Re: [HOE] DL periphernalia

[mosiondz@shaw.ca]

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Watson <mwatson1@bigpond.net.au>
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2002 8:59 am
Subject: Re: [HOE] DL periphernalia

> I am unfamiliar with the latest incarnation of the d20 system, so 
> excuse my basic questions :-)

I hope I can answer them for you?

> 1. Is the DM's guide not necessary? I got the impression it was 
> one of the core books

The DM's guide is very helpful, but not quite as necessary to play the 
game.  I ran a D&D game for a few months with just the Player's 
Handbook!  :-)

If you really need to reference the DMG, you can find all the core d20 
rules (PHB, DMG, Monster Manual and now Psionics Handbook) online and 
freely available at the Open Gaming Foundation 
(http://www.opengamingfoundation.org).  So - actual cost is even less 
than the d20 nay-sayers have been telling you... :-)

> 2. Does damage still often consist of xdx? as in 3d6?

Yes, it does.  Daggers do 1d4, Longswords to 1d8, Greatswords to 2d6, 
etc.

> Fun is what it is about though isn't it? Does d20 still have 
> thac0? I always thought that thac0 was less intuitive than systems 
> where you have a target number you need to beat. 

Nope!  The system they have now is real simple - AC is now a 
combination of a base 10 + dexterity bonus + armour bonus + special.  
So if you have a Dex bonus of +1 and leather armour (+1) and a ring of 
protection +1 you'd have an AC of 13.  The 13 is the target number to 
hit you.  Hitting works in a similar way: base attack bonus + str bonus 
+ special.  So a 1st level fighter (base attack +1) with a Str bonus of 
+1 using a +1 longsword rolls d20 + 3 and has to hit a target number of 
13.  Saving throws, skills, etc. all work in the same way: d20 + 
bonuses/penalties versus a target number.  Thus the d20 system!  :-)

Hope it helped!
--
Randy Mosiondz | mosiondz@shaw.ca | ICQ 2585758
http://members.shaw.ca/mosiondz