Weapon              H*   Dmg (Hit Roll)  Other
Battle Axe          2    1d10
Hand Axe            1    1d6
War Axe             1    1d8

Short Bow           2    1d6
Long Bow            2    1d8
Light Crossbow      2    1d6
Heavy Crossbow      2    3d4             fire once every 2 rounds
                                         unless 18 STR
Composite Short Bow 2    1d8             STR modifies dmg
Composite Long Bow  2    1d10            STR modifies dmg
Sling               1    1d4

Blackjack           1    1d2             aimed attack, knockout
Club                1    1d4
Throwing Hammer     1    1d4
War Hammer          1/2  1d6/1d8
Mace                1    1d6
Staff               2    1d6
Torch               1    1d2             1d4 dmg when lit
Flail               1    1d6
Morning Star        1    1d6+1

Dagger              1    1d4
Katar               1    1d4+1           cannot be thrown
Butterfly Knife     1    1d4             throw: +2 to hit

Polearm             2    2d6             -3 to hit for dwarves
Javelin             1    1d6             sm creatures can use
Lance               2    2d6             double damage for mounted charge
Pike                2    2d6             -3 to hit for dwarves
Spear               1/2  1d6/1d8
Trident             1/2  1d6/1d8
Tlacochtli          1/2  1d6/1d8         pull out: extra 1d6
Naginata            2    2d6

Sword               1    1d8
Short Sword         1    1d6
Bastard Sword       1/2  1d6+1/1d8+1
2H Sword            2    1d10
Rapier              1    2d4-1           -2 hit vs plate armor
Broadsword          1    2d4
Katana              1/2  1d8/2d4+1

Cestus              1    1d4
Whip                1    1d2             entangle
Barbed Whip         1    1d4
Hooked Net          1    1d4             entangle, save -2
Chain Net           1    nil             entangle, save -6

Blowgun             1/2  1               poison 1d4 dmg/rnd
Bola                1    1d2             entangle, critical: save vs
                                         death or be paralyzed and die
                                         in 1d6+2 rounds
Shurikin            1    1d3
Chakram             1    1d4

* Number of hands to use.

• Exotic Weaponry
• Mystic Weapons
• New Weapon System

Other Heroes Only authors and I have contributed to Basic Fantasy, however I am currently a fan of Labyrinth Lord because I feel it is more compatible with the original D&D rules.  (Of course I’m still using D&D though.)

You can download the rulebooks in PDF format for free.

Download Labyrinth Lord

Labyrinth Lord

Download Basic Fantasy

Basic Fantasy

• The Priest’s Codex
• The Wizard’s Codex
• Spell Variations: Wizards’ Panache

Fighter Combat Options seem to have been a combined attempt at codifying the kinds of maneuvers that characters can make in a board game-like battle, and to give fighters a couple of extra moves so they can do something besides roll 1d20 in a fight.

Then there are the optional Weapon Mastery rules. This complicated rule set certainly does add a lot more for Fighters, but seems to unbalance the game too much in the favor of Fighters in general–giving them not only increased weapon damage, but a slew of other techniques for disarming, deflecting weapons, and stunning opponents–all at relatively low levels.

So here is another idea: a set of skills that Fighters get as they increase in level. These skills are mostly maneuvers like the Fighter Combat Options, and you can consider them to be a revised version. (You may want to allow Fighters to always Set Spear vs. Charge, etc.) Comments are appreciated, and I will update this post if I think I can fit the changes in. One particular question is whether or not some of these should be replaced with archery or other ranged skills (aimed attacks, etc.)

Fighter Combat Skills *

Bash (level 8) – With this maneuver, the character attempts to bash his opponent with a shield in an attempt to stun the opponent briefly. A bash receives a -2 penalty to hit, and if successful, the opponent must make a Save vs. Paralysis or be unable to take action for one round. A bash maneuver counts as an attack.

Parry (level 10) – Allows a fighter to block a small or medium sized weapon, and thrown missiles, with their own weapon. The player must make a counter “hit roll” (including normal to-hit bonuses). If the player’s roll is higher than the attacker’s roll, the attack is deflected. This counts as an attack.

Second Attack (level 12) – Allows a fighter to make a second attack per round. These are attacks, and do not give the fighter two full “moves” including movement, etc. They may be used for other combat options. The DM may also allow some movement (up to 5′) between attacks.

Disarm (level 14) – Allows a fighter to disarm an opponent of an armed weapon, using their own weapon. The player must make a hit roll using bonuses from both Strength and Dexterity. If the hit roll is successful, the victim must make a counter roll using bonuses from both Strength and Dexterity to avoid being disarmed. This counts as an attack–the player misses their next move.

Grip (level 16) – This skill is not a maneuver, but gives the character a +4 bonus against being disarmed.

Third Attack (level 18) – Allows a fighter to make a third attack per round.

Dual Weild (level 20) – Allow a fighter to weild two weapons and make an extra attack with the second weapon. The extra attack makes hit rolls at a -4 penalty.

Dodge (level 22) – The fighter receives a -4 bonus to AC vs one attacking opponent using melee or thrown missile weapons.

Fourth Attack (level 24) – Allows a fighter to make a fourth attack per round.

Smash (level 26) – Allows a fighter to make a devastating blow, using both hands. This move suffers a -2 penalty to initiative, and a -2 penalty to hit. If successful, the fighter adds entire strength score to damage. This move is done in lieu of all attacks other attacks and maneuvers for that round.

Berserk (level 28) – When going into a berserker rage, the fighter must be focused on one opponent, and may not attack other opponents. The fighter must then fight the opponent to the death–the rage lasts until either the fighter or the opponent is killed. While enraged, the fighter receives a +2 bonus to hit rolls, a +2 bonus to damage rolls, and two extra attacks per round, but suffers a +4 penalty to AC. The fighter may not parry, disarm, circle, or counter. Furthermore, the fighter can continue fighting and does not fall dead until reaching -10 hit points. If the rage ends with the fighter at zero hit points or lower, the fighter will collapse dead.

Fifth Attack (level 30) – Allows a fighter to make a fifth attack per round.

Circle (level 32) – Similar to the theif’s backstab, the fighter attempts to circle around his opponent in battle and attack from behind. This cannot be achieved unless the opponent is distracted by other attackers, and only when there is room to move around. In such cases, the fighter may make his attacks with a -4 penalty to hit, but doing double normal weapon damage. Circling itself counts as one maneuver, while the attack also counts as one. (A successful circle and and backstab maneuver requires two attacks.)

Counter (level 34) – Allows a fighter to make a counter attack after any attack is made. This is allowed in addition to fighter’s own moves, and happens on the opponent’s turn.

Sixth Attack (level 36) – Allows a fighter to make a sixth attack per round.

* SMAUG MUD players may notice some similarities.

Seems like a bit much? Ok, here’s a lite version for the less ambitious:

Fighter Combat Skills Lite

• Mystic Weapons
• Swashbuckler
• Half-orc

Tetsubo – 1d8 – (F,C,E,D,My,Dr) – Large, 2-handed weapon that loses initiative; pole arm rules.

Sode Garami – 1d4 – (F,E,My,Dr) Large, 2-handed weapon that loses initiative. Can be used to catch the sleeves of the opponent; opponent gets save vs. paraysis.

Katana – 1d10 – (F,T,E,D,H,My) Medium sword of exceptional craftmanship.

Wakizashi – 1d8 – (F,T,E,D,H,My) – Small sword of exceptional craftsmanship, often accompanying the katana.

Sai – 1d4 – (F,T,M,E,D,H,My) Small, dagger with twin guards. Can be thrown with -4 penalty or Parry blades with a +2 bonus.

Sang Kuaw – 1d8 – (F,E,D,My) Large, two-handed weapon that loses initiative. Suffers a -4 to hit roll but gains +4 to Parry (or gives parry ability to those who can’t parry).

Tui-fa – 1d8 – (F,C,T,E,D,H,My,Dr) – Small, two-handed weapon. Gives +4 to Parry (or ability to parry). If an edged weapon misses because of parry, the weapon become stuck

Shuriken – 1d3 – (F,T,M,E,D,H,My) – For every shuriken thrown in the same round, the attacks suffer a -4 to the hit roll.

Metsubishi (All) – Black powder that explodes in a bright flash; anyone unwarned of it must save vs. paralysis or be blinded for 1d6 rounds.

Tetsu-bishi – 1d4 – (F,T,M,E,D,H,My) – small, boot-penetrating ground tacks that are thrown on the ground. Opponent must save vs. paralyzation or spend a round pulling it out and make another save vs. paralyzation or move at one-third their normal speed.

Chu-ka-nu – 1d6 – (F,T,E,D,H,My) – Medium-sized automatic crossbow that can reload so fast it can shoot 2 quarrels per round for 5 rounds; takes 5 rounds to reload

Ninja-to – 1d8 – (F,T,E,D,H,My) Medium-sized ninja sword with a hidden throwing dagger (1d4) in the handle.
Chain and Sickle – 1d4 – (F,E,D,H,My) – Two handed, medium sized weapon that loses initiative and can entangle like a whip.

Mancatcher – 1d2 – (F,E,D,My) – Large, two-handed pole arm that loses initiative. Anyone hit must save vs. paralysis or be caught in the pole arm’s teeth and continue to take 1d2 damage. Victim loses dexterity and save bonuses and must make a strength check to get out, taking 1d4 damage to their hands (unless they wear gauntlets or magic gloves) in the process whether they succeed or not.

• Modified Weapon Chart
• Fighter Combat Skills
• Exotic Weaponry

Today is a day to think about how D&D has affected our lives: not just the game itself, but also the multitude of other RPGs that were inspired by the creation of the game. And we should also take a moment to remember the Father of Roleplaying, Gary Gygax.

Tributes to E. Gary Gygax

• http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html
• http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/03/04
• http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp03042008.shtml
• http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ffn/index.php?date=2008-03-04
• http://www.duelinganalogs.com/comic/2008/03/05/so-long-gary/
• http://www.gucomics.com/comic/?cdate=20080305
• http://www.weregeek.com/2008/03/05/
• http://xkcd.com/393/

• Dungeon Master Tips from the Astral Plane
• Prudence Decor
• The Curse of Glantri

Good Ideas

The d20 system has several good ideas that make it easier to understand and more easy to play.

• Positive AC. A larger AC is better than a smaller one makes more sense.
• Magic. I like the idea of the effectiveness of saving throws being based on spell level. This makes more powerful magic inherently harder to avoid than less powerful magic, and it makes a lot of sense. I never liked the way a sixth level spell like Death could be simply shrugged off by a Save vs Death Ray, the easiest saving throw to make.
• Saving Throws. Having saving throws based on “reflex” or other descriptions of how a character may actually avoid a situation is clearer.

Bad Ideas

Unfortunately, the d20 system sometimes made things “too logical” and went a little overboard on the complexity of certain areas.

• Every class can be mixed with every race. I don’t like this idea, however it is easy enough for a DM to decide in his game world to restrict certain race/class combinations.
• Sorcerors. It’s not a bad idea as far as game mechanics go (which is why I think they used it) but a “sorceror” isn’t conceptually different enough from a “wizard” which I think makes it confusing. I think they should have come up with a more unique name/panache for this class. Kind of reminds me of how they used to make a big deal out of “Illusionists” in AD&D 1st edition.
• Combat. Where should I start? Combat in the d20 system is basically a mess. It’s overly complicated, and appeals to the “high role-player,” as I would like to call those who are mostly into game mechanics. Complicated combat rules are good for video games sometimes, but they aren’t good for tabletop games. I have this opinion because I think combat should be fun but quick.
• Spell Feats. I think this just makes the game more complex. I asked a friend if you could just rule out spell feats as a DM, but he said that it would unbalance the classes.

• Optional Rules for Classic Games
• Handling Poison
• Fighter Combat Skills

Hand Drawn Mystara Map

Hand Drawn Mystara Map

• About Hollow World Creatures

Simple Character Sheet made with Scribus

If you’re interested in taking a look or modifying it for your own use, here is the Scribus source file.

My other Character Record Sheets were done using an editor like OpenOffice.org.

• Character Record Sheets
• Adventure & Campaign Record Sheets
• Combat Reference Sheet