The Planar Vagabond's Guide to the Multiverse

Heroic Old-School Roleplaying
Core Rules: Combat

Combat Procedure

Adventurers tend to die easily, so most combat should be avoided unless the adventurers have a clear advantage.

That having been said, fights do occur, and when they do, the following steps are performed:

1. Update Combat Countdown Timer (Optional): If using a Combat Countdown Timer, it should be set or updated.

2. Declare Spells, Special Attacks, Defending, and Retreats: Players declare if they will cast a spell, use a special attack, defend, or retreat this round (and, if so, which type of retreat).

3. Roll Initiative: Each side that can attack rolls 1d20, highest roll attacks first.

   • Tie goes to the party side.

4. Winning Side Actions: Each character or monster gets a move and an action, with either one occurring first.

   • Morale Check: Creatures who’ve been severely wounded or seen their leaders killed may flee.
   • Move: Move up to full speed
     • If prone, use 1/2 movement to stand up.
     • If engaged with an enemy at the start of the move, must make a fighting retreat or enemy gets free attack.
     • If moving before an attack, up to 10’ of movement can be “saved” to use after the attack finishes.
   • Action: Do something, like attack, defend, cast a spell, or stowe an item.
     • Spellcasters can move before casting a spell, but can’t move after casting one.

5. Change Sides: Opposing side becomes active.

   • If more than 2 sides are fighting, the side with the next highest initiative roll becomes active.

6. Slow Weapons: Once each side has become active, resolve any slow weapons or end-of-round abilities.

7. Repeat: Return to step 1 and repeat until only one side remains.

Combat Countdown Timer (Optional)

At the start of the first round of combat (before anything is declared or initiative is determined), the GM rolls 1d4+2 and shows the resulting value on the board (ex: with a d6) as a “Combat Countdown Timer”.

• At the start of each subsequent round, the combat countdown timer is decremented by one.
• If the combat has not finished by the time the countdown timer reaches 0, the GM determines the winning side based on how the battle has proceeded.
  • If the PCs lose, overwhelming opposition reinforcements could arrive, or some environmental effect could occur that definitively ends the combat in the opposition’s favor.
  • If the PCs win, it’s similar to a failed morale check (the opposition is routed), or some environmental effect could occur that definitively ends the combat in the PC’s favor.
  • In the (hopefully rare) case of a draw, dice can be rolled, or the combat could end with no clear winner (ex: with both sides cut-off from each other).

Morale Check

To make a morale check, roll 2d6 under morale score or the monsters surrender / flee.

• After 2 successes in a fight, no further checks required.
• When to check morale:
  • After the first death on a side, and
  • When a side is half killed or incapacitated.

Readying Weapons

• Available weapons may be readied for free while moving (if hands are empty or currently held items are dropped).
• Stowing held weapons takes a full action.

Attacking

Roll 1d20 plus any appropriate modifiers. If it equals or beats the target’s AC, roll for damage (again including any appropriate modifiers).

• +2 bonus to hit from behind (if victim is unaware).
• When mounted, +1 bonus to hit most foes on foot.

AC

• Character AC is usually determined by type of armor worn.
• Shields grant +1 AC when used.
  • Can also be sacrificed (shattered) to prevent a hit from inflicting damage.

Fantasy Armor

Modern Armor

Holding Attacks

Rather than attacking, characters can move into position and hold attacks until a specific trigger occurs (ex: covering a door and only attacking if someone comes through).

• If the trigger occurs before the character’s side gets initiative again, they may make a single free attack.

Melee Attacks

Melee attack rolls are modified based on the character’s Strength.

• Melee attacks are usually limited to 5’ range.
• Characters in melee combat with each other or other monsters are said to be engaged.
• Unarmed attacks do 1d2 damage by default.

Dual Wielding

PCs with DEX 13+ can dual wield certain weapons.

• When using a one-handed weapon and a Light weapon, may only make one attack, but gets +1 to the attack and damage rolls.
• When using 2 Light weapons, may make an attack with each one, but the 2nd attack get =2 to the attack roll.

Ranged Attacks

Ranged attack rolls are modified based on the character’s Dexterity, the target’s cover, and the range to the target.

• -1 to -4 penalties may apply when attacking targets behind partial cover.
  • Targets behind total cover cannot be hit.
• Ranged attacks within 5’ are made with disadvantage.
• Attacks beyond long range are not possible.

Critical Hits

A natural 20 on an attack is a critical hit. Roll 1d20 on the Critical Hit Table to see what additional effect occurs.

Free Attack

Attacker may attempt another hit with same weapon.

Target Fumbles

Target must roll on Fumble table.

Target Blinded

Blood or debris renders target blinded for 1d4 rounds.

Armor Damaged

Target’s AC is reduced by 1 until armor is repaired or healed.

Target Amputation

Target loses an appendage, roll 1d6 (or as appropriate) to determine which one:

1. left arm
2. right arm
3. left leg
4. right leg
5. tail / other / roll again
6. head (decapitation)

Target Stunned

Target is stunned by blow for 1d6 rounds.

Fumbles

A natural 1 on an attack is a fumble. Roll 1d20 on the Fumble Table to see what additional effect occurs.

Defending

Spend a round fighting defensively (parrying, blocking, dodging, feinting, etc.). Gets +2 AC. Can be used with Fighting Retreat.

Movement

Most characters have a base speed of 40’, indicating they can move 40’ in a combat round.

• When Engaged: Can’t move away from foe without retreating.
• When Prone: Use 1/2 movement to stand up.

Retreating

Engaged characters that wish to move away can either make a fighting retreat, or a full retreat.

• Fighting Retreat: Can move backwards at 1/2 their normal movement rate and take an attack or defend action, while avoiding giving enemies a free attack.
• Full Retreat: Turning and fleeing from combat at their full movement rate, enemies can make a free attack at +2 bonus.

Weapons

• One-handed weapons are weapons that may be wielded with one hand (ex: no weapons with “Two-handed”, but includes weapons with “Versatile”).

Melee Weapons

Melee Weapon Details

• Blackjack: On successful hit, target must Save vs Paralyze or be knocked unconscious for 1d6 turns.
• Garotte: While target is entangled, inflicts damage automatically each round, can be used for Sneak Attack.
• Net: Big enough for 6’ humanoid creature, larger nets may require more handlers.
• Polearm: Includes any weapon with a long pole tipped with a cutting / spearing weapon (ex: Glaive, Halberd, Pike).
• Whip: On a successful hit, may either inflict damage OR entangle.

Ranged Weapons

Ranged Weapon Details

• Holy water: Deals 1d8 damage to undead, lesser demons, and other “unholy” creatures.
• Oil: Deals 1d8 damage while burning.
• Sling: Typically uses stones, bullets add +1 damage (1d4+1 total).

Firearms

In a dungeon, all firearms gain the Loud property unless specifically silenced.

Firearms Details

• Grenade Launcher: Rather than attacking, pick target point up to 120’ away and use an action to make a DEX skill check. On a success, the grenade hits that spot. On a fail, roll 1d8 to determine which direction the grenade landed (relative to the target, starting from directly in front of them and moving clockwise), and 1d6 to determine how far away (multiply by 5’).
• Rocket Launcher: On a miss, starting with the nearest creature to the target, each creature directly behind the target (relative to the launcher’s wielder, but still within range of the rocket launcher) must Save or be inadvertently hit by the rocket. If everyone avoids the rocket but it was fired in an enclosed space, it strikes the nearest wall instead.

Weapon Properties

• Ammunition: Requires ammunition of the indicated type.
• Bashing: Can be wielded in melee combat for the indicated damage, but if the attack fumbles, the weapon breaks and can’t be used again at all until fixed.
• Blunt: No cutting edge, may be wielded by certain classes with weapon restrictions.
• Charge: While mounted, damage may be doubled by moving at least 60’ before attacking.
• Entangling: On successful hit, target must Save or become entangled.
• Light: May be used in offhand when dual-wielding.
• Loud: The first use of a missile attack triggers a complication check and causes untrained animals (and some smaller humanoids of 2HD or less) to make a morale check or flee.
• Point Blank: May be used in melee combat with +1 attack.
• Reach: Grants extra 5’ reach for determining melee range.
• Reload: After being used the indicated number of times, it takes one full round to reload.
• Slow: Always attacks last in a round.
• Splashing: On successful hit, container breaks, dousing target with liquid which deals indicated damage for up to 2 rounds.
• Spread: May be used to make a single attack at -2 which targets up to two creatures within 5’ of each other, dealing half damage (round up) to each.
• Stealth: May only be used to attack unaware humanoid creature from behind (4+1 HD max).
• Thrown: May be used as ranged weapon (short, medium, and long range indicated).
• Two-handed: Requires two hands to use.
• Versatile: May gain Slow and Two-handed to deal indicated damage.

Explosives

Most lobbed explosives (bombs, dynamite, grenades, etc.) work the same way:

• Wielder picks a target spot within 60’ and uses a combat action to make a DEX check.
  • On a success, the explosive lands in the spot and explodes as expected.
  • On a fail, determine where the explosive landed.
    • Roll 1d8 to determine which direction from the intended target it went (relative to the thrower, starting from directly in front of them and moving clockwise).
    • Roll 1d6 and multiply the result by 5’ to determine how far away from the target spot the explosive landed.

Bombs

• Can be lit and thrown as above.
• When detonated, causes 3d6 damage to all creatures within 5’ (Save for half-damage).
• Can be found throughout the multiverse.

Dynamite

• Can be lit and thrown as above.
• When detonated, a single stick causes 3d6 damage to all creatures within 5’ (Save for half-damage).
• Sticks may be bound together to increase explosive power.
  • Damage increases by 1d6 per stick beyond the first, up to 10d6.
  • Blast radius increases by 5’ per stick beyond the first, up to 20’.
• Fuses can be extended so the detonation occurs after a specific amount of time (ex: after 6 rounds).
  • At the end of each round, decrease the remaining time by 1.
  • When the timer reaches 0, the detonation occurs.
• Can only be found on industrialized planes.

Grenades

• Can either be thrown as or launched from a grenade launcher (extending range to 120’).
• Types of Grenades
  • Fragmentation: Detonates on impact sending shrapnel in all directions.
    • All creatures within 20’ of where the grenade landed take 4d6 damage, Save for half-damage.
  • Poison Gas: One combat round after the grenade lands, it creates a cloud of deadly gas around it.
    • All creatures within 20’ of where the grenade landed must Save or die.
    • Gas remains for an additional 10 seconds (1 combat round), so that any creatures in the affected area at the end of the following combat round must Save or or die (even if they already saved once).
  • Sleeping Gas: One combat round after the grenade lands, it creates a cloud of sleep-inducing gas.
    • All creatures within 20’ of where the grenade landed must Save or fall asleep for 2d4 turns.
    • Gas remains for an additional 10 seconds (1 combat round), so that any creatures in the affected area at the end of the following combat round must Save or fall asleep for 2d4 turns (even if they already saved once).
  • Smoke: One combat round after the grenade lands, it creates a thick cloud of smoke.
    • Heavily obscures the area within 20’ of where the grenade landed.
    • Lingers for 1 minute (6 combat rounds) unless blown away.
      • A moderate wind (at least 10 mph) clears area in 3 rounds.
      • A strong wind (at least 20 mph) clears area in 1 round.
• Can only be found on industrialized planes.

Gunpowder

• When lit on fire, instantly detonates.
  • An exploding ounce of gunpowder flares for 1 combat round, casting bright in a 30’ radius and dim light for an additional 30’.
  • An exploding powder horn causes 3d6 damage to all creatures within 10’ (Save for half-damage).
  • An exploding powder keg causes 6d6 damage to all creatures within 20’ (Save for half-damage).
• Can be found throughout the multiverse.

Legal Information

This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document v5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) and/or v5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. SRD 5.1 and SRD 5.2.1 are both licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

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1. Automatic Hits: Roll 1d20 to check for critical, but ignore further fumbles. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎