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DMG combat "To Hit" tables Q

Rickenbacker

First Post
Just curious to know how those negative values work on p.74 & 75 of the DMG on the attack matrices. For ex., on the fighter chart, a 17+ level fighter needs a -4 to hit AC 8. How's that work?
Thanks.
 

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AD&D doesn't use the 1 = miss, 20 = hit rule. If a fighter needs a 0 to hit, he automatically hits. The minuses basically offset any particular penalties. So if a fighter needs a -4 to hit AC 8, he'll automatically hit, unless he has some negative penalty greater than -4. So if he has a -5 penalty, he needs to roll a 1 to hit AC 8.
 

I can think of two examples where this might apply. One is if the PC has a cursed weapon with negative modifiers. So if Olek the fighter has a cursed long sword -2 and he rolls a 1 to hit, his modified to hit roll is a -1 (if there are no other modifiers to consider). The second example would be when a PC is using a weapon that he or she is not proficient with, thus being subject to the penalties found on the Weapons Proficiency Table at the top of page 37 of the PHB. For example, a Magic User is using a cursed long sword -2. He attacks and rolls a 1. Consulting the table in the PHB, he gets a -5 to hit for using a weapon he is not proficient with, then you have to add the -2 for the cursed long sword, so his modified roll ends up being a -6.
 
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Sounds like a good idea, and one I did not know about even after playing AD&D for many years.

To be fair, it's in a relatively obscure adventure module! There are hints in UA and Isle of the Ape as to the future of Gary's AD&D 2E, but it still needed a LOT of development.

Cheers!
 

It may be obscure, but I have it - though I have never played it or ran it, so there is that.

I like the rule because it is a start down the path of the type of rules I prefer: one in which how well you do really matters, and not only when you get a "critical." An easy way to get this point across is by saying that I like Rolemaster more than D&D. (Just look into RM if you don't know anything about it and you will understand pretty-quick.)
 

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