20 July 2010

Today’s Tabbloid
PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net

ROGUE FEED
Blue Book, Cover to Cover (Part
X)
JUL 19, 2010 11:01P.M.
What’s really remarkable about the monster listings in Holmes is how
consistent they are with the information in the LBBs and Greyhawk, to
the point of having the same armor class, hit dice, treasure types, etc.
There are some exceptions here and there, of course, but, even so, there’s
a high degree of continuity between OD&D; and Holmes when it comes
to monster statistics. The main differences, overall, seem to be that
Holmes states outright things that are merely implied in the LBBs, as
befits a book intended as an introductory text for use by beginners.
levels. Basilisks are as in OD&D;, as are berserkers, though I adore the
fact that their entry ends with a two-word paragraph — “No prisoners.”
(This seems to be a reference to the fact that many Men have
captives/prisoners amongst them). Black puddings are as in OD&D;, but
there is no reference to gray puddings in Holmes. Blink dogs and
bugbears follow Supplement I. Carrion crawlers and cockatrices are true
to OD&D.; Chimeras are slightly more potent in Holmes, as its goat
horns do increased damage. The displacer beast follows Greyhawk and
djinni get a much-lengthened entry, elucidating their magical powers in
some detail. The doppelganger entry follows Supplement I, except that
Holmes spells out exactly what the creature needs for certain saving
throws, as opposed to simply saying that it saves as a 10th-level fighter.
Monsters continue tomorrow.

As noted elsewhere, Holmes follows Supplement I in giving monsters D8

for hit dice. They also use Greyhawk-style attacks with variable damage, ROGUE FEED
despite the text’s implying in places that such a complexity would be
reserved to AD&D;. LotFP Weird Fantasy RPG Pre-
Holmes addresses the issue of balancing the power of monsters against Orders
the experience of the characters facing them in this way: JUL 19, 2010 02:14P.M.

In setting up his dungeon, the Dungeon Master should be

guided by the table given under Wandering Monsters, so that
adventurers have a reasonable chance of survival. There is
endless opportunity for inventiveness in the game, however,
and if a high hit dice monster is desired, ways can be invented
to scale it down so that a low level party can have a chance of
defeating it. If one wanted to use a chimera, for instance, in a
campaign with low level characters, the creature could be
scaled down. Maybe it ran into a high level magic-user and
was partially shrunk by a magic spell, reducing its high
points. Or there might be a special magic sword, effective
only against this chimera, hidden in the dungeon, and the
adventurers given a hint or a legend that might lead them to
it. In the interest of maintaining the balance of the game,
however, a small or weak monster must not have a treasure
anything like the hoard of a normal monster.
On the off-chance that you hadn’t yet heard the news, Jim Raggi has
Concerns about handing out too much and too little treasure, as well as opened pre-orders for his soon-to-be-released Lamentations of the
the rate of experience gain have already been touched upon here. Flame Princess Weird Fantasy Role-Playing boxed set. I have to admit
that I’m rather looking forward to seeing this, as it’s probably the most
Bandits get a lengthy entry, as in OD&D;, breaking down the full lavishly produced old school RPG we’ve seen in many a year. It was also
composition of a force of these men, including armor, weapons, and explicitly written with newcomers in mind, being modeled more on
magical accoutrements. Interestingly, Holmes continues to use OD&D;’s Frank Mentzer’s 1983 edit of Dungeons & Dragons rather than earlier
“supernormal characters” to refer to any character who has a class and versions of the game, which makes it somewhat unique among the

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Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net
products of the old school renaissance.
Early reports suggest the pre-orders are doing well, which is always good
to see when it comes to a new old school product, especially one that’s as
expensive as this ($65 US). It will be interesting to see how big a splash
the game makes outside our little echo chamber, so stay tuned.
ROGUE FEED
Blue Book, Cover to Cover (Part
IX)
JUL 19, 2010 12:45P.M.
The resolution of combat, which Holmes calls “the most exciting part of
the game,” is probably the area where the Blue Book differs the most and
often most subtly from the LBBs. It’s also where I suspect that the
editorial hand of Gygax or someone else at TSR muddled things the
most. For example, Holmes states that “The more complex system used
for advanced play allows for varying amounts of damage by different
weapons and by various sorts of monsters,” but, while the rules do stick
to OD&D’s 1d6 damage for all weapon types, the monster listings follow
Greyhawk despite the quote above. This is corroborated later, when it’s
noted that “The number of damage points scored by a monster is
variable.”
Holmes’s discussion of combat is longer than in OD&D for two reasons.
One, there are no references to Chainmail and everything, right down to
how to roll dice, is explained in greater detail. The result is a system
that’s no more complex than in the LBBs but is more clear. Holmes does
note, however, that
The combat tables used by D&D gamers are often extremely
complicated. Full tables are given in ADVANCED
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. The tables below are deliberately
simplified, but will take some practice to use them with
facility. Once the system is mastered, however, players can
add whatever modifications they wish.
Again, Holmes encourages tinkering with the rules. His “deliberately
simplified” combat tables cover only levels 1-3, at which levels all
character classes have the same hit probabilities in OD&D, although this
differs from AD&D, where fighting men gain better hit chances faster.
Holmes also includes a line for a “normal man,” something not explicit in
OD&D but descended from Chainmail. The numbers on the chart match
those in the LBBs.
Holmes retains a strong association between an armor class number and
the type of armor it signifies, so AC 7 says “leather armor” in the combat
chart itself, a connection AD&D hopelessly muddles with its introduction
of overlapping armor types. Unfortunately, the Blue Book isn’t entirely
consistent on this point.
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20 July 2010
The “armor class” of humanoid monsters is literally the
armor they are wearing (or possibly their skin/hide!). For
non-human creatures, however, it is assigned partly on this
basis, with strong armor class for scales and shells, and partly
on the basis of difficulty to hit. Thus a small fast creature, like
a vampire bat, might be hard to hit with a sword and could be
assigned “armor class: plate” (AC 3) to indicate this, although
its own skin would make it seem more like “armor class:
none.”
Granted, this ambiguity has always been present in D&D, but this
passage really lays it bare. Oddly, Holmes uses the phrases “armor class:
plate” and “armor class: none,” which I rather like, as they show much
more clearly that the armor class numbers are not meant to be target
numbers but rather numeric signifiers — shorthand for ease of
communication.
Holmes’s monster attack tables differ from those in OD&D. The hit dice
categories are slightly different, especially at the low end. For example,
the LBBs start the chart at “Up to 1” hit dice, while Holmes starts it at
“up to 1+1.” It’s a small thing but a possibly noteworthy one.
Simple rules for poisoned weapons are introduced, with differing saves
depending on the effect of the poison. The rules also note that “It is
recommended that the Dungeon Master not allow players to make use of
poisoned weapons in all but extreme situations.” Flaming oil is explicitly
treated as a weapon as well. There are details of how much area burning
oil covers, how much damage it does, and how long it burns before
extinguishing. More interesting is that there’s a system presented for
how to throw oil, with the number needed on a 1D20 roll not being
connected to the target’s armor class but rather its size. Using oil is a
two-stage process, requiring first a hit with the oil and a separate hit with
a flaming object, such as a torch or a lantern, to ignite it. Burning oil is
effective against corporeal undead, although those immune to normal
weapons take only half damage from it. Of course, holy water works
exactly like burning oil against all undead, except that it (presumably)
doesn’t require a second roll to ignite it and it does full damage against
even those immune to normal weapons.
Missile combat is fairly straightforward, with short ranged attacks
getting a bonus to hit and long ranged getting a penalty. Cover is treated
briefly and it’s noted that characters cannot safely fire into melee
because of the probability of hitting friendly characters.
Holmes follows OD&D in noting that a magic weapon’s bonus applies
only to hit, not damage, as additional damage is among those “other
powers” a magic weapon might possess. Meanwhile, bonuses for magic
armor and shields subtract from the attacker’s roll rather than changing
the armor class of the defender. It’s a small point perhaps, but it’s
consonant with the LBBs’ approach and is further evidence that armor
class was originally intended to be static and closely tied to a single
armor type.
As noted earlier, melee rounds are 10 seconds long. Movement during
combat is limited to 20 feet per round for an unarmored man and 10 feet
Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net 20 July 2010

per round for an armored one. Daggers grant two attacks per round, ROGUE FEED
while two-handed swords, battle axes, halberds, flails, morning stars,
and most polearms can only be used once every other round. Light Pulp Fantasy Library: Ill Met in
crossbows likewise operate only once every other round and heavy
crossbows take “twice as long to load and fire.” Monsters, on the other Lankhmar
hand, can use their full routine of attacks each round. JUL 19, 2010 09:13A.M.

Initiative is determined by Dexterity, with highest Dexterity going first.

However, if the Dexterity scores of two combatants are”within 1 or 2
points of each, a 6-sided die is rolled for each opponent and the higher
scorer gains initiative.” Surprise is mentioned as granting initiative but
there are no explicit rules for surprise. Attacking a fleeing target grants a
+2 bonus to hit and the target does not benefit from wearing a shield.
Holmes introduces rules for parrying. A character may elect not to attack
but to parry an incoming attack, which imposes a penalty of -2 on his
attacker’s roll. If the attack still hit by rolling exactly the number needed,
the parrying weapon is broken but no damage is inflicted. It takes a
round to draw a new weapon. Holmes also grants a +2 bonus to attack
any opponent withdrawing from combat. He mentions the possibility of
surrendering but provides no rules to handle it beyond referee judgment.

The Blue Book provides two combat examples, a short one between a
fighting man, Bruno the Battler, and a goblin. It’s a very straightforward
combat without anything unusual in it. The second example pits a party
against six large spiders. Among the characters are Bruno the Battler in a
return engagement, another fighting man named Mogo the Mighty, a
magic-user named Malchor, and a cleric called Clarissa. Bruno “dies a
horrible death” because of a failed save versus poison, alas.
This last example illustrates several things. When there is
time, or when a magic-user says he is getting a spell ready,
magic spells go off first. This is followed by any missile fire, if
the distance to the monsters permits, and then melee is
joined, after which no missile fire is permitted because of the
danger of hitting friendly forces. If a magic-user is not
involved in the melee he can get another spell off after 1 or
more round have gone by. If he is personally attacked he can’t
concentrate to use his magic but must draw his dagger and
defend his skin! However, if the magic-user had some
magical device — such as a wand or a staff — it could be used
in lieu of the dagger as an attack weapon.
And that pretty well sums up Blue Book combat, which is largely in line
with the LBBs mechanically but much more clearly presented and
simplified, adding only a few rules, such as parrying and Dexterity-based
initiative, that seem to represent house rules employed by Holmes.
If ever there were a pair of fictional characters who felt as if they could
Dungeons & Dragons adventurers, it’s Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray
Mouser. Though the duo made their first appearance in publication in
1939 (in the novelette “Two Sought Adventure,” printed in Unknown), it
was not until 1970, in the pages of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science
Fiction, that readers were treated to the story of how the barbarian from
Cold Corner and the thief from the mean streets first met. “Ill Met in
Lankhmar” is widely considered one of Leiber’s best works, an opinion
supported by the fact that the novella won both a 1970 Nebula Award
and a 1971 Hugo Award — a reminder of the fact that the stark division
between “fantasy” and “science fiction” is a product of a later age.
The story begins as Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, at this time unknown to
another, simultaneously undertake the same plan: to steal from two
members of Lankhmar’s infamous Thieves’ Guild, who had just
previously stolen from a gem merchant.
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser faced each other across the two
thieves sprawled senseless. They were poised for attack, yet
for the moment neither moved.
Each discerned something inexplicably familiar in the other.
Fafhrd said, “Our motives for being here seem identical.”

“Seem? Surely must be!” the Mouser answered curtly, fiercely

eyeing this potential new foe, who was taller by a head than
the tall thief.

“You said?”

“I said, ‘Seem? Surely, must be!’”

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Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net 20 July 2010

revenge that in turn pushes them to the brink and forever forges the
“How civilized of you!” Fafhrd commented in pleased tones. bonds of friendship between them.

“Civilized?” the Mouser demanded suspiciously, gripping his
dirk tighter.
“Take care, in the eye of action, exactly what’s said,” Fafhrd
explained. Without letting the Mouser out of his vision, he
glanced down. His gaze traveled from the belt and pouch of
the one fallen thief to those of the other. Then he looked up at
the Mouser with a broad, ingenuous smile.
“Sixty-sixty?” he suggested.
The Mouser hesitated, sheathed his dirk, and rapped out, “A
deal!”
“Ill Met in Lankhmar” is an excellent story and a good introduction to
Leiber’s fantasy world and characters. All too often, prequels written
years after the fact feel off in various ways, as if the author couldn’t quite
remember what it was that inspired his earlier writings. That’s not true
of “Ill Met in Lankhmar,” which, if anything, feels even truer to these
characters than some of Leiber’s earlier efforts. Reading this tale, it’s
hard not to see in it the literary protoplasm out of which D&D arose. So
many D&D staples, most notably the very idea of a Thieves’ Guild, are
presented here in glorious form, making it an enjoyable way to see where
Dave and (especially) Gary got the ideas out of which they created this
game we all so love. Read it, if you’ve never before had the chance; read
it again, if you have. It’s a great story by a great fantasy author.

And so begins the most famous partnership in pulp fantasy.

ROGUE FEED
Emboldened by their initial success as a team — and spurred on by their
lovers — they decide to strike against the Thieves’ Guild itself, about What’s for sale at GenCon this
which Fafhrd boasts:
year? Part 3
”I am not a coward!” he cried. “I’ll dare the Thieves’ House JUL 19, 2010 05:25A.M.
and fetch you Krovas’s head and toss it with blood-a-drip at
Vlana’s feet. I swear that, witness me, Kos the god of dooms, For the past two weeks (here and here) I’ve been writing about all the
by the brown bones of Nalgron my father and by his sword new releases for GenCon this year. This week I turn my attention to the
Graywand here at my side!” two youngest of our lines. Though there is one release for each, this is the
start of some very cool things for these games.
He slapped his left hip, found nothing there but his tunic, and
had to content himself with pointing tremble-armed at his
belt and scabbarded sword where they lay atop his neatly What’s New?
folded robe — and then picking up, refilling splashily, and
draining his mug.

The Gray Mouser began to laugh in high, delighted, tuneful Let’s get this one out of the way first. They say a picture is worth a
peals. All stared at him. He came dancing up beside Fafhrd, thousand words, so here is a picture:
and still smiling widely, asked, “Why not? Who speaks of
fearing the Guild-thieves? Who becomes upset at the
prospect of this ridiculously easy exploit, when all of us know
that all of them, even Krovas and his ruling clique, are but
pygmies in mind and skill compared to me or Fafhrd here? A
wondrously simple, foolproof scheme has just occurred to me
for penetrating Thieves’ House, every closet and cranny.
Stout Fafhrd and I will put it into effect at once. Are you with
me, Northerner?”

“Of course I am,” Fafhrd responded gruffly, at the same time

frantically wondering what madness had gripped the little
fellow.

Unfortunately for them, things do not turn out quite as planned. The
Thieves’ Guild of Lankhmar does not appreciate being made to look
foolish, not once but twice by the same freelancers and, with the help of a
sorcerer in the employ of its guildmaster, exact revenge upon the pair, a Yeah, Shadow, Sword & Spell: Basic will be in the booth and this is the

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Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net 20 July 2010

first time you will have a chance to not only buy a copy, but look at it.
This book will set you back $13, but everything you need is here.

Besides this game, copies of James’ The Cursed Chateau will be there as
well. This is the first Old School adventure we released for d20 based
fantasy games (*cough* D&D; *cough* *cough* Swords & Wizardry
*cough*). Stop by the booth and ask me about the upcoming
Dwimmermount.