The place for all out-of-character discussion.

An 15, 16, and an 18: they must be Jarder's legacy. He could be a paladin, he could, but I'm thinking his high stats might better suit a cleric.

I am also tempted by Paladin as well, but I had initially set my sights on a Ranger when I heard we were using this system. This is one of the best characters I've rolled on RPOL!

Dryvyk rolled 12,9,13,8,17,15

I am playing a slight above average thief.

I thought I'd rolled well, but I think you've got me beat!

If we have a cleric and a ranger and a thief already, I guess I ought to look at magic-user for me.  Let the Lady Arcantryl guide my hand - but you might want to duck just in case!

I ended up picking Paladin, too tempting. I might never roll well enough again!

Okay, paladin it is!  Congrats!

For races we have one dwarf so far - anyone else thinking demi-human?  I'm trying to decide on that myself, but a bit concerned about potential level limits.

I'll worry about level 12 if I ever get there...

I'm playing a dwarf because a halfling is too cliche.

In reply to Dryvyk (msg # 6):

d8 for LL pally hps

LL -- speaking of paladins, we can't have one char starting at 2.725k exp and another, say, a cleric, starting at 1.565k exp? This is the age of equity, after all.

I think you've got the right approach Ishmael.  I'm going to go with an elf magic user.

Yeah, being in a PbP game long enough to level cap is rare.

a human paladin, dwarf thief, elf magic user and a cleric... no room for interparty conflict there...

As a reminder, I want to make certain that everyone is using the Advanced HD option with regard to hit dice/hit points.

I'll post the table here for ease of reference:


If your class isn't listed on the table, you'll use the hit die specified in the original class description.


While I'm sympathetic to that line of reasoning, the flip side is that the cleric will reach third level after accruing 1,560 experience points. The paladin will have to collect 2,730 to achieve third (i.e. 1,170 more XP). So, in my mind, it's reasonable for both to start at the point where they've both just crested second level.


Just so I'm on record as having said it now: Having drawn out disagreements inside the catacombs is not advised.

Of course not. Which means it bound to happen!

Greetings fellow players. I will be joining this intrepid band of non-arguing PCs in their quest to pillage tombs.

No idea what I will be playing, as the dice have yet to decide. But if the dice roller treats me with the usual disdain, I expect I will be playing a torchbearer or maybe a scullery maid!

18:48, Today: Barnabus rolled 5 using 1d8.  L2 hps.
13:22, Today: Barnaby rolled 5 using 1d6.  lev 2 hps.

How about that? It was fated.


...and I had been flirting with running a gnome cleric/illusionist.

I like scullery maid - I hate doing dishes!  :)

Welcome aboard and best of luck with the dice roller!

I didn't have the rolls to play an illusionist/thief so I just picked the lockpicker.

Let there be a linkboy!


I, too, tried to console myself with the happy proximity of 3rd level. It nearly worked.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 15):

Well damn! 15,14,18,12,13,9 - I could play a paladin!

But two paladins in a party would just be overbearing, I think I am leaning ranger - but I will contemplate a multi-class too. Hmmmmmm.

I vote ranger (as if what I think matters).  I also vote single class, if only because multi-class advances so slowly.

Of course, please play whatever you really want to play.  As long as you'll still do the dishes...

Question to the DM from a LL Advanced newbie, are we using:

1. the Age-based attribute adjustments?
   
2. the combat options under "New Rules"?
   - Specifically two-weapon fighting; and if so, does the DEX attack modifier affect the -2/-4 as it did in AD&D? (I'm guessing this is an oversight in the rules.)
   
3. Infravision? It is under this section as optional.

Any idea on how you will set levels for multi-class? Class with lowest XP required will be at L2 and the others will L1 with an equal amount of XP?

Barnaby: looks like you short-changed your self on gold - 3d8 not 3d6!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Sun 26 Sept 2021.

1. I’m not really inclined to utilize the age related ability adjustments. I feel as though the standing ability scores do a fair job of accounting for each character’s capacities at the time they enter the campaign.
   
2. I think this might be an instance where information that was included in the Advanced Labyrinth Lord book that didn’t get fully defined in earlier iterations of the rules. I am fine with characters using advanced combat options like additional attacks for fighter classes, parrying, and subdual damage. Specifically with regard to fighting with two weapons, let me quote the rule as given in the Advanced Labyrinth Lord book, which basically defines things exactly as you indicated:
   
   
   quote:

   Two-weapon fighting:  Characters may attack with a weapon in each hand. The primary weapon must be one that can be wielded with one hand, and the secondary weapon must be small, like a dagger. There is a penalty to hit of -2 with the primary weapon and -4 with the secondary weapon. Adjustments to hit from high or low attributes are applied to each weapon attack.  However, bonuses may only eliminate an attack penalty, they can never add up to a bonus to hit when using two weapons. This rule does not apply to bonuses from magical weapons.
   
   
3. Yes. Those demi-human kindreds that would possess infravision will benefit from it as described.
   
4. If anyone elects to multi-class, my thought was much the same is yours. The class with the lowest experience point requirement is the class that they would begin at the second level of experience. The other classes would start at level one with the same amount of experience accrued for the class at second level applied to them.

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Mon 27 Sept 2021.

In reply to Dax (msg # 18):

Wow! Nice rolls! I'm fine with another Paladin in the group, but with those rolls you have good Prime Reqs for a Ranger and getting the XP bonuses.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 22):

Yeah, I prefer a ranger in any case.

As to the bonuses, that was my last question for the night:

The Ability Prime Requisite table has 0%, 5%, and 10% bonus depending on the score in the PR.

Ranger has three Prime Requisite: STR, INT, WIS.

Dax has scores of 18, 12, 15, respectively which equates to XP bonuses of 10%, 0%, and 5%.

What should I use for XP bonus?

You've gotta have all three or you get no bonus. That's what makes Rangers hard. My rolls didn't quite do it either.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 24):

Doh! I should have thought of that! Oh well, who needs an XP bonus anyway!

DM" I will stick with "Dax Moonblade" as a name.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Tue 28 Sept 2021.

Paladins. (um... and Magic-users)

Hey all. Excited to join this group. I will be playing Grugar, a half-orc fighter.

Of course, looking at my stat rolls (10,7,6,11,11,14), he might be the most average mercenary you've ever met!

I will work on his sheet later tonight, but for now wanted to pop in and say hi.

It's the 18 str that will generate the exp.


That's a pretty deflating array. Maybe LL will grant a reroll of the 6 or 7?

Our generous LL has granted a reroll opportunity, but alas Crom has demanded the Grugar be his most average warrior, and so it shall be! Hahaha

11,12,9,9,9,12

It actually is a better set with the two 12's that can become two 13's via half-orc breeding methods.

Statically that is true... but man it looks boring. At least the other set has some dynamics to make for an interesting character, like only being able to partially write and having horrible charisma. Those 2 dynamics fit well with my char concept and might be worth losing the +1 hp per level to make for an interesting half-orc.

Grugar is a no-nonsense mercenary that will do "whatever it takes" to get the job done. Grugar copes with his fears and insecurities by berating and often humiliating his inferiors. He feels that strength and force are the answer to all problems and has little respect for anyone that is not a proven warrior.

LL won't even need to build encounters... With this group we'll probably be creating plenty on our own.

One might think you've had some unsavory supervisors.

LL -- what party size were you contemplating?

Welcome Grugar the Mediocre - with the personality characteristics of a middle-manager! :-)

Once you get some plate mail and a +1 sword the stats will not be so bad.

yeah, but he'll still just be a mediocre half orc...  :)

Oh, I see this will be a fun group of players and characters alike!

This a party composition found in an epic novel, we're just missing the comic relief halfling .

Human Cleric
Human Paladin
Dwarf Thief
Elf Magic User
Half Elf Ranger
Half Orc Fighter

But, are you? =3


Halfling 'Archer'

Also Barrowmaze Trailer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wKQq8gLDXE
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Wed 29 Sept 2021.

GM, Any ideas as to how we are going to meet/get together/get started? Is there a common starting hook/background element or something?

Aaand, that's a wrap. Roll the credits.

Gwendolyn travelled to Helix from Bogtown, by Crom! Now I just need to figure out why she did =p

Exactly what we have now. Seven is, at least from my perspective, a manageable number. To be completely honest, if I let it get larger than that, I end up having a difficult time keeping everyone straight. I always feel badly if I overlook someone’s question or input. This is right at the level where I feel as though I have a good handle on things.


Yes, there is. Part of the reason for me wanting characters to begin at second level, beyond increasing chances of survivability, is that each of you has had enough experience to be known within some local circles. The party members are invited to Helix by a patron, who is hoping to obtain certain items of value from the Barrowmaze.

That said, if any of you want to create prior histories with your fellow adventurers, you’re certainly welcome to do so.

Apologies for the double post. One of the adventurers brought up the question of Secondary Skills. There’s always a chance that a character’s experiences prior to delving into ancient ruins can benefit them in some way. If you haven’t already, go ahead and make a percentile roll on the Secondary Skills table to determine what training your character previously received.

Takes a little wiggling, but seems Ishmael was a huntsman...

Since I'm playing him as an explorer of freshly discovered caverns, I suppose that could fit.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Thu 30 Sept 2021.

Apparently Gwendolyn has experience as a Shipwright. Hmmmm....

I've always thought about building a cedar strip canoe.  But I don't have a need for a canoe...

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 44):

I read this a couple of days ago...https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada...ic-project-1.6189991

Ishmael: "Be vewy, vewy quiet...I'm hunting cave wabbits."

And Dax has experience making barrels!

Well, I've experience as a butcher, so bring me your kills Ishmael and I'll carve 'em up, and we can store the extra smoked and salted meat in Dax's barrels that we ship on Gwendolyn's boats!

That is pretty impressive work.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 47):

It boggles me what some people can do just from watching YouTube!

That would have been a feat for woodworker!

I'm thinking we might just skip Barrowmaze and set up an import/export business.

Go figure.... the ignorant average half orc has 2 skills, butcher & furrier. Waste not, want not.

21:57, Today: Grugar rolled 100 using 1d100.  Secondary Skill.
21:57, Today: Grugar rolled 73 using 2d100 with rolls of 21,52.  Secondary Skills (Roll for 2).

The Paladin and Cleric have been awfully quite - maybe they took vows of silence =p

Or maybe they are plotting their halfling sacrifice to their false gods.....

They may have...secrets =p

Just for everyone’s information: I intend to put up the opening post to the game proper either tomorrow or Monday at the very latest. If that’s not workable for anyone, please be sure to let me know.

Sounds good to me. Or we could just start a game of village and assume the full-time practice of our secondary professions.

7 is probably the right number. It's 5 or 6 when you have to balance the encounters just so.

In reply to Gwendolyn (msg # 39):

Dax and Gwendolyn are the same age and both born in Bogtown. Do you want them to remember each other from their childhood? Not besties, but likely hung around in the same group.

Dax's full emo story can be read on his biography.

Dax,

I am from Thornswild Forest myself.  I spent the last handful of years in the capital, but if you were there for more than a decade it’s possible we ran across one another.  If you’re interested.

M

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 56):

That works for me. Gwendolyn could be the link to his earlier time being raised with humans and Malivoire could be the link to time with the elves.

I feel I could write an angsty novella about how he was part of two worlds but didn't fit in either! So he got a great big sword and went hunting ghoulies.

So, passing knowledge of each other? Or closer ties? I left the background fairly vague.

Malivoire was a bit of an outsider - weak and not really suited to the "manly" pursuits of the clan.  So maybe we gravitated to one another as misfits?  As Rudolph would say, we were "...independent together!"

Sir Dryvyk's family holding, Drakeholme, lies on the fringes of the Blackened Forest just beyond Helix. However, the young knight has spent a good amount of time training at the Castle in Ironguard Motte. His family has been very close to the Ironguards over the years, but recently there was something of a dust-up between Dryvyk and Krothos Ironguard, threatening to become a bitter rivalry.

Sir Dryvyk serves St. Ygg, quite devoutly. Not sure what God Barnabus follows, but they may know of each other through religious interaction? They both look a little haunted...

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 58):

Perfect! Welcome to the island of misfit toys!

Ishmael is a bit of an anomaly. He was willing to venture out of under the Moon Peaks, and search the lands above.  He took well to sneaking and tracking, and following the beasts that roam the unforgiving peaks.  In time his penchant for exploring called him back underground.  As caverns were enlarged, fissures and other new passages were often discovered, and Ishmael would be sent in to see where they lead, and what they might hold before they were opened up to the clan proper.

Now he seeks after Barrowmaze to see if something belonging to the dwarves was taken there and hidden.  Even if that means working with tall folk.

I hadn't really thought about her early life in Bogtown. The other children probably thought of her as a runt since she was smaller than them. They may have known of each other.

In reply to Gwendolyn (msg # 62):

Maybe they knew each other; I'm guessing it is not a large town.

Maybe that, "Don't I know you?" moment when shortly after they meet.

Honestly, I haven't given it much thought other than "Bogtown seems like a place Grugar would gravitate toward."

I guess that half-orcs mature quickly. Rolled 18 for starting age and he already somehow has been a butcher and a furrier. Maybe it's more that he is like a psychopath child that tortures and murders animals and he just claims he is a butcher/furrier, then moved on to being a mercenary for hire... I might need to reconsider his alignment. LOL

LL, are you thinking of setting up private language groups?

I can certainly do so. I’ll do my best to get them in place this weekend.

Fyi the wife and I escaped for a getaway at the beach until Tuesday. My posting will likely be limited to once a day later in the evenings until then.

Beach sounds great on a grey and rainy October day. Enjoy!

Indeed, I'll second that!  A little past beach weather here...

The language groups are in place. If anyone finds themselves able to understand something they shouldn’t, please let me know. :)

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 69):

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Even though we had a sunny, warm day, it was no day for the eastern Atlantic.

The Atlantic was just fine. The rest of the weekend will probably be a mess with the rains coming. Still better than being at home and working!!

And I meant western Atlantic. You see, I grew up on the west coast so the Atlantic has always been to the east to me.

OK, fine, it's too cold to go to a beach in Massachusetts. Wife and I stop beaching in August. Well, I just go along to be with her. I can't abide beaches with their sand, sun, and water.

Although it's not "lying on a towel" beach weather anymore (which is boring anyway), there are still some picturesque shores in Massachusetts.  Hope the two of you had a good day in any event!

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 74):

She likes spending a week in Westport for Horseneck Beach.

We are in Cape May and it might be our favorite time of year here. Mid 70s, warm water still lingering, massive monarch and bird migrations, far fewer crowds, several fall festivals, and we always love the Victorian architecture here... 2nd (in quantity) to San Francisco.

OK, back from our little getaway. Can resume regular posting a little later today.

This was my thought on how to proceed forward:

If any of you had any specific equipment you wanted to procure from the merchant, you could identify those items here in the OOC thread and then add them to your respective character sheets. If it feels more appropriate to have a thread accounting for group resources like rations and the like, I can certainly set one up.

In terms of the next in-character thread, I intended to move things ahead to the guides escorting the adventurers out to the tomb complex.

I also plan to provide each of you with a rumor about the moor passed on during your time at the inn.

If any of that needs to be adjusted, I’m entirely open to doing so. If you’d prefer to role play shopping at the merchant’s store, we can do that. Just let me know.

Maybe an opportunity for the characters to chat over dinner at the inn.

For buying equipment, I am fine just making lists and asking questions in this thread.

Are we using the Carrying Capacity rules from LL Basic?
Does Turgen have plate mail available?

Dax has a crowbar and 5 days rations to throw into the group equipment pile.

Should we go with lanterns and oil or torches? Do we need picks and shovels?

Barnabus will require plate mail and a mace of disruption.

I should think a conversation in the coach out to Barrowmaze would work as well. We could share our rumors.

The half-orc came prepared grave robbing treasure hunting, but if this guy is handing out plate armor count me in!



Not sure how far the travel is, but since we have a cart, might as well stock up on food, water, light sources, etc. and maybe setup a base camp to operate from.

Malivoire is the opposite of Grugar.  Other than some personal camping gear like a bedroll and such, he's unequipped to tackle a dungeon.  He's also physically weaker than average, meaning his carrying capacity is low.  So he won't be able to carry all the shovels and iron spikes and mallets.  Maybe he can carry all the empty sacks?

Grugar has it right for the wagon - let's stock up and make a base camp where we can return to stock up as needed.  I think with Barnabus and Sir Dryvyk we'll need light sources, so that should be a priority.

Sir Dryvyk has a hired squire and could easily hire a torchbearer or two with his share of the Advance, justifying it as helping others to be gainfully employed. I think he'd advocate for the establishment of a base camp.

And yes, if there's platemail available, Sir Dryvyk would be interested! ;-)

Regarding the equipment available to the adventurers:

Turgen’s Trade Goods will be able to provide the party with general adventuring equipment and gear. In essence, anything on the Adventuring Gear and Items or Clothing lists he will have on hand. He can also provide both unpreserved and trail rations.

Turgen doesn’t handle weapons or armor. Most such items can be procured from Karg Barrelgut, the lead smith and owner of The Axe and Anvil, the lone smithy in Helix. Karg can craft plate mail armor, but each set must be ordered and paid for in advance and the smith will need to obtain some of the required materials from Ironguard Motte. The total construction time for such armor is a week per set. Karg does not supply bows and arrows. Those must be purchased from Valeron, the village’s resident bowyer.

Note that Mazzahs has only agreed to pay for general equipment that the adventurers would require from Turgen’s mercantile. The cost of any additional weapons or armor the party members might want to obtain would have to come out of their own pockets.

Should the adventurers wish to hire a torchbearer, such a hireling could be located by asking around at the Brazen Strumpet.

I’ve set up an interlude thread for the adventurers to discuss their upcoming expedition. When everyone is ready to move forward, I’ll shift the scene to the next day, and the Barrowmoor.

Will we be getting our rumors to use for the interlude scene?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Mon 25 Oct 2021.

I should be able to send them to you via PM later this evening.

Excellent!

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 84):

Thanks for clarifying the equipment. I thought plate mail for everyone would be a bit much, but I had to ask! :-)

Mazzahs said that the ranger and the bowyer will guide us in and show us how to leave. The idea of establishing a base camp, makes sense but not if the horse gets eaten by ghouls 5 minutes after we leave on our first delve!

A linkboy would be handy. Maybe we could hire guards to watch the horse and cart while we are exploring? Not sure if that is viable.

DM: Are the Carrying Capacity rules in play? They are very limiting! Makes the base camp sound even better.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Tue 26 Oct 2021.

That just happened to my lvl 1 party in Arden Vul, with failing a save v spells ensuring the running part.

Although it hasn’t come up specifically within the adventurers’ conversation, there is a mercenary guild in Helix. By now, it’s existence is most certainly known to them. It’s possible that guards could be hired from among their ranks. If the majority wish to pursue acquiring the services of such hirelings, let me know. Bear in mind, amongst the members of the guild, the reputation of the Barrowmaze is well known. The price of their services will likely reflect that knowledge.


Since it’s an optional rule, I intend to play a bit looser with it in this game. My primary concern is that the group could find something of importance within the tunnels, then end up getting stuck deciding what they need to ditch in order to bring the treasure out. That kind of thing has the potential to grind everything to a halt and really puts a damper on the fun factor. I’ll keep an eye on everyone’s possessions and if common sense begins to suggest that things are getting out of hand, I’ll bring it up. :)

Dryvyk's paying for his own squire, but will gladly pitch in for a linkboy and a merc or two to guard the camp. Shall we roleplay it or handwave it as having Dryvyk's squire making the arrangements?

Worst pickup line ever.

Ahhh, but perfectly in character!  :D

Getting ready to head out of town for the weekend. Will try to get 1 more post in before we leave, but will be quiet after that until we get back on Monday.

Shall we advance to the next scene :)?

I’ll leave the current thread open for a day or so, in case there’s any last minute contributions anyone wants to make, then I’ll move everyone to the next scene, the Barrowmoor.

Would we like to hire at least one merc to join? I'm thinking a melee sort to assist Ol'Gib (crossbow) in defending the base camp. Should be around 5gp a month or so...?

I think it'd be more for color than necessity. Barnabus wouldn't think of it but other characters might.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 97):

I think it would make sense to have another guard.

I'm looking at Retainers (p. 48, LL Basic Rules) - a commoner commands 1 gp per month and a light infantryman merc is 3 gp per month.

Although such clarification may not be necessary, if a retainer is sought from the Mercenary Guild in Helix, they would be of light infantryman variety. Although the expense would be greater (the rate Dax quoted is accurate), the mercenary would regard their employment as a matter of contract, and their performance of their assigned duties not just reflective of themselves, but of the guild they’re a member of.

A commoner could also be located, likely among the Brazen Strumpet’s patrons.

It’s not really necessary to role play the negotiations for a guard out. Whichever the group prefers will be available and will accompany the expedition the following morning out to the Barrowmoor.

Dryvyk would have asked Lampert if he had a friend who'd like some training in arms to act as a guard, and would have asked Ol'Gib to pick out a suitable merc from the guild hall to round out the entourage.

Ol'Gib - Dryvyk's squire/mentor (crossbow)
Lampert - Linkboy, 10sp/month
??? - Lampert's commoner buddy, 10sp/month
??? - Merc Guild man-at-arms 3gp/month

Are we READY TO RUMBBBLLLLLLLLLLE?

All set to go here.

Sorry for the inadvertent absence last week. Life threw some unexpected curveballs, but all is back on track. Seems we are all set, but Dryvyk's list of hirelings seems good to me. Grugar will use some of his advance payment from Mazzah to contribute his share of the costs.

In reply to Grugar (msg # 103):

Grugar you raise a good point. We should probably consider keeping a group pool for common expenses. We could toss in a bit of coin as we move forward or we could allocate a share of treasure earned to the group expense pot. Or something else?

I will maintain a loot thread if LL creates one for us.

It would also be good to designate a caller for when he have more than one way to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Tue 09 Nov 2021.

Way to add to the atmosphere, Sir Dryvyk.

Done. My thanks for volunteering.

A suggestion: Prior to entering the catacombs, the company should establish a marching order. Many of the tunnels will require the adventurers to proceed in single file, though there are areas where the group could move in double ranks.

Marching Order, Single File
Fighter
Ranger
Paladin
Linkboy
Wizard
Cleric
Archer
Spelunker

Marching Order, Double File
Fighter--Ranger
Paladin--Cleric
Linkboy--Wizard
Spelunker--Archer

I guess there's a squire to account for as well?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 10 Nov 2021.

I think Ol' Gib stayed at the camp with the rest?  Or maybe I misread Dryvyk's intentions.

I like that I have the linkboy as a shield - good thinking!  :D

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 108):

I assume the archer is Gwendolyn, the not-quite-3-foot tall halfling! She will have trouble shooting over the heads of the rest of the party.

It would make sense for Dax the ranger to lead, as he has a bonus to surprise and against being surprised.

Revised. Archer could piggyback on the paladin.

Marching Order, Single File
Ranger
Fighter
Paladin
Linkboy
Wizard
Cleric
Archer
Spelunker

Marching Order, Double File
Fighter--Ranger
Paladin--Cleric
Linkboy--Wizard
Spelunker--Archer

Ol'Gib will stay at camp unless we need some extra ranged firepower. The tandem with himself and Gwendolyn would be fun. They don't need to shoot over our heads, they'll just shoot between our legs! What could go wrong?

Okie, I'll be the caller--not Barnabas but myself. I may do some of it OOC. There will be times when we'll want to talk things over, but for just keeping us moving, I'll try to do that.

If we have a chance to do a spot of reconnaissance, I think Dax with a torch works pretty well.

I bet there are pitfalls in the Barrowmaze. Precautions by lead party members should be taken.

All is subject to discussion, of course.

I have sketched what the party is able to see and uploaded it to the Main Game Map.

The simple, by-side initiative is fine with me.

Dax has a +1 to initiative due from his DEX. Does that get added to the party's roll, or will it be a straight d6 per side? I'm fine with the simple 1 die roll, if it applies to the bad guys too! :-)

Dexterity bonuses toward initiative are generally only utilized if the individual initative rule is being used. That would require every member of the group to roll initiative for their character on each round. I worry that could become unwieldy, but if anyone here feels strongly about using individual initiative, please feel free to speak up. I’m always open to any ideas that might improve the game.

As a compromise, what I will probably do in most situations is modify the group’s initiative roll by the highest DEX modifier of any of the adventurers present. For the moment, that’s going to be Gwendolyn.

Maybe that's a little too generous for the players? What about modifying the init roll by the average dex modifier (round up if .5 or higher) of the adventurers present?

Well, to compensate, the unspoken part of that plan was to give the monsters a flat +4 modifier to their initiative rolls, unless they were especially slow, like zombies or a gelatinous cube. :)

Kidding aside, that’s honestly a very good suggestion. Averaging all of the party’s initiative modifiers together and rounding up results in a collective modifier of +1. So that’s what I’ll go with.

And still give the monsters a +4...  :D

Naturally! That part remains unchanged. :D

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 118):

Good call Barnabus...and a simple rule to implement.

I see that our rogue is tossing 3 darts. Can I fire more than one arrow with a Short Bow? I'm not sure where the Rate of Fire for a Short Bow is listed. Seems like it was twice per round in AD&D, but I'm not sure for Labyrinth Lord.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Fri 26 Nov 2021.

That could be that the rogue can remember which edition we are playing. And default memory to 1e.  If I've erred, I'm sure the DM will correct me.

LL says 1 attack per round for characters, some monsters get more.

The only change I can see in LL Advanced is extra melee attacks for fighter-types based on level. No addition of rate of fire for missile weapons.

Neither LL nor the setting would seem to encourage ranged attacks. Neither do they seem to discourage it with prohibitive firing into melee rules.

Dax is correct. Labyrinth Lord allows each character one attack per combat round, whether ranged or melee. Only high level fighters are eligible for additional attacks, beginning at level 15.

I went ahead and edited your post Ishmael, keeping the best of your three rolls, which is sufficient to kill one of the oversized rodents.

Thanks for the generous edit.

If there is no objection, I will move the game forward this evening, with the party proceeding through the door indicated by Barnabus. If an alternate course is being considered, please be sure to voice it in-character or with a post here.

I will do my best to update the game map tonight.

The main game map has been updated.

Thanks for the map updates DM, those are very helpful, especially with so many descriptions of doors and doors and doors! ;-)

Serious question: Is one of the adventurers moving to open the crypt door, or will that duty fall to Lampert?

When the LL calls it a "crypt" door...

Lampert's job is to keep the torch going. A frontline PC should do any door opening.

As per usual, Gwendolyn has her bow in-hand and is in the middle of the group, so cannot do it. This is also why I've not been posting often--Gwendolyn is in a more reactionary position.

Let's have Dax open doors; he's supposed to be in the front and rangers are less likely to be surprised.

I was kind of hoping that there would be support for Lampert serving as the door opener, primarily due to the potential for horrific and/or humorous outcomes.

But then who would carry a torch for Barnabus?

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 134):

Probably a good idea for Dax and/or Dyvyk to open all doors, or at least be the first to enter/look-in.

Perhaps, in addition to a marching order we need a door-opening SOP?

How are doing the spacing for combat here? What's the occupancy for a 5 by 5 square?

And zombies automatically lose initiative (unless they get special dispensation in Barrowmaze as well), so we'll save that init roll for the next zombie-free encounter.

At this stage, I would say that two adventurers could push into the chamber and engage the undead in melee. If any of the zombies are slain, a third character could enter. If only two of the creatures remain, then a fourth explorer could enter the melee.

As an alternative, the party could fall back and allow the creatures to follow them into the larger chamber. If that course of action is elected, then a round would pass to account for the adventurers’ and zombies’ movements. Those with missile weapons could still attack during the first round.

As a secondary consideration, were Ishmael to remain behind the door, falling back would provide him with a backstab opportunity.


Right you are. I will retain the advantageous roll for use in the next encounter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Wed 08 Dec 2021.

Yes for that second option. I was thinking that we could surround them in the entrance square in the urn room, 4 to their 2 with sneaky Ishmael being one of them (and fighter, paladin, and ranger being the other three).

Halfling archer could take a shot as well during round 1.

Sounds good.

Can you backstab with an axe?

So long as the shuffler's unaware of your presence.

Labyrinth Lord doesn’t impose any limitations on the weapon a thief can use for a backstab. Granted, with an axe it’s probably more properly a backchop, but a surprise attack is a surprise attack. :)

Now I want to multi-class into thief in order to do a Back-Joust!

Surprise!

I think we've lost ourselves a Grugar.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Sat 11 Dec 2021.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 145):

Did you rMail him? He did look in 6 days ago.

Maybe send his character back to the camp for now, in case he is busy or sick or something?

At least for the moment, I will NPC him. Hopefully, I’ll have some communication from him within the next week.

Gwendolyn, the last shot you took was made as the party fell back to encourage the zombies to emerge from the crypt into the larger room. You’re entitled to another shot at one of the creatures before I process any of their actions.

This message was deleted by the player at 23:35, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

How about we process two rounds? If someone drops below 1/2 hps during R#3, Barnabus will heal.

Being completely transparent, I’m not sure I trust my ability to keep events straight beyond a single round. Given the fact that in previous games, I’ve occasionally overlooked someone, I honestly don’t want to increase the chances of me making a sigh inducing error.

For the moment, I’d prefer to stick to single rounds. I’ll assuredly do my best to process each round promptly once all the players have posted their actions.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 150):

I agree! I just finished an IF/THEN/ELSE post because the rounds got mixed up! 1 round is complex enough!

Thanks for the heal Barnabus! Odds are in our favor that the zombies won't be able to hit Grugar and I, especially without a bonus to their attack, but one thing I've seen countless times on RPOL, especially with OSR games, is that the dice like to weight in favor of the baddies! (At least is sure seems that way!)

Hey, don't undersell yourself. I'm sure you didn't miss the paladin's protection from evil aura. It nearly helped us which is to say that it didn't help at all :).

I do remember those triggers from D&D 4ish being a bother.

I suppose so, for now, to reduce the risk of shambolic outcomes!

I honestly didn’t miss it! It’s just that the die roller gave me two 16s “to hit”, which was sufficient for each zombie to hit a character with an armor class of 2. Sir Dryvyk and Grugar are both AC 3 to start, AC 2 with the boost from Protection from Evil.

I think that Sir Dryvyk’s commentary on the dice roller may have some truth to it. At least occasionally. :)

I wasn't being sarcastic, haha. If you had missed it, I would have piped up.

Just surprised that undead don't punch a hd higher in the maze.

Why does a frog have Ishmael's axe? Is there something about frogs that I have never known?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Wed 15 Dec 2021.

There are a few superstitions of RPOL that I find myself giving credence to. One is that the random number generator has something to do with the creation of the game. I've seen games where a DM has actually set up another game, a mirror if you will, to get a better random seed. *shrug* Who really knows? I've had some great average luck in some games and lousy luck in others. It was so bad in one of my games that I went through all the rolls in the buffer on the dice roller and broke it down to find out... yep, even distribution. *sigh*

OSR games here seem deadlier to me, but then again, they've been that way since they began!

A frog is a ring on your belt to hold handled weapons.

https://www.google.com/search?q=axe+frog

You don't say! I wonder if there is a collective noun for a belt of many such frogs, something other than bandolier.


Poppycock, stuff and nonsense, the dribble on a toddler's chin.

But you what's true? When you roll high as a GM, you have a higher chance of rolling low in another game as a player. Fact.

Re: doors

I don't think we need a door routine beyond a quick listen. The risk of encountering low-reward wandering monsters outweighs the slight possibility of a trapped door.

The main game map has been updated.

Dunno. Maybe update the exp thread when we camp or return to town? These drips and drabs are too depressing. But, really, I just don't require that level of service.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Wed 22 Dec 2021.

Morning all. (I'm in the UK, so GMT+0)

Grugar here, or Neo-Grugar I suppose.

Glad to be here, hoping to be active in-game shortly.

In reply to Grugar (msg # 161):

Welcome Grugar; now sporting a posh accent! :-)

A half-orc has to have a working class Cockney accent, doesn’t he?

Welcome aboard Grugar!

How do we know about the accent?

Grugar will be greeted with a cure light wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Thu 23 Dec 2021.

Apologies. I’ll move the thread so it’s only visible to me and will update everyone in the OOC thread when certain milestones are reached, or when the group makes a return to Helix.

Personally, I like knowing where I'm at for XP... PbP is so slow, it's nice having a gauge. Risk/Reward assessment and so forth...

Is this a one-shot like barrier peaks, or an ongoing campaign?

If it a one-shot, XP earned doesn't matter...

The latter -- Barrowmaze is a mega-dungeon.

Sir Dryvyk, I’ve updated your access so you can still see the experience thread. If anyone else wants to keep up with that thread, let me know here or drop me a PM.

I don't mind being able to see the XP thread. I'll make one suggestion, just use one post and keep editing it to add the new amounts. Start a second post once you hit 2000 XP or something like that or when the group moves to a new barrow?

Thanks DM!

And welcome to new Grugar! May your rolls be consistently above average!

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to one and all!

Merry Christmas all, and a Happy and a more normal New Year to follow.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!

Thank you, LL.

Merry Christmas everyone!

C'mon, gents, we need three more members to strike up the band.

Gruger/Dryvyd/Gwendoline on guard by the door while Barnybus, Malivorie, Ishmeal, and Dux don the gloves and do the twist?

Make the call Caller.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'd forgotten I'd been doing that in a slightly official quality.

Gwendolyn's place in the single and double marching orders is fine.

We're in the third room beyond the pottery room...is the sound coming from the south door, the just-discovered secret door to the east, or the secret door to the west?

I will update the map this weekend to better represent the party’s recent explorations, but the footsteps are being heard from the west, roughly in the direction of room 5 on the current map.

As I understand, we are spread out in room 7 and/or 8.  With 7 being the pedestal room, 8 the green room. (not numbered on the map yet) o would be beyond the next secret door

Ishmael went back into 6 to get a better listen.

I presume this is the game map people are talking about?

Otherwise, *confused face*

Right you are Grugar.  Ishmael is extrapolating the existing posted game map, which only shows up to Room 6.  The presumed Room 7 is the pedestal room where we put on the gloves and turned the handles to open the secret door your found, and presumed Room 8 is the room with the image of Silvanus/Green Man where Barnabus took the cudgel and Malivoire discovered yet another secret door.

Now Ishamel and Sir Dryvyk have heard the sound of marching feet back in Room 6 or even further back, and Ishmael has gone to investigate.

Or at least that's how I'm interpreting things!  :)

The main game map has been updated. I've included the approximate position of the sound of the footfalls for greater clarity.

As the marginal caller, I would say wait until we don't hear any footsteps. If they pass away, we try the secret door we just discovered. If not, come what may.

Let the sapphire harvest begin!

With regard to Grugar's concerns, I'm pretty sure we have not opened the latest secret door yet.  So there isn't really an unguarded hallway there, unless something opens it from the other side.  Which would free up the brawler to help up front, should the skeletons attack.

Unless I've gotten mixed up myself...

It hasn't been opened yet.

There are some days that I just don't want to roll anymore! Today has been brutal across my games!

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 192):

The dice roller is cursed, there's no doubt in my mind!

Good job on hitting Ishmael!!

I have yet to roll a success (including a Death Save) in any of my games this evening! Better just go to bed and see what tomorrow brings! ;-)

Nice job Ishmael!

I think I misread the post about the secret door being open. Having said that it can be pushed open so it's clearly not locked and therefore could be pulled open from the other side.

But hey!

Point of order...

Did only the skeleton we messed with reanimate, or did all three?

That may determine how fast I run.

Only one has reanimated, the first one that was put down in combat. The other two are still lying in heaps on the floor.

Also, to be clear, the skeleton’s return does not appear to have anything to do with party members tampering with the sapphire in its forehead.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 197):

...which is to say the converse could be true. It arose because its gem was not tampered with in some fashion -- either removed from the chamber or crushed outright.

We have five members still with actions. Perhaps, one should fling a gem from the room and the other might attempt to crush a gem, leaving three to attack S#1.

Mood music: https://youtu.be/uVaek2obszM

For clarification and reference, this is my read of the animation schedule:

S#1 -- Killed in R#1 and rose in R#4
S#2 -- Killed in R#2 and slated to rise in R#5
S#3 -- Killed in R#3 (by Barnabus!) and slated to rise in R#6

We are in R#4.
Barnabus hit S#1 for 8 hps.
Ishmael struck S#2's stone.
Mal attempted to destroy #3's gem.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 21 Jan 2022.

Ishmael attacked the skull & stone...

Oh, right. Thank you for the correction. I fixed my last post.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 21 Jan 2022.

I wonder, LL, if the sapphire should have one AC for when it's implanted within a skeleton's forehead and another when it is helpless upon a stone. It doesn't look like LL has any combat modifiers for hopeless opponents (let alone vulnerable stones), but I wonder, again, if we might implement them. Another thought would be to consider Ishmael as having the benefit of surprise.

Players, I think one of those gems would be of high value to our patron and I suspect there is range limit to their necromancy. Would one of you be bold enough to grab one, run to the 1 on the map, and toss it out of barrow entirely? Another option would be to put a downed skeleton in safe place (bottom of a pit) but no such option presents itself.

Once there, it could be tossed up to Ol' Gib, for safe keeping... Not a bad idea Barnabas!

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 203):

You've been assuming that they have the power to raise the dead when they are not embedded in a skull.

My initial thought was to simply remove them from the skull and they would no longer be a threat. I could be wrong, but we don't really know.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 205):

Please. I'm a practicing necromancer. This is lived experience.

Uh, LL's last in-game post documented a relationship between gem and skeleton, even when one has been separated from the other. That has framed some of my suppositions.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 206):

I read the OOC thread before the IC thread! The smashed gem dusted one of the skeletons, but we still don't know if simply removing ends the skeleton, possibly keeping the animation magic in the gem.

Grugar, two skeletons and their animating gems have been destroyed. One skeleton is currently up and attacking the party.

Dax could also attack that skeleton as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Thu 27 Jan 2022.

I know. Was asking for location info.

We're in Room #6 and you are in melee range of the last skeleton.

I should have an update up in an hour or two, but as it stands, there is only one skeleton still active at this point. Grugar, should you choose to, you are still in range to close with the dead man and make a melee attack.

Apologies for the double post. When this encounter started, I just went by what was dictated within Barrowmaze regarding the sapphire skeletons. On reflection, while the gems having an AC of 2 when they’re on a skeleton that’s still causing mayhem makes sense, once they’re on an inactive skull, or they’ve been pried loose, it’s logical that they’d be easier to break. So, in case this particular brand of undead happens to make another appearance (not that I’m saying they will), for future reference the “loose” sapphires will be considered to have an AC of 5, which mainly would reflect their hardness. It still requires 4 HP of damage to break them.

So the second one is destroyed?

All three, actually. :)

Morning, folks. As the provisional caller, I'm thinking of leading us back to the SW door off of 5. This area has that "slightly more dangerous than the area before it" vibe. Any thoughts?

LL, I liked Lambert's contribution to your last post.

LL, I was thinking that it would be easier to enjoy the blessing were it to last a set (perhaps unknown) number of encounters rather than a span of time.

And with respect to time, I read this in the rulebook:



It's time for some orange wedges and water before we run back on to the field.

But maybe we play without that cumbersome rule? I don't know. Who wants to track that?

It's not that I'm not tempted by that new area, but I don't like to leave too much gray area in the back.

Keeping it for a set number of encounters seems honestly reasonable. Let me give it a little thought and I’ll settle on a duration.

Haha, you sound surprised. I'm eminently reasonable so long as I get my way 75% of the time.

It does strike me as being more of a modern D&D implementation.

Generally, in AD&D time was measured by distance travelled. Our group is moving at 90 feet at best (the speed of halflings and dwarfs) possibly 60 feet (if said short folk are encumbered).

Exploration movement (sneaking, mapping) is movement rate per turn. So every 90 feet moved equals 1 turn (10 minutes); so every 450 feet of exploration, is 5 turns, time to rest.

Combat and looking around a room can be ignored or estimated/rounded off since a combat round is 1 minute.

Having spewed all that, whatever the DM wants to do is fine with me!

LL, if we could trouble you for a map update? I want to see how those dead ends line up.

Updated.

Double checking for my own understanding: Are the party as a whole quietly moving down the hallway toward the illumination?

No, Dax is on point. When he motions for us to join him, we advance. Or we hear screams.

How far are we letting him get ahead?  We have to at least keep him in sight, right?

Screaming distance...

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 225):

The light's further down the SE corridor so he'll still be in sight. There will be times when he wants to scout around a corner and temporarily leave our line of sight. That's why we've already implanted a homing beacon in the back of his neck.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:16, Sat 12 Feb 2022.

I guess I thought we'd move (in our marching order) to the western end of the passage, when Dax heads southward toward the archway.  That way we're just around the corner, so to speak.  That's what was in my head, anyway.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 228):

This is along the lines of what I expceted.

Barnabus: if you are keeping back, why respond IC to Dax's whisper about the arch?

Just one of the difficulties of pbp. I thought you had inched forward to scout, and then when you had stopped the rest of the worm had inched forward to join you at which point the exchange occurred. And I thought we were going to do the same with the next "segment" of scouting.

The idea, and it could be the wrong one, is for us to get the jump on whatever (if anything) is at the ?fire? We have a better chance of doing that if you spot them first. Or maybe not. Maybe this ruleset doesn't care much.

OK, I think we are all on the same page, just explaining it differently!

SOP: Dax will move up to an intersection, signal the group to move forward as he moves forward to the next intersection/door/etc. Basically the ranger is one "point of interest" ahead of the group.

Unless, as Baranbus noted, if screams are heard, the group should charge in! :-)

I kinda liked the inchworm analogy myself :). There should come a time when you can scout ahead further courtesy of invisibility or other magic.

The gargoyle might be a decoration; it might be a sentinel. Either way, we  could backtrack to the door we were at before Dax did his recon:


As provisional caller, that's what I would propose: return to that door and other points we had bypassed. Any contravening opinions?

As it seems the gargoyle is stationary for the moment, I am willing to proceed there or go back to the door we have bypassed.  Doesn't really matter to me.

I’ll have an update of the map posted later today, to reflect the adventurers’ recent explorations.

Apologies. I updated the map, then promptly neglected to upload it here. It’s available now.

Doh! Good call Malivoire, on asking the beastmen for info!

Dax suggested the SE door because the beastmen were leaving through the NE door and it would appear a bit aggressive...I think Ishmael is right about what we will find, but we would come back and look regardless.

I assume the DM can sort out the actions in some semblance of order!

The main game map has been updated.

Still looks awesome. I'm doing the same style of mapping for the B/X Stone Hell game I'm in.

I'm out of town away from computer, will be back late tomorrow night.

I appreciate that. I’m always concerned that my hand drawn maps look a bit on the rough side. But at least they’re clear enough to keep the adventurers oriented in the maze of corridors they’re exploring. :)

I don't even see one mark of erasure.

I think this might be a "grab and go" room, lady and gents.

Off traveling with the art historian wife wife in France (she presented at a Courbet conference in Ormans (from there to Lyon (current location) and then to Paris)). At the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, I couldn't resist taking a shot of a sarcophagus:


This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Very nice!

I assume you checked for traps before looting them?

If he didn't I'll bet he took an urn in the back of the head!

Enjoy Lyon!  I was there a couple of years ago for business and enjoyed it.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Many thanks for sharing the photo!

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 245):

We went to a bouchon and found the portions to be a triple generous, haha.

Hey, Dax, I think you could fork your post such that you follow Ishmael out of the room OR that you pull him out of the room (were he to have failed his save).

Haha, after that timely DM post, I feel irrelevant :).

The door that burst open -- it's not the southern one just down the corridor?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

No, the sound is coming from somewhere unseen down the eastern branch of the corridor (The hall leading away from room 16 on the map). It is not coming from the moisture swollen door that is visible on the southern wall of that passage. That door remains closed.

With respect to tactics, I'd like to create a bottleneck into the club house. I've also been saving turn undead attempts for something more dire which this might turn out to be. As LL has noted, each failed attempt increases the difficulty by one per day.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas on a joint delve of the Catacombs of Paris:

Looks like a truly amazing trip. Don’t get lost down there! :)

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 251):

I've seen photos of the catacombs before...but never been there.

All those skulls look absolutely creepy!

For the increase in difficulty for failed turn attempts, is that ongoing? i.e fail attempt one vs 3 skeletons; second attempt vs same skeletons is now -1. Come across some zombies later on, first turn attempt is still -1 based on fail against skeletons?

Yoiks! That might be a pain in a tomb full of undead!

Yes, each failed attempt increases the difficulty by one with said penalty resetting each day.

LL, will our blessing also boost a turn attempt? Can Barnabas do so now if he moves a bit to get line of sight or wait for an official declaration of actions?

Initially, closing the door does seem to be a logical move but I think Ishmael is right about the door. It would be better to leave it open.

The ragged claws might be suggestive of ghouls.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 08:15, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 255):

Dax's plan is to bar the door (if possible); if not, the group can retreat and then go through the secret door. Highly unlikely the undead will be able to follow us, and fighting wandering undead (I was thinking they might be ghouls too, which makes it worse) is high risk, low reward.

Regardless of how this plays out, I do think it's about time for us to camp for the night. We've covered a lot of ground.

DM: Is there a lock or bar for the door at the south end of the room?

Do we use the table to hold the door, or do we attack?

And if we hold the door, what then? Pretty much a stalemate until we either run or fight.

We kind of have to attack, but maybe look for some choke point so only one of them can get at the party at a time - and thus we get to gang up on the critters.

I agree. Let's kill them. Paladin and fighter in the doorway to prevent them from entering the room. Or have we been doing three to a square? In that case, add Dax. Ishmael can attack from the side. We'll look to camp after it's done.

Don't forget +1 attack/damage thanks to our blessing.

LL, I'd like to add a combat summary table -- maybe as something I could edit in the Marching Order Thread. I think I would also prefer for it to be the first entry in that thread?

We would appear to have lost Gwen who perhaps had decided that LL doesn't particularly favor archers. I'm happy to play with six going forward, but that's just my preference.

Depends how wide the door is and which way it opens!

I’m likely being dim witted on a Monday morning, but could you clarify what kind of table you’re wanting? One that shows the status of the current battle? (Damage inflicted/received, relevant bonuses/penalties, etc.) Or do you want the attack tables from the rulebook reproduced?

I can make such a post the first post in the marching order thread, but I think I’d need to delete the thread and repost it to do so. It might be simpler to make it its own entry.


Gwendolyn’s player has let me know that they had to drop out. They didn’t mention any feelings about archers being poorly treated. :) For the moment, I intend to NPC her, then have her part ways with the company when the opportunity arises.


The door opens into the room with the table. It is the width of a standard interior doorway, meaning that only one human sized creature can fit through the opening at a time.

Just add a new post and bump the marching order posts down one via cut/paste.


More the latter -- HPs, AC, melee/ranged attack blocks, current statuses, spells remaining. That sort of thing so with one look, we can gauge the party's condition.


Without a rate of fire of 2, I'll just say an archer is a hard sell.

So one thing can fit through the door at a time, but two can fight from either side, I take it?

Well, we have a choke point.

LL can we set up with 3 melee combatants in front of the door, and the archer at the rear to pick the enemy off if they won't come through the door. Is there room to do so I mean?

Nothing wrong with archers in my book, so long as they max out on weaponry and any bonuses.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Mon 21 Mar 2022.

I forgot about the Blessing, also we need to always remember:

Paladins grant Protection from Evil in a 10' radius, constant aura-like effect. Grants -1 to AC (that's a good thing) and +1 to Saves.

I try to post it frequently.

We've also got Ol'Gib, Sir Dryvyk's squire, as a ranged attacker. He's back at camp right now. Maybe we can keep Gwendolyn on as a hireling?

Sorry I wasn't clear...when everyone decided to fight, I thought it we could leave the door open, and put the table on its side so and then push it across the door so it will form a barricade that the undead will have to climb over, to get access to the room.

We should be able to bash them from the sides while missile weapons are used from in front.

At least that's how I pictured it.

Ah, understood. I’ll modify my post accordingly in short order.

I’ll still need clarification on who is positioned near the door.

Update: Fixed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:02, Wed 23 Mar 2022.

We need to get you some hand axes, Ishmael.

I have darts, but there is only one zombie in the doorway, with 3 allies attacking it.

The DM said missile users could attack.  I have just thrown a dart myself.

It looks like Grugar has moved on and is now in the LL's capable hands.

He let me know he was dropping the game earlier this morning. Truthfully, having two players depart in such short order makes me question just how capable I am as a DM. Regardless, I’ll do my utmost to NPC him effectively until the opportunity to recruit new players presents itself. When that time arrives, I think it may be easier to have incoming adventurers create new characters, rather than asking them to try to take up existing roles.

Well, you know, that's not how I would look at it one bit. This game has been exactly as you advertised it would be. You are an LL par excellence and I have said so before. RPOL is a bit of a hobby of mine as I run one game and play in 5.

As for Gwen, she seems to have dropped out months ago but maintained a lingering presence. That is a totally expected occurrence for RPOL.

As for Grugar, I don't know. He seemed to be a bit grumbly and didn't like that I wasn't playing a holy, holy type of cleric. Don't know.

We've got five great players and it shouldn't be too much trouble to get a one (or two) more.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:01, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

FWIW, I am currently playing in 13 other games on RPOL and played have played in 21 other games. I think this game is going well. It's an old school game and some people don't like the old-school vibe.

I'm not well-versed in Barrowmaze, but I see it as a sort-of megadungeon. The party will descend, explore, possibly get killed, leave, rest; and repeat!

Hopefully we will have some roleplay happening too.

Don't kick yourself, Loughcrew, you're doing what you should do (other than handing us a buttload of treasure!!!! :-D ).

I'm enjoying the game. You're doing a fine job. It's hard to get just the right "fit" in every game, on both sides of the table.

I didn't realize Barnabas is our strongest fighter! You must have dropped that 18 in STR?

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 276):

Nah, he has a 16 in str which gives him +2/+2. Then there is the +1 for his cudgel (the only straight magical item we've found so far) and the last +1 from the blessing.

He put the 18 in wisdom, giving him 4 1st level spells, with a cure light and command still available.

Though a bit late to the party, LL.  I don't think it's as issue on your end.  You're doing a smash up job.

My stats were nothing to write home about. ranging from 8-14.

Sounds like a dwarf fighter I have in an OSRIC game whose highest rolled stat was a 14.

At least it's better in LL than in 1e.

Bonus start at 13.

I truly appreciate the kind words. I think the fact that I had two people depart in, what seemed to me, a fairly brief period of time made me wonder if it had something to do with how the game was being run. The points about old school games not being to everyone’s taste and how not every player fits with every game are well taken.

Barnabus is correct, those who are still here are a great group of players. Thanks to each of you for sticking with the game.

I think dungeon delves are not always what people are looking for on RPoL even if they like them for a tabletop game.  It's definitely a different experience in the slower medium of play by post, and not for everyone.

Nevertheless, I agree with the rest in saying that I am enjoying the game and how it is being run.  I definitely appreciate all the time you put in to even have a game available for us!

Now, maybe we could go over all the magic items these wandering zombie things are carrying?  ;)

If another mega-dungeon, Arden Vul, is any indication, modern game design/balance might mean a scarcity of magic items. It's easier to balance an adventure with fewer variables -- although that can be counterbalanced with expendables such as potions and scrolls.

The more crawly a dungeon is, the more immersive I find it to be. I plan to run an OSRIC version of Tegel Manor and trap my players there for the rest of their lives.

Yes! Fat Lootz! Isn't that why we're here? I mean besides re-killing millions of undead millions and chewing bubble-gum? Dang. I'm all outa gum.

Bring on the Majik Lootz!

As for mega-dungeons, I often have trouble keeping track of the storylines and clues, etc. with the posting rates I'm able to play. I love exploration and so forth, but lost details are hard for me to regain as I have trouble finding the time to post regularly and creatively, let alone going back to re-read several threads to find the tidbit I thought I'd remembered (though I often do just that regardless, so...)

I have been in two attempts to play the Lost City of Barakus with 5e rules, both fizzled very quickly, and I can't help but think that might have been why, is that there's lots to sort mentally, and often PbP trends more casual. I find myself cursing those players who make posts, obviously having not read any of the recent posts made just prior, but then I go and make similar mistakes because I'm in a hurry to just crank something out.

Ah well, I'm very appreciative that there is a place and people here to play with and complain about. The alternative, at least for me, is putting all my books back in a dusty box, shutting off the pdf viewer, and not playing at all.

*sniffle* love/hate you guys! :-P

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 284):

A man after my own heart! I don't mind when people miss/forget details that might have occurred 2 days ago in game but were posted 3 months prior in real life.

But when people post without reading what happened since their last post I get frustrated! Being just a little OCD, I make notes and maps for my games...just like at the table!

Those have to tracked, yes, same as the dungeon must be mapped. That's been in the back of my mind.


We've found some of that stuff but have not listed it. I will add it the loot thread along with a post with clues in that same thread.

We've hit 16 or so points of interest so far and found some stuff for Muzzahs, a little treasure, and a +1 cudgel. It could be were one or two points away from a little more of a haul. Arden Vul has had a couple of early ones but still mostly heavy on the expendables.

Alright, I added a list of clues and finds to the Loot thread. Anything missed can readily be added. It's not much more than the fruits of reading comprehension but one doesn't have to look to far to begin analysis and synthesis.

Someone might have some fun adding a bestiary.

If anyone wants me to post a bestiary thread, where observations about creatures encountered within the tombs can be recorded, please let me know and I’ll get it set up.

I hope to have the combat table, where players can see the status of the party at a glance, completed and posted over the weekend. I anticipate that it may be subject to revision, in the event that I don’t include all of the information that’s desired. But I’ll try to be as complete as possible. :)

Are we keeping current on XP, or are we getting that updated at intervals? Are we levelling up after a rest, or do we need to train, etc.?

I’m keeping up with experience in analog fashion: in a notebook. But, I need to update the experience thread for those keeping track. I’ll see to it soon.

I’m not going to adhere to the “find a teacher/spend gold for training” paradigm that 1st edition AD&D outlines, but I will say that once sufficient XP have been gained to reach a new level, the character(s) in question will need to return to Helix and rest/recuperate/practice before the new level and its benefits take hold.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 290):

It doesn't even look like LL has training requirements for advancement. Good riddance to bad rubbish -- AD&D requirements were (mostly) unworkable.

Nice touch with kicking the rooster, Dryvyk!!!

4 of us have light/moderate wounds; 2 are untouched. It's about time to camp but, yeah, one more room. Let's see if we can find where those 4 came from and what they might have left behind.

Just FYI, Malivoire is out of spells now.  So I'll not be of much use in any combat encounters until we rest.

That is why it's totally obligatory that we do one more room -- inasmuch as we've already faced the inhabitants of that room.

But, no, really, we can head back to camp if that's the consensus.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Tue 05 Apr 2022.

Let's check the room. However, we may face something on the way out, so we'd better be prepared for that, as much as possible. Take the most direct way, and be as sneaky as we can? Anyway, we've made a lot of progress, discretion says not not to get greedy. I'm torn.

No, let's check the room. Fortune favors the brave!

Oh wicked temptations! For me as a player that is, Dryvyk is likely just here for the punting... and cookies.

I was thinking you might have buried the lead, haha, but there is quite a bit going in that room. I'll post tomorrow.

Hey guys, my wife was in a bad rollover, is in ICU. She's stable. My posting will be chaotic for next few weeks. Sorry, please bear with me. I hate posting from the sturdip smatrphon

I’m so sorry! Praying for you both. I hope she’s better soon. Don’t worry about this. Your seat at the table will be waiting when you can get back to it.

Sorry to hear the frightening news, Dryvyk.  My thoughts are with you; best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.  Take all the time you need.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 299):

Horrible news, Dryvyk. My best wishes for a fast and full recovery.

Take the time you need.

That feeling of helplessness is a hard.  I'll keep you both in my prayers.

Likewise.

I'm picturing the room something like this:
     ______
     |  o  |  o = ooze
   __|     |
   __D____c|  D = door, c = chest

With Dax, Dryvyk, Ishmael, and Lampert around the chest and Barnabus next to the ooze.

Look about right?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Fri 08 Apr 2022.

Yes, that lines up with how I had visualized the current situation.

Are you sure about retreating, Dax? I'm not confident that we can outpace the oozy thing while carrying a chest.

Barnabus does have a spare flail and we have some ranged weapons. Maybe, we attack this round and make an assessment in R#2 when we have more information.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Fri 08 Apr 2022.

Leaving with the chest now is a good idea, in my opinion.  The rest can try missile weapons and if that does the trick then great, if not we're still that much farther with the chest leaving the room and presumably able to slam the door behind us.

Retreating with the chest does have a certain comic appeal.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Sat 09 Apr 2022.

I'm thinking Barnabus can hold it off, with his wooden cudgel, and let the rest of us get out the door.

You can be sure that we will sing songs of the valiant death of Barnabus!! :-D

I'm guessing that any metal weapon that hits it will corrode. If we can get the chest out then we've got some potential treasure and it is probably time to get back to camp.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 310):

+1 Ooze-slaying Cudgel (middle part hasn't been tested yet)

Ishmael: I believe we went east down the hall, opposite room 16 and came to the door into this crypt. The room is mirrored to room 16 in that the door opens adjacent to the south wall. Check out my horrid text map above for the basic idea!

I've updated the map to make the situation clearer. The adventurers just fled with the chest from Room 17.

Although it will feel like less of expedition to head back to Helix after camping, the profit from this delve should afford some of us the opportunity to improve our armor and so forth.

LL, are potions available for sale in Helix?

I'm not sure if the bless damage applied to thrown weapon, (like str doesn't) But since its a 'blessed' damage, and perhaps divinely hits a more tender spot, it should.

I will dutifully adjust the damage done to the ooze, including factoring in another dart hit. That said, the additional injuries wouldn’t have killed the creature, though they may make it easier to vanquish should the company elect to return to collect the silver in the walls.

Turgen’s Trade Goods in Helix does not stock any manner of magical items.  However, the market that convenes in the town’s center likely has vendors that sell select potions. As well, the party might be able to ask their patron, Mazzahs, for assistance in obtaining some.

Excellent, then, a return to Helix is capital idea.

Please note that, as Ishmael has pointed out, the ooze has suffered divine damage and will be unable to recover until receiving a blessing from its deity. This is LL canon.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Thu 14 Apr 2022.

At this stage, none have taken stock of what is inside the urns taken from the angry spirit’s room, or within the chest retrieved from the chamber of burial alcoves. That accounting can be done now, at the adventurers’ base camp, or it can wait until the company has reached Helix.

I have a few orders of business to handle this week:

• Updating and reporting on all experience obtained by the adventurers.
• Setting the promised status table. Since I will presume that everyone will be recovered from their injuries shortly after arriving in Helix, the table will list everyone at full strength initially.
• I intend to advertise for a couple of additional adventurers to join the company this week.

Also, if I could get some feedback regarding the business the party wants to address upon returning to the settlement, that will help me greatly in framing the forthcoming scenes in Helix.

I would think we would count our coins and open our chest at camp.

Barnabas plans include delivering a report (and the funereal artifacts) to their patron and shopping at the market (minor expendable magic). He will also deliver the skeleton, the one that had been staked to the wall with bone-handled dagger, to Ironguard Motte.

What are the Ancient Ruins (15) on the Helix map?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:29, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

Depending on the funds available, Dax will be interested in getting better armour.

As a group, we might want to consider shovels/picks/crowbars and such. I don't recall if we picked up anything like that.

Also, items that might help our linkboy (armour?) and our guards (crossbows, lots of oil for Molotov cocktails, etc.).

North of Helix lies a woodland that most residents of the area refer to as the Blackened Forest. The dark, swampy wood takes its name from the appearance of the trees that comprise it, the trunks and branches of which have taken on a black coloration. Some claim that the color is due to the peat of the Barrowmoor, while others believe that the forest has been corrupted by a greater evil. The woods are home to a number of dangerous creatures; goblins, froglings, bugbears, trolls, and giant spiders. Once a year, a group of courageous souls brave the forest to harvest the silk from the huge arachnids.

Within the Blackened Forest lies an ancient, white marble ruin. Many suspect that the structure once served as a temple of some kind. Much of it has been reclaimed by the surrounding woodland and those who have drawn near report that portions of it are draped in dense webbing. Some have said that torchlight can occasionally be seen within the ruins and that the illumination seems to correspond roughly with the cycle of the moon.

Got it: the Blackened Forest would appear red on our danger level map with its wilderness encounters, huge arachnids, and moon cultists.

My wife is in rehab now, making excellent progress from her miraculous survival. We're tentatively scheduled to leave the hospital by Wednesday, so I should be back some semblance of posting by Friday or so. I've followed along, but haven't been able to post. Thanks for bearing with me. Miracles really do happen!

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 323):

Fantastic news! Continued best wishes to her, for her rehab; and to you and your family for the stress.

Seconded :)
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:34, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

Most welcome news!  Very glad to hear it!

Great news! Really happy to hear it!

I added a list of treasure on the Accumulated Treasure thread.

I think everything is accounted for. Fingers-crossed that we picked up a magic sword and shield, and perhaps a wand of magic missiles!

If anyone has any business they wish to conduct while still at the camp, feel free to post it. If you’re ready to return to Helix, please let me know and I’ll transition the scene. Unless any object, I’ll move the party back to Mazzahs’ tower so they can speak with their patron.

Ready to return to our patron.

Looks like a potion of gaseous form.

I like the LL approach (the empirical method) to identifying magical items:

My guess would be a potion of invisibility.

Also, we have a horse and wagon so the loot should not be too difficult to haul back to town.

I think the key word might be "translucent." Being able to see through something is different from not being able to see it at all. LL's imagery was evocative of a cloud-shrouded mountain top or the cloud itself or a "spirit that wanders the night." And what is a cloud but a gaseous form?

Sorry guys. Had an unexpected death in the family last week and I dropped off working on Mom's estate.  I'll try and catch up this next week.

So sorry to hear that, Ishamel.  And I know about managing an estate too.  Take all the time you need.  We'll be here when can drop by.

My sincere condolences, Ishmael. Take as much time as you need. Your place at the table will be waiting whenever you can return.

Thanks for letting us know, Ishmael. I hope you have some help as you sort out your mother's estate.

My condolences. Take all the time you need.

Thank you.  If you don't have your stuff in order, do your heirs a favor and get it in order.  :)

I'm not even sure if mom filed her taxes for 2020... (we only found 16-17-18-19)

I know that several do not have access to the experience tracking thread, so to update everyone, the adventurers have earned a total of 756 experience points during their initial foray into the Barrowmaze.

Go ahead and open it up to all, if you would, after each expedition.

Is there the potential for more exp depending on our meeting with our patron?

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 338):

That sucks, Ishmael. Can you call the IRS and ask what's outstanding?

I work for the tax department in Canada and it's not difficult to get information as long as you can confirm you are the executor/trustee/administrator of the estate.

Wow, sorry to hear that Ishmael. I would echo your words however about getting one's house in order. We were, thankfully, quite prepared in many ways for my wife's wreck. My oldest daughter was able to step right in and lead the pack, and we had plenty of food on hand. We had a little money saved up, so my time away from work didn't wipe us out either. Our life-flight insurance was paid up too, so yeah, rough couple of weeks, but it could have been much, much worse! My wife's home now, healing up ahead of predictions. Lots of miracles.

Current earned XP leaves Dryvyk around a thousand shy of a level-up, so another foray into the depths is in order. I'd intended for Ol' Gib to be a ranged combatant in the party, should be consider hiring a couple more camp personnel and have him come down with us? Are we recruiting any new PCs?