[AD&D 1e] I'm proficient with oil! What does that mean?

[Hella_Tellah]

I'm somewhat new to 1e, so I might be missing something obvious here. I'm making a 1st-level Magic-User, and I see from my PDF of the OSRIC that he can be proficient in daggers, darts, oil or staff, and only one of those. I like the sound of throwing oil. Just one problem: how much damage does it do? Does it "splash?" What happens when I miss--do I roll a random direction, like in 3rd edition? I can't find rules for throwing oil anywhere in the OSRIC!

 

[phloog]

ah, yes...the joy of OSRIC...all the 'flavor' of 1st edition...the tradeoff between rules clarity and perceived freedom.

Looking at my copy, I can find no instances of the word 'splash', no mention of oil in the missile weapons table, etc. Wondering at this point if it's my observation/search skills, or more 'flavor'.

In the absence of real data, I would be tempted to use (NOT THE OFFICIAL 1E answer but) my own house rule from WAY back and say that a flask of oil on direct hit will do 1d6 damage the first round, then if nothing is done the second round then it will do a second 1d6. If we're really talking lamp oil and not some alchemical construction, I would be tempted to ignore any possibility of splash damage, and for balance reasons I'd avoid any temptation to have 'save or catch fire' rules...though I might make items potentially damaged (scrolls, etc.) in cases of high damage. If someone spends their turn putting themselves out give them no second 1d6 or an additional 1 point.

The good and bad of Osric like its source is that you are allowed/expected to rule on a lot of stuff yourself...though if I really haven't missed anything and rules for oil are not in there, I would consider it an error to have formalized it as a proficiency without the detailed rules.

Also note that I consider this damage from lamp oil to be a bit too high for a 'real world' view, but better from a game drama perspective...I don't think a good S&S epic benefits from having oil do really no damage except for a singed sleeve, unless you roll a bad save and then you are completely engulfed because you failed to stop, drop, and roll.

 

[DaveyJones]

I'm somewhat new to 1e, so I might be missing something obvious here. I'm making a 1st-level Magic-User, and I see from my PDF of the OSRIC that he can be proficient in daggers, darts, oil or staff, and only one of those. I like the sound of throwing oil. Just one problem: how much damage does it do? Does it "splash?" What happens when I miss--do I roll a random direction, like in 3rd edition? I can't find rules for throwing oil anywhere in the OSRIC!

not familiar with OSRIC's actual rules and i'm not very good with rules in general.

but normally oil does 1d6 when lit. and splash damage if it misses.
you also had to roll a save for the container to break in 1edADnD.
iirc, it takes a whole round to prep the oil for throwing and lighting it.

 

[slwoyach]

Oil isn't a weapon proficiency. Some classes either were or were not allowed to use flasks of oil or poisons, but there is no correlating weapon proficiency. I believe the oil rules are in the DMG, but I could be wrong.

 

[pawsplay]

IIRC, AD&D made a distinction between splashing with liquids and hurling vials. I have no idea what is intended by the clause you mention.

 

[Filcher]

Splash rules: Page 64 in the "city of brass cover" DMG. But I don't see how proficiency could help any. I think Slw is right: some classes are permitted oil and poison use, and most are not.

 

[Obryn]

Flaming oil is insanely effective, though should not need a proficiency. Everyone can throw projectiles.

1e DMG, page 64:

A direct hit does 2d6 during the first round, and 1d6 during the following round.

A splash does 1d3 damage in a 3' diameter.

It's important that you need to either throw something like a molotov cocktail, or else douse someone and follow up by throwing a torch at them.

EDIT: I don't find this in the OSRIC 2.0 rules. If you're reading this, P&P, you might want to add grenadelike missiles.

-O

 

[Hella_Tellah]

Thanks! I did manage to get my hands on a real DMG, so I finally found the rules. Luckily, I didn't need to throw any flaming oil, because I also grabbed Unearthed Arcana and rolled an 18 Comeliness! Whoa! Who needs Molotov cocktails when you fascinate any female with a Wisdom less than 12?

God, I love this edition!