Saturday 5 February 2011

Memories and Old Friends


I started, ALL those years ago with OD&D - my Nan bought it me back from a trip to see my cousins in the US. Not that it was her idea to buy it for me; it was one of my American cousins (I never did find out who).

I was hooked, myself and my friend Philip would spend hours playing - we roped his Mum (Rose) in for one game - she was UTTERLY confused LoL! But whereas my addiction increased, Philips interest waned.

I went on to study Music, was in a Band (Philip became a drinker, and died in a drunk driver incident) and quickly roped my fellow rockers into playing. I came to know and become firm friends with a guy named Steve - we were both in Six of One (the Prisoner society) and knowing Staves penchant for adventure shows, I suggested AD&D (I had gone through Basic/Expert with the Band - you know, the red and blue boxed sets - and was moving into AD&D by this time) - I have always been a bit of a tarter as a DM.

You can bring an established character into my games, providing your old DM can confirm what you have, or has signed off on your notes or character sheet somewhere - just to keep things fair to my other players really. Likewise, I would PREFER you to roll your characters in front of me or at the very least with another player to witness your rolls. If that’s impossible, then you have to use a point’s allocation system I devised.

Too much information? LoL! No - it’s setting the "scene" for the next part.

Steve came around my house bright and early that Saturday. We were going to roll his character up, then actually role-play him buying his equipment (I always give people their clothes, a dagger, and walking boots/shoes anyway - I think its "illogical" to start them naked IMHO) - So, sitting at our Kitchen table - with Tea and Biscuits provided by my Mum (very British I know) we settled down to roll up Steve’s first character - Londarth Drogos.

I wanted Steve to start with a Fighter, always best for a Newbie - we were using 3D6 in order. Steve amazed me with his rolls, and this is the ONLY time I've EVER seen this done - he rolled straight 18's for every attribute, after doing it three times - I insisted he change his dice after 3 18's, and he rolled 3 more. Londarth was Steve’s longest running character; his Ranger Grath Von Eltz had good solid attribute scores - but (obviously) not a patch on Londarth.

Unfortunately Steve passed away from Cancer some years ago - its a shame that very few people in real life have Con 18. I recently managed to get the figure he used for Londarth off EBay - a Vintage Citadel C01 Paladin. 


I miss you Steve mate, I hope you keep rolling high wherever you are . . . . . . . .

4 comments:

  1. The Games you must of had with a Character like that must have been Legendry and fun!! I adore Role playing Games and my personal fave is Warhammer fanstay one!

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    1. Thats because I've never run a game of AD&D for you ;-)

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  2. Happy memories though dude. Chin up.

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