OSRIC - First Edition Fantasy Roleplaying Game

First Edition Fantasy Roleplaying Game

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Palace of the Dragon's Princess

Once upon a time, the beautiful lakeside realm of Thorin Vale was suffering from the death of its benevolent King. All hope now lay with his only daughter, Princess Francesca who was set to marry her fathers bravest knight and that union would restore the empire. However, on the wedding day, the evil Dragon Maelfesto attacked the castle by surprise and took control! The serpent drove everyone out and took the woman captive in the caverns below, wickedly enchanting the place and was never seen again. Riches, honor and glory will be gained for those who can save the fair maiden, defeat the beast and return alive from the Palace of the Dragon's Princess! Magical Protections In AD&D
By: Larry Hamilton

This is the third part in a three part series of articles spawned by my research into undead in AD&D.

Undead In AD&D Part 2
By: Larry Hamilton

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. The Clerics in Groat's End
By: EOTB
It's a game of chicken when the DM is the crazy one

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!)

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! The Mystical Trash Heap
By: Trent Foster
A blog about D&D and other 80s-era pop culture

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.

OSRIC SRD

All of the OSRIC rules in one place Villains of the Undercity

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.

New rules for clerical strongholds
By: EOTB
It's a game of chicken when the DM is the crazy one

When a cleric reaches 8th level, the place of worship described must be built within the civilized realms of Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen

The Vampire Queen has assembled a team of her worst prisoners for a little game! Together you strangers face a simple choice...death or freedom? She has challenged your daring band of adventurers to run the gauntlet of her wicked dungeon lair using all of your original weapons, magic items and possessions! You must survive terrible traps, beastly monsters, even each other as you outwit and fight your way through all the horrific surprises she has arranged. Fortune and glory await those brave souls who can escape from the Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen!

Lost Temple of the Snake Men
By: Ernie Noa

Strange abductions of villagers and travelers are growing bolder near the port town of Caraal on the edge of the Glimmerhold Jungle. Frightened and half-crazed, a woman has escaped from her captors and returned to civilization. She tells tales of snake men who inhabit the ruins of an ancient temple deep in the jungle. Adventures are called for to put down this threat. The jungle is thick and full of strange creatures. The ancient terrors of the snake men are only rivaled by whispers of the treasures of their lost civilization. This one-shot adventure for OSRIC, AD&D or similar retro-clones is recommended for 7th through 9th level characters. Cultists of Yox
By: EOTB
It's a game of chicken when the DM is the crazy one

As grodog mentioned at his blog, I'm hip-deep in keying out the dungeon level of Twisting Stair #1 for use in my home campaign (and for a prospective Roll20 online campaign). It's coming along nicely, although not quite finished in a shareable state. One thing I like about the Twisting Stair zine is how it drops a tidbit without fleshing out the details. I find it just enough to jump start my creative process while leaving me completely free to follow my imagination. One example of this was the "Cultists of Yox" found on the Wandering Pairings random encounter table. As a little teaser of what turned out to be a major faction in my adaption of the 1st level Twisting Stair dungeon map, here my take on the Cult of Yox...

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. Free Town of Groat's End - Twisting Stair Dungeon
By: EOTB
It's a game of chicken when the DM is the crazy one

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...

The Icemaiden
By: Rachel

During AD&D sessions I doodle some of the action and I've started to develop these into a strip charting the party's progress. Updates will be when I get the time to put pen to paper. It 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. Extraordinary Delving and Cartography Co. (Part 1 & 2)
Article By: Rachel The Icemaiden

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.

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! Undead In AD&D
By: Larry Hamilton

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.

Free City of Holting
By: Douglas Scot Price