ASSUMPTIONS AND HOUSE-RULES II

ASE Labyrinth Lord House Rules

The game has come a long way since I put up something like this, and with new players set to join the group what better time to refresh the house-rules.  Somewhat inspired by Jack Shear's house rules.

Making a Character

Ah player characters.  Furry barbarian guy, check.   Mage type with silly staff, check.  Dodgy guy in black, check.  Moody wilderness type, check.  Hey dodgy guy in black, Cleric or Thief?*

ABILITY SCORES – OPTIONS – YOU ARE EITHER:

·       Hardcore, Know the Score:  3d6 in order, OR

·       Softco..**  “ahem”   ...Bet Hedger:  Roll 4d6/drop lowest.  Two ability scores may be swapped.

Quit complaining already, that is choice right there, and anyway at least we’re not using the OD&D ability scores.  And don’t go all ‘Bet Hedger’ and swap out Charisma for a quick bonus because charisma (HENCHMEN) is really important in this game.

CLASS ABILITY SCORE REQUIREMENTS

You bet that these are in force.  Class ability score requirements are as per Labyrinth Lord and Advanced Edition Companion (AEC)

LEVEL LIMITS

As per LL and AEC, however the most powerful characters and NPCs in the setting are in the 7-9 level range.

EXPERIENCE POINTS: EARNING XP

XP is mostly earned for treasure.  Some game-time and achievement awards will also be given.  XP for monsters is as per the book.  If DM is feeling lazy, XP will be value of treasure, 50xp per hd, and a fudge factor.

EXPERIENCE POINTS:  NEW CHARACTERS

If you are new to the game, your character begins at level 1 and has 0 XP.  You may opt to start with two characters and have one as a primary and one as a secondary/henchman.  One of them (at least) will probably die.

If you are replacing a fallen character, you get half of the XP your previous character had.  If your new character dies in the first session then you do not have to divide in two again. 

HIT POINTS

Thieves and Assassins get 1d6 per level.

All classes receive a minimum of ½ Hit Die at first and second level.  Reroll 1s at 3^rd and 4^th.

CHANGES TO CLASSES

Magic Users: Magic Users can use light-crossbows and pistols.

Thieves and Assassins: All thief skill tests use the ‘Hear Noise’ chance for the appropriate level. Obviously racial and ability bonuses will no longer apply.

Fighters:  Straight class fighters use the Monster attack tables (+1 hit per level).  Sub-class fighters use the fighter table.  A straight class fighter also gets 3/2 attacks at 4^th level.  2/1 attacks at 8^th level.  A sub-class fighter gets these abilities at 6^th and 10^th level respectively.

SNEAKING AND THIEFY STUFF

Every class can do the things that a thief can.  Non-thieves get a flat 1 in 6 chance.

Thieves and Assassins must be wearing light or no armour to use their abilities.  Light armour is defined as that which gives AC8, or AC7 (mostly because I think studded leather is the most metal of all).

ALIGNMENT

3 way alignment will be used as a guide to character/NPC behaviour and does not represent some sort of spiritual commitment.  Alignment based abilities or spells will still be useful but not as black and white.  E.g.  Protection from Evil will hold the trans-dimensional wraith at bay.

Gear and Stuff

ENCUMBRANCE

We will be using the Lamentations Of The Flame Princess (LOTFP) encumbrance rules.  Strength adjustments apply.  E.g.  If your STR is 7 (-1) then your encumbrance/movement is calculated as if you were carrying one extra item.  If your STR is 16 (+2) then your encumbrance/movement is calculated as if you are carrying two less items.

EQUIPMENT

If you are bringing in a new character at ½ XP of the old one just pick your gear.  It’s quicker.  Roll starting money x ‘X’ to determine how much cash you have where X= (D6) 1=x150%, 2=100%, 3=50%, 4=10%, 5=0%, and 6=you owe 50%.

If you have a new 1^st level PC then roll for cash (3d8x10) and buy equipment.

FIREARMS

As per the Anomalous Subsurface Environment (ASE) for now.

Combat etc

ZERO HIT POINTS

At zero hp you make a saving throw verses death.  If you succeed you live, but are helpless and at 0hp until you get medical attention.  If you fail, then start reaching for the D6s.

If you go to -6 or lower, you get a permanent reminder of your brush with death.  Effect to be negotiated based on the nature of the damage.

At -10 your PC is dead, no saving throw.

INITIATIVE - FORMAL RULE

·         Go round the table and get statements of intent.

·         Roll group initiative on 1d6

·         Go around the table in the same order for actions.

INITIATIVE - INFORMAL RULE

Individual initiative bonuses will be applied on a ad-hoc basis, e.g. one on one, and situational contingencies will also be applied.  E.g.  Moving to attack a guy with a loaded crossbow, the guy with the crossbow goes first (unless surprised).  E.g. Guy with dagger needs to close the gap on a guy with a two handed sword, guy with two handed sword attacks first (unless surprised).

CRITICAL HITS

A natural 20 will result in maximum damage

SPELL CASTING

If you take damage in the round prior to casting, you are not able to cast that round.  (Currently we are not playing that you lose the spell, but that is mostly me going soft because of the low level)

COUNTER-SPELLS

We use the Dungeon of Signs counter-spell rules.  To employ ‘counter-spell’ you may use it as a reaction, but it takes your action for the round, you cannot have acted yet, and you must know the spell to be countered. 

Roll D20 plus level and INT bonus against AC10 less caster’s level and INT bonus. This saved the party's ass in session 8 (which is where we introduced it).

 *   Image found here:  http://thewertzone.blogspot.com.au/2013_05_01_archive.html

**  That was going to say ‘Softcore’, not what you pervs were thinking, honest.

THE PCs DID WHAT? A HOUSERULE FOR (BAD) THINGS HAPPENING TO NPC GROUPS

I was faced with the unexpected situation last game where the characters gave one of the  yellow cylinders they found in the ASE Gatehouse to the Cult of Scientists in Denethix for them to determine the contents.

A Scientist does a Diagnostogram in the Laboramentarium.  A picture which does a fine job, but is also someone else's property*.

I know what is in the cylinders, and there is the potential for bad things to happen when they extract some of the contents for an exam.  Highlight blank section below to find out what it is.  My players, just don't.

These cylinders contain samples of The Black.  This has been referred to in the game by a travelling veterinarian the characters met who told them of animals which were becoming blighted by the black, and what they have here is something similar to the black oil from the X-Files, though they don't know it.  After the events which occurred in the Scientists'  main temple, 
the PCs have decided it is something akin to the stuff in Prometheus (which is close).

End highlight.

So the potential exists for some sort of outbreak and I came up with this on the spot.  

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO NPC ORGANISATIONS - HOUSERULE

Have the organisation make four saving throws of the appropriate type, and see what happens. For this I chose save verses polymorph as a first level Scientist.  Results can be interpreted as follows:

No failed saves:       Event completely contained at no cost to organisation.
One failed save:       Event contained at some cost to organisation.
Two failed saves:     Event contained at significant cost to organisation
Three failed saves:  Event contained, just, organisation almost completely destroyed.
Four failed saves:    Organisation completely destroyed, event not contained.


Stand by to read all about this in session twenty when I get that far. I must say, I was getting very nervous for the fate of Denethix with those saving throws having the potential to mean there would be no one left to input the sacred code into the sacred hydrogen bomb, I think we know what happens.



*if you own this and want me to, I will take it down. (But that isn't as much fun a leaving it up.)