From page 182 of the first edition Dungeon Masters Guide (click to embiggen):
I can't help but wonder if back in the day some nascent campaign was utterly ruined because some 1st level spellcaster threw a cure light wounds or detect magic and Orcus showed up.
I'm more confused by the idea of being on dry land, casting charm on somebody, then being accosted by a bunch of tritons (presumably wearing fishbowls).
"but imagine that happening to a group of rowdy junior high punks"
Most groups I played in as a junior high punk would have opened a can of whoop-ass on Orcus.
I am waiting for the day when the party comes face-to-face with a Demon Lord and rolls boxcars on the reaction roll - the campaign takes a new direction.
I get the jist, but would probably ignore the rule for psionic-like spells (just psionics proper).
That said, what if your shapechange into a minor demon attracted a minor demon? Of you feather falled into a nest of cerebral parasites? Most important - has *anyone* ever used a su-monster?
I love that chart. I think about a low-leveled psionic player zapping around the dungeon with his uber-cool powers only to have a Type V demon Gate in and play with him and the party for a few rounds before getting bored and moving on.
How much fun would that be to play out!!! Teach that little psionic punk the meaning of the word "moderation."
Verification word: Tiarb - the truename of the Type V demon in the above hypothetical.
I wonder, though, if that's really a Gygax-written table? Most of the psionic rules in AD&D were lifted wholesale from the ones Brian Blume wrote for Eldritch Wizardry.
That's actually totally hilarious. I could see adapting a table like this for skill challenges, nowadays. "Ok, you totally complete the ritual, because we need to for plot, but... *roll* oh you've attracted Orcus' attention. And he thinks you'd look FABULOUS in pink taffeta."
I don't know. Would it really be ruined? I want to be in a campaign where Orcus does show up. :) Good posts today, Jeff!
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying the situation lacks potential, but imagine that happening to a group of rowdy junior high punks.
ReplyDeleteThat wouldn't ruin the campaign---it'd make it the best campaign ever!
ReplyDeleteI'm more confused by the idea of being on dry land, casting charm on somebody, then being accosted by a bunch of tritons (presumably wearing fishbowls).
ReplyDeleteOh man, then you grab the reaction chart and see what goodies you can come up with!
ReplyDelete"Worse... or better." :D
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to roll on that reaction table. Maybe Orcus takes a liking to the party. Which probably isn't a good thing.
blizack: In my opinion that the reason for the note at the end.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of someone casting feign death only to be attacked by spontaneously appearing yellow mold strikes my fancy.
ReplyDeleteTake heed people: don't try to con the universe into thinking your dead. It has ways of balancing the natural order...
I know, I know, I just like riffing on Gary's seeming AD&D obsession with underwater stuff.
ReplyDelete"but imagine that happening to a group of rowdy junior high punks"
ReplyDeleteMost groups I played in as a junior high punk would have opened a can of whoop-ass on Orcus.
I am waiting for the day when the party comes face-to-face with a Demon Lord and rolls boxcars on the reaction roll - the campaign takes a new direction.
word verification: mudint... a dirty mutant
I get the jist, but would probably ignore the rule for psionic-like spells (just psionics proper).
ReplyDeleteThat said, what if your shapechange into a minor demon attracted a minor demon? Of you feather falled into a nest of cerebral parasites? Most important - has *anyone* ever used a su-monster?
I love that chart. I think about a low-leveled psionic player zapping around the dungeon with his uber-cool powers only to have a Type V demon Gate in and play with him and the party for a few rounds before getting bored and moving on.
ReplyDeleteHow much fun would that be to play out!!! Teach that little psionic punk the meaning of the word "moderation."
Verification word: Tiarb - the truename of the Type V demon in the above hypothetical.
" Most important - has *anyone* ever used a su-monster?"
ReplyDeleteYes, I love me some hateful grey mind blasting monkeys.
Hmm...I missed this one in the past.
ReplyDeleteHowever we ALWAYS rolled randomly the chance a demon prince would show up for speaking his name in vain...
; )
@JB hahahah that's amazing. I'm going to try that next time one of my PC's curses Belial. It seems to be a popular thing.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I never noticed that.
ReplyDeleteI have no choice but to use that chart in my current AD&D campaign. Have fun with those cure light wounds, Mr. Fighter/Cleric!
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, Orcus did show up in the second or third session of one of our games. That was a bit frightening for a bunch of first levellers!
ReplyDeleteIt was fine though, because he was just there to abduct one of the player-characters and take him into the GM's other campaign.
Gods showing up wasn't that uncommon back-in-the-day. There were several deities where mentioning there name had a 1% chance of summoning the god.
ReplyDeleteCalling out for your god was a common tactic among characters about to die.
I wonder, though, if that's really a Gygax-written table? Most of the psionic rules in AD&D were lifted wholesale from the ones Brian Blume wrote for Eldritch Wizardry.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually totally hilarious. I could see adapting a table like this for skill challenges, nowadays. "Ok, you totally complete the ritual, because we need to for plot, but... *roll* oh you've attracted Orcus' attention. And he thinks you'd look FABULOUS in pink taffeta."
ReplyDelete