# More D&D: Viking setup thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 21, 2008, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204 "2008-03-21T10:02:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/1 "2008-03-21T10:02:57Z")
Howdy. Interested parties for the voyage of the _Black Snake_, sign up here please. Special rules will follow when I have more time to post. First eight applicants will secure a place, priority going to: the other DMs, reservists in the other campaigns, new players, then anyone else. Instructions on request - you will probably find our existing players will cheerfully answer questions in this thread. šŸ™‚ Rule system will be a hybrid of 1st and 2nd Ed with a light seasoning of good ideas from 3rd (but note the word _light_). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/2 "2008-03-21T12:41:27Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Howdy. Interested parties for the voyage of the _Black Snake_, sign up here please. Special rules will follow when I have more time to post. First eight applicants will secure a place, priority going to: the other DMs, reservists in the other campaigns, new players, then anyone else. Instructions on request - you will probably find our existing players will cheerfully answer questions in this thread. šŸ™‚ Rule system will be a hybrid of 1st and 2nd Ed with a light seasoning of good ideas from 3rd (but note the word _light_). [/QUOTE] [Goon Show Effects ON] Running feet ā€¦ dungeon door being furiously pummelledā€¦scream of frustration Glee (using Ecclesā€™ accent): ā€œHullo?ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œWhat is it, Glee?ā€ Glee: ā€œLet me in! I wanna play!ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œJust open the doorā€¦ā€ Glee: ā€œHow do you open the door?ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œYou turn the knob on your side.ā€ Glee: "I havenā€™t got a knob on my side. šŸ˜• " [Goon Show Effects OFF] Iā€™m in! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/3 "2008-03-21T12:42:45Z")
P.S. As What Exit? and I have discovered, kindly put **all** non-urgent projects aside. You wonā€™t have time. :eek: šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/4 "2008-03-21T16:17:59Z")
Hey, Iā€™m in! Continuing the discussion from the other thread: a)Whatā€™s a rune priest? b)Iā€™d rather not play a wizard- Iā€™m already playing one in **What Exit?**'s game. But Iā€™m not married to the idea of a druid. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/5 "2008-03-21T16:38:22Z")
I would love to join, but I canā€™t imagine being able to keep up with this, What Exitā€™s game and Gleeā€™s game. But I am subscribing to the thread. šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/6 "2008-03-21T16:41:48Z")
Oooh. Do I have time to play in this game, **glee** ā€™s game, my buddy Shaunā€™s game, my usual HP game, and GM my own game? The answer to that is VIKINGS!!! Now to see if my time playing Unreal World has done me any good. Did you know killing one elk can keep you going for months? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/7 "2008-03-21T17:04:32Z")
Well Iā€™ve wanted to try one of the D&D games but I havnā€™t done anything like it before. If you want me Iā€™ll give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/8 "2008-03-21T17:20:51Z")
[QUOTE=glee] [Goon Show Effects ON] Running feet ā€¦ dungeon door being furiously pummelledā€¦scream of frustration Glee (using Ecclesā€™ accent): ā€œHullo?ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œWhat is it, Glee?ā€ Glee: ā€œLet me in! I wanna play!ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œJust open the doorā€¦ā€ Glee: ā€œHow do you open the door?ā€ Bluebottle: ā€œYou turn the knob on your side.ā€ Glee: "I havenā€™t got a knob on my side. šŸ˜• " [Goon Show Effects OFF] Iā€™m in! [/QUOTE] Bwahaha! Bluebottle : On the _door_! Eccles : The door. Ohh, Iā€™ll soon get de hang oā€™dat. The first Goon show I ever heard - which was, of course, the last Goon show of all! Iā€™ll be watching because my fiancee has promised to confiscate my dice if I join another online game. (Also, I have a definite preference for 3rd edition mechanics). However, if you want someone to bounce ideas and stuff of, Iā€™ll happily do that. I even have an AD&D Viking sourcebook (one of the green ones) in my back room. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/9 "2008-03-21T21:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] Hey, Iā€™m in! Continuing the discussion from the other thread: a)Whatā€™s a rune priest? b)Iā€™d rather not play a wizard- Iā€™m already playing one in **What Exit?**'s game. But Iā€™m not married to the idea of a druid. [/QUOTE] a) The local equivalent of a cleric - slightly modified from the usual, but still recognisably a cleric. Up to now the choices are looking like fighter, berserker, rune-priest, wizard, skald, or modified thief. And I will need one volunteer to play the part of Bjarni Thorstein, man-slayer and outlaw - but weā€™ll cover that when we get going. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/10 "2008-03-22T06:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] a) The local equivalent of a cleric - slightly modified from the usual, but still recognisably a cleric. Up to now the choices are looking like fighter, berserker, rune-priest, wizard, skald, or modified thief. And I will need one volunteer to play the part of Bjarni Thorstein, man-slayer and outlaw - but weā€™ll cover that when we get going. [/QUOTE] After hours of research (cough .. Wikipedia .. cough), I assume a Skald is a Bard-type character? What sort of level characters are you thinking of? Have you got a party ā€˜balanceā€™ in mind? Are there multi-class options? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/11 "2008-03-22T08:51:13Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] Bwahaha! Bluebottle : On the _door_! Eccles : The door. Ohh, Iā€™ll soon get de hang oā€™dat. The first Goon show I ever heard - which was, of course, the last Goon show of all! [/QUOTE] Ah, you know the genius of Spike Milligna (the well known typing error). šŸ™‚ [QUOTE=MHaye] Iā€™ll be watching because my fiancee has promised to confiscate my dice if I join another online game. [/QUOTE] Is ā€˜confiscate my diceā€™ a euphemism?! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/12 "2008-03-22T09:16:04Z")
[QUOTE=glee] After hours of research (cough .. Wikipedia .. cough), I assume a Skald is a Bard-type character? What sort of level characters are you thinking of? Have you got a party ā€˜balanceā€™ in mind? Are there multi-class options? [/QUOTE] In order as asked: Yes, it is. 4th, 5th maybe, at least initially. Ideally 8 characters of which two or three fighters, one or two berserkers, one each of the others, but thatā€™s not carved in stone. No, but all the non-fighter classes are rather more martial than usual (macho Vking culture, donchaknow). ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/13 "2008-03-22T09:17:31Z")
[QUOTE=Oredigger77] Well Iā€™ve wanted to try one of the D&D games but I havnā€™t done anything like it before. If you want me Iā€™ll give it a shot. [/QUOTE] Sure, come on in. This should be an ideal learning venue. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/14 "2008-03-22T11:02:19Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Ah, you know the genius of Spike Milligna (the well known typing error). šŸ™‚ [/quote] _Snerk._ > [@](#): > > Is ā€˜confiscate my diceā€™ a euphemism?! :eek: Noā€¦ actually itā€™s not. You know those polyhedral things? Icosahedra, dodecahedra, stuff like that? Them. Sheā€™ll take all mine if I join another pbp game. Electronic ones, too. Of course I could always follow John Entwhistleā€™s advice. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/15 "2008-03-22T11:19:19Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] In order as asked: Yes, it is. 4th, 5th maybe, at least initially. Ideally 8 characters of which two or three fighters, one or two berserkers, one each of the others, but thatā€™s not carved in stone. No, but all the non-fighter classes are rather more martial than usual (macho Vking culture, donchaknow). [/QUOTE] Thanks for that. How about if I wait to see what everyone else would like to play, then ā€˜fill a gapā€™, so to speak? šŸ™‚ P.S. Will you have the mild difficulties (like in my game) with getting Theves to reasonable % skills? ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/16 "2008-03-22T18:23:08Z")
Iā€™ve been missing D&D a lot lately, can I join you? (I admit, Iā€™m a little fuzzy on how the game works online.) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/17 "2008-03-22T19:24:56Z")
[QUOTE=Orual] (I admit, Iā€™m a little fuzzy on how the game works online.) [/QUOTE] Have a look at the first online game [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=458221). Your DM is a player (as he is in the second game [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=460713), which is being run along the same lines), so Iā€™m sure the same successful format will be followed. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/18 "2008-03-22T19:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Sure, come on in. This should be an ideal learning venue. [/QUOTE] Sweet, in that case a nearly retarded berserker should be right up my ally. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/19 "2008-03-22T19:59:52Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] _Snerk._ Noā€¦ actually itā€™s not. You know those polyhedral things? Icosahedra, dodecahedra, stuff like that? Them. Sheā€™ll take all mine if I join another pbp game. Electronic ones, too. Of course I could always follow John Entwhistleā€™s advice. [/QUOTE] What, ā€œdonā€™t spell my surname with an _h_?ā€. šŸ˜› Poor old Uncle John ā˜¹ > [@glee](#): > > P.S. Will you have the mild difficulties (like in my game) with getting Theves to reasonable % skills? Well, in 2nd Ed, which Iā€™ll be following on this, you get a low base %age at first level, but then split 60 points between them (no more than 30 to each), and at each subsequent level you split 30 points between them (no more than 15 to each), so after a few levels a thief who has been concentrating on a key skill or two will be quite good at them. Iā€™ll post my thoughts concerning campaign rules in a few minutes. So we have so far: **glee appleciders Oredigger77 Orual Little Plastic Ninja** We could do with three moreā€¦ Iā€™ll post the campaign teaser shortly too. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204/20 "2008-03-22T20:38:45Z")
Cultural weapons: All swords Knives and daggers All axes (including a two-handed axe with the same stats as a halberd, but no bonus when set to receive a charge) Hammers Bows (but not crossbows) Spear (long and short) and javelins - Long spear has damage rating of 1-10/2-12, may not be thrown, must be wielded two handed Clubs and staffs (but these are the last resort of those too poor for proper weapons) The following group picks may be taken as two weapon proficiencies: - Dagger/knife, sword (short and broad) - Sword (long, bastard and two-handed) - Axes - Spears The following group pick may be taken as three weapon proficiencies: - All knives, daggers and swords Classes: Fighter - The basic Viking man at arms, able to use all weapons (restricted to cultural weapons when first created) and armour (restricted to chain or lighter when first created). May specialise in a single weapon (costing one extra proficiency) for +1 to hit/+2 damage. Berserker - Rare and dreaded warriors who wear no armour, are renowned for fearlessness and their terrifying aspect, and are rumoured to develop mystic powers. The same weapon skills as Fighters. Rune-priest - Clerics who revere all the Aesir (as do all Vikings) but typically devote themselves to the service of one. The mysteries of each sect are not common knowledge to the layman. As Vikings first and foremost, they are still expected to use cultural weapons, and each sect has its favourite; for instance, Thorā€™s priests are famed for their prowess with the hammer. Wizard - Rare and regarded with awe mixed with deep suspicion, the Viking wizard is still expected to know the use of at least one cultural weapon, and so has less time for magical study than his civilised brother. (Choose one weapon to wield using the clericā€™s To Hit table, but give up one of the following: all Abjurations, all Alterations, all Conjurations, all Enchantments, all Evocations, all Illusions, or all Necromancy.) Skald - This Viking bard is a popular entertainer and keeper of lore. He is reputed to have magical talents quite distinct from the rune-priestā€™s or the wizardā€™s. The class is based on the 2nd Edition bard, but with Charisma-based spellcasting based on 3rd Edition. Thief - Since thievery is not a paying profession in the isolated settlements, but a skilled infiltrator and treasure-finder is still useful to have along on a raid, thieves are handled differently in the campaign. They advance on the fighterā€™s experience table instead of the thiefā€™s, and cannot Read Languages, but they roll d8s for hit points, attack on the clericā€™s To Hit table, and may use any cultural weapon, beginning with three proficiencies. As in 2nd edition AD&D, thieves can choose which skills to favour. Literacy: Most Vikings are illiterate. Reading and writing is a class skill for skalds, rune-priests and wizards. +++ \*It is a time of feasting, when men eat and drink in the smoky firelight of the mead-hall. Voices are raised in story and song, jest and laughter, and pledges of good fellowship are drunk. But when angry words are exchanged and a man may not back down and keep his good name, then the words are paid for with blows and a space is cleared among the feasters, who cheer for one or the other of the quarrelers as pleases their fancy. Until steel is drawn and rings and sparkles in the firelight, sword on sword, and it is a good-natured settling of differences no moreā€¦ and a man with the hot blood on him strikes harder than was meant, and his fellow lies gasping out his last amid the rushes strewn on the beaten earth. Old Sverre Grey-hair looks dourly on the victor, and his tone is hushed and solemn. ā€œThis will not end well,ā€ he says, sober as all men suddenly are beneath the death-haunted roof, ā€œfor though 'twas an even match and your foe drew his blade first and full willingly, it will not please the Jarl Hrothgar to believe that his own brother was slain in fair fight. Would that the power of my good name and the timbers of my walls were shield enough against the Jarlā€™s wrath, but it were folly to believe so. Therefore, my friend Bjarni, though I hold you blameless and have many witnesses to my backing, I urge that you get you gone without delay to your own place, and consider well whether you will await the Jarlā€™s wrath or rather forestall it.ā€ In no good heart, but with no ill-will for the honest Sverre Grey-hair, Bjarni and those of his household make haste to return to his holding where he will ponder his next move; and the thought crosses his mind that it is perhaps well that his well-found snekkja, Black Snake herself, be freshly tarred and ready for sea, wanting for naught save provisions and crew.\* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-d-d-viking-setup-thread/442204.md?page=2)