Category: Combat

RPGaDay2020 Day 28: Close – close shaves in BECMI and 5e

The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 we looked at the flavour of potions and differences between versions of D&D. Today the theme is Close. Let's look at another difference between editions of D&D. Specifically the close shave. Those moments when characters almost die, but manage to survive. Back in the … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 28: Close – close shaves in BECMI and 5e →

Fixing opportunity attacks

D&D fifth edition has a lot of good things in it and improvements over BECMI and AD&D. The d20 mechanism. Advantage/disadvantage. Race disconnected from class. But one innovation I really don't like is opportunity attacks. Not only does it penalise "live to fight another day," it locks down the battlefield and makes everything more static. … Continue reading Fixing opportunity attacks →

RPGaDay2019 Day 27 – Suspense

Suspense. That's the inspiration for day 27 of #RPGaDay2019, following Idea yesterday. "I'm going to smash the zombie's head in!""I'm going to sneak round the back and take the Snargle while no-one is looking""I'm going to jump across this ravine""I'm going to fire a crossbow bolt with a rope tied to it at the boat … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 27 – Suspense →

RPGaDay2019 Day 9 – Critical

For day 9 of #RPGaDay2019 we get critical, following Obscure yesterday. When I started with BECMI, there was no concept of critical rolls - no critical success or critical failure. My friends played AD&D, so I'd hear them talking about a critical hit and wonder what this was. Fast-forward 35 years to 5e. It's there … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 9 – Critical →