Rappan Athuk OOC

[archolewa]

Out of character discussion.

[archolewa]

Additional bit added to religion and alignment compared to the recruiting thread:

Religion is a bit of an anachronistic stew. By far the most widespread pantheon is the Roman pantheon (Jupiter, Minerva and the like). There is a Roman Empire-esque nation somewhere in the world, though Rappan Athuk is situated beyond its borders, in the north. The Norse Pantheon (Odin, Thor and the like) are heavily worshiped in the north. The Greek Pantheon is smaller, and centered in a distant penninsula far to the south.

There are of course, countless other pantheons scattered about, and some small sects that worship one of the Four Greats directly, though again most people do not worship them directly. For one, the Four Greats do not grant miracles. While there are say Priests of Luna, there are no Clerics of Luna.

[Edeldhur]

Poking around, and rolling in a second.

Thanks a lot for running this archolewa!

Rolls done - nothing to write home about as usual for me, but I got a 17. Could be worse.

[4d6k3]=14[4d6k3]=11[4d6k3]=17[4d6k3]=7[4d6k3]=11[4d6k3]=12

17 14 12 11 11 7

Thinking either a Human Cleric (would be level 4), or perhaps a Dwarf Fighter/Cleric (would be 3/3).
Inclined to the Dwarf for stylistic reasons, and because I might bump that 14 into a 15 Con and get some extra HP. Though the level limitations will be painful.

Ability scores for Dwarf could be...

Str 12
Dex 11
Con 14+1 = 15
Int 7
Wis 17
Cha 11-1 = 10


--------------------

Side question about the game itself @archolewa:
- Since we know RA is lethal, are you considering the possibility of players having more than one character, and deciding which one they will take whenever there is an 'expedition' (much like Spearmint has done in the Barrowmaze game, and I guess is kind of a Westmarches style?).
- I have also heard about something called 'character stables'? Made up of 'secondary characters' who get a percentage of the XP the 'main character' does, so you have a semi-leveled character to start with if the 'main' one dies?

[Ythgar]

Could be worse.

You mean something like

6, 6, 10, 12, 12, 15



Maybe the henchman will fare better!

Not by much:
9, 10, 10, 11, 13, 15

[Edeldhur]

Could be worse.

You mean something like

6, 6, 10, 12, 12, 15



Maybe the henchman will fare better!

Ouch! Fighter?

[Ythgar]

Well, I think it’s a pair of fighters or a pair of thieves (the extra level might help survival).

[Edeldhur]

Well, I think it’s a pair of fighters or a pair of thieves (the extra level might help survival).

I have only recently (last year) started playing AD&D - for some reason my group back in the day jumped from BECMI to AD&D2e, so now I am discovering AD&D/OSRIC, which is great. And my most successful character by far is a (currently) level 4 Dwarf Fighter (could be 5 but he got level drained once and had no money for the Restoration) with no bonuses at all in any stat, except Con. His stats are (after racial mods) 12, 7, 11, 9, 16, 6.

[Rex]

Here goes.

Stats [4d6c1]=14 [4d6c1]=10 [4d6c1]=8 [4d6c1]=7 [4d6c1]=15 [4d6c1]=12

14 10 8 7 15 12

Stats [4d6c1]=13 [4d6c1]=12 [4d6c1]=11 [4d6c1]=15 [4d6c1]=10 [4d6c1]=14

13 12 11 15 10 14

Second set qualifies for a Ranger, but they can't have hirelings or henchmen until 8th level. I will think about it today and work on them after work tonight.

[Edeldhur]

Second set is for henchmen, or we can choose?

[4d6k3]=12[4d6k3]=12[4d6k3]=7[4d6k3]=13[4d6k3]=9[4d6k3]=13

13 13 12 12 9 7

[Ythgar]

Well, I think it’s a pair of fighters or a pair of thieves (the extra level might help survival).

I have only recently (last year) started playing AD&D - for some reason my group back in the day jumped from BECMI to AD&D2e, so now I am discovering AD&D/OSRIC, which is great. And my most successful character by far is a (currently) level 4 Dwarf Fighter (could be 5 but he got level drained once and had no money for the Restoration) with no bonuses at all in any stat, except Con. His stats are (after racial mods) 12, 7, 11, 9, 16, 6.

I’m leaning toward a pair of dwarven fighter/thieves.

[Edeldhur]

Well, I think it’s a pair of fighters or a pair of thieves (the extra level might help survival).

I have only recently (last year) started playing AD&D - for some reason my group back in the day jumped from BECMI to AD&D2e, so now I am discovering AD&D/OSRIC, which is great. And my most successful character by far is a (currently) level 4 Dwarf Fighter (could be 5 but he got level drained once and had no money for the Restoration) with no bonuses at all in any stat, except Con. His stats are (after racial mods) 12, 7, 11, 9, 16, 6.

I’m leaning toward a pair of dwarven fighter/thieves. (3/4 and 2/3)

Combo backstab!

[Rex]

Well, I think it’s a pair of fighters or a pair of thieves (the extra level might help survival).

I have only recently (last year) started playing AD&D - for some reason my group back in the day jumped from BECMI to AD&D2e, so now I am discovering AD&D/OSRIC, which is great. And my most successful character by far is a (currently) level 4 Dwarf Fighter (could be 5 but he got level drained once and had no money for the Restoration) with no bonuses at all in any stat, except Con. His stats are (after racial mods) 12, 7, 11, 9, 16, 6.

I’m leaning toward a pair of dwarven fighter/thieves.

Seems like a solid combo. I don't usually run straight Magic-Users but I suppose that is on the table. Neither set qualifies for dual classing otherwise I might consider a dual classed Human Fighter/MU.

[Edeldhur]

I have only recently (last year) started playing AD&D - for some reason my group back in the day jumped from BECMI to AD&D2e, so now I am discovering AD&D/OSRIC, which is great. And my most successful character by far is a (currently) level 4 Dwarf Fighter (could be 5 but he got level drained once and had no money for the Restoration) with no bonuses at all in any stat, except Con. His stats are (after racial mods) 12, 7, 11, 9, 16, 6.

I’m leaning toward a pair of dwarven fighter/thieves.

Seems like a solid combo. I don't usually run straight Magic-Users but I suppose that is on the table. Neither set qualifies for dual classing otherwise I might consider a dual classed Human Fighter/MU.

Stats for Dual class are always a pain in the arse - maybe a future character after the current one has... Hmmm... Retired?

I would play a Wizard without a second's hesitation - I think RA is the perfect place for it. Alas, I am already playing a Wizard in another AD&D game.

[archolewa]

Side question about the game itself @archolewa:
- Since we know RA is lethal, are you considering the possibility of players having more than one character, and deciding which one they will take whenever there is an 'expedition' (much like Spearmint has done in the Barrowmaze game, and I guess is kind of a Westmarches style?).
- I have also heard about something called 'character stables'? Made up of 'secondary characters' who get a percentage of the XP the 'main character' does, so you have a semi-leveled character to start with if the 'main' one dies?

That's quite literally what henchmen are for. They're partially-leveled characters who can take over as a main PC if a PC dies. I see no reason to include special house rules to make replacements easier when the game already gives players a tool for handling that. So, it may behoove someone on the team to try to pick up an extra henchman or two after a few successful expeditions, especially since new ones will start at level 1 (and so be glorified torchbearers for a few expeditions most likely). Use that Charisma score!

Now, if there's a TPK and folks still want to play, we'll roll up some fresh characters the same way we are now: mains starting with 11K XP, plus a henchman with 5500XP.

[Edeldhur]

Side question about the game itself @archolewa:
- Since we know RA is lethal, are you considering the possibility of players having more than one character, and deciding which one they will take whenever there is an 'expedition' (much like Spearmint has done in the Barrowmaze game, and I guess is kind of a Westmarches style?).
- I have also heard about something called 'character stables'? Made up of 'secondary characters' who get a percentage of the XP the 'main character' does, so you have a semi-leveled character to start with if the 'main' one dies?

That's quite literally what henchmen are for. They're partially-leveled characters who can take over as a main PC if a PC dies. I see no reason to include special house rules to make replacements easier when the game already gives players a tool for handling that. So, it may behoove someone on the team to try to pick up an extra henchman or two after a few successful expeditions, especially since new ones will start at level 1 (and so be glorified torchbearers for a few expeditions most likely). Use that Charisma score!

Now, if there's a TPK and folks still want to play, we'll roll up some fresh characters the same way we are now: mains starting with 11K XP, plus a henchman with 5500XP.

Makes sense!

[rredmond]

My OD&D cleric survived to second level with his terrible scores and 1 HP ha ha ha.

Do you want us to only use the Servants die roller? Certainly fair, but figured I’d ask before putting my dice away.

[rredmond]

Alignment question. If we aren’t a cleric it makes the most sense to just be neutral? Usual I play NG because I don’t mind putting myself in danger for the party. But I don’t want to put any higher planar struggles my way either!

Sounds like the everyday PC is perfectly fine in the neutral alignment span of things.

[archolewa]

*I* won't be using the dice roller, so I certainly don't expect you guys to! I figure, if you can trust your GM not to fudge rolls, I can trust my players the same.

Speaking of which, I suppose we should talk about distribution of dice rolls.

Barring strong objections, I plan on rolling all the "exploration/social" rolls like thief skills, open door, and any stat checks (1d20 <= stat, I really should update my house rules with that). This is for two reasons:

1. I don't want to slow the game down waiting for a player to roll, when I can handle the roll just as easily and keep the game moving.

2. I also don't want players anticipating possible rolls and rolling when they attempt something, because I may want to be able to add situational modifiers, and I don't want the result coloring my decision.

I'm ok with players handling combat rolls (since combat tends to be much less freeform), but the rolls need to be included in spoilers when they declare their action at the start of the round. The spoilers is necessary because the other players shouldn't know the results of their companions efforts when making their own decisions. If you're gonna cheat, I expect you to be intentional about it!

Alignment question. If we aren’t a cleric it makes the most sense to just be neutral? Usual I play NG because I don’t mind putting myself in danger for the party. But I don’t want to put any higher planar struggles my way either!

Sounds like the everyday PC is perfectly fine in the neutral alignment span of things.

Yes, this is exactly right. For classes that don't have alignment restrictions, alignment is an in-fiction backstory kind of thing. Neutral Good means you've committed yourself to the cause of a NG god or goddess. If you're not doing that, you're neutral regardless of your moral fortitude.

[Ythgar]

regardless of your moral fortitude

Which my new half-elf thief has little of.
He rolled pretty well for HP at least!

[Edeldhur]

My OD&D cleric survived to second level with his terrible scores and 1 HP ha ha ha.
Do you want us to only use the Servants die roller? Certainly fair, but figured I’d ask before putting my dice away.

My two cents because I am in the game - let me know if I am out of line - could we all use the US Dice Roller for ability scores? Simply because we all have done so, thus far.
After that, I do not care.