D&D 1E AD&D two weapon fighting

[Nikosandros]

Did 1e allow any weapon to be in the off-hand?

No, only a dagger or a hand axe.

 

[cbwjm]

No, only a dagger or a hand axe.

Oh, so only slightly more restrictive than 2e, where the off-hand needed to be smaller (but you could always fight with 2 daggers).

 

[James Gasik]

Oh, so only slightly more restrictive than 2e, where the off-hand needed to be smaller (but you could always fight with 2 daggers).

Well, unless you have the Complete Fighter's Handbook and can Specialize in Two-Weapon Fighting Style to use two weapons of equal length.

I didn't realize only the dagger or hand axe could be used in the off-hand in 1e, I must have missed that part. Such an oddly specific restriction, surely there would be other weapons you could employ in this fashion.

 

[cbwjm]

Well, unless you have the Complete Fighter's Handbook and can Specialize in Two-Weapon Fighting Style to use two weapons of equal length.

I didn't realize only the dagger or hand axe could be used in the off-hand in 1e, I must have missed that part. Such an oddly specific restriction, surely there would be other weapons you could employ in this fashion.

I've only flicked through that book, my group never had it to use when we played so I'm not up on what rules were in them.

 

[Voadam]

Well, unless you have the Complete Fighter's Handbook and can Specialize in Two-Weapon Fighting Style to use two weapons of equal length.

I didn't realize only the dagger or hand axe could be used in the off-hand in 1e, I must have missed that part. Such an oddly specific restriction, surely there would be other weapons you could employ in this fashion.

1e DMG p. 70

"Attacks With Two Weapons:
Characters normally using a single weapon may choose to use one in each hand (possibly discarding the option of using a shield). The second weapon must be either a dagger or hand axe. Employment of a second weapon is always at a penalty. The use of a second weapon causes the character to attack with his or her primary weapon at –2 and the secondary weapon at –4. If the user’s dexterity is below 6, the Reaction/Attacking Adjustment penalties shown in the PLAYERS HANDBOOK are added to EACH weapon attack. If the user’s dexterity is above 15, there is a downward adjustment in the weapon penalties as shown, although this never gives a positive (bonus) rating to such attacks, so that at 16 dexterity the secondary/primary penalty is –3/–1, at 17 –2/0, and at 18 –1/0.
The secondary weapon does not act as a shield or parrying device in any event."

The explicit exception in 1e was drow.

1e Unearthed Arcana page 10:

Dark elves do not gain the combat bonuses of the surface elves with regard to sword and bow, but may fight with two weapons without penalty, provided each weapon may be easily wielded in one hand. They cannot use a shield when performing this type of combat, but may use a spiked buckler as one of their two weapons.

There are plenty of examples of NPC drow in 1e modules with two short swords or maces.

 

[Lanefan]

We expanded the allowable off-hand weapon selection a bit, particularly for larger or stronger characters. In particular, shortsword made sense as a decent off-hand weapon for anything bigger than a Dwarf.

 

[Mannahnin]

The explicit exception in 1e was drow.

1e Unearthed Arcana page 10:

Dark elves do not gain the combat bonuses of the surface elves with regard to sword and bow, but may fight with two weapons without penalty, provided each weapon may be easily wielded in one hand. They cannot use a shield when performing this type of combat, but may use a spiked buckler as one of their two weapons.

There are plenty of examples of NPC drow in 1e modules with two short swords or maces.

NPC/monster Drow using two weapons of equal length was common in modules and per their Fiend Folio entry.

 

[dagger]

That plus the Magic Resistance, Darkness, Levitate and everything else made them some scary opponents.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

This seems to be the most sensible way to read the AD&D rules. Every text must be interpreted in its cultural context:

View attachment 136501

THIS is how you AD&D... until your group wants to goof on some other cheeze fest you come across.