lunedì 11 maggio 2020

OSE & B/X Character Sheet for online play [eng+ita]

A new character sheet is what we need today!
And this is for Old-School Essentials, the fantastic OSR incarnation of D&D B/X by Gavin Norman (whom I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with in Milan during the presentation of the upcoming Italian edition of OSE).

Old-School Essentials is 100% compatible with D&D B/X (Moldvay-Cook, 1981) with very (very very) few changes, some alternative optional rules (like Ascending AC instead of Descending AC, thank Gygax!) and a complete layout overhaul that makes the original game waaaaaaay more simpler to approach and usable at the table. A fantastic job.

In the Character Sheet file you'll find:
  • Two empty sheets: one in English and one Italian (for my fellow countryfolk)!
  • Two sheets with a pregen (the same one) in both languages.

Lo and behold! The OSE Character Sheet for online play!


CLICK ME YOU HERETIC

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The pregen character is Brother Guillem, Cleric of the One True God, and he's the character I chose when I played with Gavin his Winter's Daughter adventure in Milan (picture below!).
It's weird and maybe telling how fun I have playing religious and zealot characters when I'm myself a convinced atheist, but I'm digressing.

Brother Guillem, Cleric of the One True God
With a dedication by Gavin Norman himself!

As always suggestions, criticisms and praise are welcome in the comments.
And remember: sharing is caring!

venerdì 8 maggio 2020

Firerarms: simplified rules for LotFP (with bayonets!)

Firearms in Lamentations of the Flame Princess are cool, but they are way too complicated compared to the rest of the rules, and this is weird and impractical.  I had to simplify them for ease of use at the table, and this is the result.
The original rules (which contain a lot of interesting historical and technical details) can be found on the free LotFP rulebook and are an interesting read nevertheless.

These rules are of course completely compatible with other similar OSR games.


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Cost, damage and range are per LotFP Rules & Magic rulebook Firearms Appendix: 


The following rules apply:
  • Firearms completely ignore armor protection: the target is considered to have AC 12 (unarmored) + Dex modifier if within short range (at all ranges for muskets). Use common sense for monsters.
  • Firearms can be fired only once per combat.
  • They can be used in melee as bludgeoning weapons: pistols deal 1d4 damage, arquebuses and muskets deal 1d6 damage and must be wielded with two hands.
  • The discharge of a firearm causes an immediate Morale check for all opponents with a Morale of 7 or less.
  • A bag of bullets and a horn of powder for 20 shots cost 10sp, and they count as a single item for encumbrance purposes.
  • All firearms use a flintlock firing mechanism.

Additionally: 
  • A pair of pistols is called a "brace", and occupies a single equipment slot.
  • Muskets count as oversized items for encumbrance purposes, with or without a fork.
  • Muskets require a fork in order to fire, otherwise the musketeer incurs in a -2 to the attack roll.
    Forks are sold with muskets (at no additional costs) or separately (4sp).

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Twelve Apostles
The "twelve apostles" is a bandolier with a set of 12 pre-measured powder doses and a small bag of shots to help charge firearms more quickly.
  • It allows to recharge a firearm during a combat in 1d4+2 rounds.
  • It occupies one equipment slot.
  • It costs 8sp (12sp in Rural areas)
  • If a character wearing the twelve apostles is hit by a fire attack he must Save vs Breath or suffer 2d6 damage from the exploding powder and consequent shrapnel.

source

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Bayonet
An edged weapon similar to a dagger mounted on the muzzle side of an arquebus or a musket.
  • When mounted it allows to use the firearm as a spear, inflicting 1d6 damage and getting the same benefits. It must still be wielded with two hands.
  • When not mounted it can be used as a dagger, dealing 1d4 damage (it's considered a Minor Weapon).
  • It occupies an equipment slot (mounted or not).
  • Cost is 10sp (15sp in Rural areas).
There are two bayonet types:
  • Plug bayonet: it must be inserted in the muzzle, where it remains secured, but prevents the weapon from firing. It takes a full round to insert or extract it.
  • Ring bayonet: fixed to the firearm encircling its barrel by the means of rings in the bayonet hilt. It keep the muzzle free and allows to fire while it's mounted. It is less stable than the plug counterpart: with a melee attack roll of 1-4 the bayonet will come off and break.

Plug bayonet ( source)
Ring bayonet ( source)

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Murderhobo armed with musket, fork, twelve apostles, powder horn and fancy jacket.
Look at me, peasant, I'm the shiniest of the dungeon!

As always comments, suggestions, criticisms or praises are welcome.
And if you like what I do, share it with the world!