BX - D&D: How Combat is Done

This is how combat works in the BX version of Dungeons and Dragons, it is meant to dispel myth or explain what is not known of a portion of the game that has both launched D&D from where it was was, and shaped it into what is now.
I will be doing a whole series both looking into each area in a shallow way and later in a more in depth manner to explain it in greater detail. I am also going to be playing BX and the initial plan is to release recaps of the last week's game in a Game Vlog, but what that is where that goes will depend greatly in how it is received.
Thanks for the support and lets roll some dice!
Want to support what I am doing and join in the fun, go to Drive Thru RPG for your PDF and Digital Supplies
Affiliate Link
www.drivethrur...

[@CaptCook999]

Ah yes, the encumbrance rules. In one of my early dungeons, my Thief became the mule. He carried 2 sacks of coins in his hands. Now because of this, the DM decided that I would have to drop both bags to become unencumbered and then draw my weapons. So I would automatically lose initiative for an encounter. So my job besides being the mule was to protect the spellcasters at the back of the group. My Thief just couldn't leave all that treasure behind.

[@dmxoan]

Personally I have been on both sides of that coin shall we say. - I have played in games where the DM wanted us fighting over Copper pieces, so we hauled parts of the dungeon out to sell for something worth it. - I have played where the DM has fighters with 10 Swords they can access quickly. In my BX games I like the idea of drop-able items or mules/porters to care for it. I also have suggested and detailed out chests, not in my current game, but I have had PCs carry medium chests into the dungeon hoping to fill them. That is normally their 2md time in, but it does happen. In the BX Rules they say a small sack holds 200 coins, large sack holds 600 coins, & a backpack holds 400 coins. I treat small chests as 250 coins, medium chest as 500, and a large chest as 1000 but requires 2 people to carry out.

[@graveyardshift2100]

I understand Thac0 as you have a target number depending on your class and level. Subtract enemies AC from your Thac0 and that is your new target number for each enemy.

[@dmxoan]

The way I calc THACO is not logical to most, but it was what I taught myself when I was like 13 so... but it works lol

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

Very nice video, I really enjoyed watching it! I think the "one initiative die roll for everyone unmodified" is a really attractive element of the game. You are correct, it absolutely strips down some of the details that slow the game down (like individual initiative), but it also does something very interesting I think and something that I love about the older editions. It promotes a "group" feel to the game. By this I mean it creates more of a feeling of a party of characters all working together in concert for success, rather than an individual "hero" performing some individual action. Although the Thief character might have a high DEX and be able to react more quickly, because they are trying to work together with the other PCs they might have to hold back a little bit so as not to disadvantage an ally in some way and instead work with the slower ally and coordinate their actions for success in the encounter. Having all the members of the party act at the same time, and all the monsters in the same group act at the same time, it creates a "team sport" mindset for the game that I think is really cool.

[@dmxoan]

In the past one way we tried to resolve this is to sit in Dexterity order left to the right. That is gives the higher dex a higher position, but it doesn't flex a lot and can feel static sometimes.

[@8moebius8]

Checked out this video multiple times, thx.

[@dmxoan]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[@andrewhaldenby4949]

Fantastic ty! I’m just starting again with BECMI , with the kids

[@dmxoan]

That is awesome what world ate you plying?

[@andrewhaldenby4949]

@@dmxoan Mystara. Starting with a version of Castle Mistamere from the Basic Set

[@msouthard8144]

Very well put together and informative video. Recent B/X convert and love the game.

[@dmxoan]

Glad you enjoyed it! I love how it gets to the point quickly and leaves in the hands of the DM

[@retrodmray]

THACO - roll = AC hit! Pretty easy. Add your total pluses to your roll and subtract your minuses and then roll versus the above formula. THACO in BX started at 19 at level 1. In 1st edition and 2nd edition it was 20 to start.

[@dmxoan]

Yep all of that is true, I also used THACO that way when I played as a kid and even now

[@retrodmray]

@@dmxoan Thnx for the reply and vid! 👍

[@emdotambient]

THAC0 - (roll + mods) is pretty easy ... until it's 2 AM and you've been drinking since 8 PM! (nyuck, nyuck). Roll + mods = AC you hit is way easier. But I managed to live with THAC0 for over 30 years, so I guess it ain't all that bad.

[@matthewkirkhart2401]

The benefit of ascending AC compared to descending AC with THACO for most players, especially young ones, is that you avoid subtraction of large numbers which, mentally, is just not as easy for most people as adding large numbers. I think this is a fairly minor difference, but like emdotambient says in this thread, at 2 AM it gets a little dicey (no pun intended) to do subtraction. I think a big part of this is the psychological approach one takes to the game. And before I start this, I'm not making a case that one is better, I'm making the case that they are different and seem to be related to the preference for ascending or descending AC plus THACO. Modern versions of the game, pretty much from 2nd edition on it seems to me, have the approach that the player is told what AC they need to hit. They are shooting for some target number, meaning that they usually know it before they roll the die. If this is the person's psychological approach to the game, ascending AC is the easiest method. THACO is still viable, but it requires a bit more math and it requires subtraction. But someone like me, a more traditional B/X player from way back in the early 80s before 2nd edition even came out, at least back then did not take this psychological approach to the game. Instead, the way the rules describe it and the way we played it is the player made an attack roll and informed the DM what AC or worse they hit given their attack roll. There is no "known" target number to the player. The player is not "shooting" for a particular number with their roll. In this case it's all about having the attack table on the character sheet in front of you. You roll the d20, apply modifiers for STR or DEX depending on the type of attack, and shout out to the DM, "I hit AC 4!" and that's all there is to it. The DM consults the monster's description, if the AC of the monster is 4 or higher the PC hit the monster and either the player, or if you are really old school the DM, rolls the damage for the successful attack. To me, this difference in psychological approach of either rolling to hit a target number, or rolling and announcing how successful your attack was, is an important factor in affecting your preference for ascending AC, descending AC plus THACO, or even simply using the attack table. I think knowing how you want to approach playing in this regard should guide which of these approaches will likely work best for you.

[@freddaniel5099]

I know that you made this video a while ago, but I just stumbled upon it this morning. Looking forward to exploring this channel (old and new) and subscribed.

[@dmxoan]

Yes I have made that video a while ago but I still produce BX D&D videos often my next video will actually be one

[@99zxk]

The way I do THACO is Roll + Bonuses + AC as the DC. Also, correct me of I'm wrong, and I very well could be as it's been a long time, but I thought that one couldn't move if they're casting. I'm pretty sure that you say that later in the video, but earlier you said that wizards want Initiative so they can move out of reach before casting.

[@dmxoan]

Yeah I did the same thing long before 3rd edition came out, Ascending AC made way more since then Dscending. But the conversion is simple so I didn't make waves. You are correct spells required your complete focus as your position and words effected the spell.

[@99zxk]

@@dmxoan If you haven't played with newer edition players, their reaction to descending AC is always priceless. I'll agree that ascending seems better, but descending is not as bad as younger players think. Of course the number range in 3.5 and PF are crazy with AC's in the 30s. Never will see a -15 AC in old school games (or two hour battles.)

[@99zxk]

The US actually has made 22kt 1 oz gold coins, which will be 16 per pound. The D&D weight is not far off at 1.6 oz. Your system makes 0.32 oz per coin. At 20 coins per pound, you get .8 oz coins, which is much closer to reality than both.

[@dmxoan]

Cool thanks for the crunch, I did the math a while back and I felt this was close, but what I exactly based it on I can't remember. Lol

[@99zxk]

@@dmxoan I think that quarters are a bit over 50, maybe close to 60 per pound. Quarters are made out of materials lighter than high purity gold, though, and I'm betting that the 1 oz coins are the size of $0.50 pieces or larger.

[@dmxoan]

You are not wrong, I think something close and it is same every time is the important part

[@danacoleman4007]

audio is bad

[@dmxoan]

I completely agree, if you get a chance to watch other BX or my AD&D 1e content it should be fixed.