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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mannahnin" data-source="post: 9065519" data-attributes="member: 7026594">Really?  Never?  Both 1E and 2E have optional rules for negative hit points, which reduce the lethality of the game compared to simple death at zero HP.  In the 1E DMG Gary tells you that critical hits are a foolish idea, in part because the PCs suffer much more from them than disposable monsters do.  In 2e and 3e the DMGs talk about critical hits (and they're made a core rule in 3E), but they also talk about the additional danger from them.  I think both of those editions also talk about how the DM should consider how easy access to Raise Dead and similar magics should be, which is a direct part of calibrating the lethality of one's campaign.An Ogre in the 1977 MM does d10 or by weapon +2 (extra +1/+2 on top of that for leaders or chieftains).  It was d6+2 in the 1974 rules; Ogres always did more damage than regular baddies, enough to kill an above-average 1st level PC on an average roll.  The monsters in the MM do tend to be a little on the weak side for AD&D, though, as the book was intended for use with OD&D too, and AD&D hadn't been finished yet.No to-hit bonuses?  Higher hit dice give better attack chances on the tables.  Big strong monsters didn't get strength bonuses to hit, but they generally had bigger and more damage dice.  Some of them (like giants) got static bonuses starting in 2E.Remember that 6th level party I posted above?  The highest HP PC is 33 on average, with most of them in the 20s and a couple of them in the mid to low teens.  An encounter with Ogres on the 4th level of the dungeon per the DMG will be 2-6 in number, which hit AC2 on a 13 or better, and the soft targets in the party considerably easier.  Put those PCs at 17k xp (4th level for the Fighter and M-U) and that tank Fighter and Cleric average 22HP, and no one else is out of the teens.  The M-U is walking around at an average of 10hp. IME folks consistently added house rules to AD&D to soften the lethality.  Negative hit points and max hit points at first level most common among them.</blockquote>

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