ThacO Was Here ;-) Και Καλό μας Καλοκαίρι!

Χαίρετε ταξιδιώτες του σμαραγδένιου κόσμου. (Και καλό μας καλοκαίρι)

Πριν από λίγες ημέρες έπεσε στα χέρια μου ένας ρετρό κλώνος της 2ης έκδοσης του αγαπημένου μας παιχνιδιού. Ονομάζεται Gold & Glory και το αγόρασα φθηνά από το lulu. Στην πραγματικότητα περιέχει το Player's Handbook, Dungeon master guide and monster manual σε ένα βιβλίο χωρίς το επίσημο αρτ και με ελάχιστες διαφορές από το επίσημο. Το καλύτερο είναι ότι δεν χρειάζεται να κουβαλάς 3 βιβλία για να μην αναφέρω ότι για να αγορασεις ενα αυθεντικό βιβλίο παίκτη της 2ης έκδοσης θέλεις 50 ευρώ….

Έβαλα μουσική να παίζει (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apUConPW_K0) και...ξεκίνησα την ανάγνωση.

Φυσικά η νοσταλγία δεν άργησε να εμφανιστεί και γρήγορα θυμήθηκα ένα κλασικό αστείο της εποχής..

• Που είναι τα saving throws;
• Στην σελίδα 101
• Μα καλά από έξω ξέρεις το βιβλίο;

Και τι εξώφυλλο!!

Πολλά πράγματα μου φάνηκαν παλιομοδιτικα αλλά για να σας προλάβω δεν ήταν το Thac0 (to hit armour class 0) αλλά τα περισσότερα ήταν γνώριμα.

Αγαπάμε το ThacO (και πολλές φορές γελάμε με αυτό!)

Νομίζω ότι με 1 ανάγνωση θα μπορούσα να τρέξω μια ιστορία. Ας ξεκινησω απο τα ευχάριστα πράγματα που μου ήρθαν στο μυαλό:

1. 3ζ6 6 φορές και κάνεις χαρακτήρα ….μιλάμε για πολύ HARD CORE καταστάσεις. Σε 2η φάση ειχα επιτρέψει να αλλάξουν 2 νούμερα μεταξύ τους… Ήμουν σκληρός αφηγητής κάποτε….
2. Clerics! Oh yeah! Με την πρόσβαση στην σφαίρες επιρροής που τους επιτρέπει, σε παρακαλώ, ο/η θεότητα σου… Και μπορεί να μην έχεις και turn undead!!
3. Paladins! Μα ποιος θα μπορουσε να ρίξει 17 στο CHA μόνο με 3ζ6!! Αλλά αυτός που θα το κάνει η μοίρα του είναι να γίνει ένας από τους φωτεινούληδες!
4. Specialist Mages! Oh my… Κατά την γνώμη μου είναι μια τρομερή σύλληψη που κρίμα που δεν πέρασε με τον ίδιο τρόπο σε νεότερη έκδοση. Βέβαια για να γίνει ένας από αυτούς έπρεπε να τό’χεις το ζάρι…. Παράδειγμα Invoker χρειάζεται 16 CON … Άντε καλά!!
5. Ranger! Oh my… αλλά STR & DEX 13 και WIS & CON 14!!! Πρέπει να σου κάτσει λοιπόν. Και αν σου κάτσει απλά Attacking with 2 weapons!!
6. Weapon Proficiency! Όπως θα έπρεπε να είναι. Με άλλο λόγια ο  Fighter, Weapon Specialist μετράει όχι όπως οι χλιαροί της 3ης έκδοσης και μετά!!
7. Non Weapon Proficiency. Σαφώς καλύτερα από τις νεότερες εκδόσεις. Το χρησιμοποιούσα σε συνδυασμό με τα secondary proficiency (αθάνατο Rules Cyclopedia!) που έριχναν οι παίκτες μου random.
8. Weapons! Weapon Speed & Weapon damage based on enemy size!! Ουσιαστική διαφορά να έχεις διπλό ή μονό σπαθί!

Ας σταματήσω με τα ωραία και ας πάω σε αυτά που πάντα με παίδευαν…

1. Demihumans class & level restrictions. Βασικά πολλά χρόνια μετά έκανα αυτήν την ερώτηση μιας και τότε μου φαινόντουσαν όλα τόσο αυτονόητα. Αλλά ακόμα και σήμερα να έτρεχα ένα campaign  2ης έκδοσης θα κρατούσα κάποιους από αυτούς. Υπάρχει μια ωράια και απλή λύση στο DM Guide, slow advancement.
2. Vancian Spellcasting! Αυτό η απομνημόνευση της μαγείας με σκότωνε και ακόμα το κάνει!! Θυμάμαι ότι εκείνη την εποχή έψαχνα απεγνωσμένα μια εναλλακτική. Είχα πάρει και τις επιλογές από το Spells and Powers και πάλι δεν είχα βρει κάτι να μου αρέσει. Στην εποχή του ίντερνετ όμως τα πράγματα είναι εύκολα και έτσι με μια γρήγορη αναζήτηση βρήκα μια ωραία εναλλακτική. Θα την κάνω copy paste για να την σώσω από την αφάνεια…

House Rules: SPELL POINT SYSTEM (AD&D 2nd Ed)

Spellcasters

For the purposes of this spellpoint system, spellcasters are defined as: Mages, Specialist mages, Clerics, Druids, Bards (2nd level or higher), Rangers (8th level or higher) and Paladins (9th level or higher). Mages, Specialist mages, and Bards receive Wizard spells. Clerics, Druids, Rangers, and Paladins receive Priest spells.

How Many Spellpoints Does a Character Get?

The number of spellpoints a spellcaster receives is based on their level as well as intelligence and wisdom. All spell casters get 2 spellpoints per level. The spell progression table in the Player's Handbook still applies regarding when a spell  caster can cast certain spell levels. For example, a Cleric cannot cast a third level spell until he reaches 5th level, even if he

has 3 or more total spellpoints.

Bonus Spellpoints Due to High INT and WIS Stats

All spell casting characters can gain bonus spellpoints if their Prime Requisite is 13 or higher.

The Mage, Specialist Mage, Cleric and Druid character combine their intelligence and wisdom, divide the result by 4 and round down. The Paladin, Ranger, and Bard character combine their intelligence and wisdom, divide the result by 8 and round down. This tells you how many bonus spell points your character has. However, these bonus spellpoints are not gained all at once; they are gained at the rate of +2 spellpoints per level, until all applicable bonus spellpoints have been received. Thus a cleric with Wis 14 and Int 12 gets 6 bonus spellpoints: 2pts at level 1, 2pts at level 2, and 2pts at level 3 (total of 6pts).

How Much Does a Spell Cost?

Calculating the cost of a spell is simple: a spell's cost in spellpoints is equal to its spell level; thus a FLY spell (third level) costs 3 spellpoints, while an PRISMATIC SPRAY (seventh level) costs 7 spellpoints. It is not quite THAT simple however, in the case of Specialist Mages. A specialist mage casts spells in his field as if they were one level lower (to a minimum of 1st level). Conversely, ALL other spells outside of the mages specialty are treated as if they were one level higher. For example, an Invoker casts FIREBALL as a 2 nd level spell, costing two spellpoints instead of three, but a HASTE or DISPEL MAGIC would be treated as 4th level spells and cost four spellpoints instead of three. Because of the mechanics of this system, the spell progression rate for Specialist Mages is somewhat altered. A Specialist Mage casts spells of his school earlier than a generalist Mage, and casts spells outside of his school later than a

generalist Mage. Using the above example again, an Invoker can cast FIREBALL (a 3rd level Invocation/Evocation spell) at 3rd level, but cannot cast HASTE (a 3rd level Alteration spell) until he reached 7th level. A Specialist Mages of ANY kind can never learn 9th Level spells outside of their chosen spell college. And as always, a Specialist Mage can never cast spells from their opposition schools.

Spells And Spellbooks

Note that this applies only to Mages, Specialist Mages, and Bards) All rules regarding how spellbooks are made, spells copied, and spell research remain the same as described in the Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Masters Guide. Although spellcasters no longer need to pre-memorize spells to cast them, Mages, Specialist Mages, and Bards still need to periodically review their spellbooks to keep their memories fresh and accurate; failure to do this means they will eventually forget their spells!

A Mage or Bard can go for 3 days, plus one day for each point of INT above 14 without studying their spellbook. For each day after this safe limit, the mage or bard forgets one spell (chosen randomly by the DM) per day, starting at his highest level of spells castable, working downward until no spells are left in his memory. It takes only one day of study to regain all lost spells of one complete spell level. For example, if a 5th level Mage had his spellbook destroyed and forgot ALL his spells, it would take only 3 days of study to regain ALL his lost spells. This means after the first day of study he would have all his 1st Level spells back, and after the second day of study, all of his 2nd Level spells back (and so on...).

Regaining Spent Spellpoints

A spellcaster has two ways to replenish lost spell points. The best by far is sleep, the longer and more restful the better. The other method is rest (or prayer) - which is only half as efficient. Rest means rest, not studying spells or moving around at a rate any faster than a lazy stroll. For sleep to have effect, the spellcaster must sleep for a minimum of 4-6 hours.

Only after this time has passed are the hours spent sleeping counted towards regaining spell points. Note that this INCLUDES the 4-6 hours spent sleeping, not just the time in excess of the 4-6 hours. Some spells and magic items can increase the rate at which spellpoints are regained. An example of this is the 2nd Level Priest spell Nap (Tome of Magic).

Character Level Sleep Rest

Levels 1 to 5 2pts per hour of sleep 1pt per hour of rest

Levels 6 to 10 4pts per hour of sleep 2pts per hour of rest

Levels 11-15 6pts per hour of sleep 3pts per hour of rest

Levels 16-20 8pts per hour of sleep 4pts per hour of rest

21st Level or higher 10pts per hour of sleep 5pts per hour of rest

The alert reader may notice that high level spell casters will not be able to regain all their spell points in a single night's sleep - or even in two nights (if all their spell points happen to be expended). This is meant to be intentional. Spellcasting is exhausting work, and it takes time to regain lost energy and to focus the mind - for both Mages and Priests.

Spell Failure and Spell Backfiring

When a spellcaster is struck in melee combat, their spell is automatically ruined and the spellpoints lost. When this occurs the spellcaster must save vs Death at +4. Success means that the spellpoints are simply lost, safely if inconveniently. Failure, however, means the spellcaster lost control of the magic and it BACKFIRED, resulting in a wild surge.

Καλό σας βράδυ.