Chainmail abilites into 3LB's

For hobbits, I usually translate the "3 for every 2" sling bonus into a simple +3 to hit with slings, as per Supplement I (errata, p. 68) but I suppose as an alternative you could take it literally and give hobbits with slings 3/2 attacks, like 7-12th level fighters in AD&D (2 attacks on odd-numbered rounds, 1 attack on even-numbered rounds).

Vol. II already translate the dwarfs' bonus -- against ogres, trolls, and giants they only suffer 1/2 damage when hit. AD&D of course replaces this with a -4 AC bonus, which perhaps makes more sense, but I kind of like the 1/2 damage rule and would probably stick with it.

Translating the elves' bonus is a little weird, because it only occurs when they have magical weapons so the first question is whether to keep that requirement in D&D or give them bonuses all the time. As for the bonus, what is boils down to is essentially +2 to hit against kobolds and goblins and +1 to hit against orcs and hobgoblins (compared to the bonus a magic sword gives normally in Chainmail vs. D&D).

Note also that Chainmail gives dwarfs and elves (but not hobbits) the ability to see in the dark (which is consistent with Supplement I but directly contradicts Vol. III), gives hobbits the ability to become invisible in brush or woods and elves the ability to become invisible at will*, and implicitly gives dwarfs a base 9" move rate and elves a base 15" move rate (with hobbits at base 12", like men) -- see Philotomy's Musing on this topic, in which he gives elves the higher base move rate in the light (no armor or leather = 12" for men and hobbits, 15" for elves, 9" for dwarfs) and heavy (chain-mail = 9" for men and hobbits, 12" for elves, 6" for dwarfs) categories, but puts them equal with men in the armored (plate-mail = 6" for men, hobbits and elves, 3" for dwarfs) category, which is an addition I like a lot.

*obviously this isn't recommended as a standard race-ability for D&D elves; it can/should be explained away either by implied use of elven cloaks (which is also implicit in the Vol. II description -- "[elves] are nearly invisible in their gray-green cloaks") or by 3rd+ level elf mages casting invisibility spells (noting that wizards in Chainmail are also able to become invisible at will without explicit use of a spell or magic item).

This is pretty much what I've been doing with the elf bonuses against humanoids: explaining it away. One could argue that Chainmail assumes the elves are using special magical weapons against their traditional foes, in addition to elven cloaks, etc. In that case, all of the bonus could be coming from the weapons (you needn't assume that they're just standard +1 magic swords).

True. And there would have to be many swords of that particular (and potent) nature.

(Hey, I said it could be argued, not that it was a good argument...

Neat thread, but not sure why it had "announcement" status. It was kind of neat to see it as a part of each sub-forum, but I made it a regular post again. :-)

I took the description "deadly accuracy with missiles as described in CHAINMAIL." and ran with it.

Even now as I reread it, though, at the time for some reason I thought it said "with slings...".

Not having CHAINMAIL, I house ruled +1 to hit with slings, and Hobbits can attack twice per round with a sling if they do not move during that round. Hardly "deadly accurate" but a decent bonus.

Given that there are no magic slings or magic stones in the LBB, I think it's a balanced rule...even though some Hobbit players might prefer a more btb ruling.

Yeah, it helps...I feel like Hobbits need something befitting of "deadly accuracy" though. Anyhow, I'm going way OT since the original post was about CHAINMAIL, so I should butt out.

Here's my interpretation of the classic player races, drawing from Chainmail as possible:



The OD&D Elf

• Elves are also called "Fairies" (Chainmail p. 29).
  
• There are 2 sorts of Elves: Woodland Elves, and Meadowland Elves (M&T p. 16)
  
• Elves may use magic armor and still act as magic-users (M&M p. 8).
  
• Elves are able to speak the languages of Orcs, Hobgoblins, and Gnolls in addition to their own (Elvish) and the other usual tongues (M&M p. 8).
  
• Elves have the ability of moving silently and are nearly invisible in their gray-green cloaks(M&T p. 16). When invisible Elves (and Fairies) cannot attack — or be attacked unless located by an enemy with the special ability to detect hidden or invisible troops — but they can become visible and attack during the same turn (Chainmail p. 28).
  
• Elves armed with magical weapons will add one pip to dice rolled to determine damage. (M&T p. 16)
  
• Elves on foot may split-move and fire (M&T p. 16).
  
• Mounted Elves may not split-move and fire, for they are not naturally adapted to horseback (M&T p. 16).
  
• Elves detect secret doors 1-4 in 6 (U&W p. 9).
  
• Elves notice secret door 1-2 in 6, when passing by them (U&W p. 9).
  
• Elves receive +1 in 6 chance to detect sound at doors (U&W p. 9)
  
• Elves are about 3/4 the size of men (Chainmail p. 28).
  
• Elves see in normal the darkness as if it were light (Chainmail p. 43).
  
• Elves wielding a magical weapon add +2 to attack against goblins.
  
• Elves wielding a magical weapon add +1 to attack against orcs.
  
• Elves deal double damage against Ogres (Chainmail p. 28, ogre entry).
  
• Elves move at 15" / 12" / 6" (deduced from Chainmail p.43)
  
• Elves get no benefits from charging (deduced from Chainmail p.43 - no charge speed)
  
• Elves are neutral but have a slight pre-disposition for LAW (Chainmail p. 34).
  
• Elves wear beards (M&M p. 32).
  

The OD&D Dwarves (and Gnomes)

• they have a high level of magic resistance, and they thus add four levels when rolling saving throws (M&M p. 7)
  
• they are the only characters able to fully employ the +3 Magic War Hammer (M&M p. 7)
  
• they note slanting passages, traps, shifting walls and new construction in underground settings (M&M p. 7)
  
• dwarves receive +1 in 6 chance to detect sound at doors (U&W p. 9)
  
• they are able to speak the languages of Gnomes, Kobolds and
  Goblins in addition to the usual tongues (M&M p. 7)
  
• Because of their relatively small size, clumsy monsters like Ogres, Giants and the like will have a difficult time hitting Dwarves, so score only onehalf the usual hit points when a hit is scored (M&T p. 16). They same applies for Trolls (Chainmail p. 29)
  
• Dwarves are about 62,5% the size of men (Chainmail p. 28)
  
• Dwarves may operate in normal darkness as if it were light (Chainmail p. 29)
  
• Disadvantage: When ordered by a "commander" or "leader" to attack goblins or kobolds, these will be attacked to the exclusion of orders to the contrary.
  
• Dwarves move at: 9" / 6" / 3" (deduced from Chainmail p. 43)
  
• Dwarves are aligned with LAW (Chainmail p. 39).
  

The OD&D Hobbit

• They are about half the size of men (Chainmail p. 28)
  
• They are able to blend into the background (only in brush and woods), and thus make excellent scouts (Chainmail p. 29 and p. 43).
  
• They can fire a stone as far as an archer shoots (Chainmail p. 29).
  
• Their attack rate with the sling is 3/2 (Chainmail p. 29).
  
• They will have magic-resistance equal to dwarves (add four levels for saving throws) (M&M p. 8)
  
• They receive +1 in 6 chance to detect sound at doors (U&W p. 9)
  
• Their movement rate it 12" / 9" / 6" (Chainmail p. 43)
  
• Hobbits gain no benefits from charging (deduced from Chainmail p.43 - no charge speed)
  
• Hobbits are aligned with LAW (Chainmail p. 39)
  

So to make it mesh, would it be that an elf must use a magical sword (or can it be any magical weapon) which inherently grants a +1 bonus. Therefore, when attacking orcs and hobgoblins, they receive an additional +1, and when attacking goblins and kobalds, they receive an additional +2? (for a grand total of what is: +1, +2 vs. orcs and hobgoblins, +3 vs. goblins and kobalds.)

Zulgyan, I like that excellent and comprehensive breakdown. Thanks for posting that.

Chainmail says hobbits can fire a stone as far as an archer shoots. Max. range for a short bow is 15" (which is also the listed missile range for hobbits on the Fantasy Reference Table). Max. range for a sling stone (per Swords & Spells, slings aren't on the weapon-lists in Chainmail or Supplement I) is 12". So to get from 12" to 15" is +3" range. FWIW I also give elves +3" range with bows for the same reason (the Fantasy Reference Table shows their missile range as 18", which could mean elf-bows count as "horse bows" (i.e. short composite bows) but I liked the idea of +3" range better -- as a balance to that I forbade them use of long bows, on the grounds they're too short (4 1/2 - 5' max.)).

RE: Elves and magic swords

For my campaign setting I assume that all magic swords in the game are artifacts of a bygone elvish age of war. Elves are better attuned to their powers and/or the swords are more potent in their hands.

Dwarves are hammer and axe people. ;D

Somebody really likes it? Dunno, but I did the anti-sticky thing again.

Wow, I never noticed this before. Zulgyan, that is some great work! Have an exalt!

I read in Chainmail that Berserkers without armor are consired to have an leather armour and shield, an get -2 to attack dice. but in od&d, they get +2 to attack dice.

I find this a solution ofr a problem I had : how to use the classical sword & sorcery unarmored warrior (sword & loincloth!) ? So I propose he has AC7, plus shield modifier (and dex if any), but gets no more modifier from a better armor (because its slows him). And a +2 to fight. It seems me not too much unbalanced along with the plate armor fighter. what do you think about that ?