No legs!

[tennyson]

Hi Everyone,

I'm running a D&D campaign and we've got a session coming up where the group will be introduced to one of the major villians in the story. However, my image of the villian doesn't really go well with the rules. Here's my problem:

The villian is an alchemist/mad-scientist who has lost the ability to use his legs. I wanted him to move around via a medieval wheelchair contraption, much like a basic wheelchair today. The chair is still operated by hand, and I don't want it to be mechanical by any means. The character has spent most of his life using the chair, if that makes any difference.

If this character were somehow to get caught up in battle, or attacked by the party, how would I handle movement, AC, dex and such? What other factors would I have to consider using this means of transportation/movement? Thanks in advance.

 

[Drawmack]

If you've ever seen someone who's beein in a wheel chair most of their lives then you'd know that they would not suffer any dex bonus or penalty under normal circumstances. However I would give him +2 strength, moving that wheelchair around all the time will build his arms quite a bit.

normal circum stances being defined as being on fairly level ground. Small inclines are okay but not steep ones.

When attempting to ''run''.
If going up an incline his speed decreases at a rate of 1"/10"/grade.

If going down hill his speed increases at the same rate.

However remember that this guy can be trapped by beind stuck against a wall in a corner. The normal person could climb but he cannot. You might feel this breaks with the +2 to strength earlier. However, it does not - he can climb the wall with his hands but then what's he going to do?

 

[SylverFlame]

I'd consider him a small character as well as what Drawmack said. Since he is lower in stature (due to sitting) it would be much like he's kneeling. I'd either follow the rules in Combat about kneeling or just give him the +1 AC/ +1 attack. Seems fair considering the circumstances.

Another trick would be that if he is high enough level and a powerful enough character than his chair may be augmented by magic. Something along the lines of a Telekinesis effect where he moves the chair without his hands so he can move and attack with relative ease. It would be neat to when the characters see him pushing himself around only to find out he doesn't really have to.