Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes - First to Second Edition

I have a few minutes today, so I want to get a post out on the changes from the first to the second edition of Blood & Treasure. I won't swear that this is exhaustive, but it's pretty close to it.

• Messed with multi-classing a little on races, tried to relate them a bit more closely to their original incarnations

• Classes each have their own XP chart now, and some were re-calibrated

• Assassins don't cast spells anymore, but can cast spells from scrolls at high levels

• Got rid of bard, paladin and ranger spell lists - they now cast off the magic-user, cleric and druid lists respectively

• Added some abilities to classes around 6th level to make the game a bit more distinctive and to hit some fantasy tropes missing in the original:

• Assassins can brew their own poisons

• Bards can carouse their way to valuable rumors … but may end up in the stocks or making enemies

• Clerics can temporarily convert sentient creatures to their own alignment – not always easy, and doesn’t necessarily last long, but I thought it might be a fun non-combat way to get through encounters

• Druids can harness greater bits of power by sacrificing the despoilers of the natural world

• Fighters can subdue monsters and use them as mounts (as in every cool 70s rock album cover and van art ever produced)

• Magic-users get access to little bits of arcane knowledge, ranging from something as simple as making phosphorous to making hot air balloons or understanding the healing arts

• Paladins gain chivalric badges that give them access to royal and ecclesiastic courts and tournaments (a minor bonus, but the paladin already has some pretty cool abilities)

• Rangers can pick up a loyal hunting beast (again, inspired by many pieces of fantasy art – particularly this one 

• Thieves can assemble teams of rogues for capers – bypasses the normal henchman rules … but can the thief trust these guys?

• Changed the way a fighter's multiple attacks worked, since lots of folks thought it was too powerful; also beefed up the barbarian a bit, as well as the sorcerer (see below)

• Got rid of the basic/advanced/expanded concept to make B&T more its own game than a reference to old games, but I did keep the idea of basic and advanced spells; to learn or prepare advanced spells classes have to make a quick roll under their Int or Wis minus the spell level; specialists get free access to certain advanced spells, but treat others as though they were a higher level

• Made some big changes to the sorcerer to keep it from being just a variant magic-user - they can now sense magic and do impromptu casting of spells they don't know (with dire circumstances for failure); they might also choose bloodlines, and might be related to other magical creatures (got this idea from Bewitched I'm proud to say)

• Changed some of the class variants, added a few - the monk has a ninja and ronin variant for example

• Tweaked the equipment charts - more weapons because I like cool weapon names, got rid of some 3E alchemy I never liked

• Worked on the adept spell list to better reflect its origins

• Tried to streamline rules wherever I could; fixed errors in time and movement, changed reaction rolls a bit (simpler, based on alignment), made task checks easier (roll 1d20, 18 or over to succeed, add bonuses, add level if "skilled")

• Changed saving throws so that it's now just one number, but you get a bonus to save vs. stuff that takes your character out of play (death, paralyzation, polymorph), magic from magic items (wands, etc.) and spellcasters get a bonus vs. spells - so a little like the old D&D saving throw categories, but streamlined

• Different disease system - I think better – focused on the effects and overcoming them

• Added a table of the mass of different materials - helps when adventurers want to pick up a golden idol and carry out of a dungeon and you need to figure out how heavy it is

• Got rid of a few spells (not many) and streamlined the rest when possible; I also got rid of 0-level spells, bumping them up to 1st level (sometimes with modification) - I never liked the 0-level thing

• Redid the treasure tables (I'm still not satisfied completely - I think I'll add some alternate scheme in Esoterica Exhumed)

• Streamlined the magic items, especially weapons and armor, and added some items that might be familiar from movies and cartoons; also added some sci-fi items as optional magic items for those who enjoy that – includes a mutation chart (for the mutagen capsules)

• The appendices cover inspirations, conversions (other systems, and notes like these for 1st to 2nd edition, though not super extensive), a couple additional "specialty mages" to show how one can devise their own lists of advanced spells, did some racial classes for folks who like them, made a list of all the spell components and foci for quick reference, and then made a quick reference chart of common dice rolls in the game

That's all that comes immediately to mind. I'm working diligently on the Monsters book now. Stay tuned, true believers!