Search found 26 matches

by JShan101
Sat Feb 24, 2024 12:50 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)
Replies: 29
Views: 3702

Re: New but also returning (AKA Converting early D&D modules to C&C)

Geroblue wrote:
Sat Jan 14, 2023 6:57 pm
One of my home players, who never DMed, bought modules and memorized them.
This is either really funny or absolutely, incredibly sad.
Does this person need a hug?
by JShan101
Tue May 23, 2023 2:32 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: A fitting tribute to a dying player
Replies: 19
Views: 2715

Re: A fitting tribute to a dying player

The problems of being an aging gamer. (I'm 60.) Over the past couple years I've gotten news of a few gaming friends, with whom I'd lost touch, passing. When I think of them, I think of all the great times at the table and how this amazing hobby brought us all together.
by JShan101
Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:34 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Characters using other class abilities
Replies: 127
Views: 5012

Re: Characters using other class abilities

For the same reason that you don't let a thief try to cast a wizard spell, or turn undead Not really an apple-to-apple comparison when it comes practical physical skills like climbing. Most folks can climb a tree. Some folks could do a decent job of climbing a wall that has a lot of craggy handhold...
by JShan101
Sat Mar 18, 2023 11:30 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Characters using other class abilities
Replies: 127
Views: 5012

Re: Characters using other class abilities

Can always double the CL for folks attempting non-class abilities. Fighter wants to climb that sheer wall? It's a CL 3 for the thief, but CL 6 for the fighter. Wizard wants to track? CL 2 for the Ranger, CL 4 for ol'robes-and-pointy-hat guy. And no adding level.

You still let everybody try. Why not?
by JShan101
Sun Jan 29, 2023 5:39 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Dwarven Resistance
Replies: 4
Views: 368

Dwarven Resistance

p50 of the PHB (7th), it notes that Dwarves have an inherent Resistance to Arcane Magic. It grants them "a +3 bonus to all saving throws against arcane spells and spell-like effects." Does this +3 apply to Spell Resistance as well? I'm looking at Magic Missile, which has a "yes" ...
by JShan101
Sun Jan 29, 2023 3:31 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Your Take on PC Hit Points
Replies: 47
Views: 2192

Re: Your Take on PC Hit Points

Trying to remember what system it was--Chivalry & Sorcery, maybe?--that had a crit chart that was not only vicious, but downright hysterical to read.
by JShan101
Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:54 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Your Take on PC Hit Points
Replies: 47
Views: 2192

Re: Your Take on PC Hit Points

d6+CON bonus "0-level" hp, then proceed as normal. Folks had to have hit points to live before they became daring adventurers, right? Crtis, yes, to give the players something to live for...and sometimes die from. I tried using max damage + a roll, but my easily confused group somehow coul...
by JShan101
Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:47 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Cleric - Spot and Search GOD
Replies: 68
Views: 3532

Re: Cleric - Spot and Search GOD

I use WIS for noticing things, and INT for active searches. The difference between having a "good eye" versus knowing what you're looking for. And going waaay back to the original post, I wouldn't let Eagle-eye the Cleric add level to the check because traps ain't his class' thang. Any wel...
by JShan101
Tue Jun 14, 2022 7:34 pm
Forum: Other Games
Topic: What do you hate about D&D 5e?
Replies: 44
Views: 14880

Re: What do you hate about D&D 5e?

Definitely agree with Samuels note, "Hero first, without earning it." 5e is about creating 1st-level superheroes, basically. There's no real progression to power. Characters start off being able to do too much and just go up from there, which feels like it's there to appease the raised-on-...
by JShan101
Fri Jun 10, 2022 1:24 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Calculating Challenge Class needlessly complex
Replies: 49
Views: 3896

Re: Calculating Challenge Class needlessly complex

So players have an issue with when to add or not add 6? Isn't that like on the same level as knowing when to open a window during a rainstorm or not? I mean it's a binary situation; Prime. Not Prime. How can they confuse it? Happened with my players (some new to the hobby, others not) when I decide...
by JShan101
Sat May 01, 2021 3:29 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Criticals & Fumbles
Replies: 31
Views: 2687

Re: Criticals & Fumbles

The old RPG DragonQuest had a crit chart that was actually hysterical to read, especially the worse things got...
by JShan101
Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:50 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Criticals & Fumbles
Replies: 31
Views: 2687

Re: Criticals & Fumbles

Crit hit: Max damage plus a roll.

Crit miss: No action next round. Plus, roll again: another 1 and weapon loses 2 pts of damage.
by JShan101
Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:09 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Defender AC for grappling
Replies: 14
Views: 1964

Defender AC for grappling

In a grapple attack, the defender's AC is based on whether or not STR is prime, but then they also get their STR and DEX bonuses, correct? So a defender with STR as a prime and, let us say, a +1 STR bonus and +2 DEX bonus has an effective AC of 18 + 3 = 21, correct? (Let's not confuddle the example ...
by JShan101
Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:10 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: The 'filler' Illusionist Spells...why are they there
Replies: 14
Views: 1602

Re: The 'filler' Illusionist Spells...why are they there

One way to have more spells is to enlarge your spells in memory, or you could cast from, but keep the spells per day limits. Our group does that as a house rule, 1.5 x the spells per day in memory, spells per day cast and those cast do not wipe memory... Though I have no spelltossers in my game rig...
by JShan101
Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:28 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: The 'filler' Illusionist Spells...why are they there
Replies: 14
Views: 1602

Re: The 'filler' Illusionist Spells...why are they there

Eh they could come in handy for some role playing... Spell lists can either be filled only with "useful" spells and we can all just assume magic users don't have for petty effects, or you can write to create a fuller world for them. I could see a rogue/illusionist using Double Treasure to ...
by JShan101
Sun Sep 06, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Assisted attribute checks
Replies: 10
Views: 1199

Assisted attribute checks

I'm sure this has been asked before, and I can homebrew up my own answer but: how do you handle an assisted attribute check, like two players trying to force open a door. My lazy scrolling through the PHB and CKG didn't give me any clues. Lower the CL? Both roll, take the better? Add both attribute ...
by JShan101
Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:42 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Minimizing math while also balancing the "Siege Engine"
Replies: 20
Views: 8596

Re: Pre-Calculated "Challenge Class". Faster task resolution

Very intrigued by this. One thing to clarify...on the chart below, is level (I'm assuming 1st?) already added in? So the +6 for a STR check is +4 for prime, +1 for the attribute bonus, and +1 for level, correct? Nice work, by the by. This may find a home in my game very soon! https://iili.io/HCw10G....
by JShan101
Fri Oct 25, 2019 3:07 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: How do you handle multiclass?
Replies: 15
Views: 6791

Re: How do you handle multiclass?

All good input, thanks! I've always been ok with multiclass—well, dual-class, anyway. I've had people who want to triple up, and I would gently explain that they were pretty much asking to remain first level forever... I think I am going to play around with a mostly character-driven option where the...
by JShan101
Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:08 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: How do you handle multiclass?
Replies: 15
Views: 6791

How do you handle multiclass?

Less about the by-the-book rules here, and more about how you've approached level advancement in multiclass. Is it always 1:1 (or 1:1:1, etc) in levels in your games? That is, using a straight PHB read, you normally add the xp requirement of the classes and add the prescribed extra amount, and the c...
by JShan101
Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:55 am
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Adding level
Replies: 19
Views: 7353

Re: Adding level

Thank you, Buttmonkey. Clearer now. And yeah, a lot of the contrary and unclear wording in the books sets my editor brain on edge...

And now I'm off to add levels to juuuuust about everything! Much appreciated, Crusaders!
by JShan101
Tue Oct 01, 2019 11:44 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Adding level
Replies: 19
Views: 7353

Re: Adding level

My bad on the partial quote--I didn't want to pull the focus away from the question of whether or not to add level to a non-class ability roll. This is further complicated (for me) by this, from the PHB p16, under "Attribute Checks": Whenever one of these checks is made a d20 is rolled by ...
by JShan101
Tue Oct 01, 2019 8:38 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Adding level
Replies: 19
Views: 7353

Re: Adding level

Okay, thanks for that, but what's the answer? Do you add level to checks for non-class ability tasks? Like jumping a pit? Seems about the same level of effort as grabbing a shoe.
by JShan101
Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:28 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Adding level
Replies: 19
Views: 7353

Adding level

Need a little clarity on adding character level to attribute checks. I understand that level is added to class ability checks. That being said... Looking at CKG p 283, on Actions Against Opposing Attributes: "So if a 1st level character with dexterity as a primary attribute attempted to grab a ...
by JShan101
Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:56 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Monster hit die type
Replies: 12
Views: 4740

Re: Monster hit die type

During the writing of M&T, I had a few self-appointed guidelines... Straight from the source! Awesome! Thank you for the insight. With some systems the answer can turn out to be "Because we felt like it"--especially on things that at first glance might seem arbitrary. It was just my o...
by JShan101
Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:54 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Monster hit die type
Replies: 12
Views: 4740

Re: Monster hit die type

Heyo, Crusaders. New to the system, though a veteran (very) of RPGs. Looking over M&T, I'm wondering what determines a monster's hit die TYPE. I see that a lot of monster have a d8 (common), but for example, Goblins get a d6. What determines this? Size? Dice? A whim? Thanks in advance for your ...
by JShan101
Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:01 pm
Forum: Castles & Crusades
Topic: Monster hit die type
Replies: 12
Views: 4740

Monster hit die type

Heyo, Crusaders. New to the system, though a veteran (very) of RPGs. Looking over M&T, I'm wondering what determines a monster's hit die TYPE. I see that a lot of monster have a d8 (common), but for example, Goblins get a d6. What determines this? Size? Dice? A whim? Thanks in advance for your s...