Reading the DMG Cover-To-Cover

On Page 19 and Counting

Over the years, I've probably read all, or almost all of the DMG. Never straight through, though. Sunday, I took that tome from my shelves and began reading it, cover-to-cover. I'm not planning to blog a blow by blow description. Just a few highlights and things that strike my fancy.

For instance, has anyone, anywhere, ever had a character actually die from old age. Natural old age? I love that Gary writes this section, as if we should expect just that! I've had characters of players reach middle-age in my Kastmaria campaign, but that included a few time hand-waves. The characters were semi-retired Movers and Shakers at that point. "Allright, it's been five years, since..."

The Disease and Infection rules, are nicely done. They cover all the bases and separate everything into types of disorders, rather than going with specific diseases. That way, the Barber's in your campaign, can label a collection of symptoms, however they please. :)

I've seen people in forums, not Old School ones, of course, criticize Gary for his section on Dice. Of course, they probably didn't actually Read it and just checked out when they saw the words "Bell Curve." Although I've never done it, I like the idea of setting up a Random Table, using a Bell Curve to manipulate the probabilities. I rather enjoyed this whole section, more than I expected to.

Man, I'd forgotten just how information rich, this book is.

A Few More Highlights:

• A Ranger has a shot of getting a Copper Dragon as a follower! Maximum Age Category: 5.
• Holy Shit! A Slightly Slippery Surface doubles the chances of a Thief slipping and falling, when climbing walls. Gary informs us that Most Dungeon walls, should be considered slightly slippery! Now, I always added modifiers I felt appropriate, but it never occurred to me to consider most Dungeon Walls as Slightly Slippery. I did always think, that the Thieves CW percentage was a little high, right of the bat, though, so I'm pleased with the idea.
• Mr. Gygax's writing, has thus far been executed with quite an impressive degree, of clarity and precision. 
• Gary recommends taking it a little easy on new Players, during their first level. You know, give em a chance to get a real taste of and for the game, before taking them to Old School. 

So, Am I Going To Run AD&D?

I think I have my initial group of players corralled and if I get my butt in gear, could be ready to go in about three weeks. That includes taking care of a few things not directly gaming related, which need to happen first. 

Which means, it'll probably take me about five weeks to get things off the ground. 

I really like LL, but for some reason it isn't quite scratching my itch, the way I want it scratched. I've been pouring over various versions of the game for the past few weeks and spent much of the weekend studying combat and XP progression charts. I have a house-ruled S&W set-up, fairly well planned out in my mind. I know what I want to do in that direction and where I want to go. 

The other direction is to run AD&D. That plan, fits a little better with a couple of other things I have cooking and ties in rather neatly, with a recent ebay acquisition.