Original Dungeons & Dragons With Chainmail Combat

I played OD&D with Chainmail using ‪@BanditsKeep‬ 's system. It's pretty awesome. It creates a whole new feel to the game and is worth checking out for anyone who wants to play OD&D the way it was originally intended. It works equally well with White Box if you don't want to use OD&D.
P.S. Not sure what's going on with the sound, it seems like it doubled up for some reason.
Check out the Bandit's Keep podcast for more in depth explanations on the system.
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[@freddaniel5099]

Great to have new videos from you. When running OD&D I think that switching between different "combat" systems makes sense. The choice allows a different feel to different encounters. A combat against a big monster can use a different die rolling mechanic (fantasy table) than fighting man-to-man or even verses a group of bandits. Fast combat, deadly fighting men, variety and versatility. And an opportunity to make choices and use our own judgment. Cool!

[@heroeshomebrew]

The different combat tables really makes a huge difference in the feel and speed of the combat. It feels gritty and dangerous.

[@Plantgrowth]

We've been toying with a kind of Chainmail Hack for our games. We basically use the man-to-man table with slight adjustments, but the target always dies/is downed if a hit is scored. Player characters get to roll after the combat while checking the wounded if they're dead, wounded or just bruised and down. We use the weapon class initiative and parry/counter rules as well. We've added entries for common animals and monster types, how easy it is for them to kill or take down somebody using any of the armour types and which armour class they belong to. We removed hitpoints and everything is just more or less roleplayed and if there is a question of skill or chance, such as saving throws or breaking a door, we roll on a table with difficulty values between 4 and 16. Double sixes roll one extra die and reduce 1 from the result. The DM just chooses how difficult it is for the character and the rest is up to the die roll. Carthweeling to safety might be easier for a more dextrous rougish character than it is for your average peasant or a warrior in heavy armour. Skill differences in combat come from extra combat actions. For example, a skilled fighter could get 3 actions they can spend on attacking or parrying. Parrying also stacks if the parry is done against a single attack, so a skilled character is very unlikely to be slain unless they're fought by somebody who is their equal or better, because they can use, for example, 2 out of 3 actions to parry and the last one for attacking. Less skilled character with their 2 actions for example could spend both actions to parry or one to parry one to attack or both to attack. Fights are dangerous and very deadly, yet not always to the death when it comes clear for one side they are severely outmached. There's a ton of nuance in our rules, which I can't really go in too deeply in the video comments, but we've had a blast with it. Characters are purely description based and they're just as strong or weak as the players describe them to be. There's also quite a bit of character building happening along the way as new ideas pop into people's mind. Though playing this way might not be very exiting for people who like character sheets, numbers and modifiers and clearly established rules when it comes down to numbers, but it is quite fun anyway. At the very least making a new character is super simple. Just grab a piece of paper and a pen, scribble down your name and you're basically good to go at that point.

[@heroeshomebrew]

That sounds like an interesting hack. I find OD&D and Chainmail are very versatile when it comes to modifying our implementing your own rules without breaking the game. It lets you build and create a game that’s perfect for your table. Well done.

[@rogueskypilot4116]

Where can a commoner like me find your homebrew rules? Or must I hire bilbo to burgle them from you?

[@DjigitDaniel]

Excellent video. Had to watch it four times before I fully wrapped my head around it. Also had to rewatch the referenced video by Bandit's Keep twice more. I'm not sure how I feel about Chainmail. I love it in theory, but I'm not sure I wish to use it. I completely understand why one WOULD use it... but I have experienced why one WOULDN'T use it as low density combat systems dominate my successful gaming experience. Again, PHENOMENAL video and I would be PRIVILEGED to roll at your table with these rules... but I need to chew on it for my own purposes.

[@heroeshomebrew]

I was the same. I had to read and re-read the PDF by Bandit’s Keep and rewatch the video. I played some combat scenarios on my own as well before trying it with the group. When looking at it it seems clunky but it works really well.

[@macoppy6571]

Excellent recap and review. I hope you are motivated to do a demonstration.

[@heroeshomebrew]

I’ve been using it during my solo actual play but perhaps a demo video would be fun.

[@dmxoan]

I am a fan of White Box, but i have not played it yet, I currently play BX & OD&D using the Man-to-Man rules myself.

[@heroeshomebrew]

@@dmxoan White Box is a blast. Very easy to implement the man to man combat rules and Chainmail with it.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

I’m going to have to check out Chainmail. It feels as though the Year Zero engine riffs off of it. Interesting. I think you had two mics on in the video, they aren’t entirely synced so that’s where the slight reverb effect is coming from/ Also, new camera? I see it’s a wide-angle.

[@heroeshomebrew]

It really gives a whole new dimension to White Box and OD&D combat. It’s possible there were 2 mice. I think more likely is I had the headphones that were plugged into the mic to close to it so it picked that up. Camera is the same. This is what happens when I record before coffee.

[@jasonpassofaro3305]

It just doesn’t make sense. It’s why people in plate carried tiny daggers lol.

[@heroeshomebrew]

With the man to man combat tables a dagger has less of a chance to hit than a sword does so it does actually balance out. At least more than using the little brown books without Chainmail.

[@jasonpassofaro3305]

@@heroeshomebrew I’m gonna try to make my own version. If I stick to my word I’ll come out with videos in a year or two lmfao. But this gave me a great idea to use thaco and this combined. Instead of the 2d6 that is where thaco will be. And it will be like 5e where dependent on your ability scores will make you get a +D6 up to five success system like wrath and glory. And than that adds to your thaco to hit. Than when you fight humans you use the d20 to hit and the d6 as added damage as normal. And the monster chart will be separate and be more based off the D6 value. And same with fighting hordes the D6 will essentially be the amount of people can hit. I think I’m going to also have a separate thing for mass combat to corilated it to both sea ships and mass wars control. It’s pretty ambitious 🤣

[@heroeshomebrew]

@@jasonpassofaro3305 sounds like quite the task. It’ll be interesting to see when it’s done.

[@amoqueca]

Well, against armored guys ,daggers weren't the main weapons, they knocked out using heavy weapons and then finished with daggers.

[@heroeshomebrew]

@@amoqueca true. The weapons vs armor tables balance everything out and it makes sense in the end.

[@Cr4z3d]

Seems like this _could_ be fun...still, if you do this instadeath combat, what's the point of HP? In the actual OD&D book, it outlines that HP is actually _determined_ by rolling a specific number of d6 off the table for what level you are, + a modifier in some cases, for a sum total. This actually feels more like the Dungeon! boardgame, also made by TSR.

[@heroeshomebrew]

The instant death comes into play with troop combat when it’s larger numbers of combatants. Man to man combat does use HP and is more forgiving when it comes to being hit.

[@Cr4z3d]

@@heroeshomebrew Ahh, ok, thanks for that clarification, that makes sense.