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The Black Notebook Podcast episodes
- AD&D - the Art of Disarm: Non-Lethal Combat Techniques Revealed!
On this podcast, I’ll explore the fascinating world of disarming techniques in non-lethal combat. As a fighter or cavalier, mastering the art of disarming can give you a tactical advantage. I’ll break down the rules, the types of weapons used, and the strategies to successfully disarm your opponent. Join me as I share insights that can enhance your combat skills and elevate your gameplay!
Highlights
- Non-lethal Combat ⚖️
Disarming is a technique that avoids causing damage.- Proficiency Required 🎓
Only skilled fighters and cavaliers can perform disarms with certain weapons.- Weapon Limitations 🔪
Only specific one-handed or shorter weapons can be used for disarming.- Saving Throw 🛡️
Opponents must make a saving throw to avoid losing their weapon.- Distance of Disarmed Weapon 📏
Disarmed weapons fall at the opponent’s feet or 1-10 feet away, depending on size.- Engagement Options 🔄
The former wielder must recover their weapon, draw another, or fight unarmed.- Use in Campaigns 📜
Recommended for campaigns using non-lethal combat systems8 min - Non-lethal Combat ⚖️
- AD&D - Let's talk Barbarians, too powerful or too over-hyped?
On today's podcast, the topic is the controversial Barbarian class from Dungeons & Dragons’ Unearthed Arcana. We explore its origins, unique abilities, and the reasons why this class has sparked both excitement and frustration at the gaming table. From its impressive hit points and skills to the limitations it imposes, the Barbarian’s role in gameplay and its impact on party dynamics. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to D&D, join me for this episode!
Highlights
- ⚔️ Barbarian Class Introduction: The Barbarian class is one of the most controversial in AD&D, first introduced in Unearthed Arcana.
- 📜 Character Limitations: Barbarians have strict alignment and magic item restrictions, limiting their interactions with other classes.
- 🏋️ High Hit Points: They start with a strong hit point pool, gaining extra HP from Constitution, making them tough fighters.
- 🌲 Wilderness Skills: Barbarians excel in survival skills, climbing, and environmental adaptation, giving them unique advantages.
- 🎭 Magic Aversion: They initially shun magic items and spells, often seeking to destroy them for experience points instead.
- 🕵️♂️ Detection Abilities: Barbarians possess enhanced abilities to detect illusions and magic, making them formidable in specific situations.
- 🧙♂️ Class Dynamics: The class’s slow progression
and reluctance to engage with magic can lead to player frustration anddecreased interest over time.24 min - AD&D Permanency Spell, it has lots of possibilities!
On today's podcast I look into the spell Permanency and how many interesting possibilities it could have!
Permanency is a crucial 8th-level spell in AD&D, allowing magic effects to last indefinitely, vital for crafting and enhancing gameplay.
- 🔮 Permanency Overview: An 8th-level spell that makes certain spells permanent.
- 📜 Magic Item Creation: Essential for locking enchantments in newly created magic items.
- ⚖️ Constitution Loss: Original rules state a permanent Constitution loss; DM discretion varies.
- ⚔️ Self-Casting Benefits: Use on self for continuous spells like Detect Magic and Comprehend Languages.
- 🧙♂️ Creative Uses: Can perm any spell, leading to innovative strategies in gameplay.
- 🏰 Game Balance: Encourages players to craft items without harsh penalties, enhancing engagement.
- 🎲 DM Flexibility: DMs can modify rules for a more enjoyable experience and avoid punishing players unnecessarily.
12 min - AD&D Boots of Speed, run like a horse!
Boots of Speed allow wearers to run as fast as a horse, enhance AC, and impose weight-based movement penalties, making them strategic in gameplay.
Highlights
- 🏃♂️Boots enable running at a speed of 24 inches (ft) like a fast horse.
- ⚖️Weight affects movement; over 200 lbs slows speed by 1 inch for every 10lbs.
- ⏳Continuous use is limited to 8 hours, requiring 1 hour of rest afterward.
- 🛡️Provides +2 to AC during eligible movement scenarios.
- ⚔️AC bonus is lost if surprised or restricted in movement.
- 💰Worth 2,000 XP and 15,000 gold on the magic item table.
- ⚠️Should be given cautiously to avoid disrupting game balance.
9 min - AD&D Bag of Beans, a very Chaotic and Random Magic Item!
A “Bag of Beans” is a heavy cloth bag containing pebble-like beans that explode when dumped out, causing damage to nearby creatures. To safely utilize the beans, they must be removed by hand and planted in dirt with water, resulting in various outcomes, some beneficial and others harmful. The contents can summon creatures, create hazardous effects, or produce valuable items. Careful thought and strategy are required to navigate the risks and rewards of this magical item.
Highlights -🐾
- Heavy cloth bag: 2’ wide, 4’ long.
- Explosive beans: 5-20 hit points damage.
- Manual removal: No telekinesis or tools allowed.
- Planting results: Summon creatures or objects.
- Variable outcomes: 3-12 beans recommended.
- Hazards: Poison gas, blinding smoke, aggressive creatures.
- Thought and strategy essential for use.
13 min - AD&D Unearthed Arcana "Item" Spell: A Hidden Gem!
Today on the podcast, I am exploring the Unearthed Arcana "item" spell that is truly SO UNDERRATED! On this show, we explore the intricacies of this hidden gem, providing insights into its mechanics, strategies for effective use in your campaigns, and how it can enhance your gameplay experience. Whether you're a seasoned dungeon master or a curious player, this spell deserves a spot in your spellbook. Join us as we break down its potential, share some epic stories, and discuss why it has been overlooked by many adventurers. Don’t miss out on the chance to elevate your AD&D sessions with this unique item spell. Be sure to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon (if listening on YT) for more content on AD&D and other tabletop RPGs!
Highlights
- ✨ Spell Overview: The third-level “Item” spell allows shrinking non-magical items.
- ⏳ Duration: Lasts 1 hour per level; quadrupled for non-living material.
- 📏 Area of Effect: Can affect 2 cubic feet per level, totaling 20 cubic feet for a 10th-level caster.
- ⚔️ Saving Throws: Living things get a +4 bonus to their saving throw against the spell.
- 🎭 Tactical Uses: Can be used creatively to bypass obstacles or for stealth.
- 🏺 Treasure Acquisition: Great for shrinking valuable items for easy transport.
- 🔥 Fire Manipulation: Can turn fire into a cloth item for later use, providing strategic fire management.
13 min - AD&D Creature Feature Theater: The Kech are Clever and Deadly!
#ADnD #TTRPG #RPG #Dnd #Greyhawk #TSR
Today on the podcast, I flip open the Monster Manual II and speak about the Kech, a dangerous forest fiend in AD&D, highlighting their stealth, traps, and tactics in ambushing adventurers.
- 🏞️ Kech Overview: Rare, neutral evil forest fiends known for misleading and capturing humans.
- ⚔️ Combat Stats: Armor Class 4-5, 3 Hit Dice, and 3 attacks per round, capable of inflicting significant damage.
- 🌲 Stealth Tactics: Utilize camouflage and ambush techniques, surprising victims 5 out of 6 times.
- 🕳️ Traps and Tricks: Set deadfalls, pits, and snares to catch unwary travelers.
- 🐒 Mobility: Exceptional climbing ability (60 ft per round) allows them to navigate trees swiftly.
- 👥 Party Threat: Particularly dangerous for lower-level parties; can target softer members like magic users.
- 🎭 Story Hooks: Great for creating engaging encounters, including rescue missions or coordinated ambushes with other creatures.
Want to get in on the conversation, Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheEvilDM
10 min - AD&D Potion of Treasure Finding, How can you use it?
#ADnD #TTRPG #RPG #Dnd #Greyhawk #TSR
On today's podcast, I move along with AD&D week, talking about another potion. On page 127 of the of the DMG, we have the Treasure Finding Potion. Its a potion I don't think I've seen used in any campaign that I have been a part of, nor have I given it out myself. Listen in as I discuss how it works and its possibilities! Treasure Finding Potion, 600 XP and 2000 GP
11 min - AD&D Sweet Water Potion, is it useful?
#ADnD #TTRPG #RPG #Dnd #Greyhawk #TSR
On today's podcast I got an email from a listener named Kate who wanted to know more about the sweet water potion that's listed on page 127 of the Dungeon Master's guide in AD&D. The Sweet Water potion purifies liquids, neutralizes poisons, and is a handy tool in AD&D, though often undervalued by players.
Highlights
🧙♂️ Sweet Water is worth 200 experience points.
💧 It purifies liquids instead of being drunk.
🚫 Neutralizes poison with no saving throw needed.
⏳ Effects last 5 to 20 rounds before potential contamination.
🍹 Handy for unexpected drink contaminants.
🍽️ Can be creatively used in various situations.
💖 Often underrated but highly valuable in gameplay.
10 min - Illusionists for AD&D are great, I tell ya!
#adnd #Illusionists #OSR #RPG
In this episode, I talk about how an Illusionist can be very valuable to the party and how they have some great spells at level 2 that will wreak some havoc on their foes.
10 min
About The Black Notebook Podcast
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to The Black Notebook, where we take a fresh look at Dungeons & Dragons through the pages of the classic D&D books. Every episode explores monsters, rules, adventures, and forgotten…
ideas to see what still works, what doesn’t, and what today’s gamers can learn from the games that started it all.
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