Maybe even a Human Thief who got his hands on a manuscript that trains one to become a monk .. the idea of Dual Classing over to Monk after a few levels of thief would be interesting and not require the introduction of a full culture into the local setting.  Who knows where the manuscript came from or what secrets it will unlock... :)

GM Bard and I had a quick chat; he's cool with hit, but I've grown concerned about all the shortcomings of 1st edition monks, and I don't want to deluge him with "fixes" and house rules, and I don't have access to any of the fixes.

I've always wanted to play a thief that had some minor magic to help with the thieving.  Not to cast fireballs, but to do invisibilities, illusions/misdirections, escapes, that kind of thing.  I'm trying to figure out how to do it best.

One way to do it is dual class MU until I get to the spells I would like, then switch to thief . . . a slow ride, but still.

That's interesting .. . so is dual class MU/Monk.  But the ability rolls to do that are huge . . .

There is actually a couple of kits exactly like that in The Complete Ninja's Handbook. The 'Shadow Walker' is a Ninja with various magical abilities and slightly weaker combat while the 'Shinobi Mage' and 'Shinobi Illusionist' are respectively Magic-Users and Illusionists with some Thief skills and a slightly reduced chance to learn spells by having their Intelligence count for a point or two lower.

Of course that is for 2nd edition unfortunately.

I would not comfortable dual classing a Monk.  It seems more like a calling, a lifelong set of training without much overlap except with the theif class, and that wouldn't make a lot of sense.

That's more than fair.

After lunch, I'll roll my stats.  That could dictate everything.

Good luck! :)

Don't overlook the possibility of the humble Half-Elven Thief/Magic-User. Yes Magic-Users aren't quite as good at trickery as Illusionists but you still get some nifty tricks like Audible Glamour. Just steering clear of destructive spells still leaves you some fun opportunities.

I may have to do that; rolls too low for dual classing.  And I didn't get the 17 needed to be a thief/illusionist. :(  In fact, I'm pretty darn ordinary.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Sun 28 June 2020.

I may have to do that; rolls too low for dual classing.  And I didn't get the 17 needed to be a thief/illusionist. :(  In fact, I'm pretty darn ordinary.
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Bad luck, though you did get an 18 (which I didn't!) Maybe a single class then?

I know it's not what you were looking for but a single class Thief does eventually get to read scrolls and has the fastest progression.

Vala, Gamma didn't drop the lowest die so no 18 :(

Yeah, I just dropped the lowest die manually/mentally.

I think I'll be an elven MU/Thief, multiclassed.

Ah, okay sorry. Still a Thief/MU should be fun, I seriously considered being one myself. :)

I'm warming up to it. :)

fun fact.  fighter/mage and cleric/mage can both wear armor and use weapons ... so if we all want to get matching uniforms we can ;D

And the mages can trade spells around!

I'm mostly done, I think.  Only things left is determining starting spells and the special traits/skills we can select.

Matching uniforms would be nice so long as they are blue - Vala is superstitious. :)

I'd forgotten about special traits/skills. As part of Vala's gear I bought a pair of dice so I'm going say she's a skilled gambler.

I didn't know if they connect to the attribute-related skills (jumping, swimming, etc.) or if they were flavor things like gambling.

Page 39 of the DM Guide has the starting spell guide for MU's.

Read Magic is given,  then you roll 3 d10,  one for offensive, one defensive, and one misc. It lists the spells.  If you roll a 10 on any of those, you can choose within that group.  All MU's start with 4 spells in their book.  If you don't have the 1st Ed. DM Guide, just roll the d10's and I'll tell you what you got.

As for Skills, well, 1st Ed. / OSRIC don't use them.  However, they were a good innovation in later editions to fill in gaps in all those grey areas.  If you want to attempts something that is not covered by your class or race, etc.  Generally, I'll have you roll a D20 against the attribute that would most influence the attempt.  For your character sheets,  just list five things that given your background, you might be extra good at.  Vala's example, of gambling is a good one.  Maybe cooking.  Or Swimming,  Pretty general stuff, and it should have a reason from your past.   Those won't likely come into play that often.

Gamma, we are in luck ... I was able to randomly pull an attack spell :)

"Read Magic, Magic Missile, Affect Normal Fires, Write"

DM Bard, let us know if we have an opportunity to trade spells before game play or if we need to do that IC once we start.

Hey folks, sorry to be a bit slow on HOUSE RULES.  I inherited Stormhaven a LONG time ago, without any of those questions that come up during making a character.

Qyn, I'm going to use the conventional and typical, group meeting up at the local establishment ready to form the next great team beginning.  Tried and true. If the mages meet and want to trade spells I’m fine with it.

However, in 42 years of this game, 1st edition was my favorite but not always perfect.  Sorry if it feels restrictive but I don't mages regardless of their multi class can wear armor.  I'll allow up to leather armor, and beyond that only Elven Chain mail.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Mon 29 June 2020.

Ah, okay .. no problem with the armor restriction on my account.

So, another topic ... Vala, the Raven Queen uses a Bastard Sword ... any issue with me using one also in the group?  If it is then I don't have a problem working with another weapon.  I only ask so that we don't run into a problem later :)

Uh... I kind have it in mind as Vala's personal weapon, and a big part of her goal is finding her ancestor's sword (which of course might be her sword if she is a reincarnation of him.) Even my mental image of Vala's appearance is based on a picture I found (actually of Kitiara from Dragonlance):



To be honest I'd kind of like to keep it as my 'trademark'.

Cool pick.

Speaking of signature things, I hope to fight w/ 2 weapons at least sometimes.  Rules/adjustments are on p. 70 of DMG.

Great.  That's exactly why I asked.  I'm going to go with a Staff ... lots of good can be had down the Staff road.  What 2 weapons are you thinking Gamma?  And are you working on a name other than Gamma :)