A Push of the Fates.... Zakhara... You Jewel!

Game Master Insnare

Standard amount for 4th level.

That's in the DMG right?

The 2nd edition DMG says:

There are times when you should allow a character to start above 1st level. A newly-created character should begin a campaign no higher than 4th level unless the group is very powerful. If this is the case, he should begin no higher than the lowest level character in the party (and it may be better to start a level or two lower).

The new character should have equipment similar to that of his adventuring companions: If they have horses, he should have a horse, too. But do not give him free magical items. These he must earn. He should start with a small amount of cash.

This isn't exactly great guidance. It implies that you would start with a good assortment of mundane items, but no magic items. I think we know at this point in the history of game design that this is a losing proposition, so it's up to our DM to decide on what would be fair for you.

Yes, I remember playing 2e and everything was earned. If you want to start off with one or two +1 items I would not be against it. If you have a special request run it by me and I am pretty cool. The party does have some magical items but nothing too crazy. I want everyone to have fun but also have challenges.

Which AD&D 2E books are you using?

Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 3, 5) = 20 15
Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 2, 6) = 21 18
Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2, 2, 5) = 21 17
Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 4, 1, 4) = 15 13
Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 4, 1) = 14 11
Stats: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 6, 6) = 18 16

18, 17, 16, 15, 13, 11

Those stats are pretty amazing, I may need to give this a swing!!!

All of them but predominantly the Al Qadim stuff or Forgotten Realms stuff.

Yes, I remember playing 2e and everything was earned. If you want to start off with one or two +1 items I would not be against it. If you have a special request run it by me and I am pretty cool. The party does have some magical items but nothing too crazy. I want everyone to have fun but also have challenges.

I figured some sort of item to allow my foreigner to talk to locals would be good. Other Wise I think Magical Gnome Worker Armor would be a good +1

Or I just do +1 Gnome Workman Armor and +1 SHield that could work better.

@GMEDWIN - I dropped you a note in PMs.

How about the Players Options: Skills & Powers or PO: Combat and Tactics books?

I'm thinking of a Dwarf Fighter/Cleric, but I'm not sure what special Al-Qadim clericy stuff exists.

Like, didn't both FR, and AQ make different weapons, and specific powers available to clerics of specific deities?

I have to organize and craft a backstory with Frackit Alloyeye

If your character is originally from the outskirts of Zakhara you could speak Midani. Or maybe your character had travelled there before.

@Zahir, we use some of that stuff but it is on a case by case basis.

The Bedine still speak it so I may have him learn from there before his accident

Sure, you can speak Midani but probably not read it. The Bedine uses a different alphabet than is used in modern Zakhara. But maybe the Alphabet is similar to that of Chun, which is ancient Midani.

I've been thinking on applying for this game for a while, and have several concepts, but the system (AD&D) didn't have an SRD.
Ever since the big WOTC fiasco, I've had my interest in the OSR scene kindled, so I thought of dropping a post here.

So here are my concepts:
1. A sheikh (paladin) who is the leader of his people, but left them in the trusted hands of his eldest son and heir to go on a pilgrimage to right some wrong (probably related to a demonic affliction, to kill a terrible ghul, or to put to rest some restless spirit). He rides his camel and is garbed in white robes (with armor set aside when traveling), and uses a round shining mirror shield, a scimitar, and an iron mace, the sheikh is a warm and paternal presence that turns quickly grim when seeing evil.
2. A hashashin (rogue) who is part of a secret religious order. Multitalented and skilled with infiltrating enemy strongholds to open them up for the party. He carries daggers and a shortbow, and looks so much like an average person that he can easily fit into any role,
3. A janissary (fighter) who is an elite soldier of the mamlukes, with an ajami origin. He is an infantry combatant who uses polearms and a jezail (long muskets), and has a majestic mustache.

I would also suggest nomad (ranger) and a wizard (sahir) but I believe one of each are in the party already.

5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 1, 2) = 18 15
5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 5, 3, 3) = 15 11
5d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 4, 6) = 13 11
5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 3, 6) = 17 13
5d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 2, 6) = 18 14
5d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 2, 5) = 23 17

I'm open to suggestions, but am leaning into the paladin since it doesn't seem there is a tank (and that 17 is my ticket in!), and it seems my stats are in the not-bad territory.

I'm a bit overwhelmed! It has been a LONG TIME since I've played AD&D 2E.

I was thinking of a Dwarven Fighter-Cleric, because the DM said you needed a Cleric, but I see that Critzible is covering down with a Gnome Priest.

That helps a lot.

I also see that the is a Rogue type (your merchant), and a wizard type, (the Shair).

All that having been said, and to avoid my having to relearn spell casting, rogue %s and such, I'm thinking an Elf Desert Rider, so I can stick with just fighter stuff to get my toes wet.

It's disappointing, and non-thematic for the AQ setting to assign a Desert Rider such a "western" weapon as a longsword!

Ok, any advice on how to proceed? I haven't made a 2E character since, well, since 3.0 came out!

FYI, Spring Break starts here this week, so we're heading out of town Sunday and returning the following weekend.

Exceptional Strength: 1d100 ⇒ 83

Some rolling:

Age: 100 + 5d6 ⇒ 100 + (1, 5, 5, 2, 4) = 117

Height: 55 + 1d10 ⇒ 55 + (8) = 63

Weight: 90 + 3d10 ⇒ 90 + (7, 2, 9) = 108

Hit Points: 4d10 + 8 ⇒ (4, 7, 6, 10) + 8 = 35

Ok, Zahir here. I think I have the crunch pretty well together. Missing some things.

1) Languages. I think I get 1+3. What's the local language? Then I'd add Elf, and a couple others.
2) What exactly does specialization at riding a camel do? I'm given it for free as a Desert Rider.
3) I need "gear." I can clean this up, nothing amazing.

I saw the DM said a +1 weapon or so was ok. Rather than that, I'd prefer a composite short bow that can accommodate my STR damage modifier, and a better than normal mount.

As a Desert Rider, I start with a Broken Down mount, which my ability makes into average. I figure that over the last 3 levels, I could have purchased an average quality horse, which my abilities would make into high quality.

I THINK that the difference between "horse" and "camel" is simply a reskin. If that's true, then I'd like to be riding an average quality (high spirited) light war camel!

I'd love to get any more knowledgeable than I to review my PC.

Thanks. Looking forward to adventuring with you all.

Update: Hmmmm, Paritosh has facial hair. 2E doesn't seem to proscribe facial hair for elves. Thoughts?

Query: Is this game using the Table 52 modifiers for weapon types bonuses/penalties against specific armor types?

The local language is called Midani.

A sheikh paladin sounds good especially if your folk is a relatively small group which would explain the 4th level.

You can make your desert rider with a large scimitar if you want. Camels have their own statistics because they are larger creatures. It would make sense that over the course of four levels you would have had been able to purchase a quality camel. The stats for camels can be found online or in one of the two AQ setting books.

Yes we are using table 52.

If you want to have a beard, feel free.

Hopefully, I answered everyone's questions.

Crizible, your character looks good.

If you guys can have your characters ready within the next few days that would be great. I think after this combat the PCs will retire to the Janni camp and they can meet you. I guess the three of you either together or separately were wandering the Deserts of the Haunted Lands and ended of in the Janni camp.

Thank you.

I'll run with Midani, Elf, Orc, and Gnoll for languages

With the exception of mundane gear, I think Paritosh is ready.

You said "large scimitar?" Wouldn't there be penalties for using an oversized weapon?

I go out of town tomorrow for Spring Break. Be back next weekend.

or you could use a khopesh if you want. That could work.

Ohhh! A khopesh! Very Egyptian!

Alright, I guess we should see what lady luck has in store...

Do I roll hp for all four hit dice and what illusion spells do you want to give me?

Yes roll all four and you can pick your own.

HP: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 7, 2) = 18

Let's go

Frackit reporting in

It sounds Ibn Taaib (Son of the Repentant) is accepted.

I found a good image that fits OSR style

And here is his sheet link.
I think I still need to roll for gold, station, and choose equipment and a kit. I'm still new to AD&D.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems there is no difference between Str 15 and Str 10.

HP: 4d10 ⇒ (9, 7, 6, 5) = 27
27 hp is good and is 20% above average. Probably reflects his hard lifestyle.
As I understand old-school concepts, we might end up with followers or hirelings. It is especially important since Charisma helps with that.
Is that accommodated here or would this be unwieldly in PBP?

That was a downright impressive set: 16, 18, 12, 14, 17, 15. I am thinking a ranger or bard could make a good 5th party member for the assembled group.

Well, if I am considering rangee, my 18 will go to strength, so here is my percentile roll.
Warrior Percentile: 1d100 ⇒ 96

Wow! Okay, definitely leaning toward ranger at this point...

gold: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 4, 3) = 14

Question: isn't percentile strength only for the fighter class?

It is for any of the warrior classes, fighter, ranger or paladin.

If its these desert warriors I could be with them the strange little outsider who wander in.

If its these desert warriors I could be with them the strange little outsider who wander in.

You never know what you’ll find roaming the wastes!

Indeed!
I'm taking the Faris (knight) kit, because I don't think there is a 'minor tribal leader' kit.
Station: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Nice!

oh yeah station um okay I roll a d6 no mods fun

Station: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Not bad could of been a 1

Updated woot

trying to see if my edit bar will show up

Oh! Right! Station!

Station: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

And wealth:

Wealth: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) = 8 x10

You guys should probably be able to join in by Tuesday evening my time at the latest. Your characters somehow got lost and ended up in the camp of Janni in the Haunted Lands: Sea of Salt area of an abandoned ancient city called Al-Anwahr. Feel free to describe how your characters came to the Janni camp and whether you knew each other from before and you could probably post it into the gameplay thread by Monday or Tuesday evening.

Frackit is open to be travelling with someone who is more knowledgable of Zakhara then he is as he is Faerunean

Frackit, are you still going with a "unwelcome teleportation" to Zakhara, the land of fate?

Yep

Yeah Frackit will be navigating the continent of Zakhara as a fish outta water, who knows the Bedine form of Midani and has a strange accent and clothing. Very outlander, very seeking his way back or at least on the journey of helping others for the betterment of himself and others through counsel, humor, wisdom and jokes!

@DM:
Ibn Taaib could have met Paritosh while traveling in the desert, and would have shared salt and camel-milk with the elf, coming to respect his mastery of traversing the desert. The both of them (since I intend to take desert survival) are very capable travelers.
Both of the could have come across Frackit in the ruins of the city he teleported to after his fight in Anauroch, and would have assisted the gnome. I know Ibn Taaib would have given the gnome some more baggy white robes to avert the desert sun, and taught him how to tighten a turban to protect him from the sun's glare.

Ibn Taaib would have told them over a campfire about his quest (since they are both Good), warned them of the legends of this part of the desert (at least those Paritosh doesn't already know of), and the three would have navigated the ruined city until they came across the party in the Janni camp.

Sounds good, Paritosh, Frackit?

My character is almost done, DM. I just need to buy Ibn Taaib's equipment and choose his proficiencies. Please advise if there is something besides those that is missing.