Operation Unfathomable (Low Fantasy Gaming) (Inactive)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

Just wanted to invite all of you into the planning stages of a new game I am considering. I'm looking to play something new/old. Check it out if you have a bit of extra time these days: LINK

@BrOp: Does Stauntram recognise the areas on the map?

@BrOp: Does Stauntram recognise the areas on the map?

Yes, this is a map drawn by someone in the Prince's party, and you remember it being drawn. You were sent back to the surface but got lost on the way and have been hiding and trying to make your way back for days now. Most of the Prince's party had been killed by the time you were sent back.

Apologies for my absence. Our current shared home internment is not great for my psychological well-being, and one way I tend to manifest is to withdraw, which is not fair to all of you. I'll try my best to fight that urge.

The only player posting recently has been Stauntram. Is everyone else still around?

How are we doing, folks?

Seems we are down to just two players. Do the two of you want to continue, or should we call it?

I'd willing to be continue if we could get more players.

I currently have an earache so my response time might be affected.

LOL, D.O., I didn't realize we were playing together in three different games until just now.

Heh, no worries!

LOL...I think you might both be in my game in Dolemwood...would still play as well if you are interested

Hmm, two players is a bit slim. I'll see if we can generate some interest in the Recruitment thread.

Entirely fair.

Gold: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3) = 10x10=100

My assassin is completed.

One question: Can I use Backstab with a ranged weapon?

One question: Can I use Backstab with a ranged weapon?

The RAW simply state that you have to "attack from behind", which is very imprecise language, grr. I'm going to say, yes, you can attack with a missile weapon as long as the target is unaware of you.

Before we continue with the new PCs, let's go over the magic items you were given by the authorities and figure out who has what.

Sword of Demolition +1: can be set to self-destruct upon command, begins to count backward from 30 in a calm female voice, explodes at zero

20 arrows +1

One arrow +2: prismatic effect (as per faerie fire) on any creature struck

6 healing salves: restore 1d4+1 HP per application

1 potion of invisibility

Ancient charms vs. Chaos: one per PC)

Stone Cloaks: provides camouflage (+1 to any checks); provided for each PC

Wand of magic missiles: fires 2 magic missiles per charge, 5 charges

Battle Axe of Spell Cleaving +1: chop an emergent spell from the air; renders effects null and void (but destroys the weapon

Scroll with fireball, inconvenience, charm monster, membranous

One dozen each red and blue anti-Chaos pills, to be consumed when directly exposed to raw Chaos or Chaos- derived phenomena

Cool

I'll call for the following:

2 Healing Salves

Ancient charms vs. Chaos

Stone Cloak

One dozen each red and blue anti-Chaos pills

All the spells on the scroll are unfortunately magic-user spells, but you could still use them as bargaining tools if you encounter anyone willing to trade.

Duly noted.

Also, it's great to see this moving again.

Also, it's great to see this moving again.

I agree :)

I could use some of the arrows (I could take all of them for now if there's no other archer), and one Ancient charm vs. Chaos and Stone Cloak.

Just to increase the intra-party RP, here are three hooks that explain how all of you know each other. Please pick one of them and tell us to whom it also applies:

You were chain gang prisoners who built the Northern Highroad between Thussleton and Port Redbank.

You are the lone survivors of the Blackbrand Mercenary Company, destroyed in a recent engagement with their rivals, the Shen-Zu Raiders.

You were bodyguards to Lady Horruck, Duchess of the Vander Lowlands, and day to day director of Horruck's Arms & Armor.

Since there are so few of you, I'd also like to beef you up a bit: please give yourselves an extra 6 hp.

I kinda like the merc story..., especially for a priest!!

Yep... put me down for mercs

Cheers for the hp!

I'll go with mercs too.

During the quarantine I've been reading a lot of RPGs and the more I read, the less I am happy with Swords and Wizardry. It's not a bad representation of what Basic D&D was like, but we are no longer living in the late 70s or early 80s and people's tastes and play styles have changed; well, at least mine have changed.

Here's a question to all of you. Would you be willing to switch this game to another (related) RPG? I would not ask people to completely retool your PCs, just move to a system that provides for a longer "game day" (meaning that you can get into more than one combat without having to heal), and has mechanics for more easily resolving non-combat situations (such as skills, etc). I also like games that have more interesting options in combat than just "I hit it with my sword".

What do you think? I know it's a lot to ask folks, so we wouldn't go forward with this idea unless we have 100% buy-in from everyone.

You know what? I'm fine with switching things up.

What system(s) are you considering?

Well, here are several options, all of which I own. If you are not familiar with them, check out the links.

The first is Low Fantasy Gaming by Stephen J Grodzicki. It's a fairly simple system that would require little conversion, although we'd have to expand the magic system a bit to incorporate our cleric.

Five Torches Deep
This is a combination of 5e and OSR and would be a fairly easy conversion, plus it has rules for spells.

13th Age
This is a very solid and well-supported RPG that is a combo between 3rd and 4th edition, but has more rules than all of the OSR-style systems. Learning its rules would be fairly straightforward if you're familiar with 3rd or 4th edition.

Torchbearer
This would require the biggest conversion work because it is not a d20-based system, but it has a lot of rules that are very well suited for Underground adventures.

Wow.. ALL solid games!

Sure.

I think OSR games were romanticised for a while then people realised its limitations and wrote... low fantasy gaming, 5TD and Torchbearer. Unsure on 13th age capturing the feel.

LFG is probably the closest to what we are doing.

I get some of the ideas behind OSR - focus on character actions etc

But keeping rules for their own sake? I'm iffier on that.

Anyway.

I haven't tried any of those games and have no objections to any, though I have heard good things about all.

Trivia piece: I threw in for the Torchbearer 2e kickstarter.

Trivia piece: I threw in for the Torchbearer 2e kickstarter.

I did as well!

Maybe I should have

I personally don't feel that all of the problems that you mention are so bad (between the extra HP you gave us and the option to roll up new characters if necessary), but I don't mind changing to another system.

I know 13th Age well, so I could convert myself to it easily. I agree with Helaman that it isn't close to OSR-style, but it does fit your other criteria.

I don't know Low Fantasy Gaming, but it's free, so I would be willing to try it out. But its description makes me doubt that it will help with regard to your feeling that S&W is too deadly.

I don't have 5 Torches or Torchbearer.

You might also want to look at Microlite20 in one of its myriad incarnations (very rules-lite with OSR feel but not intentionally deadly).

It seems that Low Fantasy Gaming is one that everyone can live with, yes? I just realized that I only have the original version, and since that's the one that's available as a free download I'm inclined to try it and perhaps bring in additional rules if others have access to the Deluxe edition and the new Companion rules.

Does that work for everyone?

Aye. Let's try this!

Glancing over the LFG book, a problem emerges. Paladin is not a class in that book, which is an issue for Stauntram.

Aye. Let's try this!

Glancing over the LFG book, a problem emerges. Paladin is not a class in that book, which is an issue for Stauntram.

No problem at all. Someone came up with a class: Eldritch Champion

In that case, LFG is back on the menu!

With 7 attributes, I imagine we just roll a seventh 4d6 and arrange stats appropriately?

With 7 attributes, I imagine we just roll a seventh 4d6 and arrange stats appropriately?

You can take your current stats and a free 15, or reroll 4d6 six times and take a free 15.

I'll chance a set of rerolls!

4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 1) = 17 16
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 2) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 5) = 14 13
4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 2) = 10 9
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 2, 3) = 13 11
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 2) = 10 9
15

Sounds interesting...I will have to take some time to read up on the cleric class

4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 2) = 9 =08
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3) = 12 =11
4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 5) = 12 =11
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 6) = 17 =14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 4) = 16 =14
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 2) = 14 =13
15

Hmmmm

Sounds interesting...I will have to take some time to read up on the cleric class

Hmmmm

In LFG, the Cleric is called the Cultist. It's available in the Deluxe edition or as a free download from the Game's Website.

Fighter

Strength (Str) 16 +2
Dexterity (Dex) 15 +2
Constitution (Con) 15 +2
Intelligence (Int) 10 -
Perception (Perc) 14 +1
Willpower (Will) 14 +1
Charisma (Cha) 7 - 1

Luck 10

Hit Points 10

Leadership, Athletics,

Detection, Insight, Persuasion, Wilderness Lore

Adaptability (1st level)
Default - Two Hander
Two Hander: If you use a melee weapon two handed, you gain advantage when rolling damage.

Deadly Strikes (1st level)
Your weapons expertise helps you land crippling blows; your weapon attacks cause critical hits on a natural 1d20 roll of 19-20. In addition, if your weapon causes a special effect on a natural 19, the effect also occurs on a natural 20.

wealth 5d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 2, 3) = 17 = 170gp

Heavy Armours: Plate mail, Splint armour, Chain mail, Ring mail
AC +5
100 gp
-2 penalty on Move Silently, Intercept, Swim, Jump & Climb checks.

Longsword, Bastard Sword or Rapier 1d8
15 gp
+1 damage if used two handed (excluding rapier). On a natural 19 to hit roll, you disarm your foe. Rapier gains +2 bonus on interception checks.

Short sword 1d6
6 gp
On a natural 19 to hit roll, you disarm your foe. +2 on initiative checks.

Dagger or Knife 1d4
1 gp
May be thrown up to 40 ft. Easily concealed. +2 on initiative checks.

- Can anyone spot me 10gp or so? Short of my Daikyu Yumi Bow...

4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6, 6) = 16 15
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 5) = 11 10
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 3) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 2) = 9 8
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 1, 6) = 16 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 1) = 7 6
15

I think I'll translate as bard, since the thief isn't made well for ranged attacks.

I'll look to convert tomorrow evening. Tight for time now.

Gold: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) = 7x10=70

Are we rolling HP or taking maximum at first level?

[dice=Gold]3d6x10=70

Are we rolling HP or taking maximum at first level?

Go ahead and take max. That will simulate what the Baron was willing to lend you at the beginning.

Daivid Bowgart wrote:

[dice=Gold]3d6x10=70

Are we rolling HP or taking maximum at first level?

Go ahead and take max. That will simulate what the Baron was willing to lend you at the beginning.

HP or GP?