Email2020-04-29 20:36

See below for my initial answers, hope they help and you spotted two typos/mistakes :(
Cheers
Darrell
On Wed, 29 Apr 2020 at 18:34, David Gilmore <david.gilmore@virgin.net> wrote:
While we’re on the subject, do we all have our alignment languages, thieves cant, Druidic yabbering and all the other bollox from the PH? DP: Nope
Spell Books: The limited chance to learn any given spell and the limited number of total spells is going to be one of the enjoyable challenges of our monk/mages: Can you confirm how you are going to play the acquiring of spells: Do we just get a chance to learn each spell in the player guide up to the maximum – or are we going to have to find/get taught/copy from scrolls etc spells in order to learn them? Are we going to be restricted to spells just in the original PH – or we going to be allowed - or find - other spells (or even cantrips) that were later included in the 1st Edition rules? (Important to know if we should leave a valuable spell-slot free or not!) - DP: You are going to have to find/steal/copy etc.
Thief skills: Your list has split find and remove traps into two categories, and Read Languages is not on the list. Intentional or oversight? DP: Intentional, never liked that skill, the reading scrolls ability still works though. Also, normal thief table progression generally improves with level progress, whereas your ‘specialised’ progression doesn’t – so a high level old style non-specializing thief could be better. Wouldn’t it be simpler to say that you operate as an ‘n’ level thief where ‘n’ is the number of points you have put into the skill (with a limit of 2 skill points per level, and as many skill points per level as there are skills). DP: Nope, if you don't specialise then you will be worse off
Also, can thieves back-stab with a long-sword? DP - Nope I can’t remember thieves using long swords, but as I never really played a thief, that may be why. (In fact, I’m wondering if I still want to play one now!). Oh, and can my Druid/Thief wield a thief's (long)sword OK without it being an issue? DP - Yup 
How does dual-wielding work? (And can it be specialised in to reduce penalties?) - DP - It doesn't for first level characters
How will dis-engagement from melee work? The monks are bound to try hit-and-run tactics if they can, and a straight old-fashioned free hit on your back as you retreat isn’t going to make that possible. DP - If the enemy is paying attention to the monk then he will attack the monk as he disengages (unless the monk wins initiative by a long long way)
Are you going to use the armour class adjustment modifiers of weapons? We never used to, and I would like to check you’re not going to spring it on us now (especially given how important weapon specialisation is going to be.) DP - Nope, hated the rules and still do!
The rules for 10% bonus xp that you sent me differ from the PH – for several classes where you give a 15+ requirement, the PH may say greater than 15. If this was a mistake and the PH rules apply DP: Nope, I can live with the 15+ (though it was a typo!!), can I plead promissory estoppel ? (Surely you remember promissory estoppel from when Matt was studying law and he and Steve had a long discussion about it. It’s about the only bit of law I know well.) (DP: ???Sorry, cant remember - please remind???)
Another possible mistaken deviation from PH is your reference in the weapon specialisation example to the fighter getting a new a new weapon proficiency at 3rd level – whereas the PH makes clear that the new proficiency comes in after gaining the required number of levels (ie first new proficiency comes in at 4th level, then 7th etc). DP: My mistake - I will correct
Do races get the other bonuses from the PH that you don’t mention and haven’t specifically over-ruled? (eg Dwarf defence against giants, hobbit surprise bonus etc) DP: Yup
Are you allowing Psionics? My Druid/Thief  has a 2.5% of being psionically endowed (or having that liability, if you prefer.) I’ll let you roll for me (if I keep him) - neither of us would believe it if I was (un)lucky enough to get it. DP: Get behind me you psionic monster.... aka no way!
Right - that's it. For now!