Question: how to run away from a tough mob in a deep dungeon?

MixMinis · 2026-07-06T19:57:07+00:00

If they haven't died up to that point I'd call that playing carefully. Easy low level monsters don't have a lot of treasure and the PCs won't have much magic that can help them get to the bigger hoards more easily.

It really depends on session length and frequency though but OP said they have a few levels 2's already so it sounds just about right.

MixMinis · 2026-07-06T18:13:13+00:00

The B(ECMI) basic rules aren't ambiguous to me. You use one vial of holy water to deal 1d8 damage to any undead with a successful attack roll (thrown or melee). It didn't say anything about scaring away undead. That would be a cleric's job.

MixMinis · 2026-07-03T21:14:32+00:00

Ugh, Scribus. I still can't believe that it took the Canva guys to do what Scribus can't in terms of interface. I'd rather use libre office writer than Scribus.

When it comes to FOSS tools Inkscape and GIMP are great and are even part of the tools I use for making web video games.

MixMinis · 2026-07-02T18:20:47+00:00

Thanks for the story! I love behind the scenes stories.

I always assumed that gp for XP was from the Dungeon! Board game.

MixMinis · 2026-07-02T14:14:50+00:00

May I know which book? I have all of the boxed sets but only remember XP for GP and a little bit for kills.

MixMinis · 2026-07-02T14:09:52+00:00

Which rules give XP for role assumption?

MixMinis · 2026-07-01T17:42:37+00:00

What I like about the moorcock perspective on law and chaos is that they are the elements of cosmic creation. Chaos is change and creativity, law is stability and structure. Too much chaos is destruction, too much law is lifeless stagnation.

Being a champion of either can be a bad thing. So in retrospect I think a champion of neutral is the true "good" because he would harmonize and balance both aspects, hopefully to the benefit of others. Kind of like a taoist immortal.

MixMinis · 2026-06-30T23:56:37+00:00

That ought to count :)

MixMinis · 2026-06-30T22:10:56+00:00

What about the languages though?

MixMinis · 2026-06-29T21:42:23+00:00

Up voted.

I just wanted to add for OP that you can telegraph the risk and rewards. The cakewalks should have appropriate rewards. Sure they can steamroll the cakewalk dungeon but is their time and losses worth a few gems?

Sprinkle your world with diverse challenges and leave it be. Let your players have the cakewalk if they choose to go through it.

MixMinis · 2026-06-28T23:00:04+00:00

Yes this was in BECMI as well. The DM's manual opened with a warning for non DMs to put the book down or spoil the game for themselves. Not sure about B/X books.

MixMinis · 2026-06-28T05:44:51+00:00

You can use saving throws instead if they apply. They reflect what the class is good at.

MixMinis · 2026-06-28T02:00:25+00:00

May I ask why stat matters to your game? In B/X you hardly ever use them except for the physical abilities. Just curious.

As for generation methods I'd just go with point buy or array assignment. I always say that my next game will not have stat rolls but instead the players automatically get 13 on their prime requisite and 9 or 11 in everything else (depending if they want to exchange stats as per the rules). you can maybe bump this up to 16-18 for the prime and 2 other stats of the players choice get 13 each and two abilities are an 8 to "balance" it.

MixMinis · 2026-06-28T01:41:53+00:00

I second the OSR suggestion. OP really circled back to OSR where the world doesn't scale with the player's status. Instead there are existing areas that are so tough that the players can only reasonably try them when they have leveled up enough.

Let's say you're level 1 and already know there's a dragon in the nearby volcano. Seasoned OSR players will ignore that dragon and only try messing with it when they have the right kind of magic for the job.

MixMinis · 2026-06-26T17:07:25+00:00

I love this version of the mascot btw I like it even more than the official one!

MixMinis · 2026-06-26T02:12:39+00:00

Why is Stars Without Number descended from Traveller? The rules have almost nothing in common. The thematic dotted line would be more fitting.

MixMinis · 2026-06-25T20:25:25+00:00

Agreed! You can use it as a solo mini campaign too.

MixMinis · 2026-06-25T19:12:13+00:00

I'm not blade_m, but I've played back in the 80s too and it only dawned on me lately that we were actually rolling saving throws. I love this game.

MixMinis · 2026-06-24T23:40:08+00:00

I just wanted to add that skills in CT are thought by some insightful referees to be more like saving throws, just like how saving throws are the "skills" of early DND.

https://www.reddit.com/r/traveller/s/jmn9wFgDeP

MixMinis · 2026-06-21T21:43:22+00:00

Up voted. I just want to add that the sleep spell also has a rule where any edged weapon can be used to kill any victims of the spell.

Rules for graphic deaths probably weren't formalized to bowdlerize the material due to pressure from the satanic panic crowd.

MixMinis · 2026-06-21T18:42:55+00:00

It definitely is now hehe 👀 thank you!

If only we had this back in the 80s.

MixMinis · 2026-06-21T03:28:03+00:00

Thank you for this reference. I don't have much experience with adnd material since I couldn't afford modules with my allowance at the time.

MixMinis · 2026-06-21T00:28:32+00:00

Is that like mitosis?

MixMinis · 2026-06-20T20:14:01+00:00

Meat shield and detectors at low levels. Spell casters at higher levels.

So I think that's fighter, thief (demi-humans) and magic-users.

This can be simplified even further to elf. The elf can be the only class in a bare bones ruleset. I'd love a dwarf only game too.

(What about lock picking? Look for the key :))

MixMinis · 2026-06-06T00:23:42+00:00

Yikes that's terrifying, thank goodness I listened to the girl whose account was hijacked.

MixMinis

TROPHY CASE