Let’s take a look at combat in AD&D, and find out why it is the best version of Dungeons & Dragons in this How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons series. Buy the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?affiliate_id=50797
How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ZMN0IxDq3TXm3Q0Cf692N-qw805XabQ
Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
0:46 Overview
4:01 Surprise
6:06 Distance
6:34 Movement
7:13 Initiative
8:37 Reactions
9:10 Avoidance
9:41 Parleying
10:02 Missile Discharge
11:43 Spell Casting
13:19 Turning Undead
13:52 Melee Combat
15:28 Saving Throws
15:59 Outro
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Transcript
Let’s learn all about combat in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons!
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to talk about combat in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing the Dungeon Masters Guide and Players Handbook for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
Overview
The more I play the various versions of Dungeons & Dragons, and I have played them all, the more I keep returning to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, or AD&D. There is something to the structure of it, the simplicity as presented, but with complexity built in. While the game focuses on combat encounters, you are able to add all play styles to help enrich it. Overland, waterborne, and dungeon adventuring. Role-play between Non-Player Characters or NPC’s and Player Characters, or PC’s. Puzzle solving, and the discovery of treasures and traps. And let's not forget the monsters! AD&D forces you to use your wits and rely on the team you have assembled around the table and hired as henchmen for survival. It can be incredibly stressful, but thoroughly enjoyable. So how is AD&D different from most other versions of the game? To me, the biggest difference is that it is strict with intention and equipment, relying on tactics and consideration over steamrolling the opposition.
Combat in AD&D has a very direct order, and while it may take a moment to get used to, I believe it to be superior. We begin by determining Surprise. One, both or neither of the parties may be surprised. Then we determine the distance of the encounter. This informs the players what they are capable of doing. Based on the outcome of surprise we deal with Initiative. Each character takes their turn based on the outcome of initiative, and you determine the results. Then it’s ‘rinse and repeat’ until one group flees, talks their way out of combat, or one side is dead or disabled. This is important to note: Not all encounters need to end in combat or death!
Encounters, Combat, and Initiative
When we think of AD&D combat, we have to realize it is structured in a way that is the opposite of modern versions of the game. You are not stationary in a five foot square, but rather, you are in constant motion: attacking, riposting, parrying, maneuvering, etc. This directly impacts others trying to aid you from range, and focuses much more on the weapons being used and the armor types defending against them. Some weapons are more or less effective against different types of armor. And you need a certain amount of space and time to use your weapons, as some are larger and slower than others. You are able to get as granular or as abstract as your group prefers, but all of the detail is there for you to decide what works best for your group.
Combat is divided into one minute period melee rounds. With each round divided into ten, six second segments. This is meant for simplicity. It allows everyone to perform an action while considering the scope of maneuverability and engagement. As with other versions of the game, if you are attempting to strike an opponent, you need to roll a d20 and roll over their armor class. That’s it. Your Dungeon Master, or DM will tell you if you hit, as you have no idea of the tactics, spells, or general toughness the npc or creature you are attacking is employing. It also frees up the PC to be aware of the combat area and consider tactics over focusing on a number they need to roll over.
Surprise
Surprise is simply being caught unaware or unprepared. If one party has surprise, they are granted one or more segments of initiative...