N. B.: What follows between the "Start OGC" and the "End OGC" is OGC. You may mangle as you wish. But, remember that it is copyright 2002 Alan Kellogg, and that fact should be noted in any work using this variant. If you use it as is, include the following notice:
"This combat variant is copyright 2002 Alan Kellogg and is designated as OGC and used under the provisions of the OGL"
If you decide to use it with modifications, include the following notice:
This combat variant is a modified version of the combat variant by Alan Kellogg, which is copyright 2002 Alan Kellogg. It is OGC under the provisions of the OGL"
I think that works. In any case, on with the essay
Start OGC
Each character has body points and fatigue points.
Body points are equal to Constitution. Body points are reduced when an attack is a critical or when fatigue points have been reduced to zero.
Fatigue points are equal to 10, plus a modifier based on the class' original hit die. A d4, no modifier; a d6, +2; a d8, +4, a d10, +6; a d12, +8. Plus a modifer (if any) for Constitution and Dexterity Fatigue points are reduced by damage when there are fatigue points to be reduced, and the attack is not a critical.
Combat is an opposed skill use. The attacker rolls against the DC of hitting the defender. If he hits, the defender rolls against the attack, using the attacker's roll as the DC of the defense.
The DC for hitting the defender is equal to 10 +/- the defender's Dexterity modifier +/- the defender's size modifier, +/- misc. modifiers.
The DC for defending agains a successful attack is equal to the attacker's die roll.
Procedure. The attacker rolls for his attack. If a failure, play proceeds to the next action. If a success, the defender rolls for his defense. If the defense is successful, play proceeds to the next action. If the defense fails, the attacker now proceeds to determining damage. Unless a critical is possible. In that case the attacker rolls to see if a critical occured. If the roll is less than the DC needed to hit, fatigue damage is inflicted. If the roll is equal to or greater than the DC needed to hit, body damage is inflicted.
To hit: Roll 1d20, + Base Attack Bonus, +/- Dexterity modifier, +/- magical modifers, +/- misc. modifiers.
to defend: Roll 1d20, + Base Attack Bonus, +/- Dexterity modifier, +/- magical modifiers, +/- misc. modifiers.
Damage: When doing fatigue damage, roll the weapon's die or dice as normal. Add or subtract modifiers for Dexterity, magic, and miscellaneous factors. When doing body damage, roll three times the weapon's normal die or dice. Add or subtract modifiers for Strength, magic, and miscellaneous factors. Should an attack do more fatigue damage than the defender has fatigue points, then body damage is done. Any damage done by the weapon itself (the die or dice roll) is tripled. Modifiers to damage are not. In addition, the Strength modifier is substituted for the Dexterity modifier under the following conditions: One, the Dex modifier played no part in reducing the defender's fatigue. That is, the defender's fatigue was reduced to zero before the Dexterity modifier was added in. Two, the Strength modifier is greater than the Dexterity modifier.
Special note: The only way body points can increase is through improving Constitution. The only way fatigue points can increase is either through taking up a class with a larger hit die, in which case the increase is equal to the difference between the bonus given by the original hit die, and that given by the new hit die; or by improving Constitition and/or Dexterity.
Creatures smaller or larger than medium have their Constitution multiplied by their size. A small creature would have its Con. multiplied by 0.5. A large creature would have its Con. multiplied by 2. So a kobold with a Con of 18 would have 9 body points, while an ogre with a Con of 18 would have 36 body points.
(Here I have a question for the reader, should the size progression be geometric (2, 4, 8...) or arithmetical (2, 3, 4...)?)
End OGC
This is very preliminary. Feedback is welcome. Especially on wording. I would like to make it as clear as it can possibly be. Let the mangling begin.
Alan
"This combat variant is copyright 2002 Alan Kellogg and is designated as OGC and used under the provisions of the OGL"
If you decide to use it with modifications, include the following notice:
This combat variant is a modified version of the combat variant by Alan Kellogg, which is copyright 2002 Alan Kellogg. It is OGC under the provisions of the OGL"
I think that works. In any case, on with the essay
Start OGC
Each character has body points and fatigue points.
Body points are equal to Constitution. Body points are reduced when an attack is a critical or when fatigue points have been reduced to zero.
Fatigue points are equal to 10, plus a modifier based on the class' original hit die. A d4, no modifier; a d6, +2; a d8, +4, a d10, +6; a d12, +8. Plus a modifer (if any) for Constitution and Dexterity Fatigue points are reduced by damage when there are fatigue points to be reduced, and the attack is not a critical.
Combat is an opposed skill use. The attacker rolls against the DC of hitting the defender. If he hits, the defender rolls against the attack, using the attacker's roll as the DC of the defense.
The DC for hitting the defender is equal to 10 +/- the defender's Dexterity modifier +/- the defender's size modifier, +/- misc. modifiers.
The DC for defending agains a successful attack is equal to the attacker's die roll.
Procedure. The attacker rolls for his attack. If a failure, play proceeds to the next action. If a success, the defender rolls for his defense. If the defense is successful, play proceeds to the next action. If the defense fails, the attacker now proceeds to determining damage. Unless a critical is possible. In that case the attacker rolls to see if a critical occured. If the roll is less than the DC needed to hit, fatigue damage is inflicted. If the roll is equal to or greater than the DC needed to hit, body damage is inflicted.
To hit: Roll 1d20, + Base Attack Bonus, +/- Dexterity modifier, +/- magical modifers, +/- misc. modifiers.
to defend: Roll 1d20, + Base Attack Bonus, +/- Dexterity modifier, +/- magical modifiers, +/- misc. modifiers.
Damage: When doing fatigue damage, roll the weapon's die or dice as normal. Add or subtract modifiers for Dexterity, magic, and miscellaneous factors. When doing body damage, roll three times the weapon's normal die or dice. Add or subtract modifiers for Strength, magic, and miscellaneous factors. Should an attack do more fatigue damage than the defender has fatigue points, then body damage is done. Any damage done by the weapon itself (the die or dice roll) is tripled. Modifiers to damage are not. In addition, the Strength modifier is substituted for the Dexterity modifier under the following conditions: One, the Dex modifier played no part in reducing the defender's fatigue. That is, the defender's fatigue was reduced to zero before the Dexterity modifier was added in. Two, the Strength modifier is greater than the Dexterity modifier.
Special note: The only way body points can increase is through improving Constitution. The only way fatigue points can increase is either through taking up a class with a larger hit die, in which case the increase is equal to the difference between the bonus given by the original hit die, and that given by the new hit die; or by improving Constitition and/or Dexterity.
Creatures smaller or larger than medium have their Constitution multiplied by their size. A small creature would have its Con. multiplied by 0.5. A large creature would have its Con. multiplied by 2. So a kobold with a Con of 18 would have 9 body points, while an ogre with a Con of 18 would have 36 body points.
(Here I have a question for the reader, should the size progression be geometric (2, 4, 8...) or arithmetical (2, 3, 4...)?)
End OGC
This is very preliminary. Feedback is welcome. Especially on wording. I would like to make it as clear as it can possibly be. Let the mangling begin.
Alan
