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<blockquote data-quote="Sir Wulf" data-source="post: 5191644" data-attributes="member: 78791">Edit: Some of this is redundant with the earlier post. (Sigh...)&nbsp;Even in 1st edition, AC 0 was not uncommon for a fighter by 4th level. To be fair, let's assume a fighter with a +1 shield and +1 Dex bonus while we're at it, for AC -2. Kobolds surround him, but only eight can attack him each round. The first three need a 20 to hit, but his shield only blocks three attacks/round. The next two need a 19 to hit. The last three only need a 16 to hit because they are &quot;behind&quot; him, gaining +2 and depriving him of his Dex bonus. In 1st edition AD&amp;D, the fighter would realistically kill three kobolds each round. He'd slaughter them, but not without a few wounds: Assuming he faced 12 kobolds, the lone fighter would still only suffer about 9 points of damage from his total of about 31 hp. Then the few surviving kobolds would flee.&nbsp;In the meantime, the rest of the tribe (20 more kobolds) would cut his allies into minestrone. The AC 5 Magic User and AC 3 Thief would be cut to ribbons, leaving only the fighter and AC 1 cleric standing. Once the kobold horde engulfed the party, the magic user would be lucky to get a spell off.&nbsp;That example assumed two advantages for the kobolds: terrain where they could swamp their foes and nearby hiding places so they could close in before missile weapons and spells decimated them. Fortunately for kobolds, they avoid that sort of fight anyway. They'd attack after the party's first rank fell into a pit, then sick their pet giant weasel on the fighter, since they can barely hit the guy.&nbsp;Allowing grappling makes things even worse for the party...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Sir Wulf, post: 5191644, member: 78791"] Edit: Some of this is redundant with the earlier post. (Sigh...) Even in 1st edition, AC 0 was not uncommon for a fighter by 4th level. To be fair, let's assume a fighter with a +1 shield and +1 Dex bonus while we're at it, for AC -2. Kobolds surround him, but only eight can attack him each round. The first three need a 20 to hit, but his shield only blocks three attacks/round. The next two need a 19 to hit. The last three only need a 16 to hit because they are "behind" him, gaining +2 and depriving him of his Dex bonus. In 1st edition AD&D, the fighter would realistically kill three kobolds each round. He'd slaughter them, but not without a few wounds: Assuming he faced 12 kobolds, the lone fighter would still only suffer about 9 points of damage from his total of about 31 hp. Then the few surviving kobolds would flee. In the meantime, the rest of the tribe (20 more kobolds) would cut his allies into minestrone. The AC 5 Magic User and AC 3 Thief would be cut to ribbons, leaving only the fighter and AC 1 cleric standing. Once the kobold horde engulfed the party, the magic user would be lucky to get a spell off. That example assumed two advantages for the kobolds: terrain where they could swamp their foes and nearby hiding places so they could close in before missile weapons and spells decimated them. Fortunately for kobolds, they avoid that sort of fight anyway. They'd attack after the party's first rank fell into a pit, then sick their pet giant weasel on the fighter, since they can barely hit the guy. Allowing grappling makes things even worse for the party... [/QUOTE]

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