Unarmed Combat

[Philotomy Jurament]

What are you using for unarmed combat rules in your OD&D, Classic D&D, or AD&D game?

I know of the following:

• The unarmed "overbear" example from the D&D FAQ in The Strategic Review Vol. 1, No. 2
• "Brawling: the easy way 'out' in D&D" (Dragon No. 11)
• "How to Finish Fights Faster" (Dragon No. 83)
• 1E Unarmed Combat Rules from the Dungeon Masters Guide
• 1E Weaponless Combat Rules from Unearthed Arcana

Of those, I like the first and the last best, I think. I'm not sure, though. I'm more concerned about a good way for handling grappling and overbearing, and less concerned about punching/kicking (which is similar enough to regular combat that the standard system can handle it). I want something relatively simple that can handle multiple participants without completely throwing logic out the window. Is there such a beast?

Edited to add:

• Wrestling rules per BFRPG

 

[Delta]

For me, it's the ultra-simple Unearthed Arcana System I (even igoring the segment/initiative modifiers).

 

[T. Foster]

For AD&D I really like System II in UA (System I is a little too streamlined IMO), but for OD&D I think it's probably too complicated. I remember once upon a time extrapolating a full system out of the example included in the SR#2 Combat Example, but I don't remember what happened to it (a quick scan throught eh OD&D section at K&KA didn't turn it up, so either it was done at another site (DF? The Grognard's Tavern?) or it's well-buried as an off-topic post in some other thread...

I've never seen the article from TD11 -- is that system any good?

Also, if you want the list of possibilities to be complete, you should add the wrestling rules from the D&D Companion Set.

 

[jdrakeh]

In the past, I've seen two methods used:

1. A "to hit" roll to execute a grapple with a subsequent STR check every round by both the grappled and the grappler, with control going to whoever rolled lower.

2. My old AD&D 1e DM used a "high or low" roll on a d20 to resolve things like this (well, many other things, as well, actually). Basically, you called high or low and rolled a d20. If it rolled in yoru favor, things went your way. If you rolled the other end of the spectrum, things didn't go your way. You probably want more detail than that. For our group, however, it worked great.

 

[WSmith]

Foster, was this the thread? Granted, it came from the AD&D section, but the intent is the same.

http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=202

 

[T. Foster]

Foster, was this the thread? Granted, it came from the AD&D section, but the intent is the same.

http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=202

Yup, that's the one. Thanks for the link. I would never have thought to look for it on the "other game" forum

IMO a requirement for an unarmed combat system (and why I like the UA System II and SR2 semi-system) is that it allow a crowd of mooks to dogpile a tougher character and drag him down. That, plus allow characters to get into tavern-brawls without killing each other. The simplest possible system that accomplishes both of those is the ideal.

 

[billd91]

We used to use How to Finish Fights Faster from Dragon 83 for 1e and 2e. We use the main rules for our 3.5 games. Got to see a monk grapple a flying wyvern and drive it into the ground by getting a hold on its wings. Good fun, that.

 

[HellHound]

We used the B/X rules. Melee attack, unarmed, think it's d2 damage.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I've never seen the article from TD11 -- is that system any good?

I haven't fully digested it, yet, but my initial skimming gave me the impression that it is mainly for one-on-one fights, which isn't what I'm after.

Also, if you want the list of possibilities to be complete, you should add the wrestling rules from the D&D Companion Set.

Good catch. C&C has its own set of unarmed combat rules, too.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

IMO a requirement for an unarmed combat system (and why I like the UA System II and SR2 semi-system) is that it allow a crowd of mooks to dogpile a tougher character and drag him down.

This is the main thing I'm after, actually (probably why I mentioned favoring those two systems, too). Also, I don't think armor should make you harder to take down or wrestle.