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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5568700" data-attributes="member: 92305">Let's talk about another way (possibly a better way?) to incorporate weapon speed into your d20 game (be it Conan, D&D, or some other version). Before I lay the new idea on you, let's review the inspiration for this rule. In 1E AD&D, weapon speed was handled thusly... 1. A d6 was thrown for each combatant. This was called "initiative", though the throw was implemented differently than what we do today with an "initiative" throw, and there were no die modifiers on that throw. It was a straight, opposed d6 throw. The higher of the opposed roll indicated who was allowed to strike first in the round. 2. When a tie occured, the weapon with the lower Speed Factor attacked first. But there was more: (from pg. 66 of the 1E AD&D DMG) "This number (referring to weapon's Speed Factor) is indicative of the wieldiness of any particular weapon, how long it takes to ready the weapon against an opponent, or how long to recover and move it in its attack mode." When the tie occured, weapon speed factors were compared. If a weapon's speed factor was at least twice that of a smaller weapon, the smaller weapon was given 2 attacks during the round (one extra attack). If the difference between the two factors was 10 or more, then the smaller weapon was given 3 attacks during the round (two extra attacks).     I've thought up a similar method to bring weapon speed to a d20 game. I'll tell you how it works. You tell me what you think. Maybe we can make some adjustments to it, if needed.   WEAPON SPEED 1. On the attack roll, there is a single number on the die that, if rolled, indicates an extra speed attack. That number is one digit less than the weapon's Critical Threat number(s). Thus, if a weapon scores a critical threat on a 19 or 20, it's speed attack number will be 18. This is akin to the tie on the d6 throw* in the 1E AD&D rules.   2. The Speed Number is always thrown on the attack of the smaller weapon (see the Size Categories below). There is no Speed Number on the attack throw for a weapon that is of bigger size or the same size as that of the opponent's weapon.   SIZE CATEGORIES LightOne-HandedTwo-Handed   3. When the speed attack number is thrown, and the attack is a success, the weapon size categories are compared. A smaller weapon is given an extra attack for every size category is it removed from the larger weapon. This is akin to the Speed Factor comparison in the 1E AD&D rules.      EXAMPLE 1 Vladir the Vanir warrior fights with a two-handed greatsword. Cael the Cimmerian fights with a dagger. The dagger scores a critical thread on 19-20, so it's Speed Number is 18. On the Cimmerian's turn, his dagger attack throw results in a natural 18. This means that we compare the size of the dagger to the size of the great sword. The great sword is two categories higher than the dagger, so the Cimmerian is given two extra attacks that round with the dagger.     EXAMPLE 2 Rodus, the Aquilonian, fights Pri the Pict. Rodus uses a broadsword and Pri uses a club. Speed Attacks are not possible with this example because both weapons are in the same size category--they're both in the one-handed weapon category.   EXAMPLE 3 Taurus, the Brythunian thief, uses a stiletto in a combat against a member of the town guard. The guardsman uses a scimtar. Since the short stiletto throws a Critical Thread on a natural roll of 20, it's speed number is 19. If Taurus throws a natural 19 on his attack throw and is successful hitting the guard, he will get one additonal speed attack (because the stiletto is a light weapon, and the scimtar is one size category larger as a one-handed weapon).     I think this is easy-cheesy and even a bit more intuitive than my original rule (that I posted at the start of this thread). I also think this rule is more like the original 1E AD&D rule that inspired it. *One thing to know is that the Speed Number will come up slighty more often. It's a 5% proposition to throw a single number on a d20 where as it is a 2.7% chanc to throw matching numbers on two single d6 throws. But, at the same time, the size categories are broader with the d20 game when compared to a weapon's speed factor from 1E AD&D. For example, in 1E AD&D, a Hand Axe has Speed Factor 4, while a Dagger has Speed Factor 2. Under the 1E AD&D rule, the Dagger could get an extra speed attack against the Hand Axe. In the d20 game, both weapons are classified as Light weapons, and thus neither would gain an extra Speed Attack against the other. So...eventhough the check to see if a Speed Attack is possible occurs twice as much with this rule vs. the 1E AD&D rule (5% vs. 2.7%), the actual Speed Attacks will happen less often because of the broad size categories.     Folks, I think this is a better rule than the original one we've been discussing. Thoughts? Comments?</blockquote>

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