Two weapon fighting in B/X?

[tkdco2]

Did B/X ever have a rule about dual wielding? I'm trying to convert my LOTRO character into B/X. 


I have a few dual-wielding characters in AD&D, but the issue has never come up in B/X. I can always use the -2/-4 penalty rule from 2E, but if there's an official rule in B/X or BECMI, I'd like to try it out.

[jeffb]

I do think that was covered in BECMI/RC.

I'd probably just go with a S&W approach (never had anyone who wanted to dual wield in D&D. Only 13th Age )

[tkdco2]

Thanks. I'll look through my BECMI books. I'm not familiar with the S&W rules, how does it do dual wielding?

[jeffb]

Two-weapon Fighting and Two-handed Weapons
Just as shields improve armor class by 1, fighting two-handed grants a +1 to damage rolls (except for weapons that can only be used two-handed, where this is already taken into account in the weapon’s damage), and fighting with a weapon in each hand gives a +1 to hit, but only in rounds in which the attacker won the initiative roll. (Note that fighting with two weapons does not actually give two separate attacks; it just increases the likelihood of landing a successful blow.)

Note
This above rule for two-handed and two-weapon fighting is the “official” rule for Swords & Wizardry, but it does not come from the Original Game, which had no rule for either situation. It comes from the creative pen of Jason Cone (“Philotomy Jurament”), a renowned crafter of house rules for the Original Game. Philotomy points out on his website that there are no specific, official rules in the Original Game for fighting two-handed or for fighting with a weapon in each hand. Under these rules, there is a result for each of three possibilities for what a hero is doing with his or her “off” hand: holding a shield, holding a weapon two-handed, or holding a second weapon. By assigning a different result to each choice (improve Armor Class, increase Damage, or gain a To-Hit bonus), players are able to pick a strategy for each particular conflict.

By the way, since a bonus on a to-hit roll has more of an effect than a bonus on damage rolls, the +1 to hit for two-weapon fighting occurs only in rounds when the wielder’s side wins the initiative roll. If you choose to play “by the book” using the Original Rules, ignore this whole section and substitute your preferred house rules for two-handed and two-weapon fighting.

[jeffb]

Personally I feel 13th Age's ranger dual wield is the best I've encountered but it is likely too powerful for OD&D games.

If when you roll your attack, you get an even natural roll (hit or miss) you get a follow up attack roll (only one follow up no matter what the second roll is)

As a dual wielder you drop weapon damage for both weapons one die step, however. So if you normally had 1d6 short swords, they would become 1d4 short swords. If you want, you can choose before your attack to roll normally one attack, and deal normal damage for the weapon type.

[Deleted]

If I were running using B/X rules I'd say that a character with a DEX of 15 or higher can dual wield, and if that character hits in melee, that character can roll two of the same damage die and take the higher number. I'd use a similar rule for characters with a STR of 15 or higher using very large single weapons like mauls or greatswords.

[Porphyre]

Jul 25, 2020 13:32:15 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

Did B/X ever have a rule about dual wielding? I'm trying to convert my LOTRO character into B/X. 


I have a few dual-wielding characters in AD&D, but the issue has never come up in B/X. I can always use the -2/-4 penalty rule from 2E, but if there's an official rule in B/X or BECMI, I'd like to try it out.

RulesCyclopedia Chap 8 : 

In many fantasy and adventure novels and
 movies, characters can fight with two weapons,
 carrying one weapon in each hand. If the DM
 wants to simulate this in his campaign, he

may—at his option—allow a character to attack
 with two weapons.

In this situation, a character who carries a
 weapon in each hand gets one additional attack
 per combat round. Both attacks take place during
 his hand-to-hand combat phase, one after

the other. The attacker can decide each round
 which weapon he uses first and which he uses
 second. The second attack is at a penalty of - 4
 to hit (but not to damage).

The way I play it : 

A fighting man or thief with Dex 15+ can use a second weapon. He can use it either to parry (-1 Armor CLass) or to attack (+1 to Hit).