Stupid Questions
Jeff Paulsen
I plan on playing with my kids the B2 module The Keep on the Borderlands
and then the B3 game Palace of the Silver Princess. I am now
totally confused and ask these questions on situation #1. I only
have access to to a BASIC paperback rules book of 45 pages.
1. What is meant by HD 1+1?
What differentiates it from HD 1 and HD2? This is used for determinations
of experience, right?
2. Explain the following abbreviations
-AC 5, F3, HP 15, #AT 3, D 1-6/1-4/1-6, MV 20, Save F3, ML 8, AL C.
a. AC = Armor class - I understand
b. F# = ? Got me!
c. HP = I understand
d. #AT = attacks/melee round?
e. D = type of dice, but why 3 different ways?
f. MV = ? Mildly violent???
g. Save F3 = ???
h. ML = morale?
i. AL = alignment?
For the character I generated using online generator.
1. I have a generated table that
looks like this -
Damage
Weapon
#AT STR DEX
Magic Back SPD 4
3 2 1 0
-1 SM/L STR
Magic Prof
Blowgun
16 17 18 19 20 20 1d3/1d2
What I don't
? ?
? ?
? ? ?
? ? ? ?
Why 2 ?
? ?
understand
and how
do you use a 3 or 2 sided die?
what does SM or L mean?
small and large?
2. Is this AD&D and which edition?
3. Are there advanced rules that
I can find on the internet?
4. How do I determine THACO?
I have played many computer games using D&D rules but the manuals don't explain the behind the scenes actions.
Thanks for any help that you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more questions as we get started.
Jeff Paulsen
Aaron Day
>
> 1. What is meant by HD 1+1? What differentiates it from HD 1 and HD2? This is used for determinations of experience, right?
HD are 1d8. HD1+1 means 1d8 + 1 extra hit point.
> 2. Explain the following abbreviations -AC 5, F3, HP 15, #AT 3, D 1-6/1-4/1-6, MV 20, Save F3, ML 8, AL C.
> b. F# = ? Got me!
F3 means third level fighter
> d. #AT = attacks/melee round?
Yes
> e. D = type of dice, but why 3 different ways?
Thats the damage for each of the three attacks. 1d6, 1d4 and 1d6
> f. MV = ? Mildly violent???
Move. 20 ft per round.
> g. Save F3 = ???
Save as a third level fighter
> h. ML = morale?
> i. AL = alignment?
Right and right
>
> For the character I generated using online generator.
> 1. I have a generated table that looks like this -
> Damage
> Weapon #AT STR DEX Magic Back SPD 4 3 2 1 0 -1 SM/L STR Magic Prof
> Blowgun 16 17 18 19 20 20 1d3/1d2
You've used and Advanced D&D generator. This stuff is only kinda compatible with Basic D&D
> Thanks for any help that you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more questions as we get started.
Your best bet is to get the Adventure Game (at toy stores in the game section in a giant yellow box). The newer version is way more consistant on how it presents stats. That alone makes it easier to follow. If you would rather continue with the Basic stuff, you will need to track down a copy of the Expert rules. I think I have an extra set, email if interested.
Aaron
Jeff Paulsen
> Your best bet is to get the Adventure Game (at toy stores in the game section in a giant yellow box). The newer version is way more consistant on how it presents stats. That alone makes it easier to follow. If you would rather continue with the Basic stuff, you will need to track down a copy of the Expert rules. I think I have an extra set, email if interested.
>
> Aaron
I am interested in the expert rules so that I can better understand the nuances of the game. I want to kindle a great interest in RPGing with my kids so I can have quality time with them and still kill them off once in a while : )
Thanks for your prompt reply!!
Sniper .308
<jpau...@colby.ixks.com> wrote:
>25 years ago I bought a BASIC D&D set but could never find anyone to
>play. I now have kids that I want to play with; I'll have to be the
>DM. I also want to play adventures at Macray's Keep and have generated
>Level 1 characters via an online generator.
>
>I plan on playing with my kids the B2 module The Keep on the Borderlands
>and then the B3 game Palace of the Silver Princess. I am now totally
>confused and ask these questions on situation #1. I only have access to
>to a BASIC paperback rules book of 45 pages.
> 1. What is meant by HD 1+1? What differentiates it from HD 1 and
>HD2? This is used for determinations of experience, right?
Yes, HD 1+1, means you roll the creatures hit dice and add 1, this
will be its hit points.
> 2. Explain the following abbreviations -AC 5, F3, HP 15, #AT 3, D
>1-6/1-4/1-6, MV 20, Save F3, ML 8, AL C.
> a. AC = Armor class - I understand
> b. F# = ? Got me!
Fighter Level
> c. HP = I understand
> d. #AT = attacks/melee round?
Yes
> e. D = type of dice, but why 3 different ways?
It gets 3 attacks per mele round
> f. MV = ? Mildly violent???
Movement
> g. Save F3 = ???
Saving throws equal to a 3rd level fighter
> h. ML = morale?
Yes
> i. AL = alignment?
Yes
>
>
>For the character I generated using online generator.
> 1. I have a generated table that looks like this -
>
>Damage
> Weapon #AT STR DEX Magic Back SPD 4
>3 2 1 0 -1 SM/L STR Magic Prof
>
>Blowgun
>16 17 18 19 20 20 1d3/1d2
>
>
>What I don't ? ? ?
>? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Why 2
>? ? ?
>understand
>and how
>
>do you use a 3 or 2 sided die?
6 sided dice devided in half (1-3) for Small and Man sized targets,
devided in 1/3 (1-2) for Large targets.
>
>what does SM or L mean?
See above
>
>small and large?
Yep
>
> 2. Is this AD&D and which edition?
It looks to be a very basic form of 1st edition
> 3. Are there advanced rules that I can find on the internet?
Maybe, you will have to look
> 4. How do I determine THACO?
THACO, means To Hit Armor Class 0, it is whatever they need to hit an
AC 0
>
>I have played many computer games using D&D rules but the manuals don't
>explain the behind the scenes actions.
>
>Thanks for any help that you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more
>questions as we get started.
We all had to start somewhere.
Reginald
"Jeff Paulsen" <jpau...@colby.ixks.com> wrote:
>
> 25 years ago I bought a BASIC D&D set but could never find anyone to
> play. I now have kids that I want to play with; I'll have to be the
> DM. I also want to play adventures at Macray's Keep and have
> generated Level 1 characters via an online generator.
>
> I plan on playing with my kids the B2 module The Keep on the
> Borderlands and then the B3 game Palace of the Silver Princess. I
> am now totally confused and ask these questions on situation #1. I
> only have access to to a BASIC paperback rules book of 45 pages.
>
> 1. What is meant by HD 1+1? What differentiates it from HD 1
> and HD2? This is used for determinations of experience, right?
HD means hit die. "1+1" means 1 hit die plus 1 point. Since this is a
monster, the hit die is 1d8. Therefore 1d8 + 1 point = monster's hit
point. HD 1+1 also determines your monster's attack roll (see the
Dungeon Master book).
> 2. Explain the following abbreviations -AC 5, F3, HP 15, #AT 3,
> D 1-6/1-4/1-6, MV 20, Save F3, ML 8, AL C.
> b. F# = ? Got me!
Fighter and level (F3 = 3rd-level Fighter)
> d. #AT = attacks/melee round?
Correct.
> e. D = type of dice, but why 3 different ways?
D stands for damage. The three values represent the weapon damage the
Fighter can inflict (it correspond to the #AT entry above)
> f. MV = ? Mildly violent???
Movement. In the case above, he can move 20 feet per round.
> g. Save F3 = ???
Consult your Player book on Saving Throw. In the case above he uses the
Saving Throw numbers of a 3rd-level Fighter.
> h. ML = morale?
> i. AL = alignment?
Both are correct. Consult the Dungeon Master book with regards to NPC
and Morale.
It has been a long while since I have seen the old D&D boxed set. I can
suggest you should try 3rd edition. It retains a bit of the old boxed
set with some new innovations.
Kieran Dyke
"Jeff Paulsen" <jpau...@colby.ixks.com> wrote in message news:3A15AC70...@colby.ixks.com...
Steve Wolter
<jpau...@colby.ixks.com> wrote to alt.games.adnd: (snipped parts of
message)
>I plan on playing with my kids the B2 module The Keep on the Borderlands
>and then the B3 game Palace of the Silver Princess. I am now totally
>confused and ask these questions on situation #1. I only have access to
>to a BASIC paperback rules book of 45 pages.
> 1. What is meant by HD 1+1? What differentiates it from HD 1 and
>HD2? This is used for determinations of experience, right?
HD = Hit Dice. This is the number of Hit Dice a creature has,
determining the HP for a monster (One Hit Dice is 1d8) and the effects
of some spells and mass combat. HD 1+1 means you roll 1d8 for HP and
add 1, 3+4 would mean you roll 3d8 and add 4.
> b. F# = ? Got me!
Fighter Level 3.
> d. #AT = attacks/melee round?
Yes, attacks per round.
> e. D = type of dice, but why 3 different ways?
It is the damage the creature can do with its natural weapons. For
example, if you want to have your players be attacked by a giant
hamster, you might want to give the hamster two attacks with his
"claws" dealing 1d4 damage and one bang with his head dealing 1d20
damage, the whole thing would be: D 1-4/1-4/1-20
> f. MV = ? Mildly violent???
Movement. Each point of movement lets a character move 5 feet in a
combat round of 10-15 seconds.
> g. Save F3 = ???
Saving throw like Fighter level 3
> h. ML = morale?
Think so.
> i. AL = alignment?
Should be.
>do you use a 3 or 2 sided die?
>
>what does SM or L mean?
>
>small and large?
Against small and middle-sized creatures you use a 3-sided one,
against large ones you throw your d2 (your coin).
> 2. Is this AD&D and which edition?
My guess would be First Edition.
> 3. Are there advanced rules that I can find on the internet?
These are the standard Player's handbook rules. For more advanced
rules, see the Player's Option supplements.
> 4. How do I determine THACO?
It is done in AD&D 2nd Edition that way:
All characters start with 20 THAC0.
For a fighter, the THAC0 is lowered by one point every level.
Priests lower their THAC0 two points every three levels.
Rogue lower their THAC0 one point every two levels.
Mages lower their THAC0 one point every three levels.
>Thanks for any help that you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more
>questions as we get started.
Feel free to ask.