by Lenard Lakofka

 
 

Rule 1	Rule 2	Rule 3	Rule 4	Rule 5
Rule 6	Rule 7	Rule 8	Rule 9	Rule 10
Dragon 43	-	1e AD&D	-	Dragon

Melee is a source of controversy in AD&D. It can very easily be
shown that a figure with selected magic items and weapons can
perform 10 separate actions in a melee round. This “reality,” however, does not fit within the context of the rules of AD&D. “Reality”
will allow some characters to perform too many actions while others,
usually those without magic devices, will be limited to one action per
round.
<missing text?>
will do more damage, etc.). Spell-like functions from devices fall in
these same categories.

The following melee system is still in the “playtest” stage. I have
been using it to answer the question, “How many actions can be
performed in a melee round?”

The number of actions that can be performed during 1 melee
round are limited to three (3). (There are a few exceptions: Highlevel monks are allowed four (4) open hand attacks per melee
round; a pummeling attack might include more than three (3) attacks
in 1 round; a person under the effect of a Haste spell or a Potion of
SPEED is allowed double the normal physical attacks in a melee
round; and so forth.)

In the vast majority of cases, actions are limited to these three
types:
1. Physical action (including moving)
2. Spell action
3. Device action

Rule 1. Only one spell can be cast in a melee round. Haste will
not alter this rule. Some rare magical device might allow for multiple
spells per round if and only if the DM accepts such an item and places
it in his/her game.

Rule  2. The character is limited to a certain number of purposeful attacks in a melee round. If he/she/it is allowed only one attack,
then only one can occur. If he/she/it is allowed three attacks every
two rounds then one attack plus the chance for one more would
occur. A character cannot perform more attacks than he/she/it is
entitled to (Haste would be taken into account). Thus, a Magic-User
with only 1 attack allowed in a melee round could fire a Wand of
Fire (for a Fire Ball), but then no offensive spell could be cast by
him/her in that same melee round. In like manner, the Magic-User
could not then move and attack with a dagger in the same melee
round.


Magic weapons and armor do not count in this discussion of
devices when the weapon is used to strike. If a weapon has a power
or an ability then it does count. Example: A fighter has a sword with a
Fly ability. He has a Horn of Valhalla and a Wand of Enemy Detection. If he is in the air and blows the horn, he will find that if he also
tries to activate the wand, the wand would not function in that round.
If he is in the air and activates the wand, the horn will not function in
that round. If he uses the horn and then activates the wand, the
sword will not let him fly in that round.

Rule  3. A figure who casts Teleport, Dimension Door, Wind
Walk, etc. cannot cast an offensive spell nor use a device to attack in
that same melee round. That includes such striking weapons as the
Staff of the Magi or a Staff of Striking, but not a magical or nonmagical weapon like a dagger, mace or sword. However, such a
figure might instigate a physical attack by an opponent with weapon,
claw or fang, and would certainly be allowed a chance to physically
defend himself.

What constitutes an offensive spell or an attack from a device?
Obviously, a Fire Ball is an attack; so is a Magick Missile (Note: If fired
from a wand, 2 missile discharges are allowed per attack because
of the nature of that particular wand.). But what of a Wall of Ice or
Darkness 15’ Radius? If a spell inhibits a figure directly (Hold Person,
Charm Person, Paralyzation, Stinking Cloud, Darkness 15’ Radius,
Slow, etc.) it is an attack. If a spell has the potential to damage, even
if the spell is not being used to damage, it is considered an attack
(Burning Hands to light a torch, Wall of Ice to close a passage,
Explosive Runes to trap a book, Glyph of Warding to protect a door,
Flame Arrow, Fire Shield, Polymorph Other, Enlarge a sword so it

will do more damage, etc.). Spell-like functions from devices fall in
these same categories.

Rule  4. A figure can use a device with a spell or even use two
devices as long as only one potential attack is involved. Thus, a held
sword could be commanded to Detect Magic and a Figurine of
Wondrous Power could be ordered to attack someone in the same
melee round. A figure could cast Protection from Evil and then jump
into a well using a Ring of Feather Falling. A figure could cast
Invisibility on a party member and then put on a Ring of Invisibility
him/herself.
<update Invisibility, above>

Rule  5. A figure can never purposefully use three devices, or
two devices and one spell, in the same melee round. Thus, if a lone
figure were on a Flying Carpet he/she could cast a Fire Ball, but if a
Ring of Invisibility were then put on, it would not function immediately since the lone figure had used a spell and a device (the carpet)
already in that round. However, if a Manticore attacked in the same
round and knocked the Magic-User off the carpet, an already worn
Ring of Feather Falling would work, since the Magic-User had no
purposeful intent to activate the device. The Magic-User would get
quite a surprise if he/she purposefully tried to jump off the carpet in
the same round he/she fired the Fire Ball for then the Ring would not
function.

Magic weapons and armor do not count in this discussion of
devices when the weapon is used to strike. If a weapon has a power
or an ability then it does count. Example: A fighter has a sword with a
Fly ability. He has a Horn of Valhalla and a Wand of Enemy Detection. If he is in the air and blows the horn, he will find that if he also
tries to activate the wand, the wand would not function in that round.
If he is in the air and activates the wand, the horn will not function in
that round. If he uses the horn and then activates the wand, the
sword will not let him fly in that round.

Devices are considered to be activated on the round they are
obtained or put on, with the exception of Rings of Protection, Cloaks
of Protection, Magic Armor and Magic Weapons (unless the weapon
has some power or ability that also comes into play when drawn, like
a Holy _ Defender _ Sword). Thus, putting on a Ring of Invisibility, Ring
of Feather Falling, Ring of Fire Resistance, et. al., would count as a
device action in that round even if the ring did not provide a use in
that round. Removing an item is considered deactivation of a device
and does count as a device action.

Rule  6. If a figure moves before or after some action in the
melee round, that movement is counted as 1 of the 3 actions
allowed in the round. Movement of less than ten (10) feet total can
be taken in two stages in the same round and will count as only one
physical action. Thus, a figure can step into a doorway, discharge a
missile/device/spell and then step back behind the wall, and only
one physical action would be charged for the movement. If the figure
had to step into a wide corridor, however, more than 10 feet would
be traveled and two physical actions would be counted. Note that
popping up from behind a rock, peeking around a door, and similar
actions (without actually traveling) count as movement by this rule
but the figure could duck back down behind the rock or move back
around the door without having that count as a separate physical
action. Exception: If the figure is damaged in mid-move or enspelled
in any way, then the first half of the move is considered one full
physical action in the round.

If a figure uses his/her full attack potential (killing an opponent or
rendering it helpless), then he/she cannot instigate any more attacks
in that round. Thus, if a figure kills an opponent in segment 1 of a
round he/she may still elect to MOVE in the balance of the round but
he/she could not grapple, overbear, pummel or attack someone/
something later in that round. The moving figure could be attacked
by someone else, of course.

Rule 7. If a figure is allowed to fire multiple missiles in a melee
round (arrows, darts or whatever), he/she is allowed no more than
10 feet of movement during a round in which he/she fires all of those
millies. Example: A Fighter can fire 2 arrows or 3 darts per
round. If he fires them all he can move no further than 10 feet.
If arrows are used, the 10 feet can be split if and only if the split MOVE
is taken before the first shot and after the second shot. If darts are
used, splitting the ten-foot movement allowance is forbidden.

Rule  8. A figure who has multiple missile capacity but does not
discharge all of his/her missiles is only allowed a weapon blow if
he/she is entitled to at least three blows every two rounds. Thus, a
fighter (or any other class) cannot fire an arrow/crossbow/dart/sling
and then attack with a weapon if he/she is allowed only one attack
per round. A charging character, however, can throw a spear, ax,
throwing dagger or javelin and still get a normal blow under certain
circumstances. (Note: Most daggers are not balanced for throwing
(only 15% are) and a character must be trained to throw a dagger.
Thus, a first- to fifth-level Magic-User cannot throw a dagger at all.
He/she must learn to wield the dagger as a hand-held weapon first,
no matter how much the Magic-User will argue to the contrary!)

The thrower must launch the missile at the beginning of his/her
charge with no penalty “to hit” (first to fourth segments). If the
thrower is in motion when the missile is launched, consider the
weapon - 1 “to hit.” The launching takes one full segment of movement potential in all cases, even if the launcher is mounted. If the
charging figure has some segments of movement left after the charge
is over, he/she/it can use a weapon if he/she/it can roll a number
equal to or less than the number of segments remaining on d8.
Those who attack with claw and/or fang use d6. Example: A Fighter
charges with a spear. He launches it in segment two. He travels for
three more segments to reach his opponent. There are five segments
left. If he rolls 1-5 on d8 he may attack; 6-8, he may not. This rules
applies to pummeling, overbearing and grappling as well.

Rule 9.  A figure is allowed to defend his/her person with a
weapon if the attack is brought to the figure and if the figure’s
three-action-per-round limit has not been exceeded. Thus, a Fighter
launches an arrow in segment number 2. In segment number 5
an orc arrives to hit the fighter. The Fighter normally would not be
allowed a weapon attack, but he may draw his blade and defend his
person in this situation. However, he could not defend himself by
striking, so that he would obtain more than his allowed number of
blows per round. If he had attacked and killed an orc in segment
number 2 with his sword and another orc arrives on segment
number 5, he could not strike another blow. However, in either
case, the Fighter may elect to parry the incoming blow—assuming
the weapons are ones that can oppose one another in that manner.
Parrying a large weapon with a smaller one is done at +1 to the
defender’s AC. Parrying an equal-sized weapon gives + 2 to
AC. Parrying a small weapon with a larger one gives +3 to
AC. However, initiative and weapon speed factors must be
considered. The slower weapon is always at least - 1 on initiative to
parry (-2 if the speed factors are four or more points apart). Finally,
if the attacker has at least two full points of Strength more than the
defender, a + 1 to the defender’s AC is erased. The obverse
is not true, however.

Example: A Fighter with chainmail and shield (AC 4) is
attacked by an orc. Both have long swords, both are Strength 17.
The Fighter may consider himself AC 2 if he can beat or tie
the orc’s initiative. If he does not beat the orc’s initiative, then he is
still AC 4. If he were Strength 17 and the orc only 15 there
would be no change. If he were Strength 16 and the orc 18, then 1
“plus” to AC is negated, so the Fighter becomes AC
3. If the orc had a halberd and the fighter a sword the AC is

boosted by only + 1 for the fighter, but the orc is -2 on initiative due
to the weapon speed factor difference of 4 points (halberd 9, long
sword 5). A figure can always attempt to thwart an overbearing,
pummeling or grappling attack with his/her weapon, regardless of
the number of actions already taken in that round.

Rule 10.  Figures must state their intentions based upon what
they can sense (usually see) at the beginning of the melee round. “I
will attack the 4th orc with my sword.” “I will cast a Fire Ball tying to
hit the 4 orcs now together on the hilltop.” “I will charge the
human Fighter on the left.” THE WIZARD in this example can
change his/her aim slightly, since in the 3 segments needed to
cast, the orcs might split up to some degree—he/she can name
his/her final target once 2 segments have passed in the casting,
needing only one segment to aim. A spell-user can never begin
casting and then invoke Castus Interruptus. A spell is cast from
beginning to end (or until the spell is spoiled) with no pauses. If an
event occurs before a figure’s stated action has taken place he/she
might be allowed a new action or a CHANGE in the stated action. To
effect such a change, 1 segment must be used in making up one’s
mind. If a spell-casting is in progress it must be completed. If a spell
from a device is in progress it must be completed. A figure must
sometimes roll to see if he/she specifically observes the event in
question. Consider observation automatic if the appearance or
event takes place within 10 feet of a TARGET of his/her present action.
A SAVE (with no alteration for magic, spell, race, device or
dexterity) is required on any questionable observation. It can be
altered by a number from - 1 to -8, depending on how out-of-the-way the action is from the figure’s line of sight. The DM must rule on
the amount of a saving-throw modifier on a case-by-case basis.

One character seeing an event can warn another who does not
see it. One segment must be used in stating the warning (or making
gestures). Example of a - 1 modifier: A figure appears 20 feet to the
left of a target orc. The appearing figure is in broad daylight. The orc
and figure are over 60 feet from the observer, so the angle between
them is small. There is nothing between the figure, the orc and the
observer. Example of a -8 modifier: A figure is firing a bow. A
demon teleports behind him/her 10 feet away. There is much noise
and no one warns him/her of the demon coming up from behind.
Even if someone did warn him/her, he/she might still not be able to
react since the demon is so close. The best he/she could hope for
would be negating the demon’s +2 to hit from behind. The figure
would not be able to get the 1st blow and would not be able to swing
around and fire the arrow at the demon.
 

If a figure is not in the middle of an action or if the action has not
yet started, he/she/it might be allowed to react to the new information. Example: A Wizard states that he/she will fire a Magick
Missile at an opposing Magic-User who at the beginning of the round
is facing away from the caster. The Magic-User rolls 4 for initiative
but on segment number one the opponent Magic-User vanishes
(Invisibility? Teleportation? Dimension Door? Illusion?). The first
Magic-User might change to a new target, and might be allowed a
new spell altogether. He/she must use a segment (minimum) if a new
spell or action is contemplated. (It might be much longer if a material
component is required.) If the components for a new spell were not
at hand, he/she might get no action that round.

As you test this system, you may want to make other rules. I
would be anxious to hear what those additions might be. Since this
system has had only a short playtest time other rules might well be
needed. Players, as you know, can be very inventive.
Future articles will deal with more realistic movement rates and
the spell-casting times needed to go with them—and there will be no
provision for Olympic feats or “GI Joe”/“Conan” characters when
movement is considered!