Special Combat Conditions (POCT)

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There are a number of special situations that can arise in the course of a fight, through natural circumstances or military planning. Someone might fall down or be incapacitated by a spell. A battle fought in a thick, tangled forest may limit archery to shots of 30 feet or less. Stinging snowstorms or sandstorms may limit visibility and carry away light missiles. The side that considers the characteristics of the battlefield in its tactics often gains an advantage over its enemies. Chapter Three describes battlefields in great detail, but there are a few special rules that should be mentioned here.
==Standard and Optional AD&D Rules==
These rules can all be found in the Player's Handbook and/or the Dungeon Master Guide. Even if they are listed as optional rules in the core rule books, they are a standard part of the Player's Option combat system. They are presented again here (with any necessary combat system alterations and additions) for ease of reference. Refer to Chapter 9: Combat in the PHB and DMG for more details.
===Movement and Footing===
Ground characteristics may drastically limit a character's ability to move in a fight. The movement reductions listed below apply to the character's base movement, so a character with a normal move of 12 spaces would be reduced to a move of four spaces in heavy brush. If a character passes through multiple ground types in one round, he uses the worst of the modifiers.
Condition 	Reduce Move by
Heavy brush or thicket 	2/3
Light brush or forest 	1/3
Ice or slippery footing 	1/3
Steep slope or rough ground 	1/2
Knee-deep snow, water, or soft sand	1/3
Waist-deep snow or water 	1/2
Shoulder-deep snow or water 	2/3
===Cover and Concealment===
Concealment and cover work only against missile fire, and cover also provides a bonus to saving throw rolls where an effect causes physical damage, like a fireball spell.
The amount of the target that is concealed or covered determines the penalty to any missile attacks made against the target.
Target is:	Cover	Concealment
25% hidden	–2 	–1
50% hidden	–4 	–2
75% hidden	–7 	–3
90% hidden	–10 	–4
A target is impossible to hit when it is completely blocked from the archer by cover.
Line of Fire. A figure's line of fire is considered to run from the center of its square to the center of the target's square. If the line of fire passes through any part of a square containing an obstacle, the target is considered to be covered or concealed to some extent. The DM can decide whether the target is 25%, 50%, 75%, or 90% screened, or he can roll randomly if it is not clear. If the line of fire passes through a square containing a figure engaged in melee, the archer must use the rules for firing into a melee to determine where his shot goes.
Note that intelligent creatures who are facing the archer will usually use the screening object for its maximum effect, while animals and monsters that aren't intelligent (Int 1 or less) will rarely try to screen themselves against an archer's fire.
If there's any question about which squares the line of fire passes through, you can use a string, a ruler, or the edge of a card to check the missile's path.
===Mounts===
Mounts provide their rider with a +1 bonus to attack rolls when fighting against unmounted opponents, while the opponents suffer a –1 penalty to attacks against the rider (there is no penalty to attack the mount itself). Most mounts are fairly large and can overrun smaller creatures. A normal human on horseback can use his mount's speed and size to trample his opponents underfoot (see Overrun). Many mounts are also capable of making attacks along with their rider.
===Rear or Flank Attacks===
If a creature is able to position itself for a rear or flank attack, it gains a significant advantage. Flank attacks get a +1 bonus to hit, and rear attacks a +2 bonus. A thief attacking from the rear can declare a backstab and gain a +4 bonus to his attack roll. In addition to the attacker advantages, the defender's shield doesn't help against flank attacks on his unshielded side nor on any rear attacks. Last but not least, the defender's Dexterity adjustment doesn't count against rear attacks, since the defender can't see the attack coming and attempt to dodge it.
===Sitting, Kneeling, and Lying Prone===
Characters may sit, kneel, or fall prone as a no-move action. Getting up from sitting or kneeling is considered a half-move action, so a character can stand and still fire a missile or make an attack. Standing up from a prone position is treated as a full-move action, so the character can do nothing else in that round except rise.
Sitting or kneeling characters are slightly harder to hit with missiles or thrown weapons; they gain an Armor Class bonus of –1 against any ranged attacks. However, they're at a disadvantage in melee. Anyone making a melee attack against a sitting or kneeling character gains a +2 bonus to hit them.
Prone characters present very small missile targets and gain an AC bonus of –2 versus ranged attacks. However, they are very vulnerable to anyone close enough to threaten them. Melee attacks against prone characters gain a +4 bonus to hit.
Kneeling characters can use any weapon with no penalty. Sitting characters can only use crossbows without a penalty; with any other weapon, they suffer a –2 penalty to their attack rolls. (Note that characters on horseback are mounted, not sitting!) Prone characters can only use crossbows or size S weapons while they're on the ground. A prone character firing a crossbow attacks at one-half the normal rate of fire and makes any melee attacks with a –4 penalty to hit.
===Damage and Dying===
Creatures reduced to negative hit points are incapacitated and begin losing 1 hit point per round until they reach –10, at which point they die. A creature's loss of hit points can be halted by binding its wounds, using the healing proficiency, or casting some kind of curative magic on the victim.
Characters who have been reduced to 0 hit points or less are helpless; they can't tend their own wounds or take any actions. At exactly 0 hit points, the character is simply unconscious, and remains so until healed or until 2d6 full turns pass. If a character's death is prevented by binding his wounds or healing him, the character is completely helpless for at least 24 hours.
It is dangerous to leave characters at a negative hit point total for long. Each day that a character begins with negative hit points, roll a d10 and compare it with the absolute value of the character's hit points (in other words, take into account only the numerical value of the hit points, ignoring the negative sign). If the die roll is less than this numerical score, the character loses 1d4 additional hit points. This additional loss of hit points can be avoided if someone with the healing proficiency is there to tend to the patient, or if curative magic is used.
For example, Gorathan the Unlucky was badly mauled by a dire wolf and reduced to –5 hit points. His companions bound his wounds, but no clerics or proficient healers were nearby, so Gorathan didn't recover any hit points. The next day, a d10 is rolled to see if he worsens or not. If the roll is a 4 or less (which is less than the “5” of Gorathan's –5 hit points), Gorathan loses 1d4 additional hit points. If the roll is a 5 or better, Gorathan recovers hit points normally for a day of bed rest. If Gorathan has some bad rolls, he might not make it.
===Weapon Type vs. Armor Type===
Some weapons have an innate advantage against certain types of armor. In the Middle Ages, hundreds of weapons were designed for the purpose of penetrating heavy armor. Weapon types and armor types are explored in more detail in Chapter Seven.
===Firing Into a Melee===
Throughout the ages, friendly fire has been a significant threat on the battlefield. In the Player's Option combat system, the shorter combat round means that archers can't wait to pick and choose their shots. They have to fire or hold their fire in an instant.
A melee is defined as any situation in which one creature threatens another. Firing or throwing missiles at either of the two engaged creatures requires the shooter to roll to see which figure he actually attacks. All creatures that are threatened or threatening one another in the same group are included, so the archer is guaranteed of at least firing at the right engagement.
To determine the actual target, assign each Man-sized target 1 point on a die. Small-sized targets get 1/2 a point, Large targets 2 points, Huge targets 4 points, and Gargantuan targets 6 points.
==Additional Rules==
These rules are specific to the Player's Option combat system.
===Higher Ground===
If the attacker's waist is higher than his opponent's head, he gains a +1 bonus to his attack rolls. Stairways, tabletops, and steep slopes may create higher-ground opportunities for a character in combat. This doesn't apply to colossal creatures such as giants who are fighting on level ground against much shorter characters, nor does it apply to mounted characters; they already get a bonus.
===Knockdowns===
Some creatures can smash their opponents to the ground with raw strength or heavy weaponry. Knockdowns are based on the size of the attacker's weapon compared to the size of the defender.
Every weapon (including monster attacks) is assigned a knockdown die that is rolled when a hit is scored. Light weapons have a small die, while heavy weapons use a d10 or d12 for knockdowns. The size of the target determines what roll is required for a knockdown.
:
Target Size	Knockdown Roll
T 	3
S 	5
M 	7
L 	9
H 	11
Don't confuse the knockdown die with the actual damage caused by the hit; they are two different things. It is a little quicker to roll the knockdown chance along with the damage dice, but don't feel like you have to.
Obviously, some creatures are immune to knockdowns. An ochre jelly, black pudding, or fire elemental can't really be knocked down, nor could a crocodile or shark in the water. In addition, some monsters may be unusually resistant to knockdown effects.
Knockdown Effects. Creatures who suffer a knockdown must roll a successful saving throw vs. death or be knocked prone. The victim can stand up by forfeiting a half-move or an attack. If he has already completed his actions for the round, he has to wait until next round to stand up. Refer to Sitting, Kneeling, and Prone above for more information about being on the ground.
Any character or creature armed with a loaded and cocked crossbow or firearm that is knocked down must roll a successful saving throw vs. paralyzation or accidentally fire the weapon.
Monsters and Knockdowns. Monsters who wield weapons can use the knockdown die size that is listed for that weapon, and then modify the die for their own size. Increase the die one step for each Size category larger than Man-sized, or decrease it for each one under. For example, an ogre is wielding a morningstar, which normally has a knockdown die of d10. Because the ogre is Size L, one size larger than Man-sized, the knockdown die increases to a d12.
For monsters with natural attacks, choose a weapon that seems close to the attack type and then modify it for the monster's size. An adult dragon's claws may be like long swords. A wyvern's sting might be similar to a spear. Monsters may resist knockdowns better if they have four or more legs, are exceptionally dense or low-built, or seem generally tougher than normal.
===Critical Hits===
Although critical hits are mentioned in the core AD&D rules as an option, this system works differently than any provided there. A critical hit may occur when a character rolls exceptionally well during his attack. The attack roll must be a natural 18 or higher, and the roll must hit the target by at least 5. A 1st-level fighter with a THAC0 of 20 can achieve a critical against an opponent with AC 5, since he can roll a 20 and hit him with 5 to spare, but he can't get a critical against an opponent with AC 4 (or better).
As a basic rule, critical hits inflict double damage. However, Chapter Six is devoted to the topic of critical hits and presents an integrated system that accounts for the strength of the blow, the location injured, and a dash of luck.
If PCs can get critical hits with great attack rolls, monsters should be able to as well. Otherwise, the balance of the game shifts in favor of the player characters.
==The Gray Areas==
Opponents who are facing off across squares that are partially blocked by solid obstacles may or may not be able to effectively attack one another. For example, two opponents are facing each other diagonally where a wall corner abutts the intersection of their squares. Half of the people using the Player's Option combat system will argue that they can attack each other, and half of them will argue against it. The same problem arises when considering whether or not figures can occupy half squares (like any square that is bisected by a diagonal wall). Some people will argue for such a rule, and some will argue against it.
The answer to these and other similar gray areas of figure placement and movement is, it doesn't really matter, as long as the solution is equitable. If characters can attack around corners, then so can monsters. If you don't want it to happen, then it doesn't—for characters or monsters. Neither choice skews the system to favor anyone, so both solutions are equally viable. Just decide as a group beforehand how you want to handle the situation, then stick with it. These kinds of situations and conditions are way too numerous to mention or adjudicate within these pages, but the guidelines set out above should give the DM and players enough to work with.
Category:Player's Option: Combat & Tactics