Welcome!
This guide will show you all the information you need to play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Second Edition in the amazing World of Greyhwwk.
We play AD&D Second Edition, but we do not limit ourselves to just Second Edition. There are things that disappeared from the original AD&D (I refuse to call it 1e) that will make a comeback here.
The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide to creating a character in AD&D 2E. Following this guide should allow a player to create a newly minted character with minimal input from the DM. Characters must always be submitted to the DM for approval.
Included in this guide are brief descriptions of some of the aspects of the characters. This information does not supersede any information given in the Player’s Handbook unless specifically stated.
The goal of the game is to have fun. Don’t worry about what you may feel are party needs. Create a character that you want to play, even if that takes several attempts, no matter if you end up being the fifth thief in the group. The point is for you to be satisfied with the character you created and want to play.
Some Definitions
Levels
One thing that confuses people about AD&D is the multiple usages of the word level. In AD&D, the word level appears in several different contexts: Experience Level, Spell Level, Dungeon Level, and Monster Level.
Dungeon level simply means a level of the dungeon. For example, your party enters a ruin and finds a staircase leading down. The group prepares to descend onto Dungeon level 1. The higher the level number, the deeper you are in the dungeon and the harder it is (at least for low-level characters).
Monster level is how tough a monster is. Orcs are Monster Level 1, while Ancient Red Dragons and demons (or devils, or other extraplanar creatures) are usually Monster Level Ten (or X).
Experience Levels is where your character ranks in their adventuring career.
Experience points are earned to advance in level. The higher the level, the higher the number of hit points the character has, the more skilled they become, and the harder they are to kill. Experience levels also help determine things like the number of weapon and non-weapon proficiency slots are available, to hit numbers, and what spells can be cast.
Spell level refers to the relative power of a spell and is not directly associated with a player’s experience level. The higher the spell level, the more powerful the spell. A 3rd level wizard cannot cast 3rd level spells, just as a 3rd level priest cannot cast a 3rd level spell. Both must reach the 5th level of experience before being able to tap into that power. Thus, 9th level wizard spells are reserved for only the smartest and most powerful of wizards (the wizard must have an 18 intelligence and reach the 18th level of experience to cast these powerful spells). However, if a spellcaster comes across a scroll with a spell written on it that the spellcaster could not normally use, reading it off the scroll unleashes the magic and expends the scroll.
THAC0
THAC0 is an acronym for To Hit Armor Class 0. In combat, monsters are given a THAC0 number, as are the player characters depending on their level. This number is used to derive the minimum number that needs to be rolled on a d20 (before adjustment by magical bonuses/penalties). To determine this number, take the THAC0 and subtract the opponents armor class. For example, a 3rd level fighter (THAC0 18) attacks a kobold (armor class 7). The fighter needs an 11 or higher on a d20 (before adjustment) to successfully hit the kobold and do damage.
Do I want to roll low, or roll high?
It depends.
For combat and saving throw rolls, higher is better.
For encounter reaction rolls, ability checks, and thief skill checks, lower is the desirable outcome.
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