Weapon Class in 1974 D&D

#TTRPG #roleplayinggame #dungeonsanddragons #DnD #oldschool #wargames #medievalweapons #gygax
This week, I explain weapon class and a nifty table you can use for your 1974 Dungeon and Dragons games.

[@TheBasicExpert]

Get the short free PDF here: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/495502/weapon-class-for-wight-box?affiliate_id=2970599 Check out my substack and other links here: thebasicexpert.substack.com/

[@macoppy6571]

The humble spear just became terrifying again 😳

[@btrenninger1]

I think you are hundred percent correct. Without weapon class the major aspects of tactics within the game are missing.

[@thehussar5604]

This table is very helpful. I've been intrigued by Chainmail combat since Bandit's Keep did a video on it but I could never quite grasp the weapon class thing. Its finally starting to click.

[@toddpickens]

Simplified encumbrance is also a good way to meaningfully differentiate weapons. If you use slots, for example, maybe a dagger takes up 1 slot, a long sword takes up 2, while a spear takes up 3 or 4. This doesn't affect the combat aspect of the game, but does force the player to have to think about the weapons and gear they choose more tactically.

[@TheBasicExpert]

@@toddpickens inventory and encumbrance in 0e is something I want to cover soon. It's not slot based. Still coin weight. But it actually does it in a very intelligent way.

[@WinnipegKnightlyArts]

Has the same energy as travelers matrix. I love it.

[@mlfetlesjdrenbref1306]

Nice! Love this.

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! Well said all around!

[@Humphreysfox]

Good discussion. ive always wanted more value in weapon selection over and above just damage otherwise it's just aesthetic

[@darkknightofhibernia4815]

The more i hear you speak about Chainmail, the more i want to play it

[@raff3486]

Nice video

[@JollyRoger-1786]

Very interesting video! I mostly play BX retroclones, like OSE, and my only real play experience with an OD&D retroclone is White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game (which I did like). But I have to give Wight Box a try, I have your Cowpunchers Reloaded and I like that game a lot! *Regarding the video, how would you handle monsters "natural weapon" attacks in this sort of table (like an Owlbear claws)?

[@hadeseye2297]

In my own system weapon size matters. Weapons are small, medium and large. No difference in size has no impact on a difficulty, but... One who has a weapon of 1, or 2 sizes lower than his opponent is given a panalty of -2, or -4 to his attack roll. All rolls are lower or equal. In other words Dagger attack skill of 13 is lowered to 9 while attacking someone with polearm. Attributes, skills and combat skills are all d20 based, lower or equal, with "save" rolls made with use of Attributes - no more posion ST, but plain Constitution with poison modifier. Defense is something different as it's based on Dex modifier, weapon skill defense value, and eventually type of a shield. A tower shield has it's own defense with penalties to attack and Dexterity, while small shields or buckler has it's own midifier, that is being added to Dex mod and weapon skill Defense. In other words system is made in such a matter, that two sword masters fighting each other will have same chances of hitting the opponent as any rookie does. But when fighting weaker opponents they have advantage. Just like having a shield or weapon of longer range gives an advantage. So definitely weapon class, or size matters and it has huge impact on the outcome. Using a stupid candleholder one can find in a sanctuary, or a chair gives an improvised Defense, which lowers Attack roll of the other parties involved. PS. Every eweapon doing exactly the same base damage is a wise idea. There's no difference between dagger, sword, spear, or axe, as they all have a cutting or stabbing point. You can modify it by its weight, weapon skill, or STR modifier. All combined shouldn't change it too much. That's why I use d10 for damage and HP is fixed at a higher level than 1st level character. It still can be improved but not too much. There are no character/class levels in mine design, so game feel as risky in the beginning as in many sessions later. The plain chance factor is always there. That's why even a novice can deal some dangerous damage to experienced adventurer with sheer luck. Combat should always have death factor calculated in it.

[@Stygard]

I was trying out your game and I wasn’t sure how to handle the multi attacks based on class when it was a 2-1 fight. Any suggestions or clarification?

[@TheBasicExpert]

Like one hero character vs 2 NPC foes or something?

[@vagrant2502]

I like the idea of this, that weapons vary more on when they face each other rather than damage. I think the only thing I can think of that might change this is range (which I am not sure is given in this table, but I can be wrong), where the spear is long so I can stay out of the swords range to hit me as long as I can keep him from getting in range, where if he does, my spear is a little pointless as he would have passed my spear point to do so. Would this be counted in these rules? Just would like to know your opinion on this. Anyway, great stuff.

[@TheBasicExpert]

I think the range might have to be just be adjudicated by the ref but I'll have to go back to Chainmail to double check. There may be something I missed! This is partly simulated by allowing the larger weapon to attack first.

[@jmanclan]

Im very interested to try this out, gonna try to get a solo game in this weekend then run a short dungeon with like 2 people to get the hang of it

[@TheBasicExpert]

@@jmanclan good luck!

[@_The_God_King_]

I really like the concept, but I can garuantee neither myself nor my players want to reference an annotated table every attack action

[@Zoblin161]

The BROosr are here again