Extension: AD&D Options and House Rules

[Doomsword]

I'm using the 2E ruleset. Actually, when I create a campaign in FGU, I am offered two different 2E rulesets, but one gives an error when starting up a campaign. The other is the only ruleset where the AD&D Options and House Rules is offered so that's the one I'm using.

As ZippeeJerred said, OSRIC gets you really close. I'd wager that your best bet is to probably use OSRIC in FG rather than 2E. The OSRIC ruleset is free and it's based on 2E. It removes several things that 1E players don't normally use and corrects some other things for 1E play. You can add the reference materials for a full experience. And, you can use this extension if you want further control over options. The extension is designed to apply the most-used defaults for either 1E (OSRIC) or 2E, so you'd only need to adjust what you want. All are free of cost and in the Forge:

The ruleset (which I developed)
OSRIC Ruleset

The reference materials (by First Edition Society)
OSRIC Reference Materials

The extension link (also by me and just in case it's useful for anyone reading this later)
AD&D Options and House Rules Extension

[PaulChatterton]

They did a lot of this out of an abundance of caution, as I understand it. AD&D had never really been brought under the OGL to the extent that they did it. That's why you'll find a bunch of things that are slightly different or omitted altogether. They didn't want to infringe on things that may have been considered IP.

Regarding the XP tables, that's one such example. It comes from the reference manual, so there's not much to do in the ruleset or extension. I might be able to find a way around that; never tried and it would not match what's in the reference so it would probably confuse people. I think I told somebody up-thread how I'd go about modifying the values in the reference manuals, though.

Now I know how to change the XP tables, I no longer have a problem with the values being different by default. It's a bit of a pain having to change them all manually but it's something that only has to be done once. The only issues I have left are with the attack matrices simply because it doesn't seem to be possible to modify them like it is with everything else that's different to 1e.

1. To be true to 1e, the attack matrices stop should stop changing after a certain level depending on the class. For fighters, though, they seem to keep going.
2. When adding new levels about those present by default, the attack matrices seem to be all 20s across the board.

I've even created the monk class now.

[Doomsword]

I made the matrices editable a long time ago, but I do see that it no longer works the way I expected it to. I don't remember why I originally did it. I think it had something to do with OSRIC. I'll take a look at that and the all-20 matrix when leveling up. I'll put the other class matrices and saving throws in, too.

[PaulChatterton]

I made the matrices editable a long time ago, but I do see that it no longer works the way I expected it to. I don't remember why I originally did it. I think it had something to do with OSRIC. I'll take a look at that and the all-20 matrix when leveling up. I'll put the other class matrices and saving throws in, too.

Just to clarify, I can edit a level for a class and change the attack matrix, but it doesn't get saved. If I close down the Class window and then go back into it, the matrix has gone back to what it was originally.

The all-20 issue is not on levelling up. I was trying to extend Cleric levels all the way to 29, which is where the spell levels table ends in the 1e Players Handbook, from 24 which is what is there by default, by clicking on the + for levels and defining new levels. It's in the level configuration that the matrix is showing all 20s.

[ZippeeJerred]

Yeah, I'm sure you're right.

I'm not worried about some of the minor changes such as the XP tables, makes very little difference in game.

However I'm sure there are those who would like the additional classes and those from UA as well as the extra spells - the revised thief skill table from UA would be nice too.

I suspect OSRIC Unearthed would need to be another overlay extension though.

I'd happily support that if required.

[Vackipleur]

Hello,
Since we're talking about attack matrices, I've noticed that they don't follow the rule.

Let me remind you what the rules are:

A quick glance at the progression of numbers on the COMBAT TABLES will reveal that 20 is repeated. This reflects the fact that a 20 indicates a "perfect" hit. lt also incidentally helps to assure that opponents with high armor class value are not "hit proof" in most cases. Should any DM find that this system of fends his or her sensibilities, the following modification is suggested: Consider the repeated 20 as a perfectly-aimed attack which does not gain any benefit from strength or magical properties of any sort - spell, missile, or weapon. That is, the 20 must be attained by a roll of natural 20. All bonuses accrue only up to and including a total of 20, so that even if a character attacked with a bonus for strength of +3 and a +3 magic sword he or she would have to roll a natural 20 in order to score a hit on any creature normally hit by the second or successive repetitions of 20, i.e. the bonus (+3 in the example) could not exceed a total score of 20 unless an actual 20 is rolled. Thus, the COMBAT TABLES could be amended to read like this:

21 (natural 20 plus at least + 1 bonus)
20 (natural)
20 (natural)
20 (naturai)
20 (natural)
20 (natural)
20 (die result + bonuses to total)
19 (die result + bonuses to total)

In my screenshot, you can see that Brenton (level 1 thief) hits AC -4 with the 18 (+2 =20) whereas according to the rules he only hits AC 1.

[Doomsword]

Hello,
Since we're talking about attack matrices, I've noticed that they don't follow the rule.

Let me remind you what the rules are:



In my screenshot, you can see that Brenton (level 1 thief) hits AC -4 with the 18 (+2 =20) whereas according to the rules he only hits AC 1.

Yes, I'm happy to see people noticing the differences between 1E and OSRIC. OSRIC has no repeating 20s. I'm going to make that optional when using OSRIC or 2E, as well as this extension. I want to keep the OSRIC ruleset "pure", so this will be available when using the extension. I'll get this done ASAP.

[Doomsword]

Just to clarify, I can edit a level for a class and change the attack matrix, but it doesn't get saved. If I close down the Class window and then go back into it, the matrix has gone back to what it was originally.

The all-20 issue is not on levelling up. I was trying to extend Cleric levels all the way to 29, which is where the spell levels table ends in the 1e Players Handbook, from 24 which is what is there by default, by clicking on the + for levels and defining new levels. It's in the level configuration that the matrix is showing all 20s.

Thanks for the clarification. I discovered a separate issue, then, while testing 2E. Sometimes the matrix gets provided with all 20s when a PC levels up. Not sure about the specifics yet, but it should be an easy fix.
Regarding matrix assignment to characters beyond OSRIC's maximum designated level, the data doesn't exist (yet) and it's providing all 20s by default. I'll get the data entry done for matrices.
This should be fixed soon. Thanks for your patience and the reports.

[Doomsword]

Yeah, I'm sure you're right.

I'm not worried about some of the minor changes such as the XP tables, makes very little difference in game.

However I'm sure there are those who would like the additional classes and those from UA as well as the extra spells - the revised thief skill table from UA would be nice too.

I suspect OSRIC Unearthed would need to be another overlay extension though.

I'd happily support that if required.

Yes. Thanks. It needs a reference manual for a bunch of this stuff. That could be released as something that uses the OSRIC license. But I've been working for several months on an RPG that hews more closely to 1e than OSRIC does. I'll probably release it under that. No promises on when that might be done, but reference stuff like level xp thresholds, spells, and classes need to be in a reference work. Thief skill modifications for armor would belong in the extension and I agree that it should be done.