Art by the fantastic DiTerlizzi
In reading Marcia's review of her experience with Shadowdark, I contemplated on how I run my own OSE games. This is also fresh on my mind because I am running Miranda Elkins' fantastic Nightwick. Its all about distilling things down to the interesting choice and eliminating the non-interesting one.
Basic Equipment: I am thinking about charging my players a flat rate for all basic dungeoneering equipment that is rolled into weekly expenses-- so 7sp a week for expenses plus ~3-5sp for pick of equipment
Not interesting: Cost of equipment, especially down to coppers
Interesting: Scarcity (what if there is no 50' rope this week?) and how many slots PC dedicates to basic equipment
Light: Due to torch cost and number per slot, it is easy to carry a lot of torches.
Not interesting: Carrying enough light to last 12-24 turns- easily done
Interesting: When torches extinguish-- like in the middle of a fight or when the goblins you are negotiating with get mad; how many hands in the party are occupied by torches
This is why I prefer to use the overloaded encounter die to simulate inopportune moments when a torch is snuffed out- gust of wind, dripping slime, or a bucket of sand thrown by a sneaky goblin. And with regards to hands, holding a torch potentially lowers AC, removes a weapon, or makes spell casting delayed (need both hands). One saving grace: torches are improvised weapons that do 1d4 dmg and are on fire.
Stuck Doors: I now commonly interpret the 2-in-6 chance as a basic surprise roll. If they players fail it, they make a loud noise and alert anything on the other side of the door, but open it next round.
Not interesting: Rolling a d6 over and over again to see if PCs finally break down a door
Interesting: Seeing if PC get surprise on whatever is on the otherside; if additional equipment is brought to deal with doors
I usually like the idea that a crowbar allows and additional 1d6 rolled per individual with one.
Rations: This is similar to the situation with light, its easy to carry enough food/water for 2-4 hours which is more likely the time frame of a dungeon delve-- not a camping trip.
Not interesting: Tracking both food and water separately for nominal circumstances
Interesting: How many PCs carry rations; will rations be used for other things (like distracting monsters) or saved to avoid fatigue
For me, the nature of rations are both food and water abstracted. So if a player wants to use food as a distraction, mark off 1 ration. If a player wants to douse a small fire, use 2 rations as you frantically empty out a water skin and try to put out the fire consuming the spell book.
Secret Doors & Traps: Two dungeon features that are opposite sides of the same coin. Really I think Chris McDowall has written some of the best bits on this that boil down to "traps are puzzles" and not really "gotcha".
Not interesting: Situations where the PCs have to pick the exact right spot and roll a 1-2 in 6
Interesting: Adding in environmental clues or other sources of information that allows discovery by players investigating the fictional environment
Now, I will keep both rolls as a backup for either PCs not having a good idea and/or a backup for perhaps me being unable to convey the fictional environment properly in the moment.
Weapons: I've yet to find a really good way to do weapons simply outside of 1d6 damage for all types. I don't mind BX's variable weapon damage. And I do like some old rulesets sorta "first strike" if your weapon is larger than an opponent’s otherwise wise smaller, lighter weapons strike first in subsequent rounds (I do find Dungeon Doll’s weapon speed post pretty nice).
So here is what I have got so far: Using a weapon two-handed is a +1 to damage, using an off-hand weapon is +1 to-hit, and a shield is of course +1 AC. I do like that fighters with bows can shoot twice if they did not move and the "cleave" ability.
Not interesting: Weapon factors that are so extensive they require a separate rules discussion, trigger player obsession, and/or orient the whole of gameplay to combat
Interesting: What PCs chose to do with their hands: more armor, more weapons, or more light
And these are pretty much what I use in the ~25 sessions of Nightwick Abbey I have DM’ed in the last few months. All seem to work out well, but, as always with home games, open for change or reinterpretation in the future.
Enjoyed this overall. It looks like a healthy way to key on what you find enjoyable, and how to approach house rules from that perspective.
I feel similarly about weapons. I like flat d6, but go back and forth on weapon traits. I like how you can color a weapon's use with them, but it very easily gets out of hand. Feels like it will be overwhelming to players (opposed to simple), and lead to combat being a primary focus.