I'm a big fan of Chainmail's Man-to-Man combat system, see above. In addition to being a fascinating artifact, it's a surprisingly elegant system. With different chances to hit based on specific weapon and armor type, it's more tactical complexity than you usually get from D&D. At the same time, it avoids the feature bloat that many modern approaches to differentiating weapon types take. Moreover, it makes the uniform d6 damage die make so much more sense.
The system has one major problem, however, it doesn't cover monsters at all. If you want to run combat with monsters in Chainmail, you have to use the very different Fantasy Combat Table. This list is going to be my attempt at assigning weapon and armor equivalents to every monster presented in Booklet 2: Monsters and Treasure. The criteria is based on a combination of AC presented in OD&D and AD&D's composition tables for monsters, as well as common sense. It's not the most polished thing in the world and is meant as more of a starting point for someone who wants to run OD&D with Chainmail combat than anything else. I fully admit that in doing so, one will likely need to make rulings to their taste to replace the decisions in this list. Any particular effects of attacks (increased damage, petrification, etc are as presented in Monsters and Treasure).
The List
Bandits (Percentages have been adjusted due to adding up to 110% in the original rules)
40% of Bandits use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields.
25% of Bandits use Shortbows or Light Crossbows (50/50% chance) with Leather Armor.
25% of Bandits use Lances with Leather Armor and Shields and ride Unbarded Horses.
10% of Bandits use Lances with Chainmail and Shields and ride Unbarded Horses.
Berserkers
Berserkers use Battleaxes and do not wear armor but are treated as wearing Leather Armor.
Brigands
As Bandits.
Dervishes
As Berserkers but with Swords instead of Battleaxes.
Nomads (Desert)
50% of Nomads use Lances with Leather Armor and ride Unbarded Horses.
20% of Nomads use Horsebows with Leather Armor and ride Unbarded Horses.
30% of Nomads use Lances with Chainmail and Shields and ride Unbarded Horses.
Nomads (Steppe)
20% of Nomads use Lances with Leather Armor and ride Unbarded Horses.
50% of Nomads use Horsebows with Leather Armor and ride Unbarded Horses.
10% of Nomads use Lances with Chainmail and Shields and ride Unbarded Horses.
20% of Nomads use Horsebows with Chainmail and ride Unbarded Horses.
Buccaneers
60% of Buccaneers use Swords with Leather Armor.
30% of Buccaneers use Light Crossbows with Leather Armor.
10% of Buccaneers use Heavy Crossbows with Chainmail.
Pirates
As Buccaneers.
Cavemen
Cavemen use Clubs which are treated as Maces and wear no armor.
Mermen
50% of Mermen use Tridents which are treated as Polearms with Leather Armor.
50% of Mermen use Darts which are treated as Shortbows with Leather Armor.
Goblins
10% of Goblins use Picks which are treated as Handaxes with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Goblins use Slings which are treated as Shortbows with Leather Armor. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Goblins use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Goblins use Slings which are treated as Shortbows with Leather Armor.
20% of Goblins use Morningstars with Leather Armor and Shields.
10% of Goblins use Picks which are treated as Handaxes with Leather Armor and Shields.
30% of Goblins use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields.
Kobolds
5% of Kobolds use Javelins which are treated as Spears in melee and Shortbows as ranged weapons with Leather Armor. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Kobolds use Spears with Leather Armor. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Kobolds use Swords with Leather Armor.
20% of Kobolds use Handaxes with Leather Armor.
30% of Kobolds use Spiked Clubs which are treated as Maces with Leather Armor.
15% of Kobolds use Javelins which are treated as spears in melee and Shortbows as ranged weapons with Leather Armor. They carry 3.
10% of Kobolds use Spears with Leather Armor.
Orcs
5% of Orcs use Swords with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Flails as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Handaxes as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Polearms with Leather Armor. They also carry Handaxes as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Light Crossbows with Leather Armor. They also carry Handaxes as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Shortbows with Leather Armor. They also carry Handaxes as backup weapons.
5% of Orcs use Swords with Leather Armor and Shields. They also carry Handaxes as backup weapons.
10% of Orcs use Spears with Leather Armor and Shields.
10% of Orcs use Battleaxes with Leather Armor.
20% of Orcs use Polearms with Leather Armor.
Hobgoblins
20% of Hobgoblins use Composite Bows with Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Hobgoblins use Spears with Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
5% of Hobgoblins use Morningstars with Chainmail and Shields. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
5% of Hobgoblins use Swords with Chainmail and Shields. They also carry Whips which are treated as Flails as backup weapons.
30% of Hobgoblins use Polearms with Chainmail.
10% of Hobgoblins use Spears with Chainmail.
20% of Hobgoblins use Morningstars with Chainmail.
Gnolls
15% of Gnolls use Longbows with Chainmail.
35% of Gnolls use Polearms with Chainmail.
15% of Gnolls use Two-Handed Swords with Chainmail.
20% of Gnolls use Battleaxes with Chainmail.
15% of Gnolls use Morningstars with Chainmail.
Ogres
Ogres use Clubs which are treated as Morningstars and their hides are treated as Chainmail.
Trolls
Trolls attack with their claws which are treates as Handaxes and their hides are treated as Chainmail.
Hill Giants
Hill Giants use Clubs which are treated as Morningstars and their skin is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Hill Giants can throw rocks as a catapult.
Stone Giants
Stone Giants use Clubs which are treated as Maces and their skin is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Stone Giants can throw rocks as a catapult.
Frost Giants
Frost Giants use Battleaxes and their armor is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Frost Giants can throw rocks as a catapult.
Fire Giants
Fire Giants use Two-Handed Swords and their armor is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Fire Giants can throw rocks as a catapult.
Cloud Giants
Cloud Giants use Maces and their skin is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Cloud Giants can throw rocks as a catapult.
Skeletons
Skeletons use Swords and their bones are treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Zombies
Zombies attack with their bites which are treated as Daggers and their flesh is treated as Shield Only.
Ghouls
Ghouls attack with their bites which are treated as Swords and their flesh is treated as Leather Armor with a Shield.
Wights
Wights attack with their level drain which is treated as a Mace and their ghostly form is treated as Chainmail.
Wraith
Wraiths attack with their level drain which is treated as a Mace and their ghostly form is treated as Plate Armor.
Mummies
Mummies attack with their claws which are treated as Swords and their bandages are treated as Plate Armor.
Spectres
Spectres attack with their level drain which is treated as a Mace and their ghostly form is treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Vampires
Vampires attack with their bite which is treated as a Sword and their skin is treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Cockatrices
Cockatrices attack with their claws which are treated as Daggers and their feathers are treated as Leather with a Shield.
Basilisks
Basilisks attack with their claws which are treated as Swords and their hide is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Petrifying gaze does not require an attack roll, all who meet gaze are affected.
Medusae
Medusae attack with their snakes which are treated as Daggers and their scales are treated as Shield Only.
Petrifying gaze does not require an attack roll, all who meet gaze are affected.
Gorgons
Gorgons attack with their horns which are treated as Lances and their plates are treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Petrifying breath does not require an attack roll, all who breathe it are affected.
Manticores
Manticores attack with their spikes or bite and their hides are treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Spikes are treated as 6 Light Crossbows.
Bite is treated as a Sword.
Hydras
Hydras attack with their bites which are treated as Swords and their scales are treated as Chainmail.
Chimeras
Chimeras attack with their horns and bites or fire breath and their hides are treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Horns are treated as a Spear.
Bites are treated as 2 Swords.
Fire breath does not require an attack roll, all in its area must save vs breath or take 3d6 damage.
Wyverns
Wyverns attack with their bite or stinger and their scales are treated as Plate Armor.
Bite is treated as a Sword.
Stinger is treated as a Spear.
Dragons
Dragons attack with their bite and claws or breath weapon and their scales are treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Bite is treated as a Two-Handed Sword.
Claws are treated as 2 Swords.
Breath weapon does not require an attack roll, all in its area must save vs breath or take damage equal to hit dice of the Dragon.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles attack with their claws which are treated as Swords and their stone skin is treated as Chainmail.
Werewolves
Werewolves attack with their claws and bites and their hides are treated as Chainmail.
Claws are treated as a Sword.
Bite is treated as a Two-Handed Sword.
Wereboars
Wereboars attack with their tusks which are treated as Lances and their hide is treated as Chainmail with a Shield.
Weretigers
Weretigers attack with their bites which are treated as Two-Handed Swords and their hide is treated as Plate Armor.
Werebears
Werebears attack with their bites which are treated as Two-Handed Swords and their hide is treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Purple Worms
Purple Worms attack with their bite and their hide is treated as Leather Armor with a Shield.
Bite does not require an attack roll, instead always has a 50% chance to hit.
Sea Monsters
All Sea Monsters are different.
Minotaurs
Minotaurs attack with their horns which are treated as Lances or their Battleaxe and their hide is treated as Leather Armor with a Shield.
Centaurs
50% of Centaurs use clubs which are treated as Morningstars and their hide is treated as a Barded Horse.
25% of Centaurs use Lances and their hide is treated as a Barded Horse.
25% of Centaurs use Shortbows and their hide is treated as a Barded Horse.
All Centaurs can also attack with their hooves at the same time as their weapon, which are treated as 2 Maces.
All Centaurs are treated as mounted.
Unicorns
On the first round, Unicorns attack with their horn which is treated as a Lance.
On subsequent rounds, Unicorns attack with their horn which is treated as a Spear or their hooves which are treated as Maces.
Unicorns' hides are treated as a Barded Horse.
Nixies
Nixies use Daggers and their armor is treated as Leather Armor.
Pixies
Pixies use Daggers and Leather Armor with Shields.
Dryads
Dryads attack with their fists which are treated as Maces and their armor is treated as Chainmail.
Gnomes
10% of Gnomes use Shortbows and Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
20% of Gnomes use Spears and Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
15% of Gnomes use Slings which are treated as Shortbows. They also carry clubs which are treated as Maces as backup weapons.
40% of Gnomes use Spears and Chainmail. They also carry clubs which are treated as Maces as backup weapons.
15% of Gnomes use Swords. They also carry clubs which are treated as Maces as backup weapons.
Dwarves
15% of Dwarves use Light Crossbows and Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Dwarves use Polearms and Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
20% of Dwarves use Spears and Chainmail with Shields. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
10% of Dwarves use Heavy Crossbows with Chainmail. They also carry Battleaxes as backup weapons.
25% of Dwarves use warhammers which are treated as Halberds with Chainmail. They also carry Battleaxes as backup weapons.
10% of Dwarves use Battleaxes with Chainmail. They also carry Maces as backup weapons.
10% of Dwarves use warhammers which are treated as Halberds with Chainmail. They also carry picks which are treated as Handaxes as backup weapons.
Elves
10% of Elves use Longbows with Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
20% of Elves use Spears with Chainmail. They also carry Swords as backup weapons.
20% of Elves use Swords with Chainmail.
5% of Elves use Two-Handed Swords with Chainmail.
30% of Elves use Spears with Chainmail.
15% of Elves use Longbows with Chainmail.
Treants
Treants attack with their branches which are treated as Maces and their bark is treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Pegasi
Pegasi attack with their hooves which are treated as 2 Flails and their hide is treated as an Unbarded Horse.
Hippogriffs
Hippogriffs attack with their hooves and their beak and their hide is treated as a Barded Horse.
Hooves are treated as 2 Flails.
Beak is treated as a Dagger.
Rocs
Rocs attack with their beak or talons and their feathers are treated as a Barded Horse.
Beak is treated as a Two-Handed Sword
Talons are treated as 2 Swords.
Griffons
Griffons attack with their beak and talons which are both treated as Swords and their feathers are treated as a Barded Horse.
Invisible Stalkers
Invisible Stalkers attack with their fists which are treated as a Morningstar and their armor is treated as Plate Armor.
Elementals
Elementals attack with their element which is treated as a Flail and their armor is treated as Plate Armor with a Shield.
Djinn
Djinn use Two-Handed Swords and their armor is treated as Chainmail.
Efreet
Efreet use Two-Handed Swords and their armor is treated as Plate Armor.
Oozes
Oozes do not make attacks and cannot be hit, instead dealing damage as long as it is on a creature and being destroyed by special means.
Light Horse
Light Horses attack with their hooves which are treated as a Mace and their armor is treated as Unbarded Horse (Unless Barded, of course).
Medium Horse
Medium Horses attack with their hooves which are treated as 2 Maces and their armor is treated as Unbarded Horse (Unless Barded, of course).
Heavy Horse
Heavy Horses attack with their hooves which are treated as 2 Flails and their armor is treated as Unbarded Horse (Unless Barded, of course).
Large Animals
Most normal animals attack with the equivalent of a Sword and with armor equivalent to Leather Armor.
No comments:
Post a Comment