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<blockquote data-quote="Mark CMG" data-source="post: 5761348" data-attributes="member: 10479"><p>I played Chainmail before (O)D&D was even available. Lots. But how much of the three little books are devoted to combat? There's this line on the bottom of page 18 of Men & Magic, the first of the three little booklets, that explains what the column in the character class tables means:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The alternate system they give comprises the lower half of page 19 and upper half of page 20 of Men & Magic. But just to be clear, there is stuff on other pages that feeds into this. It's just not as much a focus of the three little booklets as the 4E rules devote to combat. Even if we include the 45 pages that make up Chainmail (setting aside that which pertains to mass combat) to the 120 pages of (O)D&D, the combat system is not a huge focus. For another clue to focus, take a look at spell lists from various editions and games and estimate for yourself what percentage of the spells are designed to be used in combat situations (keep a side tally of those that are useful both in and out of combat). It's easy to do with the page and a half of spell tables in (O)D&D but I leave it to you as I am sure you have the three little booklets right beside your well-worn copy of Chainmail as I do . . . <em>if memory serves</em>. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>*edit* Interestingly, I played a couple of games of Chainmail just last March at Gary Con and will likely play again this March. I also played a number of games of each edition (except 2E) of D&D in 2011. It's interesting to play them all in such a short span and get the chance to compare them more closely.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mark CMG, post: 5761348, member: 10479"] I played Chainmail before (O)D&D was even available. Lots. But how much of the three little books are devoted to combat? There's this line on the bottom of page 18 of Men & Magic, the first of the three little booklets, that explains what the column in the character class tables means: The alternate system they give comprises the lower half of page 19 and upper half of page 20 of Men & Magic. But just to be clear, there is stuff on other pages that feeds into this. It's just not as much a focus of the three little booklets as the 4E rules devote to combat. Even if we include the 45 pages that make up Chainmail (setting aside that which pertains to mass combat) to the 120 pages of (O)D&D, the combat system is not a huge focus. For another clue to focus, take a look at spell lists from various editions and games and estimate for yourself what percentage of the spells are designed to be used in combat situations (keep a side tally of those that are useful both in and out of combat). It's easy to do with the page and a half of spell tables in (O)D&D but I leave it to you as I am sure you have the three little booklets right beside your well-worn copy of Chainmail as I do . . . [i]if memory serves[/i]. ;) *edit* Interestingly, I played a couple of games of Chainmail just last March at Gary Con and will likely play again this March. I also played a number of games of each edition (except 2E) of D&D in 2011. It's interesting to play them all in such a short span and get the chance to compare them more closely. [/QUOTE]
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