Optional Damage Rule - advice please...

[Mike]

Hi folks,

I'm using WhiteBox as my base rules but borrowing heavily from LBBs and Chainmail.

I'd like hit dice to represent something more than just hit points and I'm considering this alternative:

After a mêlée hit is confirmed, damage is determined by rolling a number of dice equal to the attacker’s HD but only the highest single die is considered. Any plus the character has is also included in the total. A first level fighter (1+1 HD) would roll one die and add one point to the total to determine damage.

Where the player of a Fighting-man rolls two or more dice and 2 or more sixes result, a second attack is made using the d20 to confirm a second hit. When calculating damage for the second hit, roll one less hit die. High level characters and monsters with large reserves of hit dice can sometimes link several successful attacks together, decimating lesser foes.

My reasons so far:
- Maximum damage of 6 or 7 points increasingly weighted towards the top of the scale as play progresses
- More HD grants the opportunity for multiple attacks without it being a given (even an ancient dragon might only roll one or no sixes)
- More HD equates to the potential for more damage - you keep rolling to hit as long as your damage roll includes 2 or more sixes, you just roll one less HD each successful hit

Advice please:
- Should the extra attacks be limited to fighting-men? In AD&D I believe multiple attacks are restricted to fighters and their subclasses but in Chainmail, heroes get multiple attacks whatever their stripe?
- High HD will almost always score the maximum damage, is this good, bad or irrelevant?
- I'm not proposing to apply this system to missile fire, archers are at less risk and have multiple attacks with the right weapons already; should I re-think?

Many thanks in advance folks...

[Deleted]

In the RAW player-characters already progress in ability to hit an opponent in combat as said PC increases in level. At the same time, they are more able to resist the attacks of the enemy with increased hit points.

Mind you, I don't regard the printed rules as inviolable, but I am a fan of keeping rules simple and the game moving. The rules as written do a pretty good job of reflecting a combat-savvy PC and the integration with game-flow is nearly seamless.

Do you plan to give the improved damage and multiple attacks to monsters, too? Personally, if my gut reaction to the above question was "no, of course not!" then I would be inclined to not implement the rule.

I am a fan of folks running the game in whatever fashion brings them fulfillment but, since you've asked, I'll say that my impression is your proposed variant adds complexity without adding to the fun factor.

Bottom line? Go with what is the best option for your game.

[Mike]

Thanks for the comment DuBeers, I may never use these mods but yes, I was planning on allowing critters the same chance of multiple attacks.

[busman]

Jan 30, 2012 1:36:40 GMT -6 Mike said:

Thanks for the comment DuBeers, I may never use these mods but yes, I was planning on allowing critters the same chance of multiple attacks.

Brutal.

You won't have players making it past 4th level, ever. =)

[Alex]

I think this alternate system would get very slow and unpleasant at 6th level and higher. Far too many rolls as you have to assess the outcome to determine if you need to roll another attack and then assess that to determine if you need to roll damage again, and so on. I prefer 1 attack roll, 1 damage roll. A "roll" may comprise multiple dice, mind you. Try this idea out:
1. Attack as always using the alternate combat tables in Men & Magic / Swords & Wizardry White Box.
2. If you hit, roll your Hit Dice. Damage done is the highest die showing, PLUS 1 point for each additional die tied for highest value showing, PLUS any modifiers from Hit Dice.

Example: A Lord (9th level) with 9+3 HD attacks. He uses the "7-9" column on ATTACK MATRIX 1 to hit with a d20. Assuming he hits, he rolls 9d6+3, and for each die that matches the highest showing die get an extra +1. I rolled 9d6 just now and got: 4 5 4 1 5 4 5 2 5. The highest value is 5, and there are 3 extra 5s, so the result is 5 (high die) + 3 (duplicates) + 3 (HD bonus) = 11 damage. In another example I roll: 5 6 4 6 5 1 2 5 5. In this case the result is 6 (high die) + 1 (duplicates) + 3 (HD bonus) = 10 damage.

It only requires 1 attack roll and 1 damage roll so it is much faster. It allows high level characters to do more damage, but it doesn't get ridiculous like in SAGA or 4E, and there's always the chance that you roll 4 3s and a 6 or 8 1s but the outcome will usually be fairly close to 2.5+HD....