From: pentangl@spdcc.com (Scott Moir)
Subject: Re: AD&D:  Problems with 1st ed. Bard
Organization: First Church of Cthulu, Insmouth MA
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 01:44:36 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.073123.14971@lth.se> dat91uni@ludat.lth.se (Urban Nilsson) writes:
>In article <118siB2w164w@miracle.com> sue%miracle@merk.com (The Dragon Queen) writes:
>>Hi, all!
>>
>>I've got a problem with one of the characters in the game that I'm
>>running.  Well, actually, a few problems.  Maybe some of you could
>>help me with this?
>>
>>This guy is running a Bard, using the 1st edition rules.  Here's the
>>first problem:  Every other character in the game is using 2nd edition
>>rules -- should I make this guy change his character to 2nd ed., too?

Yes.

>>
>>I took over this game from someone else, and the Bard was one of the
>>carry-overs.  He's a strong character, and kinda outclasses the other
>>characters, but I've managed to make allowances to overcome this.  I
>>
>>During a fit of boredom, I started looking in the 1st edition Player's
>>Handbook.  I discovered a few things.  First of all, Bards are supposed
>>to be Fighters, then change to Thieves, then change to Bards who are
>>studying as Druids.  I didn't see anything mentioned about Bards being
>>dual-classed, though.....let me explain.  This guy has acheived Bard
>>status, but is also an MU, so he's also got spells and a Foo-Dog familiar,
>>which makes him _really_ powerful.  Is he allowed to be a mage like this?

If he is human, he has to stop leveling in his previous class before he
can start to gain experience in his new one. If he wants to be a mage, he
has to stop gaining as a druid. Also, if you want to get really nasty, if
he REALLY wants to be a dual class bard/mage tell him that he will lose all
access to his bard abilities until he gets enough experience as a mage to
put him above his highest bard level. Its In da rules.

>>Also, I just noticed a couple of other things.  For one, he was supposed
>>to start training as a Druid when he official became a Bard -- he hasn't
>>been doing this.  Also, when you change classes to be a Bard (from fighter
>>to thief, from thief to Bard/Druid) you keep the previous class abilities,
>>but you aren't supposed to continue gaining experience for those previous
>>classes, are you?  He's still running the character as Fighter/Thief/Bard,
>>and is dividing his experience so that all classes gain.  And this on top
>>of the mage class.....

There are level ranges listed for fighter and thief classes if one is to
become a bard. There are -upper- limits to those ranges. If he passed them,
he can't be a bard, either that or you cut him down to the proper levels.

>>
>>One more thing:  1st edition Bards are always supposed to be Neutral
>>alignment - says so on page 117, just in case you want to check.....He
>>was neutral, I think.....but a few months ago he changed his alignment
>>to Chaotic Good so that he could get a good, i.e. powerful, familiar.
>>The other stuff I'm not sure of, but this has _got_ to be against _any_
>>DM's rules.....isn't it?

Yep, he isn't a druid any more. :) Druids must be neutral. MUST be. If
he isn't a druid, then he isn't a bard. If he wants to get it back he will
have to appease he-who-was-providing-his-spells first :)

>I hope he has the abilities to be both bard, and MU, (dual-classed ...)
>lower him a level due to his alignment change ...
>get him to pay much money to the studies at the bard schools ...
>or if this isn't good use a disintegrate ... (good stuff in 1st ed ...)
>
>He shall not gain any more experience in any of his late classes !!!

I have a 13th level 1st edition bard running in my game that has taken
this player 9 years of sweat and blood to develop. He is 7th lvl fighter,
7th lvl thief, and 13th bard. He has a fair amount of magic, nothing 
outlandish (With the exception of an acetylene blue flaming sword, but hey,
we all have our weak moments }:>  ) and he is one of the toughest members
of a group that has been through alot of nasty shit. The 1st edition bard
is Nasty enough on its own, it doesn't need the treatment your player is
trying to give it. 

Scott

-- 
Scott Moir / Pentangle / Satyr ______ # "There's really only one requirement 
pentangl@Ursa-Major.spdcc.com  \ \/ / #  for a Prophet, and you've got it."
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These are my opinions, not SPDCC's    # "A mouth." - 'God' to J.R.'BoB' Dobbs