Greetings and well met folks.

I will use this thread for official announcements about the game from rules to scenarios etc.  I hope you all enjoy your time here and I look forward to some good old fashioned AD&D role playing.

Earning Experience Points

Over many years of refereeing D&D games I have developed my own system for awarding experience based on defeating monsters, using spells, magic items and other special abilities.  I have a tendency not to award X Points for treasure as the treasure is usually it's own reward.  Division of treasure is generally player based and I don't believe it is fair for players to decide who earns X points based on division of treasure, it can create all kinds of complications we can do without.

At the end of each adventure I will detail X points so you can all see how things pan out.

To advance in levels you will still need to be able to pay for and attend training with an appropriate teacher/mentor.

Custom Rules

4d6 discard the lowest for Ability Scores (keep rolling sets of 6 until 2 scores are 15 or better)

1st level Hit Points re-roll anything under half

No Psionics.

No Evil alignments.

Limited Options from Unearthed Arcana

Weapon Specialization available.

Some new spells available on a case by case situation.

Cantrips are available.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:36, Tue 22 Feb 2022.

I have been asked a couple of times about the Armor Class Adjustment table on page 38 of the PHB.  I will not be using this for several reasons:

I have never used it any of my previous games, in fact no-one in my various playing groups ever used it and it did not detract from our games.  Combat is complicated enough without this and seeing as how we have a quite a large party I would prefer to keep things simple.

Secondly the table is obviously designed for non-magical armor and does not take into account dexterity either, so to use the chart as it is intended just creates more work for everyone come combat time.

The one aspect of the table that may be used because it is useful is the space required to use a weapon.  It would make sense to be able to use weapons in spaces where it clearly is impossible.

The subject of Critical Hits and Misses has raised it's head several times recently.  In 1st edition there are no such thing as critical hits and misses.  As I have not played AD&D beyond 1st edition I have no idea when this concept was introduced but we will not be using Critical Hits & Misses for this campaign.

X Points are awarded individually for the following:

Monsters killed or wounded, awarded proportionately
Magic Items, awarded to the user
M-U spells
Cleric Spells
Thief/Monk Skills

I am not going to detail exactly how many X points are awarded for spells and skills as the amount will vary depending on the circumstances.

If monsters are neutralized by spells then the spell caster will be awarded the points e.g. there is no experience for a fighter killing a monster put to sleep or held etc

If fighters (or any other characters) deliberately allow neutralized monsters to recover so that they can then kill them for the experience, no X Points will be awarded as this is contrary to the spirit of the rule and the game.

I do not award X Points for treasure, the treasure is it's own reward.

Occasionally Bonus X Points may be awarded for achieving a specific objective which would be divided between the party members.

Bonus X Points may also be awarded to individuals for outstanding role playing.

  In order to try and keep the game flowing after combat sessions I am going to tweak the rules regarding characters having to spend a week resting if they have been knocked below 0 hit points but not being killed.
  While the playing group is still at low level (below 3rd) if a character is reduced to between 0 and -3 and is revived before going to -4 or worse, they will not have to spend a week recovering.
  Once characters reach 3rd level the usual rules will apply.