
Yesterday, I wrote a bit about Undead in AD&D, with a focus on the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide.
I got a lot of likes and comments on it, some wanting to see what I had to say about the Fiend Folio.
Free Town of Groat's End - Twisting Stair Dungeon
Since the party is going back to town, I needed to put one together. Here's a map for it, and I'll finish detailing out the town over the next few days in blog posts...
When a cleric reaches 8th level, the place of worship described must be built within the civilized realms of
Old School Role Playing
Old School Role Playing produces OSRIC material and other old school products for Drive Thru RPG. It also offers a blog with weekly articles on old school topics.
I am a long-time gamer. I started with the Holmes Blue Box set of "Basic D&D" that only went to third level, back in March or April, 1977. I then moved on to AD&D, anxiously waiting as each book was released, reading every word as quickly as possible.
OSRIC Player's Guide
The OSRIC Player's Guide, by Seattle Hill Games, has most of the core rules to play the advanced first edition of the world's most popular role-playing game. It is an easy introduction on how to play the game as Gary played it. Once you have mastered the rules herein, you should be able to easily assimilate the full rules from the golden age of fantasy adventure gaming.
Please note; this is not the full ruleset. You will also need a manual of monsters and a game master's guide, which are available online. Alternatively, you can pick up the full OSRIC rulebook from Black Blade Publishing.
Helping you to publish original material for use with the game Gary Gygax wrote.
Druids and Undead
Druids in First Edition AD&D do not have the ability to turn undead. Other than physical combat or druid spells, druids are just like anyone else when it comes to undead.
I was reading up on the various undead in the Monster Manual, and noted which ones in their descriptions specifically mentioned throwing holy water on them would hurt them.
Shadow of the Necromancer
Fear stalks through the darkness of night in the form of the walking dead! They attack innocent travelers and merchant caravans in the moonlight! Animated skeletons have also been seen digging up the recently dead and carrying them into the nearby ruins of an old abandoned keep! Rumor spreads fast from lip to ear amongst the locals, whispering that a sinister hooded figure has been seen directing the undead and is taking up residence in that foul dungeon! Your stalwart group of adventurers has decided to take on this challenge, get the treasure you know is in there and defeat this evil menace known only as the Shadow of the Necromancer!
Expeditious Retreat Press has been creating OSRIC-compatible material since 2006. We've released 43-and-counting modules in the Advanced Adventures line, 2 monster books in the Malevolent and Benign series, and plan to continue releasing OSRIC-compatible material until the wheels fall off.
In 2020 we'll release The Halls of Arden Vul. The largest OSRIC-compatible megadungeon! With 10 levels, 15 sub-levels, and nearly a million words in length, it's going to be a right beast!
"YAR to "The End of the OSR"
Melan's post discussing the end of the OSR, and Anthony Huso's response, offered a chance to have -if for a small moment shared by only a few people - that sort of chained conversation that kicked the whole mess off and running.
I say "mess" with mixed feelings ranging from fondness to good riddance...(click above for more!)
My infrequently-updated blog ostensibly covering the entire gamut of 80s-era pop culture but in practice focused mostly on D&D, specifically Gary Gygax-flavored 1st edition AD&D and the World of Greyhawk. Occasional house-rules and new crunch (spells, monsters, items, etc.) are posted alongside reviews and retrospectives, reminiscences, philosophical musings, polemic rants, and other standard blog fare.
Dread Swamp of the Banshee
The beautiful and wealthy noblewoman Astoria Pardition needs your help. Returning home after many years of traveling adventures, she has discovered that her family lands have now become a cursed swamp! Many treasures were lost and now lay buried in the evil and water soaked muck. In addition, a sinister banshee has arisen who lurks in the darkness of the bogs, moaning and howling throughout the night, frightening the locals! Smugglers and criminals have invaded as well to hide their felonious activities here, but there is more to fear in the mist than the designs of wicked and evil men. A brave group of adventurers is needed to set things right again for the hefty reward she is offering! Find your courage, sharpen your blade, trust no one and you may just solve the mystery, get the booty and survive the Dread Swamp of the Banshee!
Danger lurks in every corner of the small coastal city of Los Farport. The locals insist people are being abducted in the night and taken into the bowels of the rumored "Undercity Dungeon" below. A lone survivor managed to escape and give some information before dying in your arms: "Secret door...Tavern of the Wiley Wench...Ugh!" You and your brave team of adventurers have decided to investigate these rumors, plunder the dungeon and destroy the dreaded "Villains of the Undercity!"...right after you loot his still warm body, of course.
The Clerics in Groat's End
Comonoc the Spry
Cleric of Xan Yae, 11th level
S 4, I 15, W 18, D 3, CH 15, AC 10, HP 39, AL N
Psionic Ability 150 (75 att/75 def)
attack modes: psionic blast, mind thrust
defense modes: mind blank, mental barrier
Disciplines: (minor) domination, ESP, object reading, precognition; (major) energy control
Spells normally memorized: (7/6/5/4/2/1) command, CLWx2, light, remove fear, sanctuary, augury, hold person, messenger, slow poison, withdraw, wyvern watch, cure disease, dispel magic, magical vestment, meld into stone, speak with dead, implore, CSW, divination, PFE 10' rad, commune (if unable to memorize commune then golem or insect plague instead), true seeing.
old, sane, precise, violent, diplomatic, cheerful, active intellect, hard-hearted, intellectualist, scrupulously honest, interested in husbandry and athletics
Comonoc is an emaciated, legless whisp. He's well-regarded by the poorer masses because of his frequent assistance to sick or injured children and his financial support of the soup kitchen. Although the town isn't particularly fervent, Comonoc is influential while working quietly towards his own ends, which are invested in the status quo. He often changes the course of events small and large without anyone being the wiser...(click above for more!)
Locals have been hearing whispers of strange happenings around the Ancient Volcano. Rumors over the last several years of an unspeakable evil that has risen up inside. An evil that "fell from the stars." There is something wicked and devilish going on inside. Highwaymen report of strange creatures, mechanical monsters, horrible beasts and "little green men" that are roaming the land. You and your stalwart adventurers have decided to take on the challenge of plundering the mountain for the treasure within!
OSRIC SRD
All of the OSRIC rules in one place
This is the third part in a three part series of articles spawned by my research into undead in AD&D.
Extraordinary Delving and Cartography Co. (Part 1 & 2)
I've been playing in my brothers 1e (with houserules) adventure along with my sister-in-law and a couple of friends since the Christmas holidays. During sessions I doodle some of the action and I've started to develop these into a strip charting the party's progress. I shall be sharing these in this thread - updates will be when I get the time to put pen to paper. Should be noted that these are "cartoons" and I'll be using some artistic license but the spirit of what happens at the table will always be there...
Party:
Byon of Athfort
Human Fighter - Level 3
Aeife Green-oak
Halfing Druid - Level 3
Ellodin Afoncoed
High Elf Fighter/MU - Level 2/2
Arilith Dorchabas
Drow Fighter/MU - Level 2/2
Gorimm (NPC)
Dwarf Cleric - Level 3
Part 1 - Hollow Hills
Background:
The party have been hired by a Whitehaven noble family to rescue their son whom they believe has been kidnapped by a rival family and taken to the port town of Finwyrm to be sold into slavery and taken overseas.
The party have left the town of Whitehaven and to reach Finwyrm they would either have to cross a mountain range or take a very long route around them. At the foot of the mountains they came across a settlement of gnomes who had been troubled by bands of goblins and hobgoblins who had taken up residence in an old deserted hillfort. During the clearing of the hillfort the party found an old map which showed a series of tunnels and passages leading through the mountains themselves. They have been in these passages for some days now their progress being dogged by increasing numbers of Duergar. They have lost the cleric Gorimm during one fierce melee and although not finding his body believe him to be dead. We join them as they reach a junction in the passage. An open pit is evident in the secondary passage and further down it are fallen boulders where some of the walls have collapsed.....
Arilith on point Ellodin guarding the rear.
Note: During the course of the action Arilith, standing right at the lip of the pit, had to make a dexterity save or loose her footing. A roll on d20 of her dex score or under was required to be successful. She has a dexterity of 17... I rolled an 18.
The Tower of Azal'Lan
PRODUCT
Secret Machines of the Star Spawn
PRODUCT
The Hyqueous Vaults
PRODUCT
The Witch Mounds
PRODUCT
Goblins Tooth I - Moonless Night
Footprints #14
PRODUCT
Stonesky Delve
PRODUCT
Footprints #09
CREATOR
The Blue Bard
PRODUCT
Footprints #10
Redtooth Ridge
PRODUCT
OB3: The Legend of the White Snake
PRODUCT
The Doom of Red Rauthim
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #3
PRODUCT
HU4 Zjelwyin Fall
Red Tam's Bones
PRODUCT
The Barrow Mound of Gravemoor
PRODUCT
The Curse of Harken Hall
PRODUCT
Footprints #18
PRODUCT
The Desert Shrine of the Sightless Sisters
The Tales of Highcliff Gard
PRODUCT
Goblins Tooth II - Faces of Love
PRODUCT
The Horror of Merehurst
PRODUCT
The Seven Shrines of Nav'k-Qar
PRODUCT
& Magazine #4 - Classes and Guilds
White Dragon Run
PRODUCT
OSRIC SRD
PRODUCT
& Magazine #12 - Inns, Taverns, & Way Stations!
PRODUCT
The Secret of the Callair Hills
MEDIA
My Personal Rules as a Player
Undead In AD&D Part 2
MEDIA
Undead In AD&D
PRODUCT
Footprints #12
PRODUCT
The Lost Lair of Drecallis
PRODUCT
& Magazine #3 - Nautical Adventures
ZA3: Garden Of Evil
PRODUCT
HU2 A Fabled City of Brass
PRODUCT
HM4 - Pop Goes the Meazel
PRODUCT
Footprints #19
MEDIA
Druids and Undead
Moganville
MEDIA
"YAR to "The End of the OSR"
PRODUCT
The Warrens of Zagash
PRODUCT
Dead In The Water
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #8
Dread Swamp of the Banshee
PRODUCT
Prison of Meneptah
PRODUCT
Beneath Black Towen
PRODUCT
The Spider Farm
MEDIA
Magical Protections In AD&D
Site Designed by the
Mage in Black