OD&D Combat Sequence

Combat Sequence

initiative

Both sides roll 1d6 for initiative; high roll wins.

missile/spell

In initiative order, both sides fire missiles, cast spells, etc.

movement

Side with initiative moves up to half move

movement

Side without initiative moves up to half move

missile/spell

In initiative order, both sides fire missiles, cast spells, etc.

movement

Side without initiative moves the remaining half move

movement

Side with initiative moves the remaining half move

missile/spell

Unengaged combatants fire missile, cast spells, etc.

melee

Engaged combatants fight one round of melee.

Rules for Missile/Ranged Attacks

Archers standing still may fire twice (in phase 2 or 5, and phase 8)

Archers taking a half-move may fire once (in phase 2 or 8). However, archers with split-move-and-fire ability (e.g. elves, mounted archers) that take a half-move may fire once in a missile phase of their choice (2, 5, or 8).

Archers taking a full-move may not fire. However, archers with split-move-and-fire ability (e.g. elves, mounted archers), may take a full-move and fire once in phase 5, only.

Slingers standing still may fire once (in phase 2, 5, or 8)

Slingers taking a half-move may fire once (in phase 2 or 8).

Slingers taking a full-move may not fire.

Crossbowmen standing still may fire once (in phase 2 or 5) and reload*

Crossbowmen standing still may reload* and fire once (in phase 5 or 8).

Crossbowmen taking a half-move may fire once (in phase 2 or 8) or reload*

Crossbowmen taking a full-move may reload*, but may not fire

* Heavy crossbowmen require a full round (with no movement) to reload

Combatants hurling spears, axes, or hammers may fire once (in phase 2, 5, or 8) and take a full-move, including charge, if desired.

Combatants hurling daggers or javelins may fire once (in phase 2, 5, or 8) and take a full-move with charge.

Combatants hurling daggers or javelins may fire twice (in phase 2 or 5, and phase 8) and take a full-move without charge.

Rules for Spellcasting

A spell caster cannot move and cast a spell in the same round.

A spell caster may not cast a spell while engaged in melee. If the caster becomes engaged while casting, but before the spell is finished, the spell is interrupted and lost. This rule does not apply to power words, holy words, Word of Recall, devices, and many innate abilities. The referee may also make exceptions to this rule for spells that are intended for use in melee (e.g. a touch attack spell).

A spell caster may cast a maximum of one spell per round.

Casting time for spells depends on the level and type of spell

1st-2nd level spells Power Words Holy Words Word of Recall Devices Innate Abilities	IMMEDIATE/NO DELAY
3rd-6th level spells 1st-2nd level scrolls	+1 SPELL PHASE
7th-9th level spells 3rd-6th level scrolls	FULL ROUND
7th-9th level scrolls	FULL ROUND + 1 SPELL PHASE

Rules for Melee & Movement

Combatants who take a full-move may not engage in melee unless they charge.

Combatants are considered engaged in melee when the distance between them is equal to or less than the longest reach (e.g. weapon reach, et cetera). Alternatively, this may be simplified to 10 ft.

A moving combatant who becomes engaged may not leave engagement or continue movement to the flanks or rear of his opponent during the initial round of engagement. A combatant not already engaged in melee may move a maximum of 5' right or left in order to confront and contact an enemy attempting to bypass or move into a flanking position.

If one combatant in a melee has allies to his immediate left or right which are not engaged with other enemies, these allies may move into flanking positions against their common enemy after the first round of melee.

Flanking position grants a +1 bonus to hit and negates any benefit from the target's shield.

Rear positioning grants a +2 bonus to hit, and negates any benefit from the target's shield.

Disengage: a combatant with a clear path (i.e. through an area out of enemy reach) may attempt to disengage with up to a half-move.

Retreat: a combatant may retreat from melee with movement in excess of a half-move. However, he loses the benefit of his shield, and his opponent gets a free attack with a +2 bonus to hit.

Background

This combat sequence is a slightly modified version of the combat rules in Swords & Spells (which is based on the original Chainmail medieval miniature combat rules). I find these rules satisfying for a number of reasons. First, they use precise positioning and miniatures to give a tactical feel to combat. Second, they provide a simple way to include spell casting times into the combat. Third, they provide rules for firing multiple missiles in a combat round. Fourth, I like the way movement is divided up so that opposing forces "meet in the middle" rather than one side closing all the distance on their turn. Lastly, I like the way these rules pull together and work with concepts from D&D (rate of fire, weapon reach, facing, spell-casting time, et cetera), and that they are firmly rooted in the traditional sources of the game. Special thanks to T. Foster (and his posts on the Knights & Knaves Alehouse forums) for the suggestion to use this sequence with OD&D, and for his assistance and advice in compiling and adapting these rules for man-to-man combat.

A PDF version of the combat sequence is available.

For those who prefer a lighter set of rules to govern combat, or who do not use miniatures, a simplified version of these rules may suffice.

Go to Philotomy's OD&D Musings