizard named Samson.

Play order [1d100] = 100

You do realize this is not how the rules state to start. We should roll 2d6 and the highest gets to move first and gets control of the princess.

I went with d100 instead of 2d6 to avoid ties and rerolls, which in PbP slow down the game. Though we still have a few others yet to roll, with a 100 it looks like Samson will likely go first with the princess in hand. You get to name the princess.

Hey gang!

I’ll take Blue (or Pink) and play a Warlock named SnakeEyes.

Starting Order [1d100] = 18

And go last.

I'll take Red (alt. White) as a Warrior named Throll.

Play Order = [1d100] = 67

Forgot to pick a class, I am going with a Warrior named Rex.

First Turn

Okay, rolls are in and here is the order/colors:

1st: DadsAngry/Red/Warlock Samson
2nd: Rex/Green/Warrior Rex
3rd: Norjax/White/Warrior Throll
4th: Grog/Blue/Warrior Kothar
5th: Mant72/Yellow/Warrior Boris the Brave
6th: OgreMage/Black/Warlock SnakeEyes

Below is a close-up of the first section. Start space is the sea port at the bottom. Nice Darlene and Dave Sutherland art. The Eye of the Beholder documentary about D&D artists is free on Amazon Prime Video and has some nice profiles of the old artists.


Okay guys, roll 2d6 and state if you're striking inland on the northeastern or northwestern road from the seaport! Please label your roll, it'll be easier to track in archive (e.g. W&W, turn one.) I'll place the pieces and show picture of board when all rolls are in. And like at a real table, feel free to make small talk or jokes along the way. Even farting is okay because only you can smell it.

My roll is 12, and I'll take the northeast passage. W&W, turn one - [2d6] = 12 Or should I say, "with rippling thews and pantherish grace Kothar leaps upon his horse and gallops northeast!"

Throll spurs his horse northwest, looking for the tavern.

W&W Turn One = [2d6] = 6

Rex

Rex also heads NW.

W&W turn one [2d6] = 7

The princess's name is Penelope

Samson takes the NE path.

W&W, turn one - [2d6] = 6

SnakeEyes sneaks up the Northeastern passage with his nose and mouth covered, avoiding the crowds at the tavern and beyond.

WW1 [2d6] = 6

Boris the Brave strikes down the NE path on a fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, "Hi Ho Silver!"

W&W Turn 1: [2d6] = 3

The turn one rolls are in:

DadsAngry #1 - 6 Red Warlock Samson NE
Rex #2 - 7 Green Warrior Rex NW
Norjax #3 - 6 White Warrior Throll NW
Grog #4 - 12 Blue Warrior Kothar NE
Mant #5 - 3 Yellow Warrior Boris the Brave NE
OgreMage #6 - 6 Black Warlock SnakeEyes NE

Norjax's Throll the Warrior, with 6 along the northwest road, comes upon the "Arrow", which requires going back two spaces, placing him on the fourth space as shown in the picture.

With each rolling 6 along the northeast road, SnakeEyes the warlock comes upon Samson the sorcerer and Penelope the princess! A duel between Warlocks ensues! Will SnakeEyes snatch Penelope, or will Samson sustain his hold on the beauty? Each roll 2d6, high wins. If tie, roll again. Winner advances one space with princess in hand, loser goes back one space.

The board at end of Turn One (prior to duel):

Whole board picture is earlier in this thread.

I'm using a 1980 Grenadier Gold Line AD&D miniature from the "Women" box set for Penelope. A close-up:



Turn Two

Meanwhile, everyone go ahead with 2d6 for turn two!

Kother has a fast horse. I rolled an 11. W&W T2 [2d6] = 11

Throll continues NW after wandering off the trail and getting lost!

W&W Turn One = [2d6] = 5

Rex

Rex continues forward.

W&W turn 2 [2d6] = 6

Boris speeds along the NE trail with hopes of catching up with the damsel.

W&W Turn 2: [2d6] = 4