Sir Cal

Half-Orcs are available for selection as a playable race. A lot of my feedback is going to echo what Azad said. Were you to apply the +1 bonus to a Strength of 18, it would end up giving you an additional ten percentiles on your exceptional strength score. I’ll have to agree that the authors of OSRIC inadvertently created some confusion by reporting 18(00) as 19. For our purposes, we’ll record it as 18(00), should someone happen to achieve that score.

The extra ten percentiles are nothing to sneeze at. Depending on where your roll lands, the additional ten points could move you a step forward in terms of Strength bonuses.

Ranzarth

My input may not be as helpful as that of your fellow adventurers. I know at this stage, we have two magic users on board. Now, with a large party, having three isn’t out of the question by any means. I’m generally supportive of participants taking on a role they enjoy. I will say that any of the other classes you’ve could prove helpful, particularly the Paladin or Ranger. Just my two cents.

Azad

First, to make certain that the instructions from the Character Creation thread are clear, arcane spellcasters (Magic Users and Illusionists) are to choose the spells that are included in their spell books. They do not roll for them randomly.

Secondly, I neglected to address the required Read Magic spell in said instructions. Yes, every Magic User has to have it, but don’t count it against the number of first level spells you can select. You will have it in addition to the five spells you choose.

Likewise, I didn’t factor in the impact of a high Intelligence score on the number of spells that would be available to a Magic User. So, go ahead and select a second 5th level spell for inclusion in your spell book.

My sincere apologies for the oversights.

Having the paper folded and bound into a small book is completely acceptable.

In the past, I have to confess that I was never a huge stickler when it came to tracking material spell components, so I will be adopting the 3.5 “hand wave” method here. Once each of the spellcasters has made their final spell selections for inclusion in their spell books, I’ll look the list over and alert the mage in question about any spells where keeping up with available material components will be important.

Lastly, several of you have sent suggestions for magic items for your characters. Know that I’m in receipt of those requests and will be sending feedback your way in the next day or so.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Wed 17 July 2019.

We used the HO +1 are as the next category, not +10%.  But they were always limited to 18:99. Only humans can reach 18:100

As a fighter. It would be nice to have someone in the party in the exceptional STR category.  Lumwik didn't make it there.

He will be able to hold his own with his axe.

In reply to Lumwik (msg # 37):

One way or other, I expect I'll be bringing high Str to the table. I've been eying up a DPS build; I assume Lumwik is looking at a more tank build?

I'm not sure what a DPS build is, but yes. Lumwik should be able to take a lot of damage. And avoid some too.

What do we do before Google?  He will still be able to do enough damage. But his high stat is CON rather than STR.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Wed 17 July 2019.

I'm still learning towards Mage/Thief but I will think on it a couple more days and finalize by Sunday.

How are we going to handle strength bonuses for 2H weapons and fighting with 2 weapons? These rules seem to get changed with each edition...

I don't see anything in OSRIC about it at all. Nothing for 2H weapons.

For fighting with a weapon in each hand, rules I can find say:
-2/-4 to hit for primary/2ndary hands,
subtract dex attack bonus from those penalties,
2ndary hand can only be dagger or hand axe

By the book, I'd interpret the two weapon fighting as giving you full strength bonus for both hands. With a high strength, that way more than compensates for the to hit penalties.

I believe, based on my review of the Players Handbook and Dungeon Masters Guide, that weapons that must be wielded with two hands already account for any advantages in using them in the damage values they are assigned, coupled with the user’s Strength bonuses toward said damage. If you’re talking about using a one handed weapon with two hands, you’re correct. An initial review suggests to me that the rules are silent on the matter, which would indicate that going “by the book”, there would be no inherent advantage in using both hands to wield a single handed weapon. I’m hesitant to implement something different, if that is the case, but I may look to a few knowledgeable sources (Dragonsfoot, Knights and Knaves) to see if anyone has house ruled something specific on the matter.

Likewise, I’ll see if there’s any discussion that’s come up regarding using a weapon in each hand. OSRIC seems to suggest that a high Dexterity could offset the inherent penalties involved in using two weapons, but since it is silent on Strength, I wonder if only Dexterity is intended to be used as a modifier, suggesting that the fighting style is more based on finesse than brute force. I’ll let everyone know what I discover.

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There have been quite a number of questions that have arisen regarding different aspects of character creation, and I anticipate that there will be more. Taking that into account, does everyone feel that shooting for next Wednesday to start the game is realistic, or do you think additional time might be required? Please let me know and I’ll adjust things accordingly.

I will follow up on magic item requests tonight and tomorrow. Thanks very much for your patience.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:36, Thu 18 July 2019.

I've polished off my spellbook, and everything else is ready. Just waiting for magic items.

I'd considered adding conjure elemental to my spellbook as a capstone spell, but it has a LOT of drawbacks. It takes a full turn (10 minutes) to cast, and I have to maintain concentration the entire time to retain control over it. And I have to stay within 30 feet of it at all times. If I ever stop concentrating -- say, by taking damage of any sort -- it immediately becomes uncontrolled and goes to attack me as soon as it's not in combat.

But wait! There's more! Starting two rounds after the summoning is finished, there is a 1-in-20 chance every round of it breaking free of my control no matter what. Plus there isn't So without a protection from evil spell (or, preferably, the radius version), I'd just be bringing more trouble to the party.

It's worth noting that, while I have the means to summon things like elementals and monsters and such, there isn't a spell to get rid of them should they prove problematic. The only option is to wait for the spell to expire, or kill the critter. I can hedge them out (see protection from evil again), but that's it.

I should be able to be ready to roll by next Wednesday.

I’m pretty sure I’m ready now.  Not every nook and cranny on my sheet is filled out, but the important stuff is done.

My character is a dwarven thief.

For the record, summon spells are a frequent source of DM entertainment.

I would like to try again to forge some pre-expedition relationships between Herodian and a couple of (a few?, some?, several?) other PC's. I haven't set much in the way of background information yet.
What I know about Herodian at this point is that he is a half-elven cleric/magic-user. The deity he worships is either good or neutral aligned on the good/evil spectrum, and they have either the magic, knowledge, reason, or wisdom domain as part of their portfolio. The following are likely candidates:

• Allitur
• Boccob
• Corellon Larethian
• Delleb
• Lirr
• Rao
• Saint Cuthbert
• Titania

Without going into detail I would like to point out that there are some potential benefits to having a good working relationship with a cleric. ;>

PM me if you're interested.

Is it just me, or does a glance at the cover of OSRIC look like the skeleton is doing Jazz Hands?

To me, it looks like the skeleton is looking down and seriously contemplating whether or not to push a button, even though he doesn’t know what it does.

"Hm. I think I may have wet myself."

Are we the only two dwarfs so far?

Lumwik should be ready to go for wednesday.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Sun 21 July 2019.

I built an elf fighter/mu. Waiting on dm review before putting on finishing touches.

Okay, to the best of my knowledge, here is where the party composition stands, as of this morning:

• Azad Rola - Human Magic User
• Herodian - Half-Elf Cleric/Magic User
• Lumwik - Dwarf Fighter
• Sir Cal - Elf Fighter/Magic User
• Salenth Ravanys - Human Cleric
• Wandreck - Dwarf Thief

That is all of the completed character sheets I have received.

As it sits, unless I hear from those that haven’t finalized their characters later today, I don’t believe that tomorrow will be realistic for starting the game. Depending on the responses I receive, I may ask for one or two players to take the places of those who have gone silent, or generate NPCs to fill those spots. Whatever the case, I will keep everyone informed on how things are progressing, with the goal of getting the game rolling as quickly as possible.

I have noted that several of you have been working to establish prior ties with your fellow adventurers. I think that’s fantastic and want to express my appreciation for your efforts. Thank you!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:16, Tue 23 July 2019.

Yes, entirely my bad.  Been rough getting the time to work on a character.  I will get started with the basics today and I'll let you know where I stand later this evening.

Thanks, Harkmur.

I’ve updated the list because I overlooked information on a completed character that one of the players dutifully submitted to me. My sincere apologies, Salenth.

In the good news department, there’s a great deal of spell casting power on the party’s side.

I have a good portion of my sheet done already. Though I need to pick spells and work on magic items

Another five dwarves and we’re ready to rock.

What would a 17 Int give me as far as bonus spells? As my minimum number of spells understood per level is 8. Though not sure how that effects our spellbooks.

I want to preface this statement with this: The way I view my job as Dungeon Master, my priority is to make the game engaging and fun, and to adjudicate the rules in a fair and impartial manner. So, please understand, I’ll work with whatever mix of characters end up venturing into the Barrier Peaks, and let the dice fall as they may.

That being said, I want to be sure everyone is okay with this:

With Ranzarth as a thief/magic user, that gives the party four magic users (single or multi classed)...

...and two fighters, one single classed and one multi classed. No rangers or paladins.

I’ll grant that clerics can serve as very effective combat support, but generally it’s the fighters that serve as the front line.

Is everyone good with that composition for the party?

---

Ranzarth, I’ll shoot you a PM about your spells.

I am good with the party composition. Hirelings are a thing in 1e. So we may have to fill some of our ranks with them as well.