best of dragon magazine #004.pdf

8/16/2019 Best of Dragon Magazine #004.pdf

1/82

c

h

A


2/82

Best of

Vol. IV

Lake Geneva, W is.

M ay

1985

TSR, Inc . Pu bl ica t ions D ivis ion

D R A G O N , A D V A M C E D D U N G E O N S

&

D R A G O N S , A D & D ,

and

F I E N D F O LI O

a r e

r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k s owned

b y

T S R , I n c .

s

1985 T S R , I n c . A l l R i g h t s Reserved .

R U N E Q G E S T i s a r eg is t e red t rad em ark owned b y C haos iu m I n c .

IS BN

0-88038-135-3


3/82

C o n t e n t s

P a r t

I. It t a k e s a ll k i n d s 3

The

b a n d i t by Tom Armstrong and Roger E. Moore

4

T h e b o u n t y

h u n t e r by Scott Bennie

6

T he c lo i s t e r e d

c l e r i c

by

Lenard

Lakofka

7

T he d e a t h

m a s t e r

by

Lenard

Lakofka

14

The

d u e l i s t by Arthur Collins

18

T he

j e s t e r by Roger E. Moore 21

T h e s cr i b e by Ed Greenwood

23

The

s m i t h by Ed Greenwood 26

P a r t

II .

P laye rs'

per spec t ives

2 9

Be

a w a r e , t a k e c a r e

by Lew Pulsipher

30

It's a m a t e r i a l w o r ld by

Michael Dobson

35

F i n i s h f i g h t s

by

Roger

E.

Moore

42

T w o - f i s t e d f i g h t i n g by Roger E. Moore 45

The w h o l e

h a l f -o g r e

by Roger E. Moore 46

R i d i n g

h i g h by Roger E. Moore 48

P a r t

I I I . Crea t ive

c a m p a i g n

5 1

F i v e keys

to success by

Mike Beeman 52

A

PC and his

m o n e y

by Lew

Pulsipher 55

The

c a r e

of castles by Katharine

Kerr 58

S a i n t l y

s ta n d a r d s

by

Scott

Bennie

63

These are the b r e a k s by John R.

Shaw

65

R e p a i r

o r

b e w a r e by

Arthur Collins 67

W o u n d s

and

weeds by

Kevin

J.

Anderson

68

R u n e s by Phil Taterczynski and Roger Raupp

72

R u n e s t o n e s by Ed Greenwood 77

2

B E S T

O F

D R A G O N


4/82

Part I. It ta kes a ll kinds

P l a y e r c h a r a c t e r s

in the

A D V A N C E D

D U N G E O N S

& D R A G O N S ® g a m e ar e

developed as m e m b e rs o f s p e c i a l c lasses : f ig h t e r s ,

c ler ics , rangers , th ieves , mag ic -users , and so

f o r th .

Each character

c l as s

is s epa ra te a nd d i s t inc t

from a l l

o ther s , ha v ing

d i s t i n c t iv e

powers

and s k i l l s t ha t g i ve it a s pec i a l a ppea l and

flavor.

B u t

w h y s h o u l d p l a y e r c h a r a c t e r s h a v e

a l l t h e f u n ?

N o n - p la y e r

c h a r a c t e r c l asses f or

t h e A D & D ® g a m e have been developed over

years

b y th e

r ea der s

of

D R A G O N ® M a g a z in e .

These N PC s a r e f l e x i b l e eno ug h to cha l l eng e a nd

assist p l a y e r cha r a c te r s of any l e v e l , and t h ey o f fe r

much -needed

v a r i e t y

to g a m i n g sessions. Need a

ne w su i t o f a r m o r ? See E d Gr eenw oo d ' s sm i th

character .

Want

to

s e t t l e

an o ld

score?

T a l k

to

A r t h u r

Co l l ins ' s

du e l is t o r Scott

Bennie 's bounty

h u n t e r .

L o o k i n g

for a

r e a l l y da ng er o u s o ppo nent

for

t h e

good g u y s

in y o u r

g r o u p ? Lena r d La k o f ka ' s d ea th

master

f i l l s

t h e

b i l l .

S o m e g a m i n g g r o u p s m a y w a n t to e x p e r i m e n t /

w i t h

these

c lasses as

p l a y er cha r a c te r s . Bu t ,

j

bo th D ung eo n Ma s te r s a nd p l a y er s sh o u l d b e

forewarned t h a t these c lasses have not been e x t e n - ^

s i v e l y

tes ted

for b a l a nce or p l a y a b i l i t y as PCs ; in

fact , the y wer e des igned exclusively

for use as

N P C s , and s om e o f t hem ( the

d e a t h

m a st e r, s m i t h ,

c l o i s t e r ed c l e r i c ,

and

scr ib e) a re ,

b y

t h e i r

n a t u r e ,

only

u s a b l e

in

t ha t f a sh io n .

T h e d u e l i st ,

b a n d i t , b o u n t y

h u n t e r , a n d j e s t e r m i g h t p r o v e m o r e ad a p t a b l e a s

p l a y e r

cha r a c te r s , t ho ug h s om e a d j u s t m e n t s

m ay

need

t of

be made to bet ter

t h e i r

p l a y a b i l i t y .

However y o u u s e t h e m , these v a r i a n t

c lasses

w er e

des igned to

en r i ch

t he g a m ing ca m pa i g ns o f a l l A D & D

p laye r s . W e

h o p e

t h e y w o r k

w e l l

for y o u .


5/82

The bandit

A

shif ty

non-player character

by Tom Armstrong and Roger E.

Moore

Fro m

issue

#63,

July

1982

T he

b a n d i t

is a

non-player

ch a r a c t e r c l a ss con t a i n i ng a s p ec t s o f

both

th e

l i gh t e r

an d t he

t h i e f classes. B a nd i t s p r a c t i c e th e i r profes -

sion

of t h i ev e r y by force , r a ther t h a n by s t ea l th a s do norma l th ieves .

Ban d i t s opera te in the

open

c o u n t r y s i d e , m a k i n g t h e m

s i m i l a r

i n

some

w a y s to r a nge r s. B a n d i t s d eve l op w i l d e r nes s s u r v i va l

ski l ls

a nd

ce r ta in th ie f - l ik e ab i l i t i es to enable them to

fur the r

t h e i r ends . B a n -

d i t s

a r t

t yp i c a l l y involved

in

h i gh w a y r obbe r y , r a i d s

on

s m a l l v i l la g e s

or i so la t ed ha bi t a t ion s , k idna pping fo r r ansom, and s i m i l a r

sorts

of

ac t iv i t ie s .

Humans , ha l f -ores , a nd h a l f - e l v e s m a y b e c o m e b a n d i t s . H u m a n s

a re

u n l i m i t e d

in l eve l

a dva ncemen t . H a l f -o r e s

m a y

a d v a n c e

to

1 0 t h

l eve l .

H a l f - e lv es may ach ieve 8th l eve l i f they have a s t r en gth of 18 ,

7 t h l eve l w i t h a s t r ength of 17 or l es s , and 6th l eve l w i t h a ny lesser

s t r e n g th .

A

b a n d i t m u s t h a v e m i n i m u m a b i l i t y scores

in

f ou r a reas :

s t reng th

12 ,

in te l l i g ence

10 , d ex t e r i t y 12 , and c o n s t i t u t i o n 12 . B a n -

d i t s w i t h scores of 16 or

h i g h e r

in s t r eng t h ,

in t e l l i g e n c e ,

a nd

d ex t e r -

ity

g a i n

a 10%

bonus

to al l

exper ience p oints e a r n e d .

Ban d i t s m ay b e o f any n eu t r a l o r

ev i l

a l i g n m e n t . O n r a r e occa-

s ions and in specia l c i r cumstances , neut ra l good b a nd i t s ma y be

f ound { in the t r ad i t ion o f Robin H o o d ) , e i t h e r a s i n d i v i du a l s o r i n

s ma l l groups .

A l i g n m e n t i s a ma jor factor in de term ining how a par t i cu la r ban-

d i t

o r

g r oup

o f b a n d i t s

opera tes .

T h o s e

o f n e u t r a l

a l i g n m e n t

(w i t h

respect to good and evi l ) a re m os t

l ik e ly

to a l low t h e i r robbery or

k idn a p v i c t im s

to

l ive ,

preferr ing to col lect their possess ions (or a

ransom) and th en r e lease the v ict ims , avoid ing a pos s ib le d ea th

pena l ty

for murder and , a t the s a m e t i me , l e a v i n g open the p oss ib i l-

i t y o f

v i c t i m i z i n g

th e s a me

peop le

a ll

over

a g a i n .

Ev i l b a n d i t s h a v e no such reserva t ions ahoul

k i l l i n g . Genera l ly ,

they w i l l t a k e few er c a p t i v e s

t h a n

n eu t r a l b a n d i t s , un l e s s t h ey a r e

sure

tha t a

v ic t im

is

w o r t h enough

( in

r a n s om)

to

m a k e

th e

t r oub l e

a n d

r i s k

o i ' k i d n a p p i n g w o r t h w h i l e . In such

cases,

t h ey w i l l

u s u a l l y

wait

u n t i l a f t e r t h e ransom h a s been paid before k i l l i n g t h e i r v i c t i m .

W h e n

n e u t r a l

good

b a n d i t s

a r e f ound , t h i s is f r e q u e n t l y in the

t er r i to r i es

o f ev i l

k i n g s

or

d i c ta tor s , where

th e

b a nd i t s a t t a ck ev i l

per sons and d ona te the

" ea rn ing s"

to the

poor

and needy of the

a rea , or to cha r i ty ( but never to a p layer character ) .

L a w fu l b a n d i t s l en d t o opera te in

l a rge

groups ; chaot i c ones w i l l

e i t h e r f o r m s ma l l b a nd s

o r

opera te s ing ly .

N o

ma t t e r w h a t si z e

a

group

o f

b a n d i t s

is , the

r u l e

i s

" leader sh ip

by the

s trongest ,"

B a n d i t s r o l l

d i f f e r en t h i t

d i ce t h a n

d o

l i g h t e r s

or

t h i eve s ,

re f l e c t ing

t h e fact

t h a t ,

w h i l e not as good in close com ba t a s r e gu l a r f i gh t e r s ,

th ey

a r e

b e t t e r t h a n t h i eve s

in

such respects . T h ey

use an

e i gh t - s ided

d ie p lus one

point

per l eve l up to the 9th leve l . The

h i t - p o in t aver a ge

fo r a bandit is very close to

t h a t

of a f ighter of equal

l e v e l ,

bu t a b a n -

d i t' s m a x i m u m n u m b e r of hi l po i n t s i s l o w e r t h a n a f i gh t e r ' s .

Specia l ab i l i t i es

B a n d i t s

h a v e

n o

spe l l

ab i l i t i e s

o r

spe l l - l ike

pow ers ,

bu t

t h e y

d o

have

a

c om b in a t i on

o f

seven other sorts

of

specia l ab i l i t i es :

1 . B a n d i t s

c a n

c l i m b w a l l s

a s a t h i e f o f

equa l l eve l . Bonuses

fo r

h i g h

d e x t e r i t y

a p p l y .

4

B A N D I T E X P E R I E N C E

LEVEL T A B L E

H it

E x p e r i e n c e

po in t s

0—1,800

1,801—3,600

3,601 — 7,500

7,501 — 15,000

15,001—30,000

30,001—60,000

60 ,001—110 ,000

n o ,

o o i —

2 0 0 , 0 0 0

200 ,001—300,000

300 ,001—450 ,000

450 ,001—650 ,000

650,001-900,000

l ev e l

I

2

3

*

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

1 2

dice

(dS)

1 + 1

2 + 2

3

+ 3

4 + 4

5 + 5

6 + 6

7 + 7

8 + 8

9 + 9

9+ U

9 + 1 3

9 + 1 5

Cover

t r a ck s

50%

53%

56%

Level t i t l e

Loo t e r

Ra i der

M a r a u d e r

H i g h w a y m a n

Out law

D espe ra do

R ea ver

B r i g a nd

R o b b e r

B a n d i t

B a n d i t Lord

B a n d i t L or d

( 1 2 t h )

250,000 exper ience p o i n t s p er l eve l f or each add i t iona l l eve l

above th e 1 2 t h .

B and i t s ga in 2 h i t points per leve l a f t er the 9th .

Cover tracks percentage

increases 3% per

l eve l

to a

m a x i m u m

of 98% at 17 t h l eve l .

62%

65%

68%

71 %

74%

77 %

2 . T h ey ca n h i d e in na tura l t er ra in us ing camouf lage t echniques

and

concea lmen t

a s

w e l l

a s a t h i e f of the s ame

l eve l

ca n

hide i n

shadows. B onus es fo r h igh de xter i ty a nd race a lso app ly here . (For

i n s t an c e , a

ha l f -e l f b a n d i t

w i t h

d ex t e r i t y

of 17 has a 20%

chance

of

h i d i n g in

n a t u r a l t e r ra i n

at 1st

l eve l . ) T h i s

ab i l i t y is not

usable

indoors or in s u b t e r r a n e a n e n v i r o n m e n t s ,

3 . P i t s , snares , a nd other traps se t outdoors m a y b e detected and

r emoved

b y b a n d i t s w i t h th e same chance for success as a t h i e f o f

equa l l eve l has to

f i nd and remove

traps. Aga in , r ac ia l a n d d ex t e r i t y

bonus es a pp l y

to

t h i s a b i l i t y .

A

b a nd i t

m a y

on ly a t t e m p t

t o

f i n d

a nd

r emove a ny g iven t r ap once . T h i s a b i l i t y cannot be used indoors o r

underground , and does not app ly to t r aps on ches t s , doors , e t c .

4 .

B a n d i t s

a re adept a t

cover ing thei r t r acks wh en pas sing through

th e coun t r y s i d e . In

s ome

w a y s , t h i s ab i l i t y is s i m i l i a r to th e d r u i d

spel l pass without trace, however , th e source o f the b a nd i t ' s

ab i l i t y

is

n ot

ma g i ca l .

W h e n t h i s

a b i l i t y

is used successfully , th e b a nd i t ca n pass through

a ny sort o f t e r r a i n

(grass,

snow, a sh , dus t ,

s a nd )

w i t h o u t l e a v i ng any

f oo tp r in t s or other

v is ib l e

ev idence of the passage. To make the

a b i l i t y w or k , th e

b a n d i t

mus t f i rs t r educe h is movem en t r a t e to one-

h a l f o f h i s cur rent nor m a l r a t e . (He i s presumed to be t ak ing the

t i m e to concea l o r obscure h is t r acks as he goes.) T h e n a success ful

d i ce

roll ( equa l to or l ess tha n the r equi red percenta ge) enables the

band i t t o

keep cover ing

h is

t r a ck s

i n

t h i s m a n n e r

for a

m a x i m u m

dur a t i on

of 1

t u r n

per

l eve l

o f

exper ience

per

d a y .

A s

m a n y a t t e m p t s

a s d e s i red can be m a d e each day , a s l ong as the tota l e lapsed t ime o f

al l

the succes s fu l a t t empts does not exceed th e d a i l y m a x i m u m . T o

d i scon t inue the cove r i n g of his t r a ck s , al l a b a n d i t

needs

to do is

r e sum e h is f u l l

no rm a l m ovem en t

rate.

B E S T O F

D R A G O N


6/82

E a c h

ind iv idual band i t can on ly e m p l o y th i s ab i l i ty on hi s own

behal f ;

in o ther words , one cannot cover the t racks o f many, and one

b a n d i t

m ay be be trayed by another one 's f a i lu r e t o cover h i s o w n

t r a cks i f the two are

t ravel in g close together.

Al th ou g h

m ost o r a l l o f the v i s ib l e ev idence o f h i s passage c an b e

covered ,

th e

band i t

wi l l

l eave

a

scent

th a t can be

fo l lowed

by

such

creatures a s b loodhounds or minotaurs .

Rangers,

bounty hunters , o r

other

b an d i t s t r a c k i n g

a

b a n d i t

w h o h a s

successful ly

covered h is

t ra i l

m u s t t ak e a -50% pen al t y when ro l l ing to see i f they can a ccura t e ly

follow

a

covered t rai l ,

A charac t er or c reature w i th n o p a r t i c u l a r

s k i l l

a t t r a c k i n g or w i t h

no acute ol factory sense h a s a 10% chance o f c o r r e c tl y f o l l o w i n g a

covered

t rai l

( than ks to b l ind luck ) in the f i rs t round . I f

t h a t

a t t e m p t

succeeds,

th e s a m e 10%

c han c e m u s t

be rolled in e a c h a nd every

ro u nd d u r i n g w h i c h

th e

t r a c k e r

is

a t t e m p t i n g

to fol low th e

t r a i l .

O t he rw i s e , th e

t r a i l

is

lost

a n d c a n

o n l y

b e

relocated

by

r e m a i n i n g

in

th e same spo t ( search ing) fo r one round and then ro l l in g the 10%

c h a n c e a l l over aga in ,

5 . Band i t s surpr i se o thers on a ro l l of 1-4 on a

six-sided

d i e , and

are themselves surprised only on a ro l l oi 1.

6. B a n d i t s c a n t r a c k persons or c reatures in the ou tdoors a s a

r an g e r c an , bu t t he y hav e a

base

75 % chance to

succeed .

This per-

centage increases b y 2 % p e r c reature in the g r o u p be ing fo llowed ,

decreases by 10% for

every 24 -hour per iod s ince

th e

t ra i l

w a s made,

and decreases b y 25 % fo r

each h our that p rec ip i t a t ion ( ra in , snow,

etc.)

h a s fal len on the t r a i l .

B an d i t s c an no t t r a c k c ha r ac t e r s

or c r e a -

tures indoors o r u n d e r g r o u n d .

7.

When a band i t i s evad ing pursu i t in an

o u t do o r

e n v i r o n m e n t

(see th e Dungeon M as t e r s G u i d e , p . 69), 10% i s added to the b an -

d i t ' s chance

o f

e scape . T h i s docs

not

a p p l y

to any

n o n - b an d i t s

in the

evading party, so i t i s possible for the D u n g e o n M a s t e r to d e t e r m i n e

t h a t , w h i l e th e

par t y

th e

b a n d i t

i s

w i t h cannot

avo id th e posse, th e

band i t (who i s assumed to have dodged

in to

t he u n d e rb ru sh a t t h e

last

m o m e n t ) h a s escaped. T h i s a b i l i t y i s u sab l e on ly wh en the ban -

dit is not a l ready cover ing h i s t r a i l .

Combat and

other

characteristics

A b an d i t a t t a c k s a nd s av e s a s a f i ght er o f equal l eve l . Band i t s g et

one

a t t a c k

p e r

round u n t i l a t t a i n i n g

8th

l e v e l , w he n t he y

c a n

a t t ack

three t imes in two rounds . They ga in tw o a t t a c k s p e r round a t 1 5 t h

l eve l a n d

h i g h e r . W h e n

in

c o m b a t w i t h 0 - le v e l h u m a n s

o r

h a l f l i n g s ,

or

w i t h c r e a t u r e s

o f

less t h a n

one hi t

d i e ,

a

b a n d i t

ca n

at t ack once

p er round fo r each level o f exper i ence h e h a s a t t a ine d .

B a n d i t s w i l l

use a l l

sorts

o f

miss i l e weapons

( l i k e

bow s , s l ings ,

a nd

crossbows) , b u t

w i l l

o n l y u s e han d - he l d w e ap o n s u n d e r 5 ' i n

l ength

tha t w i l l n o t e n c u m b e r t he m o r b e aw k w ard t o u s e i n c o m b a t . T h i s

exc ludes

a ll

p o l e a rm s ,

a s

w e l l

a s

su c h w e ap o n s

a s

t w o - han d e d sw o rd s

a n d h a l b e r d s . P e r m i s s i b l e h a n d - t o -h a n d w e a p o ns i n cl u d e h a n d a n d

batt le

axes,

c l u b s ,

d a g g e r s ,

h a m m e r s , maces, m o r n i n g stars , m i l i -

t ary p i cks , sc imi t ars , a n d l o n g , sho r t , a nd broad swords . B and i t s

w i l l

u s e m a g i c a l f o rm s o f th e w e ap o ns p e rm i t t e d t o t he m . T he y c an

e m p l o y

oi l as a

w e a p o n ,

bu t t h e i r use o f

poison

is up to the

Dungeon

M a s t e r

a n d t h e ch a r a c te r ' s a l i g n m e n t .

Because

b a n d i t s m u s t

b e

ab l e

to m o v e

q u i c k l y , t h e y

w i l l

avo id

w e a r i n g a n y a r m o r h e a v i e r t h a n c h a i n m a i l . A c c e p t ab le a rm o r t yp e s

a r e :

padded,

l eather , s tudded l eather , r ing , a n d

c h a i n m a i l .

M a g i c a l

a rm o r s o f t h e s e

sorts

m ay b e u s ed a s w e l l , b u t b an d i t s

w i l l

n o w e a r

o ther t ypes o f m a g i ca l

a rmo r .

T h e m i n i m u m m o v e m e n t r a te a ban -

d it

w i l l accept

i s 9° , and hi s

a r m o r

shou ld wei gh 30 pounds or l e ss .

B a n d i t s w i l l n o t w e a r g r ea t h e l m s or use

large

sh i e l d s , p r e f e r r i n g

s k u l l c a p s

( o r n o he l m ) an d sm a l l sh i e l d s .

Some

hav e b e e n k n o w n t o

use m e d i u m - s iz e d sh i e ld s .

A ny

m ag i c i t e m n o t p ro h i b i t e d to

f i gh ter s

may be used by ban -

d i t s , w i t h i n

th e r e s t r i c t i o n s on a r m o r a n d weapons not ed above .

H o w e v e r , m u c h a s a

ranger

l i m i t s h i s personal be long ings t o those

h is steed can carry, so w i l l a b a n d i t l i m i t h is goods t o those he and

hi s horse c a n carry w i t h them. Excess t reasure a nd goods m u s t b e

go t ten r id o f a s soon a s possible so as n ot to

slow

h im

d o w n . Ban d i t s

w i l l never

load the i r m o u n t s

over th e

u n e n c u m b e re d l o ad l i m i t

(3,000

g p

w e i g h t

fo r a

l i g h t w a r h o r s e , w h i c h

is the

f av o r i t e m o u n t

o f

ba n d i t s ) .

A

b an d i t

wi l l not

bu i l d

a

cast le ,

b u t m ay es t ab l i sh a

s t ro n g ho l d

in

a n

isolated

area. In

su c h

a case, th e

b a n d i t

m a y

retain suf f ic ient

t r e a su r e to f inance c o n s t ru c t i o n a n d u p k e e p . H e w i l l s t i l l res t r i c t t h e

n u m b e r o f p e r so n a l i t e m s r e t a i n e d .

A b a n d i t m a y g a i n h i r e l i n g s a n d h e n c h m e n a t a n y l e v e l . The s e

wi l l never be o f good a l i gn m en t , excep t fo r an occas ional neu t ra l

good N PC f o u n d in the c a m p o f a non -ev i l l eader . Band i t s w h o

e s tab l i sh

a s t ro n g ho l d

w i l l

n o t au t o m a t i c a l l y a t t r a c t a b o d y o f m e n -

a t - a rm s

a s do normal f i ght ers , bu t t he y a re free to h i r e m e n - a t - a rm s

o n t h e i r o w n a s de s i r e d . B and i t s do not rece ive a revenue f rom the

i n h a b i t a n t s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e i r s tr o n g h o l d , e i t h e r , t h o u g h t h i s

does

no t p r e c l u d e t he pos s ib i l i t y o f r a i d i n g o r e x t o r t i n g f r om l o ca l people .

H e n c h m e n a n d h i r e l i n g s o f a b a n d i t who are a l so b a n d i t s a d d + 5 %

to a l l mo ra l e c he c k s . B an d i t s t e nd to w o r sh i p d e i t ie s w h o a r e

invo lved

w i t h

th e o u t do o r s , th i eves , luck ,

d e a t h ,

w a r , or w e a t he r .

IN

'O \


7/82

The bounty hunter

N ot a very n ice guy

by Scott B e n n ie

From issue #52, August 1981

The w izard Hcrck s a t in the corner , d r in k i ng h i s

ale.

He

l a pped

nervous ly

on his s ta f f as he s ipped th e b r ew , as if he sensed some

unseen menace lurk ing nearby .

H is

companion , Pa l l a r , s cof fed

at his

concerns . Mag ic ians , he c la ime d , w ere per petu a l ly uneasy ; in t ruth ,

he w a s b ecomi ng a pp r eh en s i ve a s w e l l.

Sudden l y ,

t h e pungen t

odo r

o f ac id s tabbe d into the warr ior' s

nostr i ls . Pa l l a r

rose

and drew h is b lade in one mot ion , but i t was

a l r eady

to o

la t e , Herek

let out a

shor t s cream,

t h e n

s lumped

to the

floor

w i t h

an

a r row

l odged

in his

b a c k .

A

h o l e

w as

bu r ned t h r ough

th e w a l l beh ind h im — the ac id had done t h a t — a nd t h r ough i t ,

Pal l ar

g l i mps ed a f i gure

escaping

on a l i g h t horse . H e cursed loud ly

at the d e p a r t i n g

k i l ler , then

turned to the b o d y o f h i s f r i end .

A

note

w as

t ied

to the sha f t of the

a r r ow :

" R e v e n g e n ow

belongs

to the

L o r d s

o f the Dragon, th rou gh the e f for ts o f the M as ter o f the

B o u n t i fu l Hunt ."

T h e r e

were

a few

other words ,

but

t h ey

wer e

a l r eady unreadable , smeared by w i z a r d ' s b l ood .

A boun t y h u n t e r

is an N P C w ho

specia l i zes

in the

k i l l ing

o f

o t h e r

character s or c r ea t u r e s for

prof i t .

A b o u n t y h u n t e r who f i ght s

on ly

non-humanoid , ev i l , or neut ra l cr ea tures mus t be neut ra l in a l i gn -

m e n t ,

wh i le

those w h o s la y h u m a n s an d t he

l ik e

m u s t be n eu t r a l

evil .

H u m a n s a n d ha l f -ore character s m a y b e b o u n t y h u n t e r s , as l ong

a s th ey

possess

th e f o l l ow in g

m i n i m u m

a b i l i t y scores :

s t r ength

15 ,

inte l l igence ]3 , dexter i ty 14 , and cons t i tut ion 14 . I f s t r ength , dexter -

i t y ,

and

cons t i tu t ion

are a l l 16 or

h igher ,

th e

character get s

a 10%

bonus on ea rned exper ience .

A

bo un t y h un t e r i s a co m b i na t i on o f r a nge r and assass in. The

character

is not c a pa b l e o f h a v i n g

ex cep t i ona l s t r eng t h ,

but he

uses

th e combat an d s a vin g throw tab les for f i gh ter s and can use a l l

m a g i-

ca l i t ems not prohibited to fighters. A bounty hunter a l so has the

b ac k s t ab b i n g

ab i l i ty of a t h i e f o f e q u a l l eve l , and i s treated a s a

ranger

for

d e t e r m i n a t io n

of

i n i t i a l n u m b e r

o f

w ea pons

and

w e a p o n

prof ic iency.

B oun t y h u n t e r s w h o do n o t s la y h um a ns a nd h um a no i d s ca n on l y

rise a s h igh as the 9th l eve l o f exper ience ,

w h i l e

o t h e r h un t e r s c a n

aspire to 13th l eve l , th e Grea t Hunter , a posit ion held by on l y on e

person. W hen a hu nte r ga ins enough expe r ience to r each 13 th l eve l ,

he mus t t r ack down and k i l l w h o m e v e r c u r r e n tl y holds th e

t it le

o f

G r ea t H un t e r so

th a t

h e m a y

become

the new

Grea t

H un t e r , A n

asp i ran t who i gnores

th is

r equi rement or

d em ons tr a t e s

coward ice

h as sham ed the other mem bers o f h i s p rofess ion , a nd w i l l be m a rk ed

fo r d e a t h by his pee r s. K i l l i n g a "coward" br ings a lmos t a s m u c h

pres t i ge to a bou nty hunte r a s

k i l l i n g

th e

Great

H un t e r h i ms e l f . A t

no

other t ime

w i l l a

bounty h unt er r a i s e

a

weapon against another ,

except by accident or if necessary to com p l e t e a job.

B o u n t y

h un t e r s rece ive exper ience points fo r k i l l in g creatures and

characters , and they ga in exper ience f rom th e accumula t ion of

E x p e r i e n c e

l e v e l

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

12

13

8-Sided

dice

fo r

a c c u m u l a t e d

h it points

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

10 + 3

10

+ 6

10 + 9

Level t i t le

Seeker

Sh a dow

Trophy

m an

H u n t e r

Col lector

E x t e rm i n a t o r

M a s t e r Co l l e c t o r

B o u n t y H u n t e r

B .H . , 9 t h l eve l

B .H . , 10th l eve l

M a s t e r H u n t e r

Dea t h H un t e r

G r ea t H un t e r

b o u n t y m onies . However , t r easure or ma gica l i t ems w i l l never count

t ow a r d e a rned expe r i ence unless received

a s

p a y m e n t

for a

job.

E x p e r ie nc e

p o int s

0—2,500

2 , 501—5,000

5,001

—

12,500

12 ,501—2 5 ,000

25 ,001—50,000

50,001—100,000

100,001 —175,000

175,001—300,000

300,001—450,000

450,001—600,000

600,001—750,000

750,001—900,000

900,001

+

Special a b i l i t i e s

A

boun t y h un t e r of 3rd l eve l or h igher ga ins th e

ab i l i ty

to perform

assas s ina t ions

w i th

th e

s a m e

chance of success as an assass in two

level s lower . At 5th l eve l , a bou nty hu nter ga ins

some

t h i ev i n g

ab i l i -

t i es . Opening locks ,

f ind ing / r e mo v ing

t r aps , moving

s i lently ,

h id ing

in sh a dow s , h ea r i n g no i se , c l i m b i ng w a l l s ,

a nd

r ea d i ng l a ngua ge s

a re

p e r f o rm ed

a s a

t h i e f

f ou r l eve l s l ow er in

exper ience,

an d

con-

t inue to improve f rom there on ,

A

boun t y h un t e r

of 7th

l eve l

o r

h i g h e r

c a n

t r a ck

a s a

r anger

a nd

will gain th e d isguise

abi l i t ies

of an assassin. A ll

boun t y h un t e r s

of

9t h l eve l or h i gh e r ma k e t h r ee a tt a ck s pe r two rounds w i th h a nd -

held th rus t in g or s t r ik in g weapons , but do no t ga in mul t ip le a t t acks

ag a i n s t

0 - l eve l opponents .

B ou n t y h un t e r s ma y ca p t u r e , r a th e r t h a n k i l l , opponents . A suc-

cessful

a s sas s ina t ion ro ll by the h u n t e r ca n mea n th a t th e

v ic t im

w a s

knocked unconscious for 2-16 turns, i f the hunter so chooses. This

usua l ly

a l l o w s t i m e

t o

b i n d

and g a g t he

quar ry .

On any

knockout

a t t emp t , a 20 % chance exists o f k i l l i n g th e v i c t i m b y acc ident . T h i s

chance

d e c r ea s e s

b y 2% fo r

each level

of the

hun ter over

7t h

l eve l ,

d ow n

to 8% at

1 3th l eve l .

T h e

boun t y h u n t e r mus t emp loy

a b lu n t

weapon in order for a k nock ou t a t temp t to be successful .

B oun t y h un t e r s

do no t

a t t r a ct fo l lowers ,

a nd

t h ey on ly bui ld

s trongholds and keeps upon t h e i r r et i r ement . They are by n a t u r e

m e a n and s e l f -con f i d en t . In pu b l i c , w h en not on an "as s i gnment ,"

t h ey

a r e l i ab le to

d isp l ay

incred ib le

a r r ogance .

O n a h un t , h ow ever,

they

b e c o m e

w i thdraw n and app arent ly pas s ive . I t i s a t

th is

t ime

when bounty hu nter s a re mos t dange rous .

BEST O F

DRAGON


8/82

The cloistered cleric

An

NPC

who'd rather pray t h an

prey

by

L e n a r d L a k o f k a

From

issue # 6 8 ,

December

1 9 8 2

A regu lar c l e r i c , accord ing to the

AD&D® game r u l e s ,

m u s t h a v e

th e

fo l low ing s t a t i s t ic s : s t reng th in a

range

o f 6 to 18 ; cha r i sma , 6 to

18 ; and w i s d o m , 9 to 18. (Half-elf c le r i cs m ust have a w i s d o m of at

l east J3; it m i g h t b e

e x t r ap o l a te d t ha t o t he r d e m i - hu m an c l e r i c s a l s o

m u s t h a v e a m i n i m u m wi sdom o f 13 , though ha l f - o res , s ince t h e i r

m a x i m u m w i sd o m is 14, m i g h t h a v e t h e i r m i n i m u m lo w e re d — say,

t o 1 1 . ) I f the c l e r i c is no t hum an , h i s a b i l i t y scores must a l so be in

accordance

w i t h the

l i m i t s

f o r t ha t

race.

H o w e v e r , o n e w o n d e r s i f n o n - p l ay e r c ha r ac t e r s m u s t m e e t a l l t h e

s am e r e q u i r e m e n t s , e sp e c ia l ly wi th regard t o th e m i n i m u m scores

necessary

t o be a c l e r i c — and , i f t h e y a r c a ll ow e d v a r i a t i o n , ho w

they m i g h t

b e

"balanced"

to

r e t a in

some

a d v a n t a ge

fo r

charac t ers

w h o

do m e e t

all the

r e g u la r r e q u i r e m e n t s .

T h e A D & D game m o d e l s i t s c l e r i c a f t e r th e

medieval

f i g h t e r -

cleric ,

a la

Tem p lar o r H osp i t l ar . Yet we are a l l aw are

t h a t

al l c lerics,

th en and

n o w ,

do not

m e e t t h a t s t an d a rd .

The

A D & D game

does

n ot t ake in to account sch o lar ly ( somet imes

called

c lo i s t e red) c l e r i cs

or

b ro t he r s

w ho a r e n o t

o rd a i n e d

bu t

hav e

some

c l e r i ca l funct ions .

I

w o u l d

l ike t o

f i l l

in

those

t w o

gaps

and a l low for

regular clerics,

a s

n o n - p l ay e r c ha r ac t e r s, w h o d o n o t m e e t th e a b i l it y - sc o r e m i n i m u m s

for p l ayer charac t er c l e r i cs .

The eas i est g roup to ru l e on i s those c l e r i cs wh o do not meet the

r e q u i r e d m i n i m u m s

in

s t r e n g t h , i n te l l i g e n c e ,

d e x t e r i ty

(for non-

humans) , const i tu t ion , or

charisma

— the m i n i m u m wisdom score

m u s t be

k ep t

a t 9 . I f the c le r i c has a low s t ren gth , d ex t er i t y , o r con -

s i t i tut ion ( l e ss than

6), he or she wi l l be at a

g r e a t d i s ad v an t ag e

i n

m e l e e : t h e c ha r ac t e r

w i l l

be -1 (o r

worse)

" to h i t " o r t o damage, + 1

( or

m o r e )

on

d e f e n s i v e ad j u s t m e n t , an d / o r

-1 (or

w o r s e )

on h i t

p o i n t

ad j u s t m e n t . T h e w a y t o l i m i t such a cleric i s to say t h a t if e i ther

strength o r

d e x t e r i ty

is

less

t h a n 6, th en he or she

c a n n o t

w i e l d a ll

th e weapons p erm i t t ed to the c l ass . Such a c l e r i c cou ld use a c l u b ,

h a m m e r , h o rs e m a n ' s mace, a n d staf f only. T h e f l a i l is e i t h e r t oo

d i f f i cu l t t o m a n e u v e r o r to o he a v y ; t h e f o ot m an ' s

mace

i s t oo heavy .

If s t r ength is less t han 6, the h a m m e r c an be w i e ld e d but not

t h r o w n . If bo th s t rength and d e x t e r i t y are

less

than 6, the

character

wi l l

f i gh t as . a f i rs t - l eve l c l e r i c fo rever — no mat t er how many l eve l s

he or she might ga in in the

f u t u r e .

N o n - p l a y e r c ha r ac t e r c l er i cs w i t h c o n s t i t u t i o n s o f 6 o r l o w e r wi l l

t i re easi ly in me lee so t h a t a f t e r

some

n u m b e r of r o u n d s

th ey w i l l

b e

-1

"to

hi t"

regardless of

s t rength

or

dexteri ty.

That

n u m b e r

of

r o u n d s w o u l d

b e d e t e rm i n e d b y ro l l i n g d 6 an d ad d i n g i t t o a

base

n u m b e r :

4

ro u n d s

for a

c o n s t i t u t i o n

of 6 , 3

r o u n d s

for a

c o n s t i t u t i o n

of 5 , 1 round for a const i tu t ion o f 4 , and 0 round s (use the d 6 ro l l

on l y )

fo r a

cons t i tu t ion

o f 3 .

S u c h n o n - p l ay e r c l e r i c s m i g h t

b e

encountered by a par t y bu t

t h e y

w i l l u s u a l l y be par t o f a l oca l c l e r i -

ca l e s t ab l i shm ent (abbey , m onast ery , t emp le , e t c . ) or p e rhap s p a r t of

a p i l g r i m ag e . T he y w o u l d not

appear

as s i m p l e

"random

monst ers ,"

n or

w o u l d they ever

b e

f o u n d

a s

h u m a n o i d s h a m a n s . S u ch n o n-

c o m b a t an t

c ler i cs , w h o

h a v e

full

spe l l ab i l i t y

a n d

o ther c l e r i ca l

powers , wou ld

l ik e ly

never r i se above the l eve l o f Pat r i arch (8 th) .

A

n ew term: c lois tered c ler ic

W e

cannot ca l l these char ac t ers "monks"

in the

AD&D game,

V O L . I V

t h o u g h

t h a t t e rm w o u l d

b e

most app l i cab l e

i f we

w e r e

u s i n g

E u ro p e

a s a

model

fo r th i s t yp e o f c l e r k . The c lo i s t e red c l e r i c ( l e t 's

ca l l

h im

o r he r a f r i a r ) w i l l be apart f rom the ou t s i de w or ld in a monast ery ,

abbey , o r o ther such s t ructure . Some se lec t f r i a rs w i l l b e a l l o w e d to

greet a n d t a l k t o those who m i g h t v isi t the monast ery . The o ther

f r iars

m i g h t

not be

a l l ow e d c o n t ac t

w i t h th e

o u t s i d e w o r l d

a n d

m i g h t

b e u n d e r v o w s o f s i l e n c e a s w e l l . ( T h e y m a y o n l y s p e ak d u r i n g

services,

in emergenc i es , and to

convey necessary

i n f o rm a t i o n . )

T h e

m a j o r i t y

(85%) o f c lo i s te red c l e r i cs

w i l l

h a v e la r g e

l i b r a r i e s

o f

from 100 to 10,000

books,

m a n u s c r i p t s , a n d sc ro l l s . Cloistered

c l e r ic s o f a t

l eas t

9 th

l ev e l wi th w i s d o m

a nd

in t e l l i gence scores

o f a t

l e as t 13 and 15 ,

r e sp e c t i v e l y ,

a n d w h o

h a v e

a

l i b r a ry

of a t leas t

5,000

i t e m s

w i l l

h av e t he ab i li t ie s o f a m i n o r

sage.

T h e y w i l l h a v e sage

a b i l i t y in one

m a j o r

f i e ld a n d on e

m i n o r

f ie ld on ly , a n d n o

o t h e r

su p p o r t i n g k n o w l e d g e w ha t so e v e r. T he i r p e r c e n t ag e c ha n c e s t o

k n o w

the answer to a ques t ion are as

fo l lows :

I n m i n o r f i e l d

In

major f i e l d

General

36-47%

( d 2 + 3 5 )

51-70%

( d 2 0 + 50)

Specific

21-28%

( d8 + 20)

35-46%

( d 2 + 34 )

Exacting

09-14%

( d8 + 6)

16-25%

( d lO + 1 5)

Such

a cloistered cleric/sage

w i l l

expect and

demand

a

l i bera l

c on t r i bu t i on t o t h e abbey (church, e t c . ) o f not l e ss

t h a n l . O O O g p

f o r

general

i n f o r m a t i o n ,

2,000

gp for spec i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n , and 3 ,500 gp

fo r

e x a c t i n g i n f o rm a t i o n . T he r e

is no fee if the

c lo i s te red c l e r i c/ sage

does

n o t k n o w t he an sw e r t o a q u e s t i o n .

C lo i s t ered c l e r i cs w i l l h a v e th e f o l l o w i n g s t a t i s t i c s : s t r e n g t h , 3 - 1 8

(3d6); i n t e l l i g en ce ,

6 -18 (4d 4 + 2 ) ; wi sdom , 9 -18 (d lO + 8) ;

d ex t e r i ty ,

3 -18

(3d6);

c o n s t i t u t i o n , 3 -18 (3d6) ,

a n d

c ha r i sm a , 3 - 1 8 ( 3 d 6) .

Cloistered c l e r i cs f ight as mag i c -users , and ar e a l lowe d the use o f

th e f o o t m an ' s

mace, th e

h a m m e r ,

th e

c l u b ,

a n d t h e q u a r t e r s t a f f

only.

T he y g a i n o n ly o n e n e w w e ap o n , t h a t a t 9 th l eve l . They do not wear

armor

or use a shi e l d , but t he y are a l l o w e d rings

of

protection,

cloaks

of

protection, and bracers

of defense.

T h e i r c h a n c e of o w n i n g

s u c h

a p ro t ec t ion dev i ce i s 15% p er l eve l , as i s the i r chance o f ow n-

in g

a m a g i c w e a p o n . T h e y a r e a l l o w e d t o u s e a n y w r i t t e n

i t em

a l l o w e d t o a c l e r i c o r a mag i c -user , excep t fo r those i t ems w h i c h

w o u l d g r an t t h e m l e v e ls

of

experience.

T he y

may

emp loy po t ions

a l l owe d t o

c l e r i cs

o r

m ag i c - u s e r s

(or to a l l

c l asses)

a s w e l l as any

m a g i c

ring.

T h e y

may use no rods,

s t aves ,

or

w a n d , e x c ep t

a rod of

cancellation,

a

rod of

resurrection,

a

staff of curing,

and

w a n d s

of

enemy detection,

fear, illumination, and negation.

Clo i s t ered c l e r i cs u se f o u r - s i d e d d i c e f o r a c c u m u l a t e d h i t po in t s .

T h e y m a k e t h e i r s av i n g t h ro w s a s c l e r i cs , but a t -2 in a l l cases.

They are usual l y (50%) l a w f u l , bu t m i g h t be ne u t ra l (35%) or

c h a o t i c (15%).

T he y can e i ther be

good

(40%) , neu t ra l

(35%),

or

ev i l

( 1 5 % )

as

we l l .

C lo i s t e red c l e r i c s a r e a l m o s t a l w a y s h u m a n , b u t on occas ion a

hal f - o re o r ha l f - e l f might be found in the i r number .

Cloistered c ler i cs

have no e f f ec t upon

undead.

T he i r p o s s i b l e e v e n t u a l l e v e l i s s trong ly t i ed to

t h e i r

w i s d o m a n d


9/82

in t e l l i g ence

s c or e s . E x p e r i e n c e -p o in t ranges a r e n o t g i v e n f o r t h e m ,

since t h e y

a re

a l w a y s n o n - p l a y e r c h a r a c t e r s .

CLOISTERED CLERICS T A B L E

Experience

level

1

2

3

4

7

8

9

1

11

Min

Int

8

8

8

8

10

1 1

1 2

12

13

1 4

Min

Wis

9

9

9

1 1

1 1

1 3

1 4

15

15

16

1 7

4-sided dice

for

accumulated

hit points

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

8 + 1

8 + 2

8 + 3

Level

title

Novice

Ostiary

B r o t h e r

F a th e r

Padre

C h a p l a i n

S u b d e a n

Dean

P r io r o r Abbo t

F a t h e r

Superior

A r c h i m a n d r i t e

Spe l l s

u s a b l e b y class a n d l e v e l — c l o i s t e r e d cle r ics

Cleric

level

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 1

S p e l l l e v e l

2

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

1

2

3

3

4

4

4

4

4

N ote : C lo is te red c l e r ic s

d o n o t

g a in bonus spe l l s

fo r

h i g h w i sd o m .

Spe l l

list

fo r

c l o i s t e r e d

cle r ics

N ote : Spe l ls pr in ted in

italic

type a re f rom the AD&.D® P l aye rs

H a n d b o o k .

T h os e m a r k e d " 1" we r e o r i g in a l l y d e s c r i be d in t h e

Leomund 's

Tiny

Hut c o l u m n of

DRAGON®

issue #58; those

d e s c r i p t i o n s

are

repea ted he re .

(Editor's

note: Some of the suggested

new cleric spells

from

issue #58 are

included,

in

slightly different

form,

as official

rule

additions in the

U n e a r t h e d A r c a n a

book.)

Those m a r k e d "2" are new

spe l l s

devised e spec ia l l y for cloistered

c ler i cs , and a r e

a l s o d e s c r ib e d

in th e

f o l l ow in g t e x t.

Those m a r k e d

"3" are

reve rs ib l e

s p e l l s , but the

reve rse

of the

g iven spe l l is not a l l owe d t o l a w f u l good c l e r ic s ; l i k e w i s e , it is 70%

u n l i k e l y

t h a t a chaot ic good c l e r ic w i l l h a v e th e reve rse . Those s p e l l s

co n t a i n i n g t h e wor d "evil" c a n be r e ver s ed t o e i t h e r f o r m by

l aw fu l

neu t ra l

or chao t ic neutra l c l e r ic s .

1s t

level

Bless'

Ce r e m on y ( bu r i a l ) '

C e r e m o n y { c o m i n g of age)'

Create water

C o m b i n e '

Cure

light

wounds'

Detect evil

Detect

magic

H a n d f i r e

1

M a g i c a l

v e s t m e n t '

Protection from evil

Purify food & drink

Remove fear

1

Sanctuary

Scr ibe '

8

2nd level

Augury

Ceremony

( ded ica t ion)

1

C e r e m o n y

( i n v e s t i t u r e ) '

Ceremony ( consec ra te i t em) '

Ce r e m on y ( b l e s s n e wbor n )

5

Chant

D e a t h p r a y e r

1

Detect charm

Detec t

l i fe

1

H o l y sy m b o l

1

Know

alignment

Light

Slow

poison

Speak

with animals

Translate '

4 th l evel

Ce r e m on y ( c on s e c r a t e '

or

desecrate

1

g r ou n d)

Continual light

Detect lit?

Exorcise

Neutralize

poison

3

Protection

from evil

W r.

Speak

with

plants

Sc r o l l

1

Tongues

Ward, m i n o r

3

3 rd l e v e l

Ce r e m on y ( s p e c i a l vows ) '

Create food & water

Cure

blindness*

Cure

disease*

Detect curse"

Dispel magic

E n t h r a l l

1

Glyph of warding (paralysis)

Hold person

Locate object

Prayer

Remove curse

Remove

paralysis

Speak

with

dead

D is m i s s

undead"

5 th l e v e l 6th l e v e l

Atonement C o m m u n i c a t e

5

Commune

Heal *

Cure critical

wounds

Stone

tell

Dispel

evil

Word of recall

Quest

Raise

dead

'

True seeing

Ward, major

3

NEW

SPELL

EXPLANATIONS

Ceremony ( C o n j u r a t i o n / S u m m o n i n g )

Level: 1, 2, 3, or 4 Components: V, S, M

Range: Touch Casting Time: 1

hour

D u r a t i o n : See below S a v i n g T h r o w : See below

Area of E f f e c t : One creature, one

item,

or

area (see

below)

Explanation/Description:

The ceremony spel l has a n u m b e r of

a p p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e

c l e r ic ' s o r g a n i z a t i on , d e p e n d in g

on the level o f

th e

c l e r ic . Each ceremony is u s e d as a p a r t i c u l a r b l e s s in g / cu r s e of

th e o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e spe l l is used to put the h o l y / u n h o l y seal on the

e v e n t

a n d

does

n o t p r od u c e a n a u r a o f m a g i c ,

t h o u g h

in some case s

an aura

of

good

or

e v i l m i g h t

be

pre sent .

The

types

of ceremony

spe l ls ava i l ab l e to c lo is te red c l e r ic s c an vary from o r g a n i z a t i on to

organization, but usual ly encompass the se :

2 n d - l e v e l

c l o is te red c l e r ic : burial, coming

of

age.

3rd-level cloistered cleric: dedication, investiture, consecrate item,

bless newborn.

4th-level c loistered c leric : special

vows.

6th - l eve l

c l o is te red c l e r ic : consecrate

or

desecrate ground.

E a c h

o f the se b l e s s ings require s a c l o is te red c l e r ic o f the i n d i c a t e d

l e v e l o r

h i g h e r .

T h e

d u r a t i o n

o f a n y

ceremony spel l

is

p e r m a n e n t ,

e x c e p t f o r bless newborn, w h i c h h a s a du r a t i on o f s i x m o n t h s. A

s a v in g t h r ow v s . s p e l l i s a l l owe d t o a n y

u n w i l l i n g

re c ip ient o f a

ceremony s p e l l , w h i c h

u s u a l l y o n l y

a p p l i e s

w h e n

th e

ef fect

o f th e

spel l is bane fu l ( such as for desecrate ground). Br ie f l y , the ceremony

spe l l s l i s t ed d o the se t h i n g s :

Burial

\n

no way

protec ts

the

corpse,

but

gives

the

b l e s s ing

of the

o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

a n d is

sa i d

t o h a ve a 50% c h a n c e t o in vok e r e t r ibu t i on

of

some

type if the body's

grave

is dug up wi th in one

w e e k

of

bu r i a l

( i . e . , a n a g e n t o f th e d e i t y w i l l come to p r o t e c t t h e g r a ve ) .

Coming of age

b l e s se s

a

y o u n g

man

( and

in

some cu l ture s

a

y o u n g w o m a n ) a t

some p o i n t

in t im e , o f t e n t h e a g e o f 32 . Coming of

a ge

m a y o r m a y n o t a l low th e

pe rson

w h o h a s come o f a g e an y

p a r -

t i c u l a r r igh ts .

Dedication

is

necessary

to

pe r form spec i fic ac ts , such

a s

b e c o m i n g

a

m e m b e r

of an

o r g a n i z a t i o n .

Investiture i s r equired f or an asp ir ing c l e r ic (o f e i t h e r the c lois -

tered or the a dve n tu r in g type) to become 1st l eve l .

Consecrate

item

i s r equired f or eve ry i t em p l aced on an a l ta r and

at

other places

in a

re l ig ious edif ice ,

as

required

by the

par t icu l ar

B E S T

O F DRAGON


10/82

organ i zat ion . Ho ly symbo l s and ves tment s are han d J e d

separately

(see

magical

vestment

and

holy symbol spe l ls h ereaf t e r) .

Holy or

u n h o l y w at er o r o i l must be kep t in consecrated con ta iners .

Bless newborn is used to

protect

a n e w b o r n (up to 14

days

old)

i n f an t from possession a n d o t h e r il l e f f e c t s t h a t m i g h t b e f a l l h i m o r

her . S u c h a protected in f an t

gains

a sav ing throw of

• + •

2 from any

t y p e

o f possession. Further, he or she i s u n d e r th e e f f ec t o f a ha l f -

s t r ength

resist fire

a nd resist cold spel l for the fu l l s i x - m o n t h spe l l

d u ra t i o n . T he ef fect o f b less ing the new born has no e f f ect upon

i n f an t s

older t h a n

tw o

w e e k s

o f

age.

Special vows p e r t a i n to p a l a d i n s , k n i g h t h o o d , a nd s o l e m n o a t h s .

Consecrate ground sho u l d b e cas t when a ny ho l y / u n ho l y s t ru c tu r e

is bui l t . A

c h u r c h ,

abbey , sanctuary , monast ery , t emp le , e t c . , bu i l t

on

unconsecrat ed g round has a 1 % c han c e p e r y e a r ( c u m u l a t iv e ) o f

ac tua l l y

col lapsing from lack

o f

such p ro t ec t ion Once

a

s t ruc ture

is

bu i l t , consecrat ion cannot be an a f t e r thoug ht ; thu s , a cloistered

cleric

of 6th or h i g h e r l e v e l m u s t b e s o u g h t w he n a clerical structure

is

to be

b u i l t ,

or

else Consecrate ground

can also be

used upon

a

graveyard,

in w h i c h case th e

ground

i t se l f g a i n s th e a b i l i t y to t u rn

u n d e ad

as if it

w e r e

a

3rd-level c l e r i c .

Desecrate

ground,

the reverse of

consecrate ground,

may be used

by

a c ler i c of any a l i g n m e n t v e r sus a b u i l d i n g or area of ground

represent ing an

opposing

a l i g n m e n t . For a bu i l d ing {genera l ly a

c h u r c h o r o ther c le r i c -o r i en t ed ed i f i ce) to be

desecrated,

th e

altar

in s ide m ust

b e

covered

w i t h ho l y

o r

unh o ly wat er , manure , e t c . ,

w h i l e th e casting o f the ceremony (desecrate ground) is in progress.

A

desecrated

b u i l d i n g i s 1 %

l i k e l y

pe r year t o co l l ap se ; th i s chance i s

not

c u m u l a t i v e . R ol l

at the end of

each

year

of

desecration

to see if

th e s t ruc ture co l lap ses . A desecrated b u i l d i n g c a n be

consecrated

at

a

l a t e r t i m e

b y

app l i cat ion

o f the

u n re v e r s e d f o rm

o f

th i s s p e l l .

I f an

area

o f g round ( such as a

graveyard)

is the object of the spe l l , i t i s

necessary

to

k n o w

if the

ground

w a s consecrated in the f i rs t

place.

Desecrate ground

w i l l

only

remove

th e consecration i f on e is in

e f fec t .

A

second, su b s e q u e n t desecration

has no

e f f ec t .

The area can

be

reconsecrated.

A graveyard th a t h a s

n e v e r b e en consecrated

is

more

l i k e l y to h a v e i ts g raves y i e l d l e sser

undead.

I f the spe l l

ani-

mate

dead i s cast in

such

a

graveyard,

on e e x t ra ske l e ton o r z o m b i e

wi l l rise from th e graveyard. F u r t h e r , a n y a t t e m p t to t u rn u n d e ad in

an

unconsecrat ed

graveyard

( i f and on ly i f the

undead come

from

these graves)

w i l l

be as i f the c l e r i c

were

two l eve l s l ower tha n he o r

sh e actual ly is .

Combine

(A l te r a t i o n )

Level: 1

R a n g e : Touch

Durat ion : See below

A re a

of

E f f e c t:

Circle of

clerics

1

Components: V, S

Casting

Time:

/

round

S av i n g T hro w : None

Explanation/Description: V ia th i s spel l , f ive c l e r i cs o f the

same

a l i gnment c a n a dd t he i r

powers

to p e r f o rm a spec i f i c funct ion . T h e

cleric o f h i gh e s t l eve l , or one selected by the group i f a l l are of e q u a l

level , stands

in the

cen ter

o f a

c i rc l e fo rmed

b y t he

other four,

w h o

ho l d han d s an d k n e e l around the cen t ra l f i gure .

This process

takes

on e f u l l r o u n d , a n d a l l c l e r i c s m u s t b e c h a n t i n g th e w o r d s to the

combine spell

a t the

s a m e t i m e .

I f one o f

t he m s to p s

for any

r e a so n ,

the spell is wast ed for a l l f ive clerics.

T h e c l e r i c in the cen t er c a n t h e n , on t h e round a f t e r th e cas t ing o f

th e combine spe l l , a t t e m pt to cas t a spe l l o r t u r n u n d e a d a s i f h e o r

sh e

w e r e h i g h e r t h a n a c t u a l l e v e l ,

f or the

d e t e r m i n a t i o n

o f

r an g e ,

d u r a t i o n ,

a nd

area

o f e f f ec t as ap p l i cab l e . Th e spe l l (o r e f f ec t )

gener-

ated in

th is

w a y

w i l l

func t ion as if the cen t er c l e r i c is as m u c h a s 4

l e v e l s

h i g h e r t h a n

h e o r s h e

a c t u a l l y

is , as

o u t l i n e d b e l o w .

On ly the c l e r i c in the cen ter need k n o w an d hav e

prayed

fo r the

spe l l

to be c a s t by t h e c o m b i n a t i o n . O n l y i n f o rm a t i o n a l , p ro t e c t io n

( in c l u d in g

dispel

magic),

an d c u ra t i v e s p e l l s c an b e combined in

t h i s

wa y .

T h e c l e r i c s m a y also

create

food &

water

o r t u r n u n d e a d . T h e

four c l e r ics comp ri s ing the c i rc le are in a deep t rance that wi l l

requ i re one

fu l l

round to

recover

f rom. D uring the t rance , surpr i se

i s au t o m a t i c an d a l l " to h i t "

rolls

f o r han d - t o - han d

combat

a g a i n s t

th e

en t ranced c l e r i cs are

made

a t + 4 , N atura l l y , the en t ranced

c l er i cs cannot use shi e l d s o r dex t er i t y bonuses in the ca l cu lat ion o f

t h e i r a r m o r classes.

Thus,

i f the combina t ion o f c l e r ics i s ph ys i ca l l y

a t t a c k e d , o n l y th e c e n t e r c l e r i c c a n m u s t e r a n y de f ense on the f i r s t

ro u n d . If he selects a n a t t ack spe l l o f any t yp e to serve a s a counter

fo r

th e enemy's

a t t a c k ,

th e

c o m b i n a t i o n

is

b ro k e n

a n d t h e

c e n t e r

c l e r i c revert s t o h i s o r her o r i g ina l

l e v e l

a t

once.

T h e c o m b i n a t i o n ca n o t he rw i s e r e m a i n t o g e t he r f or the c a s t i n g o f

one spe l l

o r o n e

a t t e m p t

a t

t u r n i n g

undead.

T he n

th e

spel l breaks,

and the four c l e r i cs compri s ing the c i rc l e must

recover

fo r a f u l l

round before t he y

c a n d o

a n y t h i n g el se .

If a

c l e r i c

dies

t h e

c o m b i n a -

t ion i s

b ro k e n ,

but not i f one i s

on ly

h i t f or damage

once

th e com-

bine spe l l has been cas t and the combinat ion i s in e f f ec t .

T h e

center

cleric

w i l l

be ra i sed in e f f ec t ivenes s by 1 , 2 , 3 , o r 4

levels, depending on how m any o f the combined c l e r i cs are four or

f ewer l eve l s be low the ac tua l l eve l o f the cen te r c l e r i c . On ly those

c l e r ic s wi th in four l eve l s o f the h i ghes t - leve l c l e r i c can co n t r ib u t e t o

t h i s b e n e f i t . E x a m p l e s : F i v e 2n d - l e v e l c lo i st e r e d c l e r i c s w a n t to

combine so as to be t t e r cope w i t h some m e n ac e . T he y t ak e a round

to combine, a nd t h en for the purpose o f c a s t in g an o t he r spe l l , th e

center cleric acts

a s a

6 th- l eve l c lo i s te red c l e r i c , ga in in g

on e

"bonus"

l eve l fo r each o f the o ther four par t i c ipa n t s . N ot e t h a t the cen ter

cleric could

no t

cast

a

spe l l

o f

second l e v e l

o r

h i g h e r

in any

e v e n t ,

s ince the charac t er i s ac tu a l l y on ly a 2n d - l eve l c lo i s t e red c l e r i c and

cannot know

a ny

spe l l h i gher than

the 1s t

l eve l

o f

power.

If a

7 t h -

l e v e l , a 5 th - l e v e l , an d t h r e e 2n d - l e v e l

c ler i cs combine,

th e cen ter

cleric

could operate as an

B th- leve l charac t er .

The

2nd - l eve l c l e r i cs

are f i ve l eve l s l ower than the 7 th- l eve l

c ler i c

and so cannot con t r ib -

ute to

boosting

h i s e f f ec t ive l eve l , bu t ar e

st i l l

va luab le as par t i c i -

p an t s to complete the necessary circle of c l e r i cs .

Hand

Fire (A l t e r a t io n )

Level: 1

Range: 0

D u r a t i o n :

Special

Area

of

E f f e c t:

Cleric's

hand

C o m p o n e n t s : V] S

C as t i n g Time: 1

segment

S a v i n g T h r o w : None

Explanation/Description: T hi s spe l l a ll ows the c l e r i c , by t u r n i n g

h is

cupped

h a n d u p w a r d a n d s a y i n g a c o m m a n d w o r d , to

produce

a

cold f l am e t ha t c a s ts th e e q u i v a l e n t o f t o rch l i g h t . T h e

hand

f i r e

w i l l

remain l i ght e d un t i l the c le r i c cas ts any o th er s p e l l o r un t i l he or she

uses h i s o r her hand to per form

some

o t he r

f u n c t i o n .

T h e

fire

is non-

h a r m f u l

a n d

w i l l

n o t

i g n i t e

a n y

c o m b u s t i b l e m a t e r i a l s , e v e n o i l.

I t

cannot

b e

b l o w n o u t,

bu t

m ag i c a i darkness w i l l d i spe l

it

in s t an t l y .

Magical

Vestment (C o n j u ra t i o n / A l t e r a t i o n )

L e v e l : /

Range:

Touch

D u ra t i o n : 6 rounds/level

A r e a

of

E f f e c t : Spell caster

Components: V, S, M

Casting

t i m e : /

round

S av i n g

t h r o w :

None


W i t h

th i s

spel l , th e c ler i c c a n

turn

h is

v e s t m e n t s in to magical

armor

e q u a l

to

c h a i n m a i l

{A C 5 ) . T he

vest -

m e n t c an n o t b e w o rn w i t h a n y o t h e r a rm o r , bracers of defense, o r

any t y pe o f p ro t ec t ion i tem or sp e l l . Thus , i f the c l e r i c i s unde r a

bless spe l l , wear ing (not ju s t possess ing) a ring of protection, u n d e r a

scroll of protection from

lycanthropes,

e t c . ,

he or she

c an n o t

use a

magical vestment s p e l l ; n o t h i n g w i l l h a p p e n w h e n th e spe l l is

cast.

However,

i f the v e s t m e n t i s be ing worn a lone , it w i l l become + 1 fo r

a ll

purposes (armor

c l a s s , s av i n g - t h ro w b o n u s , e t c . ) f o r e v e ry f o u r

l eve l s o f the

c l e r i c ,

up to a

m a x i m u m

o f + 4 , and i t

also

a l l o w s

i m m u n i t y

to

magic missile

spe l l s f or the d u r a t i on o f the spe l l

e f fec t .

T hi s s p e l l c a n only b e cast in the cleric 's ow n t e m p l e or in the

c l e r ic ' s p r i v a t e q u a r t e r s

w i t h i n

a t emp le , ch ur ch , abbey , e t c . , p ro -

v i d e d t h a t he o r she ha s a sm a l l , ap p ro p r i a t e l y consecrated a l t a r in

t ho s e q u a r t e r s . T h e

c ler i c

m u s t b e c o n sc i o u s fo r t he v e s t m e n t t o

r e t a in i t s ma g i ca l p ropert i es . I f the c l e r i c is blessed

or

cursetl

\ r\

a ny

w ay o r p u t s o n an y o t he r s or t o f m ag i c a l p ro t e c t i o n , t h e d w e o m e r o f

th e magical

vestment

is

lo s t im m e d i a t e l y .

T h e

v e s t m e n t w i l l also lose

I V

9


11/82

it s magical protect ion i f the cleric sets foot

outside

the t e m p l e o r

area

in

w h i c h

th e

spe l l

w a s

c a s t . N o t e : W he n

in a

t emp le

o r

c h u r c h ,

it is

u n c o m m o n

for a c l e r i c to be w e a r i n g

armor

or sh i e l d of any k ind —

a n d

this

s t r i c tu re

e sp e c i a l l y ap p l i e s

to

c l oi st e r ed ( n o n - a d v e n t u r i n g )

clerics .

Scribe (A l t e r a t i o n )

Level: /

R a n g e : Touch

D u r a t i o n : Permanent

Ar e a of

E f f e c t : Variable

C o m p o n e n t s : V, S, M

C a s t i n g t i m e : /

round

Saving t h ro w : None


V ia

t h i s spe l l ,

th e

c le r ic ' s h a n d w r i t i n g ,

if

i t happens to be poor, is g r e a t l y enhanced. F u r t h e r m o r e , he or she

ca n

w r i t e

t w i c e a s rap id ly a s n o r m a l a n d st i l l produce h i g h - q u a l i t y

c o p y i n g o f a t ex t o r m a p . T h e scribe spe l l c a n be used w h e n w r i t i n g

d o w n th e

t ex t

o f m ag i c a l s c ro l l s. It f u r t he r decreases th e c h a n c e o f

error by 25% in the copying o f any and a l l t ex t . The scribe spel l w i l l

stay in

ef fect

a s

l o n g

a s the

c l e r i c c o n t i n u e s

to copy or compose a

text, w i t h a

l i m i t

o f e i g h t ho u r s o f such w r i t i n g in a n y case. A n y

in ter rup t ion o f th e c o p y i n g w i l l ru i n th e spe l l f rom t h a t po in t fo r -

w a r d .

T h e

m a t e r i a l c o m p o n e n t s

a re

i n k , q u i l l ,

a n d

p a r c h m e n t {book

o r

scrol l)

a n d

p e r h a p s t h a t w h i c h

is

b e i n g copied. Note: Magical

scro l ls cannot

be

copied

o r

composed

b y an y

cleric below

the 7th

l eve l o f exper i ence .

Death

Prayer (Invocation)

L e v e l :

2

R an g e :

Touch


Ar e a of

E f f e c t: One

corpse

C o m p o n e n t s : V, S, M

C a s t i n g t i m e : J turn

Saving Throw: Neg.

Explanation/Description: B y s p r i n k l i n g h o l y w a t e r o r u n h o i y

w a t e r

( i f the cleric is e v i l ) o v e r a

corpse

k i l l e d by u n d e ad w h i l e

c h a n t i n g

t h i s

spe l l ,

th e

c ler i c reduces

th e

p r o b a b i l i ty t h a t

th e

corpse

w i l l r ise as an u n d e a d a t some l a t e r ti m e . F u r t h e r , i t protects th e

body f rom the

spe l l animate

dead t ha t m i g h t b e c a s t o n t he r e m a i n s

a t

some

l a t e r

t i m e . T h e

corpse

i s a l l o w e d a s a v i n g t h ro w based on i ts

l eve l

or h i t d i c e in

l i f e ,

but no b e t t e r t han 12 in any

case.

A

corpse

t h a t fa i l s th e ap p ro p r i a t e s av i n g t h ro w w i l l rise a s an u n d e ad in th e

n o r m a l m an n e r .

I f the

s av i n g t h ro w

i s

made,

th e corpse

w i l l

b e

foreve r use less fo r any purpose o f undea d p rocrea t ion . Th i s app l i es

t o the v i c t im s o f g ho u l s , g ha s t s , w i g h t s , w ra i t h s ,

spectres, vampires,

or

a n y o the r form o f u n d e ad tha t is ab l e to p ro d u c e o t he r s o f i t s ow n

k i n d .

W h i l e und er the p ro t ec t ion o f a

death prayer,

t h e v i c t i m ' s

sp i r i t

c a n n o t

be con tac t ed by speak

with dead

un less the cas t er o f th e l a t t e r

spe l l

is of a

h i g he r

l e v e l

t h a n

th e c ler i c w h o

cast

th e death prayer. If

a

speak

with

dead

spe l l cas t und er these cond i t ions

is

succes s fu l ,

th e

death prayer

p ro t ec t ion

is

cance l l ed

a nd

c an n o t

b e replaced.

W h i l e

under th e p r o t ec t ion o f a death prayer, th e r e c i p i en t su f f e rs a -25%

p en a l t y

t o the chan ce o f be ing success fu l l y a f f ec t ed by a

raise dead

o r

resurrection s p e l l . Dispel magic w i l l

n o t

remove

th e

p ro t ec t ion ,

bu t a

wish

o r

limited

wish

w i l l

do so. In

f ac t ,

a

wish or

limited

wish

is

needed to d e t e ct w h e t he r th e spel l is in ef fect upon a n y p a r t i c u l a r

body .

Detec t

Life

( D i v i n a t i o n )

L e v e l : 2

Range: 10 feet/level

D u ra t i o n :

5

rounds

A re a of E f f e c t : One

creature

Components: V^ S, M

C a s t i n g t i m e : 1 round

S a v i n g T h r o w : None

Explanation/Description: B y u s i n g t h i s

s p e l l ,

a c l e r i c c a n t e l l if a

creature is dead o r a l i v e . T hu s , i t w i l l r e v e a l th e subject o f a feign

death spel l

o r

p rove t h a t s o m e o n e

is in a

coma, d e a t h - l i k e tr an c e ,

o r

10

a state

o f

suspended a n i m a t i on .

It

w i l l sho w t ha t

a

figure engaged

in

astral t r av e l is a c t u a l l y a l iv e , a n d i t w i l l w o rk on p l an t s o r a n i m a l s .

N ote , however , that

it

wi l l

n o t

i d ent i f y

th e

speci f ic ef fect that

a

l i v i n g

subjec t i s u n d e r , o n l y th e fact t h a t th e sub jec t is

alive.

L i k e w i s e , th e

spe l l

c an n o t

determine cause

of death.

T h e range f i g u r e g i v e n

above

i s a m a x i m u m w h i c h app l i es under

ideal c i rcumstances , i . e . when no subst ance i s i n t e r v e n i n g be tween

caster

a n d

su b j e c t .

T h e

spe l l r an g e wi l l

b e

reduced

i f as

l i t t le

a s a

one - inch th i ckness

o f

wood

or

stone comes b e t w e e n

th e

c l e r i c

an d t he

sub jec t . In such cases, range is only 1 foot per level of the caster for

each i n c h

o r

f rac t ion

o f an

inch t h i ck n e s s

o f the

wood

or

s tone bar -

rier. (See example be low fo r c l ar i f i cat ion . ) A m e t a l b a r r i e r o f any

t y p e o r a n y t h i c k n e s s w i l l total ly block th e spe l l , a s w i l l a n y fo rm o f

menta l p ro t ec t ion , e i ther p s ion ic

or

m ag i c a l

in

n a t u r e .

E xam p le : a 5 th- l eve l c lo is t e red c l e r i c is 20 f ee t away f rom a two-

i n c h - t h i c k

wooden door. He want s t o know i f there i s

l i fe

b e h i n d t he

door.

H is

m a x i m u m

range

fo r

c a s t i n g detect

life is 50

f e e t ,

bu t the

door reduces th e

range

to 32 f ee t : the 20 feet to the door, 2 feet

beyond it (u s i n g 1 foo t / l eve l fo r each o f the two i n c he s o f th i ckness) ,

a n d 10 more

feet

beyond

t h a t .

A f igure

m u s t then

be

w i t h i n

12

feet

of the o ther

side

o f the door an d i n a s t r a i g h t " l ine o f s i ght" f rom the

cleric

( as i f the

door

w e r e

open

and the c l e r i c cou ld

a c t u a l l y

see the

s u b j e c t ) .

A f i gure locat ed o f f t o the

side

o f the door , an d

thus

p ro -

tected

b y t he ad j a c en t

stone

wal l , wou ld not be de t ec t ab l e by the

spe l l . T h e c l e r i c must chan t th e

spe l l

a loud

w h i l e

ho l d i n g h is body

and hi s ho ly symbo l so as t o f ace t oward the exac t d i rec t ion o f de t ec -

t i o n , an d m ay n o t

t u rn

d u r i n g t he f i v e - ro u n d d u ra t i o n t o fa c e an y

o t h e r d i r e c t i o n .

Holy

Symbol

(C o n j u ra t i o n / S u m m o n i n g )

Level: 2

Range:

Touch


A r e a of E f f e c t : Item touched

Components:

V, S, M

C a s t i n g t i m e :

/

turn

S av i n g T hro w : None

Explanation/Description: T h i s

spe l l

blesses a n e w ho l y s ym b o l t o

rep lace

a

cleric 's lost

o r

damaged s y m b o l .

T h e n e w

s y m b o l , w h i c h

i s

th e spe l l ' s mat er i a l component (and , obv ious ly , i s nor destroyed i n

th e c a s t in g ) , m u s t

b e

craf t ed

o f

ap p ro p r i a te m a t e r i a l s ( d e p e n d i n g

upon

th e

rel igion

or

de i t y

in

q u e s t i o n )

an d

m u s t

be o f the

proper

s h a p e a n d

design;

a

cleric

c an n o t

just

pick u p an y i tem a n d m a k e it

i n t o

a

h o l y s y m b o l ,

A c l e r i c may possess two

h o l y

s y m b o l s a t o n e t i m e , i n t e n d i n g t o

have one as a spare, bu t th i s spe l l wi l l s i m p l y fa i l i f i t i s ca st by a

c l e r ic w h o a l r e ad y

possesses

t w o ho l y s ym b o l s .

T h e

magic

o f

t h i s spe l l cannot

be

used

to

bless

th e

s ym b o l

o f an y

other de i t y , even another de i t y

o f the

s a m e p a n t h e o n

a s t he

c l e r i c ' s

de i t y .

I f a sym bo l c reat ed by t h i s spel l i s to be given to another cleric

o f t h e same re l i g ion a n d a l i g n m e n t , t h e n th e b e n e f i c i a r y m u s t b e

presen t a t the t ime o f cas t ing o f the spe l l and m u s t

h o l d

t he s ym b o l -

t o - b e t h ro u g ho u t t h e

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