Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

Being as how I'm just very recently back to RPGing myself I urge you to take what I'm about to say only for what it's worth. Way way back in the beginning no one had miniatures even though you now read about how Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax developed D&D as a sort of expansion of miniatures rules for fantasy with roleplaying thrown in. When I say no one I kind of exaggerate of course. I'll revise that to mean that no one I knew had miniatures. We played on a table top because there were always dice to roll. We didn't have a map unless someone said they were mapping and that was pretty rough. For combat the most important thing was this: the DM looking at the player's faces and gauging on the fly how excited they were. If it looked like they were getting a little bored through in something to liven things up. A monster, a trap, a secret door, weird noises, whatever. Allways with a secret die roll that might or might not have meant anything at all. If the players looked excited well and good proceed with the game. If they are lagging around get that wandering monster in there to light a fire under their collective butts. If they are fighting amongst themselves this is what my DM did: we got teleported to a room and got attacked by an ogre mage that far outclassed us individually but that we could take out only if we worked together. When someone started working to help the team he teleported them out of there. Finally we all got the point. If the players look frustrated or like they are at their ropes end cut them some slack and flub a few rolls and not to obviously let them win a few even if they wouldn't have. The biggest part of the original DM's role was to read the players and make the game flow for them.

While I agree with most of that, I disagree with the notion that its the DM job to alter the game to suit the party's mood. Players aren't customers no more than the DM is a salesman. It takes everyone to make a good group. Players need to step up and carry the weight as well.

Oh, about minis. I think they are great for encounter situations so everyone knows where everyone else is. It cuts down on the , how far is it to the door, will I hit Pancho if I swing this tree in that direction, do I have line of sight on that gob, etc.

I agree that it isn't only the DM's job to make sure the game is entertaining. Good players are necessary. To paraphrase an old Marines ad: "I'm looking for a few good players." I sort of assumed that went without saying but that was my mistake. I was looking way back in the past and I admit I did neglect to mention that part.

To clear up some confusion: I was talking about the thief's backstab ability.

I just wanted to let everyone know:

I'm not an expert on BFRPG. I have played D&D far more than it. I may not always know the exact rules for BFRPG.

Even back in the day there were bad players and bad DMs. We just didn't know we were bad, so we didn't care LOL.

Yeah, looking back, I wasn't a very good DM in the 90s.

More questions....
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2 Goblins: AC 14/6, HD1-1, # At 1 dagger, Dam 1d4, Mv 60' (20'), Sv F1, MI7, XP 10.
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So basically...each goblin has....

- Armour Class of 14
- Hit dice penalty of -1, with a 1 hit point minimum
- Attacks with a dagger with +1 dmg (?)
- Base damage at a 1d4 roll (then add bonus/penalty)
- Can move 20' per turn
- Has the saving throws of a Lvl 1 Fighter
- Worth 10 xp each

....just a little unsure of the MI7 part.

Does this all look right?

Also....if it just says "HD 2" does that mean it's a minimum of 2, even if the hit calculates show a 1?

not sure where you are getting the +1 for damage on the dagger.

MI is morale. any 2d6 roll greater than the morale number will cause the goblin to quit the fight by either surrendering or running away.

That was my interpretation of;

- # At 1 dagger

What does that mean then?