B/X Monsters - Acolyte

The Acolyte is one of many "man-monsters" in the B/X rules. The roster of man-monsters and lost world monsters are part of what I believe gives B/X a certain flavour. So let's look at the Acolyte…

They have an armour class of 2 which isn't surprising given the low cost of platemail in B/X. This makes them tough foes for low level PCs as they would have a low probability of hitting.

An odd fact is that acolytes have 1 hit dice of the d8 variety even though clerics are only 1d6. Tougher than the average 1st level cleric. Like other 1st level clerics though, an acolyte doesn't have any cleric spells.

Acolytes are on a pilgrimage and are found in groups of 1 to 8 in a 1st level dungeon or 1 to 20 in the wilderness. They will all be of the same alignment with an equal chance of being lawful, neutral or chaotic. This raises a number of interesting possibilities such as a party encountering a group of lawful acolytes on a pilgrimage in a dungeon that is the lair of a bunch of chaotic monsters. Why are they there? Where are they going or where are they returning from? Or maybe the party encounters a large group of chaotic pilgrims in the wilderness. With the low AC, a low level party better hope for a good reaction roll!

While all acolytes will be of the same alignment, the monster listing doesn't mention anything about their god/goddess. Do they all worship the same god or do they worship a pantheon of gods all of the same alignment?

Acolytes may be accompanied by a leader of 2nd to 5th level. The leader's spells may be chosen by the DM or determined randomly. With my love of randomness, I would roll for them. I would love to try to figure out why a Vicar of Chaos has Speak with Animals memorized.

Acolytes have treasure type U which means that the acolyte likely has 5 cp, 5 sp and 5 gp. 1-in-20 will have some gems or jewelry. 1-in-50 will also have a magic item - maybe a holy artifact.

What cover do I picture?

This one is a no-brainer.

A Fist Full of Gold Pieces

I love using spaghetti westerns as a source for inspiration for D&D adventures.

The party arrives at the little small town in the borderlands. An innkeeper, tells the party about the bitter feud between two groups vying to gain control of the town: on the one side, the Iron Ring, a notorious band of thieves; on the other, the family of the town sheriff, Eli Thorrma.

The next day, the party witness a detachment of the local Lord's soldiers passing through town escorting a shipment of gold. If the party follows the troops out of town, they witnesses the soldiers being massacred by a band of elves, who are actually members of the Iron Ring gang in disguise.

Aloles, Medium of the Copper Bonds

Name: Aloles, Medium of the Copper Bonds
Sex: Male
Class: Magic-user
Level [1]
XP [0] [+10%]
XP required for next level [2,500]
Alignment Chaotic

STR [9]
INT [17] (reads & writes common, chaotic, goblin & medusa; +10% XP)
WIS [11]
DEX [8] (-1 missile fire; +1 AC penalty; -1 initiative)
CON [13] (+1 hp/HD)
CHR [5] (+1 reactions; Max. # Retainers 2; Retainer Morale 5)

[10 yikes] AC (none)
[2] HP (1d4 hit dice; +1 Con)
Move 120/40/120 ft

Saving Throws
[13] Death Ray or Poison
[14] Magic Wands
[13] Paralysis or Turn to Stone
[16] Dragon Breath
[15] Rod, Staff, or Spell

Class Abilities:
Spells (1st - Floating Disk)

Encumbrance [174]
Coins PP GP 84 EP SP CP

Weapons:
Dagger (10 cn)

Armour:
none

Gear (80 cn):
Backpack (holds 400 cn)
Crowbar
Lantern
6 flasks of oil
50' rope
Mirror

Other Treasure:
none

Descriptors: untrained performer

Motivations: seek lust, oppress literature, plunder the populous

(Descriptors and motivations are from Conjecture Games' UNE the universal NPC emulator)

Wow, Aloles sounds like quite the guy. For someone who will really need retainers, Aloles will have a heck of a time hiring them and keeping them around.

Brother Dunnbelly

Just because I felt like making a B/X character...

Name: Brother Dunnbelly, Child of the Abundant Shrine
Sex: Male
Class: Cleric
Level [1]
XP [0] [+10%]
XP required for next level [1,500]
Alignment Lawful

STR [12]
INT [12] (reads & writes common & lawful)
WIS [16] (+2 on magic-based saving throws; +10% XP)
DEX [11]
CON [10]
CHR [15] (+1 reactions; Max. # Retainers: 5; Retainer Morale 8)

[2] AC (platemail, shield)
[3] HP (1d6 hit dice)
Move 60/20/60 ft

Saving Throws
[11] Death Ray or Poison
[12] Magic Wands
[14] Paralysis or Turn to Stone
[16] Dragon Breath
[15] Rod, Staff, or Spell

Class Abilities:
Turn Undead (skeleton 7; zombie 9; ghoul 11)
Cleric spells (at 2nd level)

Encumbrance [714]
Coins PP GP 4 EP SP CP

Weapons:
Mace (30 cn)

Armour:
Platemail (500 cn)
Shield (100 cn)

Gear (80 cn):
Holy symbol
Backpack (holds 400 cn)
Wineskin and quart of wine
Tinderbox
6 Torches
1 week standard rations

Other Treasure:
none

Descriptors: destitute pioneer

Motivations: record disbelief; attend greed; refine communications

(Descriptors and motivations are from Conjecture Games' UNE the universal NPC emulator)

From the motivations, I think that Brother Dunnbelly is a poor traveller wandering the Borderlands collecting oral stories and myths. He is hoping to publish a collective work that will make him rich and famous. All for the benefit of the Abundant Shrine of course...

Does the monster flee or do all the monsters flee?

I have blogged about B/X Morale before but I wanted to check and see how people apply the morale check. Do you roll the dice once and apply it to all the monsters as a group or do you roll for each monster and apply the results individually?

For example, a group of six goblins check morale:

Do you roll once and determine if all of the goblins continue to fight or do they all flee?

OR

Do you roll morale six times and apply the result to each individual goblin?

What I've been thinking about

1. Adding tactical combat aspects to Barbarians of Lemuria or B/X by hacking Melee. Sometimes I like to get the minis out. I have been playing 4E to get my tactical mini fix but I have pretty much lost any interest in 4E. Plus you gotta love Melee's use of hexes.

2. Giving the Mythic GM Emulator a try with either Barbarians of Lemuria or B/X. This is after reading a very interesting and well written play report of a solo (I believe) campaign using Mythic and FATE in an alternate Dragonlance campaign over at the Big Purple.

3. The forums over at Red Box Calgary have picked up a bit during the last couple of weeks. I have been very negligent about Red Box Calgary the last few months as I have been getting acclimated to my new job, coaching both of my kids in different sports, and taking some summer vacations. Hopefully, we can get some B/X gaming going down at the Sentry Box again soon.

4. Crap! I missed Scott Driver's call for players for a PBP game. I really enjoyed Mr. Driver's Thool PBP game.

5. Barbarians of the Black. Using the Barbarians of Lemuria engine for a Firefly campaign.

6. Megadungeons. I have been getting the itch to create my own megadungeon. I may post some thoughts later.