Play By Email AD&D 2nd Edition Rules-
The Heptarchy
Character Creation rules and hints:
Starting experience: 18,003 exp to be
distributed in any proportion betweeen each character class. i.e. 18003
= 5th level fighter or 5th level ranger or 4th level mage or 4th level
fighter/4th level mage or 5th level cleric/4th level thief. The experience
does not have to be distributed evenly between the character classes; if
you are multi-class I just assume that you have concentrated more one profession
than another. If you play long enough to gain experience then the experience
will be unevenly awarded as well depending upon which skills have seen
the most use. Dual or multi class characters have to be at least second
level in all professions, i.e. no 5th level ranger/1st level druids allowed.
Statistics: Base stats are 12 for each
ability i.e
S I
W D Co
Ch
12 12 12
12 12 12
with 12 points to distribute as you prefer. Also for every 2 points
that you reduce an ability you can increase another ability by 1 point
and for every 1000 exp points that you spend you can increase an ability
by 1 or buy 1 extra weapon or non weapon proficiency.
For example I want to start a 5th level fighter with the mercenary
kit. 5th level is 16,001 exp and I use the remaining 2002 exp to buy 1
extra stat point and one extra weapon proficiency, I also reduce my wisdom
and charisma stats to 10 to give me a total of 3 extra points to spread
over my other stats.
*Do not* abuse this part: if you want to start as a first level character
and spend 18,000 points buying up stats you will will not last through
your first giant rat.
Hit Points: Maximum for the first level
then 2/3 max for each successive level
i.e. 3rd level F/ 3rd level M-U
/ 3rd level thief
10
4
6
7
3
4
7
3
4
---
---
---
24 +
10 +
14 average = 48/3 = 16 (then add con bonus)
Class Notes
Warrior groups: All types and kits are
allowed, although you are very restricted in your starting locations if
you choose to be a paladin and somewhat restricted if you start off as
a ranger.
Priesthoods: Very nearly every priesthood from the Complete Priests handbook is allowed. Different priests would tend to hail from different countries as each country has a different pantheon which depends on the general alignment of the country and the characteristics of its population. i.e. Norse type nation has gods of trade, storms, seas, competition. Multi-class priests would normally regard the priest part of their profession as being the most important. All priests are highly respected in the part of the world where this story is set. List of Gods
Wizards: Wizards are generally feared and hated in this part of the world especially the ones with powerful offensive spells. There are very few schools of magic and they do not advertise. Wizards who specialise in in the informational side of magic are tolerated and some have official positions in government and politics. Multi-class wizards tend to hide their magic skills behind their second profession.
Thieves and Bards: Vast numbers of rogues of all kits in the towns in the country and in the military: smugglers, scouts, spies, catburglars and assassins. Some places have organised thieves guilds to work in, while in others thieves are hunted as assiduously as murderers. The thief kit that you choose will constrain your starting location. Weapon and non weapon proficiencies: You can take the intelligence bonus to increase the number of proficiences that you can learn. Do not forget that in a PBEM type game there is less combat likely and more role playing so that the non weapon proficiences can be more useful.
Psionicists: Not in this game I am afraid. I do not have the books or the practice to run a decent psionic game.
Character Races: No full blood elves can be player characters, also no gnomes.
Languages:
Apart from the non-human languages there are at least four different human
languages and a common (trading) tongue. Every one starts with proficiency
in one language of their birthplace and a smattering of the trading tongue.
You cannot make flowery speeches in the trading tongue unless it is your
native tongue: it is only used for commerce and the passing of basic information.
If you want to be an international spy you will need to use your bonus
proficiences to pick up an extra language or two or your disguises will
not last very long. Also there are three main written languages written
Common, the religous script and magical script (not including written dwarven
and written elvish) that you might need to learn depending upon your profession,
so I am not being over generous when I give you bonus proficiencies.
List of locally spoken languages
General History: The action is set on the
northern continent (NODAR) of a world called MOND at the edges of a large
empire known as the Sondelese Empire. Fifty years before the present day
called 50 AB (After Blasting) the Sondelese finished their expansion into
the northern continent leaving three main nations uneasily facing each
other:
1) The Northern Province of the Sondelese Empire ruled from Lazenby
in the south and west of Nodar on the plains (LAZ).
2) The remaining fragments of the seven nations that used to live on
the Northen Continent who have now formed an uneasy defensive alliance
in the mountains at the centre of the northern continent (the HEPTARCHY)
3) The seafaring raiders who live in isolated mountainous valleys and
trade or raid from their strongholds on the East of Nodar.
The event called the Blasting is why wizards are so unpopular nowadays
and why there are no elves and gnomes in this part of the world. To prevent
the Sondelese armies from totally overruning the defensive forces of the
Heptarchy many of the most powerful wizards, both human and elven banded
together to lure the Sondelese into a mountainous cul-de-sac and caused
a huge earthquake burying the Sondelese and unfortunately trapping the
gnomish tribes underground in the process. The Sondelese blamed the elves
for their defeat and have instituted a kill on sight order for elves. The
people of the Heptarchy soon forgot the dire straits they were in and blamed
the Wizards for the massive loss of life.
Other Gods:
Vagus(m)
Travel (a new god) not much is known of him
Goth(m)
Law, Strength, Strife not much known of him
Borandar
Dwavern God of Trade and Creation
Mortis(m)
Sondelese God of War and Death
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