Episode One - Introductions and Character Creation in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- In this episode, Join DM's Dan and James as they talk about 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and how to create a character.
Gather your party and hear how 1st Edition is played and get insights on how you can start your own game.
If you have additional timestamps to add, please comments and we will add them.
GROGTALK is the official podcast of GrogCon, a roleplaying convention dedicated to supporting old school games and the gamers who love them. For more info, please email info@grogcon.com
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Since this video came out, please join our discord server - discord.gg/AfXtmjn
You can setup and play 1e and other old school games, either online, by post.
We also are using meetup.com to setup online games. www.meetup.com/Central-Florida-1st-Edition-AD-D-Grognards-Guild
Great series gentlemen! Started playing 1st edition in 1980 when I was 11. When the DM allowed, any thieves I ran always sewed faux studs into their leather armor with metallic thread to look like a plain old fighter in studded armor.
Thank you very much Steve. We are glad you are enjoying what we do. I (James) like that idea and if a player asked, I would allow it if they could find a tailor or armorer who could help them.
Finally - a proper and complete deconstruction of the 1st edition... I am astounded at the depth at which you guys go over the rules.
Thank you very much for your kind words. We try our best to be true to the game as we remember it and how we play it today. I hope you keep enjoying our channel. if you are in the Orlando Fl area next month, come to Grogcon! grogcon.com for more details.
@@GROGTALK I live in Australia unfortunately, but would sure keep that in mind if I am ever in the area. Keep up the banter - it is great fun! And gnome illusionists rock!
@@abeheron Well one of our dear patrons The Chamberlain, His August Potency, Archduke, The Shrewd Guardian of Australia, David Thompson is from South Australia and is a frequent guest and participant on the live chat. You two should start a group, how big is Australia anyway????
Great video, well done.
As a DM I always let the players start at max hit points. Level 1 is tough enough without having your fighter charge a goblin with 2hp. But that is just my house rule.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. There are plenty more.....way more...
@@GROGTALK I have watched your videos up to the first adventure. So far so good. Well done guys.
I first played this game way back in 1979. I've been hooked ever since.
Thanks for listening! If you've been hooked since 1979, you probably don't need much help with character creation, but hopefully you enjoyed the episode anyway.
Thanks john for the reply. I started in 1982 while on vacation, was a passion for a long time, then friends and time slipped away. What we hope to show is no matter when you started, you can return, even if you left years and years ago.
@@GROGTALK I like just seeing how other's go about getting ready. Game On Guys'!
I never thought I'd be learning AD&D from Alan Arkin and David Spade. :P But seriously, guys... absolutely wonderful job walking through and explaining the intricate details. I'm hooked!
Our pleasure! Glad you enjoy what nonsense we are doing.
James is Spade, right?
@@dangormanski8549 No, Dan looks and sounds a lot like David Spade, and James looks and sounds a lot like Alan Arkin. :D
@@exeterkered totally agree....
My first thought with that backstory was “I really tried to be a painter but it is not a stable form of income, but I don’t have any other trade skill so this is what’s become if my life. Dungeon delving to make ends meet.”
Bravo. Nicely put together for your first show. Dan, the seeming contradiction in alignment rules in the DDG is not a contradiction at all: the alignment for clerics must be identical to the deity as listed under "alignment", but the (lay) worshipers need only match the (usually) less stringent restriction as listed for "worshiper's alignment".
Thanks so much!
Excellent point about cleric vs. worshipper alignment. You are spot on.
A note on iron rations: these are preserved foods or foods that have a long shelf life like jerky, cheese, hard bread, raisins, dried fruit, or the like. It's lighter in general & can withstand being in dungeon conditions for extended periods.
Thanks for the proper description. We fumbled around trying to explain it.
@@GROGTALK no problem guys, I enjoy your videos. I myself have a game coming up in september. By the way, I'm dojtorhook on Dragonsfoot.
I just discovered your channel this week and am really enjoying the videos.
The content is both entertaining and educational. I am reminded once again how much fun AD&D really is.
Thanks Fred for your kind words and letting us know what we are doing is good. We think we have gotten better over time but we will let you be the judge. Welcome!
This series is the tops! I see myself in both of your stories. Keep up the great work!
Hello MAX - thanks for the kind words! I am glad we are kindred spirits and let us know if there are topics we can discuss that would help you. Hopefully your game is going well.
@@GROGTALK As of right now, all the questions that I have you are answering with the podcast. Highly helpful and easy to follow. Many thanks!
this is exactly the content I've been looking for since I started playing in the 80's - a deep dive into the game
Thanks so much Gene! We have a great Discord community if you are so inclined we folks get into the weed about 1e and other old school games - discord.gg/AfXtmjn
There was one time that a friend rolled straight 18's. He became a Paladin. He died when a ledge collapsed underneath him and fell 200 feet.
oooh.....guessing he didn't get a chance to lay hands after falling....
@@GROGTALK Not a chance, This was 1st addition Advanced D@D, no I got wings, no I got super powers. A first level character or even a third level character could die from an arrow.., He rolled up a monk after that. He eventually went on to conquer the pomaji from the orcs. There was two dwarfs that actually attacked one another to see who could kill the most orcs. The monk went on to be the best fighter in the group, better than some do gooder paladin.( back then a Paladin was human and lawful Good,) not like 5E which is just sad
I've never played d and d but I really want too. I love the level of detail
We have enjoyed d&d for about 40 years. At your local gaming store there are folks that will help you get setup to play. Also local conventions are a great way to try a bunch of games and see what you like. Good luck and game on!
I've gone waaay back! The beginning. The camera work. Very cool.
We have learned alot....i think....
I'm partial to Grogtalk's older work. Before they sold out. But it would have been nice if Gormanski had at least dried his hair. It's like he was literally in the shower 1 hour before this was shot.
I, too played extensively in the 80s with mostly AD&D, but with various house rules along the way. One thing that renewed my appreciation for the TSR combat rules over later styles of play, was that i got into wargaming, playing Avalon Hill, GMT, etc. hex & counter style games. I think my love for complex wargames gave me greater insight into how the table-top adventure game evolved. To anyone interested in playing 1e AD&D combat rules, i recommend playing a few games like SPQR or Great Battles of Alexander.
Starting with Risk, then Panzer leader, starship troopers which primed us for some of the craziness of AD&D combat. Dan is even more of a wargamer than James.
I used to espouse the 4d6 method (but you only roll once) ; later, I preferred rolling for 12 characters - and picking the best 1.
Why? Does that not take like...a lot longer?
I rember back in to late 70's our magic user had fireball. We used to hit him over the head to knock him out so our dwarfs could go toe to toe with Orcs.
I am 12 and my dad introduced me to E1 when I was a 4 and I love the game. Also he has 1980s books which is super cool and socothbenoth at the time was not a thing and he made a version of it but never published it
Thanks Nolan for sharing that great story! We are glad you enjoy Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and hopefully like our show!
@@GROGTALK I love it and dnd will always mean a lot to me and I will teach my kids when I am an adult
Page 9 of the PHB states that it is essential a PC have at least two attributes of 15.
HI all played some AD&D 1E starting in the 1980's loved it of course, wish I had the time for it today, but wanted to compliment your show, and ask some questions. Can you please expand on the USE of AD&D 1E encumbrance rules and how they applied, also making sense of Pummeling, Grappling, Tables is painful, can you walk us all through on how to apply these rules to real game events? Thank you both, and will keep on watching :)
So, first off great video. Secondly, there's a mistake in the beginning. The dungeon masters guide actually lists the first method AND second method for stat generation as being able to assign point values as you see fit. Method 4 is similar, as well, btw but you're rolling a lot more times. I thought you should know that.
Just found your channel and yes boys just yes!!!!!
Yay! Thank you!
I started playing through everything at a high level, honestly 1E is just fun to pick and choose some rules.
--
Especially Helmets.
yes Helmets are your friends!
The various materials for the holy symbols save differently if they have undergone an attack. A rust monster could obviously destroy an iron holy symbol but would survive a fireball better than wood or silver, etc.
Nice video cast, gentlemen.
A word about the concept of "good thieves" that you talked about in regards to the party with a paladin. They do exist and are perhaps more easily identified as "good rogues".
Think of Indiana Jones. I put him in the trap-master category, and in the neutral good alignment. He basically follow the rules of society, helps others, and battles the forces of wickedness.
Also consider Sherlock Holmes. Definitely more of an investigator and pickpocket, of the chaotic good alignment. He often breaks the law in pursuit of the greater good and lives solely in step with his own sense of "good" which ultimately does serve the community by protecting the downtrodden and upholding justice.
And to finish the good rogue concept, I associate lawful good rogues with spies or undercover agents, sent in by king's command to infiltrate a criminal syndicate or keep an eye on an encroaching kingdom. I just played a cleric with a rogue background like this.
So, any alignment can be a rogue. I totally agree with the player's book.
Hi Jonathan. Thanks for listening and thanks for your comment! I would think Bilbo would also have been a good thief, so I definitely agree with you and I agree with your examples. So I agree that a thief can adventure with a paladin, provided the thief is good. James noted that a neutral (or I guess evil) thief could adventure with a paladin as long as the thief portrayed himself or herself as good, which I hadn't thought about before.
Great post Jonathan. Thanks for watching and let us know how we can improve.
@@dannygormanski4038 yeah, disguising alignment isn't something that I had thought of either.
Part of the (unspoken) problem with alignment, is the DM is supposed to "score" you, as 1,2,3, or 4. While I've never had bad game play with evil aligned characters (except once), I most certainly had questionable with near-neutral idiots, who signed off as "good aligned", but were really nothing more than self-interested. In one adventure, co-operation was very thin and, as players, we argued about who would get access to a limited Wish; I think we were 7th or 8th level - in the White Plume Mountain adventure. Thankfully, we did very well, relatively. At most we lost 1 or 2 characters.
Nice overview. Very entertaining as well.
Thanks! Our show has changed a lot since then (as you've probably noticed)!
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it.
Dictionary says a limner (had the pronunciation right the first time) is a painter, especially of portraits or miniatures.
i was hoping to see how you guys would play a pure thief. Hopefully you have one in this campagin :)
thanks for the comments. Since there is only one player (Dan), having multiclass to show each core class was necessary.
I don't know if this has been covered but w limner is a person who white washes buildings
It would be super cool to find an online place where one could find an online 1e game.
Hi Jay! Thanks for coming by. Glad you asked this question. If you or others want to play 1e and other old school games, go to our discord server - discord.gg/AfXtmjn
We also are using meetup.com to setup online games. www.meetup.com/Central-Florida-1st-Edition-AD-D-Grognards-Guild
@@GROGTALK Very cool! THANK YOU for the invite!
Unearthed Arcanum suggests starting characters get, at least, 70% of their starting hits, at first level. ~12 hits not including CON bonus, if applicable. 6 for a cleric, I believe.
Howdy! If you continue with our nonsense, you will find out the book you mentioned is the Book that Shall Not be Named and marks AD&D 1.5 for us. that means, players roll and that is what they get.
@@GROGTALK No spoilers please!
but without it gnomes can be a fighter, a thief, an illusionist, or an assassin
and thieves can't use short bows, and no armor spell for magic users etc. etc.
I started on the white box and 1ed. I have played also 3.5 won't play 4 or 5. I like osr and 1ed and taught my son to play. I love 1ed the most and then osr. old school was a guide book and most people home brewed it. Im 60 now and will die a old school player and DM hehe will not trade it for 5.0 lol
Thanks for listening and welcome aboard!
I have really enjoyed this. You explained things quite well, you talked normally and kept the "gibber gabber" out. While you talked to each other, you did not forget that you were going to be showing this to a wider audience and therefore kept the nonsense out. I really appreciate this, as most game channels get way too carried away with this. This show really illustrates some of the problems with 1st ed AD&D, and one of those is magic user. While you were not focused on it for this episode, I have always thought if one runs mages like the rules say, they are dead weight until they get high mid level to high level. Perhaps it is because I have never lived in a place where there are gaming groups, but it appears to me that they can cast vary few spells, can't fight for crap and are not allowed to use their brains while on a adventure. Have I missed something? The PM and DMG say nothing about allowing mages/illusionists to be useful beyound their spells. I have always thought this was nuts, but again I have not lived in a place where I could game for over 30yrs and I might be missing something. If I am, please point it out. Now mind you, the last time I played, I ran a duel class thief/mage and so this issue did not come up. However the very first mage I ran this was a big issue for 3-4 sessions, until the DM made some changes. I would love to read some thoughts on this.
Hello and welcome MsGorteck to the channel!
Short version is that you are correct and MU's can be xp sponges, especially if they can poor beginning spells (push, mending for example).
If a cleric is evil they wouldn’t care about shedding blood. But I would say it’s not about the morality, it’s about the ritualistic implication. They’re religious scholars, shedding blood on your person of the thing you are fighting, you probably consider that thing unclean. So you try to spill the least amount of blood possible
Basically: blood is icky and messes with the clerics vibes
Limners are decorative, illustrative, and manuscript-stylized painters in large or very minute scale, whereas painter is a broad category as you'd expect as it sounds.
So with that lengthy, and perhaps unnecessary explanation for you both, how do you adjudicate using your skill in game per se? Will it /would it make you some coin and thus XP.....provide opportunity to build your "establishment" for name level for example, etc...?
Superb videos by the way, and would love to have y'all in my game as role players. 👍
Please do some 2nd edition videos, if you now play such, or have. Thnx
Thanks so much for your kind words! We have allowed players with skills to make money during downtime between sessions. During an adventure, if the PC wants to try something, we would give them a bonus if they weave it in their skill (e.g. PC wants to make a small raft to get across a stream, the PC could say his fisherman skill was applicable for they plied their trade on the bay" We didn't play 2e so not sure we would be much help but hopefully we will play someday. We have a couple of DM's who run games as part of our online grognards guild. Join them or if you want to start running, let us know at info@grogcon.com.
Thank you guys! I'll certainly entertain running, after I fully re-familiarize myself with 1st edition, my true favorite of all the systems!
I've been with D&D since 1980, and have been DMing since 1990 off and on. Keep up this great teaching and reminders for us all.
Gotta love Dan's player enthusiasm with ya for sure. 👍👊
Ah, but when this guy goes up a level in Cleric, what does he do for gaining Hit Points? Just add the average of the two classes?
What's the intro song
The song is titled "The Fate of Pelinore" written by James for Dan's campaign when he ran the Pelinore campaign from Imagine magazine. James needs to finish it for it is a Patron benefit. While he should have plenty of time now, his work is unfortunately taking up more time than he would like.
I only have experience with AD&D 2nd edition and it's been 25 years or so since I last played but I remember that female strength limitation from 1st edition and I always thought it was a little silly. I wouldn't object to it though if I ever played in a 1e game and the DM enforced it, I do get the logic behind it. My stance was just always hey, this is a fantasy world with dragons and magic and otherworldly creatures, are we really gonna make a concession to real world biology just for the strength stat of female characters?
our 13 yo selves didn't have a problem with it but we weren't playing with girls so it didn't come up. if we played female characters, str wasn't a concern for we would play MU or clerics or thieves......
@@GROGTALK Oh I totally get it, we all have those moments in our younger years if there's not someone there to lend a different perspective. Like I said, I wouldn't presume to force my opinion of it on a DM if 1e is what they wanted to run, I'd still roll a female fighter regardless. :-)
You could totally have “there are no gods” there’s a 5e third party setting, Grim Hollow, where the gods are either dead or choosing not to act, and they make Clerics unplayable I think. I can’t remember or maybe they just change clerics. I can’t exactly recall.