Missile Weapons = multiple attacks per round?

[monk]

This is sort of a "classic D&D/AD&D" question. That is, does anyone know whether some or all missile weapons (bows/slings/throwing knives/shurikens/blowguns/etc) get more than one attack per round in these systems:

OD&D
Holmes - Moldvay/Cook
AD&D 1e

I've been inconsistently allowing 2 missile shots per round at the same target, but I need to make a decision and stick to it.

Thanks,
Monk

[coffee]

AD&D has rates of fire for its missile weapons, on page 38. So that one's easy.

Don't know of any rates of fire in Moldvay/Cook.

OD&D is a bit tricky, depending on what combat system you're using. According to Chainmail anyway, archers and longbowmen fire once per turn, but can fire twice if they don't move and are not meleed. So there is some precedent for multiple shots in a turn (round).


Hope that helps.

[monk]

Thank you! I thought the thread was going to get buried. haha.

I have Moldvay and AD&D, but didn't find it in either (guess I didn't look hard enough in the 1e). I know the combat is abstract, but I also like the idea of archers being able to get off a couple shots per round.

I'll be adopting that chainmail rule, I believe. It seems like a good set of conditions (stationary and unmolested) to restrict the 2 shots.

Thanks again.

[ehiker133]

To partially answer this question...

In the Moldvay version, on page B25, the last sentence of the second paragraph under "Missile-Fire" states, "A character may not attack twice in one round."

In context, his statement is more directed towards taking multiple unique actions (missile fire, moving AND melee combat), but I think the statement also pretty clearly stands on its own as it relates to whether or not multiple missile attacks are allowed in any given round.

[Deleted]

The main thing is that it's your game... run it the way you want. If you want to allow two shots per round under those conditions then do it. The rules in old school were really guidelines except in tournament play and that is the spirit of the old gaming system. The GM is the final word.

[cooper]

In 1e you cannot pick your target, arrows are assigned randomly to who is hit (this becomes then dangerous if you are firing into an are of friend and foe).