The Back to the Mud campaign using the 1981 Basic/Expert set of rules for Dungeons & Dragons (known as the Moldvay rules or B/X). Character creation will be rolling 4d6 drop the lowest for stats in order (the order being as they appeared in the rules): STR, INT, WIS, DEX, CON, CHA. The standard rules apply to modifiers and classes.
Though the Back to the Mud campaign is centered primarily on humans and their lands, I will allow the non-human classes for player characters, though they will be treated as outsiders in the civilized areas of the game and may have some homespun lore to set them apart from typical dwarves, elves, and halflings.
Some house rules:
HIT POINTS
All characters start with maximum hit points at first level, and at each level gain they roll new dice and either accept that roll or keep their current score. So at 2nd level a fighter would roll 2d8, if less than current (which would be 8 with no modifiers) they can keep new roll or stay at 8 (possible there will be no improvement at low levels).
CLERICS
Clerics are NOT restricted to blunt weapons, however they cannot use any missile weapons and may not use magic swords.
MAGIC-USERS
Magic-Users are not restricted to daggers, however they may not use missile weapons (other than crossbows which require little training) and may not use any magic weapons other than daggers and staves. They still cannot wear armor or use shields.
Magic-Users all begin with a spell book that contains Read Magic and 1 other spell chosen randomly. Roll 1d12 and re-roll 9 (Read Magic).
ELVES
Elves must roll for a random 1st level spell and do not automatically know Read Magic.
THIEVES
All thief abilities (other than hear noise) are now resolved using a 1d20 roll, roll equal to or less than below target number (DEX modifiers apply as missile fire adjustments to target number). A roll of 1 is always a success, and a roll of 20 is always a failure. Some rolls may be made by the DM as the player will not know the results of his test in cases of hiding and stealth.
| Level | Open Locks | Find/Remove Traps | Pick Pockets | Move Silently | Climb Surfaces | Hide in Shadows | Hear Noise |
| 1st | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 1-2 |
| 2nd | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 1-2 |
| 3rd | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 1-3 |
Back to the mud... 