New and Revised Classes for OSR games. Plus a tiny bit of notation.

I had a guy flip out on me a couple of weeks past over 'game balance' with my postings.

So, to help clarify things, I will be posting  extra notes for classes I put on here.

The notations will involve differences in class abilities for situations in games (such as the Archer addressing game using two shots per round versus one shot per round as a basic system rule).

The distinction between the two will be pretty minimal, mostly adjustments to class abilities such as multi-attacks, special damage attacks, etc. The notations are to give a DM whom might use these classes a chance to use which version they think more appropriate for the 'balance' of their game.
Balance... such a tricky thing it can be. I've honestly never worried much about it. I've been blessed with players who are more concerned with fun than rules lawyering. 

I will also address  my revised versions of the basic classes such as my Fighter/Soldier vs the old school Fighter. My revised version gets extra attacks, and AC bonus, and extra attacks at higher levels. My revised versions are more skilled and 'powerful' than the standard classic classes and are, for the most part, intended to be used in place of the base rules classes. 

Some do not find this 'old school hardcore' but I and my players really really like their characters to be a bit more competent. That's also why I replaced the lower percentages of classes such as the Thief with my 10+1/2 level+ attribute bonus or less on a 1d20 roll. It gives them a higher chance at lower levels and mildly increases through leveling up. Again: just my preferences. Don't like it: replace it with the old school percentages. Your game, your rules.

As always, these are just my personal interpretations for my own games. 

Don't flip out. 

And so....
I also took the time to clean up the classes a bit. Prime Requisites are simplified to just one instead of two in some cases. I also removed and added a a few new abilities to help smooth the classes into more distinct roles.
For example, this version of the Assassin has less Thief skills but has gained the use of making poisons and antidotes.

Archer 

Prime Requ: Dex
Exp: As Fighting-Man.
HD: 1d6+1
Save: As Fighting-Man.
Attack: As Fighting-Man.
Armor: Up to chain and shield.
Weapons: Any except two-handed melee.
Level Limit: none.

Archer Training. 

+1 to hit with a bow. The damage works one of two ways. If you are using a rules-set allowing two bow shots per round, the damage is increased by a +1. If you are only allowing one shot per round (and it's probably a 1d6 dmg) the damage increases to 1d8

.
No penalty for unstable platform such as a horse, rolling ship deck, etc.

Sure Shot. 

-1 per range increment. 

Level 5: Long Shot. 

Range Increment increases by 50 percent.

Level 9: 

Rapid Shot. An extra bow attack is gained. 

Level 12: Trick Shot. 

Called shot penalties reduced by -2.

Level 16: Dead Shot. 

Aim for one round and receive a +4 bonus to one shot. Only one shot can be taken in that round.

NOTES: The only real difference in editions with this class is the differing number of bow shots allowed in a round. 

Assassin 

Prime Requ: Dex
Exp: As Fighting-Man.
HD:  1d6
Save:  As Thief.
Attack:  As Thief
Armor:  As Thief.
Weapons:  Any.
Level Limit:  none.

Thief Abilities. 

Pick Locks, Move Silently, Climb Walls, Hide in Shadow.

Death Attack. (completely copped from C&C)
Usable once per day per 2 levels.
If an assassin studies a victim for 3 consecutive rounds and makes a sneak attack (see below) that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack can potentially kill the target instantly. While studying a victim prior to an attack, the assassin can undertake other minor actions, but must stay focused on the target. If the target knows the assassin is present, a death attack is not possible. The victim of such an attack must make a saving
throw. If the saving throw fails, the victim dies instantly. If the saving throw
succeeds, the attack is treated as a normal sneak attack.

After completing 3 rounds of study, the assassin must attack within the
next 3 rounds to use this ability. If a death attack is attempted and fails
because the victim succeeds at the saving throw, the assassin cannot make
another attempt at a death attack in this circumstance because the victim
will almost certainly be aware of the assassin’s status as an enemy. If the
assassin attacks and misses (and the target is not aware of the attack), or
if the assassin does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing
the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before another death attack
attempt can be made.

NOTE: If you feel the Death Attack is too powerful for your games scale it back to a standard Thief backstab. Combined with the Poisons ability below the Assassin should still be a formidable class.

Poisons.
Given an hour of brew time, and the proper ingredients  the Assassin can create a virulent poisons. The poison can be ingested, contact, or injected as the Assassin desires. At first level the Assassin's poison does 1d6 hp damage and an extra 1d6 at levels 3, 9, 12, 15, and 18. The poison is insidious and slow; starting one hour after exposure it does 1d6 damage per hour until the available d6's of poison are used or the victim is dead. A Saving Throw is allowed during the initial 1d6 hp loss and if successful, all damage done is for half damage as the poison runs its course.

The Assassin can also make an antidote for the poison. When given it stops all damage.

Both poison and antidote have a shelf life of a number of days equal to the Assassin's level.

NOTES: This version sets itself further from the classic Thief class. This one is all about stealth and  murder and lacks many of the essential treasure finding skills of the Thief.

Barbarian (Hillman) 

Prime Requ: Str
Exp: As Fighting-Man.
HD: 1d6+2
Save: As Fighting-Man.
Attack: As Fighting-Man.
Armor: Chain and shield. May wear heavier but lose special abilities while in the heavier armor.
Weapons: Any
Level Limit: none.

Ferocious. 

+1to melee and unarmed Damage.

Pantherish Dodge. 

+2 to AC

Alert. 

Only surprised on a 1 on a 1d6.

Climb. 

As Thief.

Battle Fury. 

Once per day per level the Barbarian can make a single brutal attack on his opponent, sacrificing accuracy and finesse for sheer damage.  The attack is made at a -2 penalty to hit. If failed the Barbarian suffers a -4 to his AC due to being off balance until his turn to act in the following round. Damage as follows...

Basic rules damage: x2 damage, x3 if a natural 20 is rolled.

My Revised rules damage: It is scaled as backstab damage is for the Thief, by level.

Level 1-5, x2 damage.

Level 6-12, x3 damage.

Level 12+, x4 damge

NOTE: The damage is scaled up in my revised version to keep up with the soldier's extra attacks. The idea is the Soldier is using more skill with multiple chances (extra attacks) to hit the enemy while the Barbarian is dishing out sheer brutal damage with one shot, but only has one chance to hit or miss.

The Brute 

For Basic rules use the Brute as is.

My Revised version does Crusher damage as the Barbarian's Battle Fury. Escalating damage by level.

The attack is made at a -2 penalty to hit. If failed the Brute suffers a -4 to his AC due to being off balance until his turn to act in the following round. 

Level 1-5, x2 damage.

Level 6-12, x3 damage.

Level 12+, x4 damge

NOTE: These Brute's Str bonus applies to Str rolls not just damage as the Barbarian's does.
Whereas the Barbarian is about prowess combined with power the Brute is simply raw power. He has the advantage of slightly better hit points and does not lose his abilities in heavier armor.

Fighter/Soldier (Revised) 

Prime Requ: Str
Exp: As Fighting-Man.
HD: As Fighting-Man.
Save: As Fighting-Man.
Attack: As Fighting-Man.
Armor: Any.
Weapons: Any
Level Limit: none.

Trained/Natural Fighter.

 +1 to hit and damage with all weapons and unarmed attacks.

Parry/Dodge.

+2 to AC.

Combat Expert.

Extra melee attack at 5th, 12th, and 20th.

NOTE: Melee only, not ranged. 

NOTE: This is my revised  Fighter and it will outstrip Basic rules classes. I would not use this with anything but my other revised classes to keep the fighting levels on a closer scale.

Ranger (Traditional Fantasy) 

Prime Requ: Dex
Exp: As Fighting-Man.
HD: 1d6+2
Save: As Fighting-Man.
Attack: As Fighting-Man.
Armor: Chain and shield. Will lose Move Silently while in armor heavier than Leather.
Weapons: Any
Level Limit: none.

Alert.

Only surprised on a 1 on a 1d6.

Backstab.

As a Thief of equal level. Ranged backstab within the first range increment.

Hunter.

+1 to hit and damage with ranged weapons. Includes bows, crossbows, thrown weapons, firearms, etc.

Move Silently.

As Thief. This is for outdoors only. In urban settings, crypts, dungeons, etc the chance is halved (round up.) The Ranger uses this to get in close to a prey while on the hunt.

This is halved if the Ranger is wearing armor heavier than Leather.

Track.

 10 + 1/2 level + Wis bonus or less on a 1d20. Penalties and bonuses for mud, snow, dry ground, etc should be applied by the DM. 

Revisions to the Cleric, Magic User, and Thief.
Cleric and Magic User
Make my ritual and diabolic magic options available.

Thief

I have only one addition to my Revised Thieves: The Fast Talk ability.

Fast Talk

With a bit of conversation, the Thief is able to attempt to befriend, persuade, charm, or outright con an individual to his way of thinking. After 2d6 minutes of cajoling, flat­tering, drinking, etc. the victim of the Fast Talk must make a Saving Throw. This Saving Throw has a cumulative -1 penalty roll for the Scoundrel level at 1st and every fourth level after at 4, 8, 12 ,16, and 20.

If the Save is failed the individual will give up some bit of information, do a small favor, or otherwise not hinder the Thief as long as the Thief appears to be friendly. This is not a magical effect: if the individual finds out the Thief is lying to him or some other situation arises to change his view of the Thief he may act normally.

Frankenstein's Monster...the Original Novel Creature (OSR)

"It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -- Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips."

The Frankenstein Monster (The Monster, The Creature)
Created from the assembled pieces of corpses and brought to life by a process of mixing natural science with alchemy....

This build is for the Original Shelly character. The Creature is far more powerful than those I have written to be used as PC's in my Created class. The original Frankenstein Monster is a unique entity;  spawned in the  terrible brilliant mind of a madman it is the first, the prototype of a new and horrific superior race which never came to be.

"Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil, as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave, or tortured the living animal, to animate the lifeless clay? My limbs now tremble and my eyes swim with the remembrance; but then a resistless, and almost frantic, impulse urged me forward; I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit. It was indeed but a passing trance that only made me feel with renewed acuteness so soon as, the unnatural stimulus ceasing to operate, I had returned to my old habits. I collected bones from charnel-houses; and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation: my eye-balls were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment. The dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of my materials; and often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion."

The Frankenstein Monster/Creature
"CURSED, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery."
HD: 12

Str 18 +3
Dex 17 +2
Con 18 +3
Int 16 +2
Wis 13 +1
Chs 0 (See below)

HP: 90
AC: 15
Save: 8
Attack: +12 melee (two attacks per round)
Damage: Unarmed (1d2+7) or melee weapon (dmg+7)

"I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed. He bounded over the crevices in the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his stature, also, as he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. I was troubled: a mist came over my eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me; but I was quickly restored by the cold gale of the mountains. I perceived, as the shape came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch whom I had created. I trembled with rage and horror, resolving to wait his approach, and then close with him in mortal combat. He approached; his countenance bespoke bitter, anguish, combined with disdain and malignity, while its unearthly ugliness rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes. "

Superior to Man:
Eight feet tall and built for hideous strength, endurance and flexibility.
The Creature gains a +4  (in addition to its  normal Strength bonus) to all  melee and unarmed damage rolls, as well as to attempts to open doors. The +4 is also used as a bonus to any Strength attribute checks.

The Frankenstein Monster only takes half damage from non-magical weapons.
The Creature only takes 1/4 damage from cold (0 damage with a successful saving throw.)
It saves with a +4 bonus vs poison and disease.

The Monster heals at an astonishing rate; with full rest it regains 24 hp per day. It active it still regains 12 hp per day.

With its massive stride and superior muscle The Creature moves faster than an ordinary man; movement is 150' (50').
The Creature gains a +4 bonus to climb and stealth checks.

The Monster does not age. Unless killed by trauma or other bodily affliction it is effectively immortal.

Because of its grotesque and unnatural appearance the Frankenstein Monster  is shunned by normal men and women who are horrified by it. It effectively has a Charisma of 0 when dealing with normal people, even allies. This may be overcome given time and actions by the Creature.

Equipment:
Ragged Clothing.  

Victorian Gothic Playlog: London 1896 (OSR)

Our current Game!
We finished two nights of a Victorian OSR game I am DM'ing.
We are using the firearms rules, Victorian setting and classes, and everything else I have posted so far on here.

The Set Up
Three Players: One Scoundrel (James), One Explorer (Rene'), and One Physician (Edward). All fifth level. James and Rene' are both very wealthy. The Physician is not nearly so.
They are members of the Explorer's Club and have some reputation as explorers of the supernatural and strange.
Their base is in a three  story home owned by James right off the heart of downtown London, inherited from is father.
They motor around London in a steam powered horseless carriage.

Two bodies have turned up last night in alleyways in Whitechapel; both unidentified.
The PC's are called to meet with Inspector Aaron Copeland and the Coroner at the Whitechapel morgue beneath the Records building to view the bodies and consult the police.

After the events in Dracula and the player's former PC's exploits in London the existence of the supernatural is known to a select few Inspectors and Higher Ups in the London Authorities. When suspicious situations crop up members of the Explorer's Club and independant consultants are often called in to assist. The objective is to solve the crime, keep the public as unaware as possible, and protect the city.
The last thing they want is another Ripper panic as what happened when Jack the Ripper roamed the streets eight years past.

They are also informed that another consultant, a Dr. John Seward, will be arriving tomorrow.

The Corpses 
A female, probable prostitute (signs of a hard life, liquor, bad teeth, syphalis) with her left arm, clavicle, and scapula completely and surgically removed.

Two alleyways over a male, probably a Doctor or attendant, (well dressed, good teeth, no ink on hands, traces of powder under the nails) with two large puncture wounds in the neck; blood severly drained.

No identification or money on either body.

The Investigation
The PC's begin with Edward examining the bodies, confirming the Coroner's findings. He then heads to the local medical school to inquire about any new surgeons in town. That draws a zero but he does learn that distinguished surgeon Henry Frankenstein is in London to give a lecture on anatomy in two days.
James looks for anyone who might know the woman in Whitechapel but comes up empty for now.
Rene' has an artist make a detailed sketch of the woman's face to assist in the street questioning.
He then heads to the alleys where the corpses were found. Nothing is discernible in the female corpse's alley. However in the male corpse's alley the Explorer finds a gold cufflink in the trash near where the body was found. It has a stylized ankh on the face and the back has a jeweler's mark. "CM"

As night falls they meet up and retire for a meal, a drink, and cigars at the Explorer's Club.
Edward and Rene' enter the Club's library and begin to research vampire lore.
James employs a clipping agency to find any info on new surgeons or doctors in the city and all jewelers with the initials CM then returns to the Club.

Having learned basic lore on vampires (the Stoker archetype) they call Inspector Copeland, warning him that the male corpse may wake as a vampire. He takes two men and head off to the morgue.
He never calls back. The PC's decide to head to the morgue to see what has happened.
They head off in the horseless carriage.

The Morgue
The Police station is lit up and is business as usual.
The Records building/morgue is dark as it is closed for business for the night. No sign of Copeland or his men.
Really concerned about the possible vampire corpse they park the horseless carriage in the side street behind the morgue and James picks the lock on the back receiving doors.

Retrieving an electric lantern from the auto they head into the dark hallway leading to the front of the building. Wooden office doors with large smoked windows are spaced down the hallway. The try the electric light switch but no response: power must have been cut. The primitive lantern only shines out to about 20 feet. James and Rene' pull knives and take the lead with the light. Edward, armed with a lever-action carbine takes the rear.

Heading towards the front of building they come to a cross hallway.
Suddenly a black clad thief with a scarf over his lower face steps out and takes a stab at James.
A nasty knife fight ensues with the thief taking the worst of it.
As this is happening two more thieves appear from out of the darkness ahead of the Rene'. He sits his lantern down and engages one of the thieves with his push dagger, both men score hits stabbing each other deeply.
Edward opens fire and misses the third thief, shattering glass in the front door clear down the long hallway.

A lantern is lit down by the front doors. A fourth thief is seen with a lantern.
The knife fights continue.
Edward let's loose with two more shots from the carbine. The third thief takes a bullet through the head and the second shot misses the thief with the lantern down the hall.

Gunshots are heard outside as someone opens up on the front of the police station. (A diversion.)

The wounded thief fighting James has had enough and retreats down the side hallway. James lets him go.
The wounded thief fighting Rene' takes a deep knife wound to the neck and collapses.
The lantern thief takes off running towards the stairwell down to the morgue, disappearing from sight.

Rene' and James pull pistols and run down the dark hallway, not taking time to grab their lantern. Heading past the fallen thieves they see both wear a medallion: the same stylized ankh as on the cufflink.
Rene' lights a match and they head cautiously down the stairs to the morgue.

The Physician on the other hand leaps to the side of the slowly die-ing thief that Rene' jacked up.
He manages to stabilize him and heal him up to zero hp's. Aha! A prisoner. In a coma...

Meanwhile, down at the morgue door: the two heroes see a faint lantern glow behind the smokey glass.
Cautiously opening the door, they see the last thief pounding a wooden stake through the heart of the male corpse lying on the slab. Not wanting to interfere, they cautiously watch as the thief then saws the man's head off.

Ignoring the female corpse with the missing arm the thief then faces the PC's.
They try to initiate conversation (hey we're hunters too!) when he whips up a Mauser pistol and threatens to shoot them if they don't leave.
After a bit of tenseness they back out the door.
They hear the thief hightail it out the back way of the morgue, light extinguished.

The PC's rendezvous upstairs.
Things have quieted down outside as the cops are out in force looking for the men who shot the windows out of the police station.

They dump the unconscious thief in the automobile and make a search of the building.
They find Inspector Copeland and his two men, fang marks in necks, nearly drained of blood, in the land records office. They quickly take them out to give them aid. As they are leaving they notice some of the land records have been rifled, bloody hand prints on drawers and a bloody thumbprint on a half drawn folder.

After checking in with the police they get the cops to leave the crime scene at the records office alone until the party an investigate and they inform them Copeland and they two officers will be cared for.
They then head back to their house.
The wounded police are carefully watched for signs of vampirism and tended for in a bedroom on the third floor.
In the basement the unconscious thief is handcuffed to  bed and cared for as well.

They stay up til dawn making plans. James telephones the police station and have them direct Dr. Seward, when he arrives there, to come to the PC's house.
When the butler and  maid awake the PC's go to sleep for four hours, awaking at ten pm to eat and freshen up.

Day Two
The clipping agency agent delivers their report: no news of. a new surgeon or clinic. There are four jewelers in London with the initials CM but the most likely is Cedric Miller in Lambeth.

Dr. Seward arrives.
Cards and quick pleasantries are exchanged as the PC's tell their tale. Seward then relates his involvement with the Dracula incident three years earlier. Assisted by Edward, Seward examines the policemen. Their relatives are contacted for a blood transfusion and they are made comfortable. The thief is still in a coma. After explaining the precautions against a vampire (garlic, crosses, mirrors) Seward takes leave of the PC's to settle into his hotel. He will meet with them later that evening.

More Investigations
The PC's head out to check on a few things.
As they do Rene' glimpses what he thinks is a large figure in black watching them from the rooftops.
Spooked, they head back inside to get their rifles. The butler is instructed to carry out the vampire proofing of the house. They stop at a local gunshop and purchase more ammo and another heavy rifle.

Rene' and James head to the jewelry shop of Cedric Miller. Cards are given. He identifies the ankh cufflink as his work. He made four pair for a Mr. Corben, address unknown. The description of the man who placed the order and came to retrieve it was given: short, red hair, freckled, rumpled clothing. It was doubtful his was Mr. Corben himself. He also viewed the ankh necklace and found an Egyptian mark on the back, probably the jeweler's mark.
The boys then headed to the British Museum where James managed to sweet talk his way past a receptionist to get five minutes with a Professor Anderson, Egyptologist. More cards are exchanged. He confirmed that the mark and the stylized ankh were symbols of a minor cult which had flourished in Cairo in the 1830's but had though to have died out over twenty years ago. He eagerly agreed to view any more objects they might find.
They then spend the rest of the afternoon getting copies of the prostitute's drawing, having tea in a small park, and walking around Whitechapel. They hit paydirt at the Ten Bells Tavern. A group of pimps know the girl as Anna, missing two days now. She was last seen getting into the carriage of a white haired gentlemen over by Stepney.
Drinks were had all around.

Edward, meanwhile, headed back to the medical college see if anything new was happening. He discovered a body had been stolen from the college. It was all very hush hush. He then ran into Henry Frankenstein in the library, reading and anatomy book and sitting next to his medical bag. Frankenstein looked startled to see Edward, he obviously recognized him though they had never met. Edward came up and made introductions and small talk, looking forward to the lecture. Frankenstein concluded the meeting by asking him if he knew of a Dr. Emil Pretoreus, of Germany, in the city. Edward did not and they parted ways with Edward heading off to study updated medical texts.
Edward noted that Dr. Frankenstein's bag appeared to contain much bulkier equipment than normal medical tools.

Later Edward received a call from the Whitechapel police station.
The body of the beheaded man had been claimed for burial.
Edward immediately headed to the station and found the following: One Dr. Pretoreus, with a letter of introduction from the Royal Surgeon's College, had collected the deceased: Andrew Kaufman, medical assistant. Kaufman had a home address in Walworth, across the bridge.

Leaving the station he headed off to find his colleagues.

He didn't make it past the dark alleyway near the station: A gigantic yellowed hand wrapped in a ragged coat reached out and yanked him into the alleyway.
Lifted into the air he faced a 7 foot tall, yellow-eyed and cadaver pallored face with black lips and snarling teeth. The bald gaunt head was covered in surgical scars.
The ragged black clad creature told him point blank to stop investigating Dr. Pretoreus or he would die.
He then hurled him out of the alley and ran away with incredible speed.

He soon found his housemates.
Edward mentioned nothing of the warning, only of the information about Dr. Pretoreus and Andrew Kaufman's address.

They stopped at the records office on their way home. They had been given access to the office where they had found the bloody hand and thumb prints on the records. Nothing had been touched by the police.
They discover that the file hanging out of the drawer is for a property, a house, in Stepney.
It was sold to a Mr. Corben. The solicitor was one RM Renfield, the same solicitor whom helped Dracula buy property around London before going mad and being replaced by Jonathan Harker.

Night Visitor
They regroup at dusk at their house, now decorated with garlic, crosses, and mirrors.
Dr. Seward and family members of the policemen arrive and the blood transfusions begin in the third floor bedrooms. After several hours the policemen feel better and the family members are sent home. Inspector Copeland's pistol is returned to him.

As they are discussing the case and tending to the policemen's meal Rene' and Seward both hear a loud thump on the peaked tiled roof. The sound was loud enough to be heard through the attic above them.

Rene' grabs his elephant gun and pulls down the attic trap door, squirming into the large junk filled room.
James has the butler bring him his shotgun and opens a window.
Edward grabs a poker and begins heating it in the fire.

Rene' hears something big walking above him on the roof. He reaches up and knocks on the wood.
A large hole is smashed in the roof and tiles as a large yellow hand reaches down for him.
Rene' fires and misses with ihs first barrel. The yellow-eyed cadaverous face sneers as him through the hole.

Suddenly a loud shot rings out from a nearby alley. The Creature is hit with a massive slug in it's side, knocking it sideways with a roar. It attempts to flee but Rene' blasts it in the hip with the second barrel of the elephant rifle. With a howl it runs across the slanted roof and leaps the ten feet to the neighbors roof.

James sees the Creature leap across the way and blasts it with his shotgun. The furious and severly wounded Creature slips in his own blood on the neighbors slanted tile roof and falls three stories to the cobblestones, disappearing from sight.

Rene' pulls himself onto the roof, reloading his rifle.
James looks down and sees Henry Frankenstein coming out of the alley reloading a massive howdah pistol. James hollers that the Creature fell on the other side of the neighbors building.
Frankenstein nods and heads that way.

Rene' leaps across the alley onto the neighbors roof, slick with dark blood. He looks down but the Creature is gone, leaving a massive quantity of blood on the cobblestones. Frankenstein is there and wishes to talk to the PC's. Rene' agrees and makes his way back across to their own roof.

Aftermath
Meeting with Frankenstein, who requests a brandy, he tells his story:
He and Pretoreous were colleagues in Europe. Travelling to his family's castle they discovered a hidden copy of his ancestor, Victor Frankenstein's journal. Pretoreous poisoned Henry and fled with the journal and it's secrets.
Henry Frankenstein has hunted Pretoreous for over a year. Knowing he would return to London where he studied, Frankenstein has come to kill him, any Creature Pretoreous has created, and destroy the journal and notes once and for all.

He knows nothing about Dracula, Mr. Corben, nor any of the others.
He has been staking out the PC's house when they became involved with the dead prostitute case. That's how he recognized Edward and he saw the Creature following them during the day. He waited to trap and kill it.

And that's where we ended for now.
A Vampire. Frankenstein. A Cult. And two houses to check out.

The Magician Class (OSR)

I wanted a less flashy spell-flinging version of Magic Users for my Colonial and Victorian games. Thus, along with the Witch, the Magician was created for this role. He has many spells at his disposal but he is hampered by the need for rituals. 
Edit: The available spell slots I originally posted were cut and pasted from an early draft. The final version has been put in it's place. All fixed and updated.

The Magician

Hit Die Type: 1d6 per level, gains 1 HP per level after 9th,
Advance As: Cleric
Attack: Magic User
Save As: Magic User
Armor Permitted: Leather
Weapons Permitted: Any except two-handed melee.
Prime Attribute (5% experience bonus): Intelligence 13+

Similar to the standard D&D Magic User, the Magician can cast more spells

Class Abilities
Spells:
The Magician casts spells as a Magic User with the following changes...

The Magician receives a extra spell slot per spell level at each level of Magician. For Example: A fourth level Magic User would have three 1st level spell slots and two 2nd level slots available. The  fourth level Magician has four 1st and three 2nd.
HOWEVER, the Magician can only cast spells via rituals.

The Magician may cast both Magic User and Cleric spells. If a spell is listed in both the Cleric and Magic User lists the Magician  uses the Magic User version.

The Magician have a chance to cast spells of a higher level than he has learned. The spell must be found via tome, scroll, teacher, or other source to obtain it. Study time is one week per spell level. At the end of this study time the Magician makes a roll of 10 + 1/2  level + Int bonus - the spells level, on a 1d20. If successful the spell is learned and can be cast as a ritual once daily. If failed the Magician must continue studying the spell for another week.
Only one spell at a time can be studied.

The Magician has the option of practicing Infernal Witchcraft.

Potions, Salves, and Charms:
Just as a WItch, a Magician may work any spell known into a potion, salve, or charm.
Potions must be drunk, salves applied to skin, and charms hidden on or in the house of the target of the spell.

Spells which compel the target to obey the caster, such as Charm, take effect as if the caster is the one who gave the item to the one who drank or used it.

Creation time is the same as for rituals and costs the daily spell slot of the spell used. The Magician is much more adapt at this form of magic and can make a number of items equal to twice his dlevel, and each has a shelf life equal to twice the Magician's level in days.

Bonus Languages:
The Magician must master many languages both modern and archaic in his studies.
He receives twice the number of beginning languages and can save the extra language slots for use after character creation. With a proper guide or teacher he can learn a new language well enough in four weeks time to speak, read, and use it for studying. This can help save a spell slot which might otherwise be used for Read Magic.