Spell Casting Times and the Combat Round

[vladtolenkov]

Hey all, I'm back to running OD&D again for a bit, and I've got some questions about spell casting.

Last time I ran the game I used the Swords & Wizardry Complete attack sequence which allowed spells to go off during the melee phase (as opposed to the missile phase), and I thought this worked quite well as it maintained the danger of casters getting hit, but if the party won initiative were much better off(unless the monsters have missile weapons!). However, I've also noticed that in some interpretations of the Chainmail attack sequence casters go at the end of the round AFTER the melee phase has completed. Is this right? Or are they considered artillery/missiles and go before the melee phase?

I realize there may be lots of ways of handling this--all the way from just letting casters go during a beginning missile phase all the way to full AD&D style with segmented casting times for spells (perhaps based on their level), but ,ultimately, I'm just curious how YOU do this at your table and what effects does it have in terms of the way magic-users and clerics utilize spell casting?

[Porphyre]

Maybe differenciating by spell level :
-Level 1-3 spells take effect during the missile phase
-level 4-6 spells during the melee phase
-level 7+ spells take effect at the very end of the round.

OR

If you aren't afraid of extra rolls and charts , you could use the "spell complexity" table from CHAINMAIL, with an "I" result taking effect at the missile phase, "D" at melee phase, "N" at the end of round

[vladtolenkov]

That's pretty sensible scenario as far as casting times based on levels. I've never looked closely at the chart you mention--but that's interesting! Will check it out.

[kenmeister]

Have you seen the Judges Guild initiative system from the Ready Ref Sheets?

[vladtolenkov]

That pretty nifty. I've got a copy of the Ready Red Sheets, but it's been a while since a took a look at them. More to ponder here.