Out Of Character

[mushgnome]

You know, we've been throwing bouquets toward Ways for a while now, and rightfully so, but I think it's time we acknowledged another bravura performance.

I can't be the only one thoroughly enjoying Highbough 2.0, right? Great work, mg.

Thanks, it is easy when you have a virtuoso DM feeding you info by PM!

[mgtremaine]

You know, we've been throwing bouquets toward Ways for a while now, and rightfully so, but I think it's time we acknowledged another bravura performance.

I can't be the only one thoroughly enjoying Highbough 2.0, right? Great work, mg.

Hear Hear, I was looking for the exalt button on the Highbough 2.0 post ... Highbough is 4th level also... What title will be bestowed..

I honestly image that HIghbough has been higher level before also, but some circumstance unknown over the long march of time brought this 1st level version to the group, yet you can;t keep a good elf down. That's just my feeling.

[mushgnome]

I honestly image that HIghbough has been higher level before also, but some circumstance unknown over the long march of time brought this 1st level version to the group, yet you can;t keep a good elf down. That's just my feeling.

I've given this some thought. AD&D DMG estimates the age of a venerable gray elf to be 1500-2000 years. To reach such an advanced age, his body would have suffered the following ravages of time: -3 str, +2 int, +3 wis, -3 dex, -2 con. This would have put his stats in the prime of his youth at: str 16, int 11, wis 12, dex 15, con 7, cha 14. An impressive specimen! I imagine he sacrificed his existing magic-user levels when he began the painful career path of a Warlock.

[waysoftheearth]

I've given this some thought. AD&D DMG estimates the age of a venerable gray elf to be 1500-2000 years.

He might also have been locked in a magical stasis or magic jar for 1,000 years due to making an error of judgement in his experimentation... which would explain his relatively low level compared to his age?

Another option might be that he is only slowly revealing his true power; when he first joined the company he acted like a 1st level PC. Soon, he'll be acting like a 4th level PC... but how powerful is he really??

[waysoftheearth]

Apologies for the slow progress in leveling up people.

I'm working toward a reasonably significant switch toward more "authentic" DD rules. More coming soon...

[Olroda]

Interesting!

[waysoftheearth]

There's a lot still to do, but the idea is that while everybody is safely tucked away in town and busy levelling up, it's an ideal time for a 2014 house rules re-vamp.

The motivation this time around is to align play more closely the "offical" Delving Deeper rules so that:
a) I can have fewer rules bouncing around in my head,
b) You can have a "proper" rules booklet,
c) I can ultimately publish Hinterlands as a DD supplement.

In a nutshell; we'll be reverting to the "stock" DD rules for most things.

The main impacts you (as players) are likely care about are:
1) Subtle changes to class definitions (and also my working definitions for DD Warlocks and Templars),
2) Changes to the XP requirements for NON-FIGHTERS,
3) Minor changes to everyone's number of HD.

There will of course be some house rules but I'm trying to limit these to what has proved to be workable over the past few years--and to what will further my ongoing quest for the "perfect" D&D combat mechanics. I'll summarise all these shortly (I've been working on it this weekend already).

Most of the mechanical changes are really behind-the-scenes so you probably won't notice or care overly. But a couple of things that you may care to note are:

* Due to each class now having different XP requirements the dual-classing mechanism will have to change. I'm likely to follow the Greyhawk model in this (to be confirmed).

* The DD rules pay particular attention to NORMAL/HEROIC status, so I'll be adding this to the vital stats sheet for your reference. Essentially, anything with 3 or more HD is HEROIC.

* The DD rules distinguish between NORMAL and HEROIC combat. NORMAL-types are subject to a more abstract "NORMAL COMBAT" at the referee's discretion. This method is intended for resolving combats involving large numbers of NORMAL troops, such as 20 elves, 80 hobgoblins, or 200 goblins, for example. So I can see this method becoming "handy" in the future.

I will detail the NORMAL COMBAT mechanics in a separate post, but it needn't concern you overly--it is simply another tool that enables the ref to resolve large combats faster.


As for the rest, I'll hopefully cover it all in my upcoming "2014 house rules" post, and any gaps thereafter can be discussed in a Q&A thread as before...

[waysoftheearth]

Okay.

I have it on reasonably good authority that each PC (excepting Rufus, Guntram, and Beringar) will be pocketing: 8 gp, 17 sp, 10 cp in change, and hence 67 XP.

I have not heard of any plan to sell loot to the elves, so I will presume that to be the whole of your "take"--quite a sorry payday in fact. But at least it should enable you to purchase some supplies!

On consideration of the additional complexities around XP for magic-items that are likely to change hands, I've decided to keep things as simple as they can be kept and award zero XP for magic items. Possessing magic items is its own reward.


@Mgtremaine, would you be so kind as to remind me what sum is given to Beringar and to summarise the fate of each other item in the haul for me? That would be a great help, thanks

[waysoftheearth]

I'll post for next "town turn" in game tomorrow morning...

[mgtremaine]

Treasure:

The split was based on the Danhem Formula which left a 5gp 4cp unaccounted for. BY the orininal method Beringar should have gotten a mere 5sp 7cp, lets us instead give Beringar 1gp, yes a single Gold Coin with the stated intent that when we set out we set out into a war zone and we want him to be well prepared.

That leaves 4gp 4cp in the slush fund.

Magic Items: These are under the charge if Josiane since we do not know what if any the party can keep. So unless someone wishes to say otherwise it came down like this.

The Rosary Beads - Dorgan
The pearly sphere is a Queerious Speculem, a crystal ball - Ulric
The gnarled staff is one of three Theraic Staves - Josiane
The Lentive Demitasse--a Cup of Healing-- - Torben
The Tome is a spell book containing the full set of 3rd level clerical-spells. - Josiane



Non_magic Items: These we need to carry to another market or just keep and trinkets. A few people said they wanted things something also have an obvious home.

The Grell Lair :
A tiny Enigma on a bracelet,
A walking staff topped with an Enigma (being the key to the Reliquary door) (This we should keep)
A censor,
two tiny daggers, - Desmond
two broach pins,
a small prayer book, - Josiane
a pouch of dry tea, - Highbough

The Burned Out Chapel
A 12" silver plated, and etched with Holy prattle.
An 18" tall, silver plated, and etched candelabra fashioned to resemble the Enigma of Thuul.

The Reliquary:
A silver basin
A fancifully decorated staff
A great (as in large and thick) book. - Ulric

those things not marked are assumed to be carried by whom ever has room..... Again speak up if this is not correct.

EDITED: changed Cup of Healing to Torben