
We are about writing, illustrating and publishing table top role-playing games. MontiDots is a collaborative venture between three friends incorporating passions, skills, ideas, creativity and fun. Through OSRIC we have published a series of adventures for various levels of play from low level exploratory dungeons to grim survival adventures in upper layers of hell.
My Personal Rules as a Player
1) I do not hoard my wow-bangs. If I die with a sheet full of magical items or spells, then I played in vain. I am not here to advance a character, I am here to make fun memories with people I enjoy spending time with...(click above for more!)
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...
EOTB
Approach: gamist over simulationist
Appeal: player skill over character skill
Aesthetic: Heavy Metal: the Movie over fantasy geographic
My games and writing center around sandboxing between urban, wilderness and megadungeon play; and also a heavy dose of other-planar.
Quirks include an irrational love of treasure maps, and using the DMG unarmed combat tables. Dice openly rolled to the fullest extent possible. Illusions are real to the character if the player responds except to disbelieve. Gandalf was just a 5th level wizard, prove me wrong.
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.
Undead In AD&D Part 2
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.
When a cleric reaches 8th level, the place of worship described must be built within the civilized realms of
The Icemaiden
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.
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!
Lost Temple of the Snake Men
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.
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...
The Mystical Trash Heap
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Vault of the Dwarven King
The Dwarven King of Brundurum has summoned you to his throne room within the Smokey Mountain. Brave souls are needed for a noble quest into the depths of the earth to retrieve the legendary hammer known as Fireheart. But beware - the Goblin King and his evil hordes believe the hammer woke a Lava Titan and they will seek to possess it at all costs. Who is telling the truth? Who is really kin to this ultimate weapon? What secret powers are at play in this tale of suspicion, intrigue and betrayal? Only your stalwart group of adventurers will find out and walk away with more fortune and glory than ever...if you can escape the Vault of the Dwarven King!
Helping you to publish original material for use with the game Gary Gygax wrote.
OSRIC SRD
All of the OSRIC rules in one place
Footprints #23
PRODUCT
The Pod-Caverns of the Sinister Shroom
PRODUCT
Under Shattered Mountain
PRODUCT
Mundane Magica
PRODUCT
Monstrous Tome - Volume One
Ruins of the White Watch
PRODUCT
The Warrens of Zagash
PRODUCT
The Crocodiles Tear
PRODUCT
Bitteroot Briar
PRODUCT
Cold Drake Canyon
OSRIC (Original PDF)
PRODUCT
Footprints #05
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #5
PRODUCT
BQ1: The Patchwork Man
PRODUCT
HU2 A Fabled City of Brass
The Shrine Of Hecate
CREATOR
OSRIC
PRODUCT
& Magazine #2 - Undead
PRODUCT
Footprints #04
PRODUCT
OSRIC SRD
Lair Of The Demodand
PRODUCT
HM5 - Isensan's Secret
PRODUCT
& Magazine #7 - Inner Planes
PRODUCT
The Banked Swamp
PRODUCT
OB2: The Barrow of the Moon Druid
Beneath The Darkshroud Peaks
PRODUCT
The Verdant Vault of Malakum
PRODUCT
Bad Day at Blackmarsh
PRODUCT
The Seven Shrines of Nav'k-Qar
PRODUCT
The Forsaken Sepulcher
ZA6: Journey to the Astral Plane
ARTICLE
What is Classic Adventure Gaming?
PRODUCT
Moganville
PRODUCT
Footprints #19
PRODUCT
The Barrow Mound of Gravemoor
The Palace Beyond
PRODUCT
Moving Maze of the Mad Master
PRODUCT
Under Ruined Onm
PRODUCT
Footprints #03
PRODUCT
Old-School Gazette #6
S8: Warren of the Withered Wyrm
CREATOR
MontiDots Ltd
PRODUCT
ZA8: Rampage
CREATOR
The Icemaiden
MEDIA
The Clerics in Groat's End
The Temple of the Sun
PRODUCT
Stele of the Silver Thane
PRODUCT
Redtooth Ridge
PRODUCT
The Curse of Harken Hall
PRODUCT
Book of Low Level Lairs Volume I
Site Designed by the
Mage in Black