So that's what an Athalgrim (perhaps) showing favor looks like? Good to know, I suppose -- although that wasn't the type of reward under discussion. I guess just add that quest rule exp exception to the House Rules and that will be that.

It's not a house rule, it's playing by the rules. By giving Quest XP that would be a house rule.

The rules are specific XP for treasure and defeating monsters.

A thief's head is not treasure.

One man's treasure is another man's severed head :) .

Kara, maybe we should try to hire a henchman with more than 2 hps?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Kara is not hiring a henchman. Her who reason for doing so was to have protection from melee attacks, but that is apparently impossible to do. And given that the sum of my four characters have not even come close to 1000 gold total, and the house rule that mages do not automatically get a spell when going up in level, it pushes me away from the old school mentality of hiring any since she would never be able to add a spell.

How much is the cost to exchange money, gems, etc.? Both to buy or sell?
Depending on price, Kara would have wanted to do so, since it is easier to carry a gem than gold.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Loads of negativity here :-(

The 1000gp to add spells is a positive addition to the game as well as the bonus of 3 spells given at 1st level.

Rules as written a magic user starts with 1 spell and can only add spells when they level up.

So with the house rules you get all the spells for levels 1 through to 3 at level 1 and have the added advantage that you can also add more spells whenever you want.

Which version would you prefer?

For treasure there's two choices. Athalgrim will hold any treasure in his vault, if left for a year or you die he keeps it. Thomas Budd will sell gems but expect the exchange to be in his favour.

I sent PM, so as not to offend Derry's sensitivities again.

And Kara leaves her treasure in the vault save for non-gold coins.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Wyndham leaves his coins and silver bar in the vault, save 100gp which he earmarks for traveling expenses.

What's the going rate for retainers?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Retainers come in three flavours;

Non combatants – these cost silver per day, paid before the delve

Men-at-arms – these cost gold per day, paid before the delve

Adventurers – these take a half share, paid after the delve

In reply to DM (msg # 950):

I'm fine. As Kara and my wife have noted, my sensitivities might be legendary but my resentments are ephemeral. I still have some broader concerns about the possibility of sustained progress in these dungeons, but I have voiced them before. My motivation remains, in large part, the regular curiosity of exploration. Why else poke our noses in Harry's lounge? :)

Sorry, is there a number between"cost" and "gold"?

This depends on who turns up after you advertise.

In reply to DM (msg # 956):

What's a ballpark figure for a 1-2 level fighter? : )

The general rules for hiring are here

link to a message in this game

For a Fighter they would a classed adventurer and cost a half share of any treasure and XP.

Men-at-arms and non-combatants are treated as zero level with no XP and no progression.

In reply to DM (msg # 959):

Thanks!

I think we had this discussion over a year or two ago when we encountered six skeletons in the valley cave. I think we ended up killing them from range after they were turned?


I think OSRIC has a clearer rule for turning undead:


In effect, turned undead will turn around and but against a wall to try to escape a cleric and can be killed from behind.

I know we're not playing OSRIC, but what do you think?

Generally speaking when a undead creature is Turned and then if trapped it can easily be destroyed, if not trapped it will continue fleeing. The higher the intelligence of a trapped undead may result in a different outcome however, I say this but suspect it very unlikely that intelligent undead would be successfully Turned for many adventures yet!

DM- is it okay to tell the others ooc what happened, so they can make a more informed decision on actions, or do you want it left strictly ic in explanation?

I'm happy for you to share whatever you want. I expect it might become a regular hazing ritual for whenever a new character joins the party.

PM
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Sun 27 Mar 2022.

I'm just role playing being in the back of the party where I believe it would be difficult to see into a room with 4 other party members ahead of him.

He's not surprised, he just can't see into the room from where he is.

I know you believe that he can't see into the room. I don't know if that's true. I think if it were true that the DM would have noted it.

DM, when the door was opened, could Devin see into the room beyond?

Devin, two characters moved completely out of the way, so not blocking your view, and another went in and engaged the enemy, so also not blocking the view. That leaves one person, and we already know that one person cannot block a doorway physically when trying, much less completely blocking vision.

I will also note that two of the people who you say were keeping you from seeing in are less than 5' tall. You are 5'9", so you can easily see over both Derry and Kara without hindrance.

And finally, Wyndham specifically and immediately said "undead" aloud. Assuming Devin does not have a below average wisdom, that should be indication enough he needs to act. So since you are admittedly not surprised, it would greatly benefit everyone if you did so.

The post stands as is.  I prefer to role play my own 1st level inexperienced character as I believe he would react under the circumstances.

That is fine, and you have every right to do so. There is certainly no dispute on that, and I appreciate that the DM allows such freedom.

But the corollary also exists, that when things like that happen over and over, the other characters also have the right to respond as they believe they would react under the circumstances.