Thursday, January 25, 2024

3x10 initiation rites

Random acts and tasks a guild/clan/order/gang might require from those wanting to enter their ranks.

Sneaky
1. Spend a night in jail and carve your name on the wall.
2. Steal from somebody who trusts you.
3. Prevent a crime – then commit it yourself.
4. Frame somebody for a crime, real or imaginary.
5. Get caught cheating in a game.
6. Cry wolf!
7. Sell something of no value for a great price.
8. Find a hidden path.
9. Impersonate somebody for a day.
10. Steal something big – then lose it.

Martial
1. Fall from a high spot, then climb higher and fall again. Repeat.
2. Pick a fight – and lose.
3. Gather your gang, start a fight, direct them from the sidelines.
4. Teach somebody to fight better.
5. Fight with your hands tied behind your back.
6. Bring down a building.
7. Survive being dragged under a ship.
8. Fight an alpha to assert dominance.
9. Forge your own weapon.
10. Defeat somebody with your gaze.

Mystical
1. Witness a lightning strike.
2. Walk an untrodden path.
3. Become a wild beast for a day.
4. Get stung or bit by three different stingers and biters.
5. Create a mask and wear it as long as you can.
6. Ponder your orb.
7. Get utterly, hopelessly lost.
8. Create your own secret code writing.
9. Carve your true name on a pebble and throw it in the river.
10. Find the same place thrice in your dreams.



Saturday, January 20, 2024

[Dungeon] "The Arnesonium" - a Blackmoorian exercise

The topic of the dungeon maps from First Fantasy Campaign came up on the Wandering DMs discord server. Mostly we discussed how to describe all those weirdly shaped spaces and labyrinthine corridors...

Just for fun, I decided to draw up and stock a dungeon level in this style. I did not use the "Protection Point" system (you can read about it over at The Alexandrian's blog), just filled everything up as I went randomly. 


The Arnesonium, Level 1

1) 4 Ogres, lazy, 4000 GP, Potion of Ogre Shape
2) 8 Spiders
3) 5800 GP, Wand of Bridge Building
4) Knee-deep water. 28 Talking Eels
A. Teleport to 3)
5) 6 dead adventurers, will rise as Zombies
6) Dungeon noticeboard: monsters for hire
7)
8) Switch: lowers the ambient temperature of the whole dungeon level to arctic, then breaks off.
9) 6300 GP, Dragon-Fang Spear, 2 Potions of Sadness
10) 1 Wight

Wandering Monsters by Quadrant
A) 6 Berserkers
B) Conjurer and 4 Men-at-Arms
C) 4 Zombies
D) 1 Ogre



Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Lycanthropy rules, based on the Turn Undead table

A simple system for player characters infected with lycanthropy!

 

There are two types of transformation: voluntary or forced.

Forced transformation happens under setting-specific circumstances: full moon, passing of a comet, meteor shower, drugs, anger or stress, trigger word for hypnotic suggestion, etc.

The player must roll on the following chart, 2d6 for voluntary transformation, 3d6 with “disadvantage” (roll 3 dice, keep the 2 worst).

 

Lycanthrope type (HD) **

Level *

Wererat (3)

Werewolf (4)

Wereboar (4+1)

Weretiger (5)

Werebear (6)

Devil Swine (9)

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

11

-

-

-

-

-

3

9

11

-

-

-

-

4

7

9

11

-

-

-

5

T

7

9

11

-

-

6

T

T

7

9

11

-

7

D

T

T

7

9

11

8

D

D

T

T

7

9

9

D

D

D

T

T

7

10

D

D

D

D

T

T

11

D

D

D

D

D

T

12+

D

D

D

D

D

D

 

- = transformation and uncontrolled rage for a number of rounds equal to double the Lycanthrope HD, then transform back and crash (unconsciousness for 1 hour)

11, 9, 7 = roll equal or higher to retain control for a number of rounds equal to character level, then rage for a number of rounds equal to Lycanthrope HD, transform back and check for crashing (save vs Petrification or lose consciousness for 1 hour)

T = transform and retain control for a number of rounds equal to character level, then transform back; unable to transform again until after a night’s rest

D = transform, retain control and transform back at-will, no crashing



* Reddit user Maz437 proposed an addition to the system

This is based not on absolute character level, but on "levels spent with the curse".

However, that also means that mightier high-level characters (who level slowly), will spend a LOT of time trying to learn to control the disease, which is also a bit strange (logically, a high-level character would have an easier time retainig control).


** HD values based on OSE. Modify as needed...