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Other Combat Issues🔗

Attacking from Behind🔗

AC bonuses from shields are negated.

Blindness🔗

A blind character is unable to attack.

Bombing🔗

Flying creatures may pick up rocks or other objects and drop them from above.

Altitude: At most 300’.

Chance to hit: 16 or higher on 1d20.

Affected area and damage: Depending on the size of the bomb—larger creatures can carry larger bombs. For example, a bomb from a flying creature able to carry a human might inflict 2d6 damage to all creatures hit in a 10’ × 10’ area.

Invulnerabilities (Optional Rule)🔗

Some monsters can only be harmed by magical or silver weapons. The referee may allow such monsters also to be harmed by attacks from:

  • Another invulnerable monster.
  • A monster with 5 HD or greater.

Paralyzed Opponents🔗

Helpless opponents, such as those magically paralyzed or frozen, can be automatically hit in melee. Only a roll for damage is required.

Spacing🔗

The referee should judge the number of opponents that can attack a single combatant, considering the combatant’s size and the available space around them.

10’ passage: Enough space for at most 2–3 characters to fight side-by-side.

Subduing (Optional Rule)🔗

Characters that wish to subdue an intelligent opponent may declare the intent to attack without killing.

Blunt blows: Only bludgeoning attacks may be made. Bladed melee weapons can deal blunt blows by attacking with the flat of the blade.

Subdual damage: Attack and damage rolls are handled normally, but subdual damage is noted separately from actual damage.

Effect at 0 HP: An intelligent character or monster reduced to 0 hit points due to subdual damage will surrender, realizing that its opponent could have killed it.

Unarmed Attacks🔗

Attack rolls: Unarmed combat is handled the same as melee combat.

Damage: Unarmed attacks inflict 1d2 damage, modified by STR.

Unstable Surfaces🔗

Characters on an unstable surface, such as a ship in rough seas or riding a flying animal, are affected as follows:

  • Missile attacks: Suffer a -4 penalty.
  • Spells: Cannot be cast.
  • Magic items: Can be used normally.

Note that magical means of flight (e.g., a broom of flying, flying carpet, fly spell) generally do not count as unstable.

Water🔗

When fighting in or beneath water:

  • Penalties: Attack and damage rolls should be penalized.
  • Missile weapons: Usually do not work at all underwater.