What would you use a d4 and d12 for?


log in or register to remove this ad


The most unloved dice in the game are the d4 and the d12. What would you use them for so that they can see more action in the game if you were designing your own old school D&D clone?

Wizards would have three categories of offensive spells: force, energy and kinetic. Force effects would do damage in d4's. Targets would get a save, but there would be no applicable resistances. Energy effects would do damage in d6's. Targets would get a save, and the various energy resistances would apply (and be quite common). Kinetic effects (e.g. a summoned spear) would do damage in d8's. No save, but the Wizard would have to make a (standard) attack roll to affect the target.

Daggers, hand crossbows, and similar weapons would also do d4 damage. Also, effects that add dice of damage would add dice of the same base type - so sneak attack (or its equivalent) with a dagger would do Nd4 damage.

It is the d12 that I have problems finding a use for (IIRC, the 3e designers almost wrote it out of the game, so I guess I'm in good company). My dream game has fixed hit points per level (so out go d12s for Barbarian, Dragon and Undead hit dice), and the d12 greataxe damage (and x3 crit!) are really too swingy.

I guess I would still use it for the most potent weapons in the game (essentially, two-handed Exotic weapons), some monster natural attacks (dragon bite damage?), and some of the most deadly spells.

Of course, it might also be worth noting that I'm not really interested in doing an "old school" D&D clone. I'm much more interested in doing "my own 3.75e" or perhaps a "SWSE/D&D" hybrid. IMO, old school is more about attitude as you play the game, rather than particular rule structures. (Or, perhaps, if it is about the rules, then nothing other than OD&D would really suffice for me.)
 

Remove ads

Top