D&D 1e Archives - Tribality

The Barbarian Class, Part One

Brandes Stoddard — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:00:31 +0000

Today I realized that it’s been almost three years since my last History of the Classes article. Today I’m starting in on the Barbarian, a class that goes back to an article by E. Gary Gygax in Dragon Magazine #63, in July 1982. As a disclaimer for the whole series: “barbarian” is a culturally loaded word and is a slur from first principles. I’m not defending it. I would be fine with changing the class name to “berserker” so that […]

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The Artificer Class, Part Zero

Brandes Stoddard — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:00:06 +0000

Thanks to the urging of my readers, particularly Episteme and Dave(s) 4 Goombella, I have to go earlier for the invention of the artificer. I’m looking to Official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance Adventures this time, with the tinkers, found only among the gnomes of Mt. Nevermind. I don’t necessarily plan to cover tinker gnomes of later editions, but if that’s something you want to see, let me encourage you to a) say so in the comments and b) consider […]

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Greyhawk – Underwater – Xanvak

Blake Ryan — Wed, 15 May 2019 04:17:15 +0000

On the World of Oerth, many stories are told of the lands of Greyhawk, the creatures and adventurers who inhabit these stories become legend. This week we delve into Xanvak, a freshwater aquatic lair of a Aboleth in Lake Quag, near Perrenland in the north west. Relocation : If you want to link this to any of the Saltmarsh adventures in south eastern Greyhawk, simply stick this lair in a lake within Dreadwood. Environment : If the heroes do […]

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Greyhawk Shrines – III

Blake Ryan — Wed, 08 May 2019 04:01:58 +0000

Third and final trip into the shrines of deities from the Greyhawk pantheon. These shrines are designed to be slotted into a region and visited during a game as a side trek or as part of a larger issue. They should fit into Greyhawk games regardless of time period. Deity : Olidammara (Revelry, Rogues, Trickery) Altar Description : Three foot emerald carving of a Satyr playing a harp. You can hear music which grows louder the longer you stay […]

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Greyhawk Shrines – II

Blake Ryan — Wed, 01 May 2019 04:39:29 +0000

More shrines from the various deities of Greyhawk for your good selves… These shrines are designed to be slotted into a region and visited during a game as a side trek or as part of a larger issue. Deity : Mayaheine (Justice, Protection, Valor) Altar Description : Armored female warrior with sword and shield, made from gold. Suggested Locations : Littleberg-Furyondy (west) or Womtham-Nyrond (east). Geographic Challenges : Door opened by tears from a living creature. Inhabited By : […]

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Greyhawk Shrines – I

Blake Ryan — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 04:41:42 +0000

This week we visit a few shrines from the various deities of the Greyhawk pantheon. These shrines are designed to be slotted into a region and visited during a game as a side trek or as part of a larger issue. They should fit into Greyhawk games regardless of time period. Deity : Trithereon (Individuality, Liberty, Retribution) Altar Description : A bronze statue of a man with six arms, each holding a different object. Oddly the statue feels warm. […]

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Greyhawk – Underwater – Syrmyr

Blake Ryan — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 04:01:57 +0000

On the World of Oerth, many stories are told of the lands of Greyhawk, the creatures and adventurers who inhabit these stories become legend. This week we delve into Syrmyr, a Sea Hag lair within White Fanged Bay, off the coast of Stonefist in the north east. The water is fairly cold except around the coral reefs where warmer water swirls constantly. Environment : If the heroes do not have access to Underwater breathing magics, the local Sorcerer offers […]

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The Fighter Class, Part Three

Brandes Stoddard — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 12:00:49 +0000

By reader request, I’m returning to AD&D 1e to cover the three fighter-like classes in Oriental Adventures. The bushi, kensai, and samurai are similar enough that 5e would probably present the bushi and samurai as the same subclass with two different backgrounds, while as we know the kensai is now firmly lodged as a subclass of monk. In 1e, which has neither subclasses nor kits, all of these differences go into the same “character class” container. OA does also introduce more ways to talk about personal background and social class, though.

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The Fighter Class, Part Two

Brandes Stoddard — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:00:47 +0000

After two weeks of other topics and a weekend of GenCon, I’m back this week to continue the History of the Fighter Class. This time we’ll be talking about AD&D 1e, and as I kick off my research, I’m really wondering how much I’ll find to say about it – the rules text is quite brief. There's also Unearthed Arcana to cover here, and it makes a considerable difference.

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Hit Points, Dying, and Death

Brandes Stoddard — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:00:32 +0000

Quite some time back, the estimable Tim Baker sent me this:
I had an idea for a topic or maybe even a series that you could consider covering in the future. I'd love to hear your take on damage, dying, and death in D&D (how's that for alliteration?). Healing could be included in the topic, too. It's an age-old question, but what are hit points?

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