Differences

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--- changes [2024/03/09 23:09] – [Character Option No-Nos] Ron Helwig
+++ changes [2025/06/21 20:12] (current) – Ron Helwig
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-====== Equipment ======
+# Equipment
 I have some changes I make to standard D&D equipment.
-===== Sling =====
+## Sling
 Slings should have a better range than the rules say. I change it so that when using a cast bullet, designed for usage in a sling, the range is the same as that of a shortbow. I believe the evidence shows that as a valid correction. When using a found stone, the distance is half of that of a shortbow, due to the random characteristics of the rock.
-==== Foraging Stones ====
+### Foraging Stones
 Foraging for stones, when the terrain makes it possible, requires a successful investigation roll. If successful, one stone per point above the DC per minute spent is retrieved. In most situations the DC would be very low, indicating a high probability of finding suitable stones.
-==== Crafting Slings and Bullets ====
-A character may craft a sling in an hour using 5 copper pieces of material. Scrounged material can be used instead of spending money, but it won't be usable long term.
-Regular (lead) bullets may be purchased in most towns at a cost of 4-5 copper pieces for 20 bullets.
+### Crafting Slings and Bullets
+- A character may craft a sling in an hour using 5 copper pieces of material. Scrounged material can be used instead of spending money, but it won't be usable long term.
+- Regular (lead) bullets may be purchased in most towns at a cost of 4–5 copper pieces for 20 bullets.
+- Silver bullets might be available in marketplaces in larger towns at a cost of 5 SP/bullet.
+- Bullets can be cast from metals such as lead or silver using a Sling Bullet Molding Set.
+**Sling Bullet Molding Set**: Costs 1 GP, weighs 2 lbs, comes with a 5-bullet mold, a ladle for pouring the molten metal, and a small pot to melt the metal in. One lead bar (2 CP, 1.5 lbs) can make 20 bullets in 10 minutes. Silver bullets can be made at a cost of 4 SP per bullet.
+A competent blacksmith can make a bullet molding set in a day. A business-savvy blacksmith could do it in a few hours for a higher price.
+> Note: 1.5 lbs (the weight of 20 lead bullets) is 24 oz. Coins are typically 1/3 oz, so each bullet (1.2 oz) takes 4 coins' worth of metal.
+>
+> Lead and tin can be melted in a typical wood fire. Other metals like iron, steel, silver, and gold must be melted in a forge.
+## Spear
+Wielding a spear two-handed adds the **Reach** property. This better reflects the reality of using a spear to control the area around the user.
+### Crafting
+- A character with **Smith's Tools** proficiency can craft a spearhead.
+- A character with **Carpenter's Tools** or **Woodcarver's Tools** proficiency can craft the shaft.
+- Both are required to make a spear.
+**Cost**: 10 SP per spear.
+**Time**: 50 spears/week. A single spear takes a couple of hours. If two characters work on separate parts, time is halved.
+If no forge is available, quadruple the crafting time due to building and using a crude forge.
+### +1 Spear Crafting
+- Requires proficiency with **Smith's Tools** and **Arcana**.
+- Uses a troll’s spleen and 500 GP in materials.
+- Takes 2 weeks and a successful DC 8 Arcana check.
+- Roll on [Xanathar's Crafting Complications table](https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/xgte/downtime-revisited#CraftingComplications) on a natural 1.
+## Seax
+Most Norse would use a **seax** rather than a Roman-style short sword. In D&D terms, treat it mechanically as a short sword. Single-edged, utilitarian, and common in Scandinavia.
+## Sword
+The swords used by Vikings would be classified as longswords in D&D but are not long enough for two-handed use.
-Silver bullets might be available in marketplaces in larger towns at a cost of 5 SP/bullet.
+## Shield
-Bullets can be cast from metals such as lead or silver using a Sling Bullet Molding Set. A Sling Bullet Molding Set costs 1 gold piece, weighs two pounds, comes with a 5-bullet mold, a ladle for pouring the molten metal, and a small pot to melt the metal in. It can be used to make lead and silver bullets for slings. One lead bar (2 CP, 1.5 lbs) can make 20 bullets in 10 minutes. Silver bullets can be made at a cost of four silver pieces per bullet.
+Boss-grip round shields were standard. Lightweight, versatile, and easily replaced — but not very durable.
-A competent blacksmith can make a bullet molding set in a day. A blacksmith with competent business skills should be able to craft one in a few hours for a higher price.
+## Padded Armor
-<code>Note: One and a half pounds (the weight of 20 lead bullets) is 24 ounces. Coins are typically 1/3rd of an ounce, so since each bullet is 1.2 ounces, it will take 4 coins to make one bullet.
+Widespread and cheap. Often called a **Gambeson** in later France. In the early Viking age, it might be called a **Kaftan** or **vápntreyja**.
-Lead and tin can be melted in a typical wood fire, but other metals such as iron, steel, silver, and gold must be melted in a forge.</code>
+# Character Building
-===== Spear =====
+Most Viking-age people were simple farmers. Even raiders farmed much of the year. Wealth and resources were scarce, especially in the early Viking age.
-Wielding a spear two-handed adds the //Reach// property. This better reflects the reality of using a spear to control the area around the user.
-==== Crafting ====
+Custom backgrounds are available and preferred for historical flavor. Starting gear should reflect this.
-A character with proficiency in //Smith's Tools// can use them to craft a spearhead. A character with proficiency in //Carpenter's Tools// or //Woodcarver's Tools// can use them to craft a shaft that can be attached to a spearhead. It takes both to make a spear.
-The total cost to craft a spear is 10 silver pieces, and 50 spears can be made in a week. The materials are likely to be easily procured. To craft a single spear would take a couple of hours. If two separate characters are crafting the spearhead and the shaft, the time is cut in half.
+Most standard D&D classes can be justified, though some fit better than others.
-The spearhead crafting time assumes the use of a typical forge. If there is no forge available then the time is quadrupled as a crude forge, at a minimum, must be built and using a crude forge takes longer.
+**Playable races** in the real world = humans. But for kid-friendly games, elves, dwarves, tieflings, dragonborn, and warforged are allowed.
-=== +1 Spear Crafting ===
+## Typical Clothing
-A character proficient with //Smith's Tools// and //Arcana// may use the spleen of a troll, as well as 500 GP worth of other supplies, to craft a +1 spear. It will take two weeks and a successful DC 8 Arcana check, with a lookup on the [[https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/xgte/downtime-revisited#CraftingComplications|Crafting Complications table]] if they roll a 1.
-===== Seax =====
+A typical Scandinavian might wear:
-While short swords were used in older times, most folks living in areas where the Norse were would mostly use a seax instead of a short sword that looks like a Roman gladius. For D&D purposes we consider a seax as being mechanically the same as a short sword, although they are single edged and more utilitarian.
-Basically any character from Scandinavia who would normally be created with a short sword as one of their weapons would instead have a seax.
+- Turnshoes
+- Nalbound socks
+- Loose-fitting pants
+- Winingas (leg wraps)
+- Wool or linen tunics
+- One or more thin belts
+- Hoods and mittens for cold
-===== Sword =====
+Clothing lacked pockets and buttons. Small pouches were worn on belts.
-The full swords typically used by the Vikings who could afford them would be classified as longswords in D&D, but their hilts aren't long enough to be used two-handed.
-===== Shield =====
+# Character Option No-Nos
-The shields that the vikings used were boss-grip round shields. They aren't super durable but they are light, easy to use, versatile, and cheaply replaced.
-===== Padded Armor =====
+Some things are not allowed unless very well justified:
-Padded armor is cheap and ubiquitous. In France during the middle to late medieval period this sort of armor would be called a Gambeson. From what I can find, during the early Viking age it would be called a Kaftan or vápntreyja.
-====== Character Option No-Nos ======
+- **Plate armor** — didn't exist in Viking age
-Some character options just don't make sense historically, so unless the player can come up with a compelling reason why their character should have these options, they would not be allowed to choose them.
+- **Greatswords** (Zweihänder, claymore, etc.)
-One good example is plate armor. That wasn't invented until long after the Viking age, so that isn't an option in my Viking era campaigns. The same applies to greatswords, also known as Zweihänder, claymore, spadone, and the like.
+Some gear (like crossbows) is not available at character creation, but might be found through gameplay. Crossbows were known but rarely used in Scandinavia.