From: dat91uni@ludat.lth.se (Urban Nilsson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: AD&D:  Problems with 1st ed. Bard
Date: 9 Apr 92 07:31:23 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Lund University, Sweden

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?
>
>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
>figured that since the previous DM, who is by far more experienced in
>AD&D than myself, didn't have any problems with the character, then it
>must be an okay character, right?
>
>WRONG!!!
>
>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?
>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.....
>
>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?
>
>Is it just me, or has this character gotten totally, rediculously out of
>hand?
>
>PLEASE -- Email me with any ideas you have as to what to do with this guy.
>The only solution I can see is to kill him.....but I don't want to be
>totally unfair!  Can anyone help me out with this?
>
>
>

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 !!!

/ UNI

---
Lev Gott ...    , Have a nice life ...

Urban Nilsson  (UNI)
Internet:      dat91uni@ludat.lth.se
Phone, voice:  +46 42 182154
---