The Magic Sword, an OD&D Campaign. Actual Play, Episodes 23-27.

If you’re confused reading this, here’s a short introduction.

So, I’m running an OD&D campaign. It’s houserule-heavy, so in fact there is not much left of the original game apart from the general framework (but then again – what does constitute OD&D?). However, it’s still closer to the original concept than let’s say D&D5e.

It’s more or less a sandbox, meaning there is no plot which needs to be revealed. Retrospectively – there is a plot, but it’s weaved along the way in the vein of play to find out method.

There are two options now – I can provide you with a lengthy recap of episodes 1-23, or we can just assume that it is not that important to catch up with all the references and you’ll learn along the way. I’m lazy by nature, so I’ll take the second one. If you know Polish you’re lucky since you can read recaps of several early episodes: here, here, here and here. I’ve been told that it’s quite comprehensible when run through automatic translation, so you can give it a shot.

Just as a really basic introduction: the campaign is set in a world borrowed from old Polish fantasy board game Magiczny Miecz (the eponymous Magic Sword) which was a shameless rip-off of Game Workshop’s Talisman (more on that later). I played the hell out of it as a kid and have a huge sentiment for it. And since it’s a kitchen sink type of fantasy (with a splash of sci-fi) it goes really well with old pulpy D&D.

So, let’s see what happened in five episodes in the middle of the campaign.

 

Game Session 23

PCs: Maurice (F-M 5), Argun (M-U 4)

Retainers: Kraga (Dwarven F-W 5), Mezrana (Dwarven T 5), Daisy (Hobbit F-W 4), Ebakle (M-U 4)

Character Advancement: Maurice became Myrmidon, Argun and Ebakle became Theurgists.

Character deaths: none

Dungeons visited: The Dark Pyramid

Monsters: 12 Spitting Beetles (HD 2), 2 Damaged Iron Golems (HD 7), 5 Thorgrins (HD 3), 8 Ghouls (HD 2), 1 Specter (HD 6).

Treasure: 3000gp, gems and jewelry worth 3900gp, 3 Scrolls of Protection from Undead, 1 Scroll of Protection from Magic, 1 Unidentified Potion.

Special encounters & notable events:

• Got a quest from Medusa Queen (retrieve a magical mirror from the tower of Wizardess Ofora the Ebony).
• ESP curse imposed  by a screaming skull (eventually cured by a Bishop).
• Found an abandoned laboratory with two stone slabs connected by wires.
• Found 16 cuboids of cold black stone in the Thorgrin treasure. Probably connected to the Beast (metaplot).

 

Game Session 24

PCs: Maurice (F-M 6), Argun (M-U 5), Zipepi (M-U 5), Moses (F-M 2 – Paladin)

Retainers: Kraga (Dwarven F-W 5), Mezrana (Dwarven T 5), Daisy (Hobbit F-W 4), Ebakle (M-U 4), Laurel (Hobbit F-W 3), Mroczko Bibersztajn (Dwarven F-M 1), Lightning from the North (F-W 1), and three hired men-at-arms.

Character Advancement: none

Character deaths: Kraga, a beloved retainer died at the hands of a Tree Blight

Dungeons visited: none, wilderness adventures only

Monsters: 10 Guardian Warrior (HD 5), 1 Evil Priest (HD 4), 12 Armed Ghouls (HD 2), 6 Tree Blights (HD 7).

Treasure: Mace +1, Amulet of Protection.

Special encounters & notable events:

• Salt mine established by PCs was occupied by a group of Hobbits. Eventually struck a deal, the Hobbits will guard the mine in consideration for revenue share.
• Received a message from Grand Wizard Kuro claiming to be imprisoned by the Vampire Prince far in the south-west. They rushed to help.
• Encounter the Black Hybrid, a legendary beast prowling the Wilderlands. Evaded the monster twice with Lightning Bolt induced avalanches.
• Reached the domain of the Vampire Prince, investigated a bit and defeated one of the patrols from the castle.

 

Game Session 25

This time the party visits a vampire castle, it should be quite obvious what was the original of Castle of Opand the Unsung (it’s quite lofty and there are some ravens there). The image depicts Wodnik – a powerful and Lawful demigod discovered 10 games ago (WFRP’s  Something rotten in Kislev rip-off of Ivan Bilibin’s illustration from 1934) .

PCs: Maurice (F-M 6), Argun (M-U 5), Zipepi (M-U 5), Moses (F-M 2, Paladin), Uvrel (F-M 1, Dwarf)

Retainers: Kraga (Dwarven F-W 5), Mezrana (Dwarven T 5), Daisy (Hobbit F-W 4), Ebakle (M-U 4), Laurel (Hobbit F-W 3), Mroczko Bibersztajn (Dwarven F-M 1), Lightning from the North (F-W 1), and three hired men-at-arms.

Character Advancement: none

Character deaths: Mroczko (dwarven retainer); Argun was captured by the Vampire Prince so the player lost his character and rolled a new one despite it’s not technically a death

Dungeons visited: Castle of the Vampire Prince

Monsters: 12 Ghouls (HD 2), 1 Agarat (HD 5)

Treasure: Gem incrusted armors, worth 5000gp.

Special encounters & notable events:

• Investigated the castle of the Vampire Prince in the center of his domain – Argun under protection of an invisibility spell crept inside but was detected and captured.
• Retreated from the domain leaving a letter to the Prince with proposal of a ransom for Grand Wizard Kuro and Argun.
• Teleported (using a scroll) Moses with Kraga’s corpse to make it within 4 days and resurrect Kraga. Eventually Abbot Wilibrod refused to resurrect a dwarf, but Moses pledged allegiance to Wodnik (a Nix, Wasserman, the folk tale water-dwelling guy) a powerful demigod (Zipepi is his high priest already) and the powerful creature brought Kraga back to life.
• Rest of the team traveled through the desert, avoided the Black Hybrid several times and discovered an ancient Necropolis along the way.
• Finally the party reunited at the Caverns of Life – Wodnik’s lair.

Game Session 26

This time, due to absence of two Magic-Users (and their Fireballs and Lightning Bolts) the game was way more tame. Instead of dangerous delves, the PCs engaged in a long travel in pursuit of less perilous adventures which resulted in a hefty chunk of worldbuilding.

You may have noticed that retainers play quite a big role in our game. Rolling for hirelings goes along the lines proposed in B1 In Search of the Unknown. As to men at arms who are not regular retainers – I use the rules from Warlock game (Robert Cowan, Dave Clark, Yin Shih, Nick Smith, Kenneth M. Dahl, Bill Peterson et al. as published in The Spartan Simulation Gaming Journal no. 9, August 1975).

PCs: Maurice (F-M 6), Moses (F-M 2, Paladin)

Retainers: Kraga (Dwarven F-W 5), Mezrana (Dwarven T 5), Daisy (Hobbit F-W 4), Ebakle (M-U 4), Laurel (Hobbit F-W 3), Lightning from the North (F-W 1), Egon the Thunder (F-M 1), and three hired men-at-arms.

Character Advancement: Moses became a Swordsman (Protector if we use Paladin titles from AD&D)

Character deaths: Daisy (Hobbit retainer) was killed by Thorgrins

Dungeons visited: Lair of the Demon-Bear (revisited, it’s the first dungeon of the campaign!)

Monsters: 11 Giant Toads (HD 2), 6 Thorgrins (HD 3).

Treasure: none this time, however the salt mine provided quite impressive revenues (does not count towards xp).

Special encounters & notable events:

• Discovered that Thorgrins (who seem to be servants of late Beast) reclaimed the Lair of the Demon-Bear and activated the black monolith.
• Travelled to Moczadło and met their former retainer Glendora, who returned from campaigning with Lord Kregmond in the north, gathered a host of men at arms and helps Evetta to fend off marauders of Lord Bregg.
• Learned that people of villages around Moczadło are being abducted at night by unknown demonic force.
• During their patrol around the swamps met the fabled Keeper, a mysterius, but benevolent being (another demigod?) who directed them to a submerged keep which may be home to demonic forces responsible for the abductions.
• Travelled to the town of Łuczydło, where they learned some details about a lost druid grove, preasumably the Circle of Power (which they searched as ordered by Kuro, who – as you may remember from previous reports – is currently imprisoned by the Vampire Prince).

Game Session 27

This time we had a classical adventure – an expedition to a dungeon, battling undead and acquiring a substantial treasure. The kind of game that is fun to play but not really a story to tell.

I use the 3LBB experience point calculation method (pictured: character level to monster HD and dungeon level ratio) and man, it drives me mad. In the next campaign I’ll try something much simpler. Like: you get full xp for defeating opponents who are equal to you or stronger (in terms of HD) and no xp for weaker monsters and that’s it, no fractions, no calculators in use.

PCs: Maurice (F-M 6), Zipepo (M-U 5)

Retainers: Kraga (Dwarven F-W 5), Mezrana (Dwarven T 5), Ebakle (M-U 4), Laurel (Hobbit F-W 3), Lightning from the North (F-W 1), Egon the Thunder (F-M 1), Hildegard the Stark (F-W 1) and three hired men-at-arms.

Character Advancement: retainers only: Laurel became a Hobbit Hero, Egon became a Warrior

Character deaths: Lightnig from the North, Hildegard the Stark and one of men-at-arms were killed by Zombies, but eventually all were brought back to life

Dungeons visited: The Dark Cathedral (they just peaked inside, so no map this time)

Monsters: 21 Zombies (HD 2), 4 Wyrds (HD 4), 30 Undead Spiders (HD 3).

Treasure: gem incrusted chandelier (15 200 gp worth).

Special encounters & notable events:

• Travelled to the Dark Cathedral, an inhuman home to many undead, peaked into each of the two towers.
• Kraga saved the day again in a battle with Zombies and Wyrds, whole team was nearly wiped out.
• Retreated to the safety of civilized lands, two of the dead retainers were resurrected by Wodnik the Demigod.
• Zipepi started erecting a temple to Wodnik in Łuczydło. Townfolks were apparently in a need of spiritual guidance as they flocked to the new cult. Zipepi performed some miracles to confirm his authority as Wodnik’s spokesperson.
• A patrol around Łuczydło resulted in an encounter with Snake Kings (Basilisks), the team narrowly evaded certain death.
• A group of dwarfs settled in the salt mine owned by PCs, introduced improvements and started erecting a stronghold.  

And here is the wilderness map as of the end of game session 27: