Charisma and Morale

[Finarvyn]

Looking through Men & Magic and I'm finding the charts for Charisma modifying morale, but I'm not finding the rules for morale. Am I correct that this is a Chainmail thing, or have I missed the rule somewhere? (I haven't used morale rules in years, and it's embarrassing to confess how rusty I am at some of this stuff, but I'm thinking of using it in my new OD&D campaign.)

[sixdemonbag]

There is no morale in OD&D. It's basically just: 2d6 and Wing It™. Even the Chainmail morale rules don't really work for OD&D 1:1. The best you will find is from the TSR FAQ:

Morale:
This is a factor which is seldom considered. The players,
basically representing only their own character and a few others, have
their own personal morale in reality. Unintelligent monsters fight until
death. Occasionally, however, it is necessary to check either troops
serving with a party (in whatever respect) or the morale of intelligent
monsters. This is strictly a decision for the referee. The system used is
likewise up to the referee, although there is one in CHAINMAIL which
can be employed, or he can simply throw two dice -- a 2 being very bad
morale, a 12 being very good morale. With situational adjustments this
score will serve as a guideline for what action will be taken by the party
checked.

[retrorob]

@finarvyn

Technically speaking, the chart for Charisma modifies hireling's Loyalty, not Morale. From Gronan's recollection we know that Gary used Chainmail rule "Instability Due to Excess Casualties".

So let's say that a Hero with Charisma value of 13 hires an armored footman. REF rolls 3d6 for the latter's Loyalty. 4, 1, 4, +1 for high Charisma, +1 for a generous advance. Total of 11 still doesn't get any morale boost. The hireling's morale is then 6. After few months of service, being paid regularly and treated fairly REF raises hireling's loyalty by one. Then the hero gives his companion a magic sword. His loyalty goes up by another one, it's now 13. From now on, the footman has +1 on morale dice.

[Finarvyn]

Hmmm. Well, that explains why I didn't remember a rule. Thanks to you both.

[retrorob]

Oh, I forgot. Later print of vol. I provides an additional info (bolded sentence wasn't present in the 1st one):

Non-player characters and men-at-arms will have to make morale checks (using the

above reaction table or “Chainmail”) whenever a highly dangerous or unnerving situa-

tion arises. Poor morale will mean that those in question will not perform as expected

[hamurai]

In the past I have employed a rule along the line of, when you hire someone, their base loyalty is 1d6+4. Paying more than enough is a +1 boost to loyalty which lasts for a month, paying less or nothing is -1 or -2 respectively and calls for a loyalty check. Charisma modifiers applied.
Loyalty checks were also made when morale was of importance and casualties would impose a negative modifier.
Loyalty/morale checks would be made with 2d6, the goal was rolling below the loyalty score. A 12 is always a failure.

Was too much book-keeping for me in the end (because I didn't want the players to know the loyalty scores), but it did work for a while.

[Mordorandor]

I found Chainmail morale rules work fantastically well in OD&D, with some extrapolation required.

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2021 22:51:44 GMT -6 Mordorandor said:

I found Chainmail morale rules work fantastically well in OD&D, with some extrapolation required.

That's pretty much the system that becomes codified later up through 2e so I have no problem with it.