tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post2948134013591157531..comments2024-03-26T15:35:56.004-04:00Comments on Delta's D&D Hotspot: My OD&D MulticlassingDeltahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-89090814277477884522009-01-21T20:44:00.000-05:002009-01-21T20:44:00.000-05:00There's truth to that.The way I see it, "monster e...There's truth to that.<BR/><BR/>The way I see it, "monster elves" don't play by the rules.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02944933217866350308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-66461935892733285472009-01-21T18:49:00.000-05:002009-01-21T18:49:00.000-05:00"When adventuring, he chooses which class he is ad..."When adventuring, he chooses which class he is advancing on the adventure, and uses this class's to-hit values and saving throws."<BR/><BR/>I basically read the same thing in Vol. 1 alone, but I do feel that it's contradicted by the description in Vol. 2. There's no mention there of having to choose which class is "active" for members of a band of NPC Elves. <BR/><BR/>And when I think of the prospect of having to specify that for every NPC Elf we ever encounter, I have serious doubts that that was ever really the intention.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-82325296539427985492009-01-21T17:25:00.000-05:002009-01-21T17:25:00.000-05:00When I read elf's description, I see:Elves can...When I read elf's description, I see:<BR/><BR/>Elves can adventure as fighters or magic users.<BR/>Regardless of which they choose, they may always employ weapons, armor and spells. They may not cast spells in non-magic armor.<BR/>When adventuring, he chooses which class he is advancing on the adventure, and uses this class's to-hit values and saving throws. All experience earned is applied to the class chosen, and they can advance Fighting Man as high as level 4 and Magic User as high as level 8.<BR/>In the case of HP, for some reason I'm led to believe that in OD&D *all* dice for hitpoints are rerolled at each level gain. How else could one rationalize an increase from, say, 1+1 dice (one die plus one pip) to 2 dice (two dice). Does the adventurer lose the +1 and roll a die instead, or does he keep it? No, I think the whole sum is rerolled at each level. In such a case, I would rule that a character can keep the greater of either his new roll OR his current total plus 1. Thus, they always gain at least 1 hit point on each level gain.<BR/>What does this mean for elves? Well, in the case of the elf he would get to roll the dice for hitpoints each time either class rises in level in this way. He starts with the fighting man's dice in any case, ignoring the first level of Magic User for simplicity. Thus he'll be rerolling his hit dice 10 more times in his career.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02944933217866350308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-74149333324592628922009-01-21T12:48:00.000-05:002009-01-21T12:48:00.000-05:00Dh, it's a very good point and initially I was...Dh, it's a very good point and initially I was thinking exactly the same thing. You're right that it would look like one less thing to remember if we did it at award-time.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, what convinced me to go this way was: (1) OD&D's language that a "switch" can be made only before an adventure, (2) short-circuiting the player analysis/advantage you point out to min-maxing where the XP goes, (3) a bit of realism that what's being trained/practiced is known while the adventure is in play, and (4) the flip-side being that we might likely forget to decide as a play session is wrapping up/out of time, and so it's best to document that when we first sit down so we don't forget.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-78702630841284496162009-01-21T08:14:00.000-05:002009-01-21T08:14:00.000-05:00As far as specifying which class gains XP, you mig...As far as specifying which class gains XP, you might consider altering it to have the player choose at the time of XP award rather than at the start of the adventure. This is likely mostly a semantic change, being as XP is usually only awarded at the end of the adventure. However, I think it has two advantages:<BR/><BR/>First, less book-keeping. When I'm given the XP for the adventure, I don't have to remember which class I said back at the beginning I was going to put it towards. Especially useful if the adventure spans multiple play sessions.<BR/><BR/>Second, it allows the player to base the decision on most recent experience. Basically, when the XP comes I can decide that I really could have used some extra spell power in that last adventure so I'm putting the XP towards Magic-User instead of Fighter. Or I could decide that the amount of XP will level me in Fighter but not Magic-User, so it's better applied there.<BR/><BR/>OK, in writing that out, I realize there is a slight advantage of choosing at award time in as much as you know the amount of XP before you make the decision. Of course, the DM could just ask the player to choose just before telling the player the number.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, my two cents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com