House Rules

Parrying

In combat, characters parry and dodge aside from weapons, spells and worse all the time. If necessary, such parrying and dodging can be a focus of a character's actions during a round.

There are three forms or varieties of parrying:

1. Full-Round Parry

2. Individual Attack Parry

3. Limited Full-Round Parry (Spread Parry)

Regardless of what form of parry is chosen, there are certain rules to parrying that apply to all parries. Parries can only be applied to forward and logical flanking attacks; parrying can provide no protection against rear attacks. Parries can be applied to missile attacks, per the DM's approval. Parrying bonuses do not apply to any saving throws rolled. Weapon bonuses, whether from being well-crafted or magical, or from high strength or specialization, do not apply to parries. Parrying can improve an AC beyond -10. Regardless of the situation, saving throws involving parries never lack defense adjustment modifiers, if applicable.

1. Full-Round Parries

As described as an optional rule in the Player's Handbook, a full-round parry provides the maximum amount of protection a character can give himself during a given round. A full-round parry must be declared at the beginning of a round; although other forms of parrying are available mid-round, the benefits of a full-round parry can only be taken if announced at the beginning of a round.

If the character makes no other actions besides self-defense, a full-round parry is achieved. No other actions such as drinking potions is possible during this round. No matter how many attacks come his way, the character enjoys the armor class bonus throughout the round.

The benefit of a full-round parry is an AC bonus equal to half the character's level. A 5th level wizard for instance would gain an AC bonus of -2 for the round, for any fraction is ignored. A warrior gains a +1 to this bonus. A 6th level ranger, for example, would have an AC bonus of -4 throughout the round. Although fractions are ignored, regardless of the level, any given character always receives at least a -1 AC bonus during a full-round parry.

2. Individual Attack Parry

A character may decide that a full-round parry is not necessary, and may instead elect to parry in a more circumspect manner, which involves the sacrifice of at least one attack to be redirected as a parry against a single enemy attack.

Individual attack parries need not be announced at the beginning of the round. Instead, an individual attack parry must be announced before a single specific oncoming attack, and it must be announced before the roll for that specific attack is made. In making the announcement, the defender forfeits one remaining attack he has for the round.

When an individual attack parry is utilized, the full parry bonus for that character applies to the defender's armor class against that specific attack only.

Example: Kharn, a 13th level gladiator, is fighting Ktandeo, an 18th level gladiator. Both characters are specialized, and therefore have two or three attacks each round. In the course of a round in which both characters have three attacks and Kharn has the initiative, Ktandeo is critically hit with a 20 by Kharn's first attack, and thereafter only has one hit point remaining. As Kharn is about to make his second attack, Ktandeo electss to parry that specific attack, deciding that he must protect himself. The DM rolls Kharn's attack roll. Kharn rolls well, and normally would have hit, but since Ktandeo is parrying the attack and has thereby lowered his AC by -10, Kharn fails to successfully hit Ktandeo with that attack. Normally, Ktandeo would immediately follow Kharn's attack with his own second attack for the round, but since Ktandeo has just sacrificed an attack for a parry, Kharn may immediately follow and take his third attack for the round. Once again, before the DM rolls for Kharn's attack, Ktandeo's player decides to defend with an individual attack parry by sacrificing his third attack, and thereby again improves Ktandeo's AC by -10. Luckily for Ktandeo, Kharn rolls a 1 and then a 10%, achieving a catastrophic fumble, taking him out of combat for the rest of the round and the following round as well. Seeing his chance, Ktandeo attacks Kharn next round with two attacks while Kharn fumbles. Ktandeo rolls a 20 for a critical hit on his first attack, and thus slays his rival.

Dual-Wielding and Parrying

Dual-wielding theoretically can give a character a significant advantage if he is using an individual attack parry. For example, a character could wield a short sword in his off hand and always dedicate that weapon's attack as an individual attack parry. This would seem to give a dual-wielder a significant advantage in any individual attack parry strategy, and although this can theoretically be true, there are certain disadvantages as well.

Any parry from a dual-wielder is still subject to the -2 primary hand and -4 off-hand penalties for dual-wielding, which also applies to any AC bonus gained through parrying. In the example above, in which Ktandeo fights Kharn, were Ktandeo to attempt to gain an extra attack or parry by dual-wielding, Ktandeo's parrying AC bonus would weaken from -10, to -8 with his primary hand weapon and -6 to his off-hand weapon.

Reaction adjustments from very high (or very low) dexterity can mitigate or modify the -2/-4 penalty. For example, a character with an 18 dexterity has a reaction adjustment bonus of +2, which would lower the penalty to the off-hand weapon parry to -2 and negate the primary hand weapon parry penalty altogether. However, such dexterous parrying displays while dual-wielding detracts from the character's general defense adjustment, as he is focusing a great deal of his attention on manipulating his weapons rather than his entire body. This detraction is calculated by subtracting the reaction adjustment value from the character's defensive adjustment. A character with an 18 dexterity has a reaction adjustment of +2 and a defensive adjustment bonus of -4. Thus, while dual-wield parrying, a character with an 18 dexterity would only have an AC defensive adjustment bonus of -2. These penalties will apply only to the current attack being aimed at the parrying character.

Example: Zvain the Cruel is 16th level drow elf fighter with a 19 dexterity. Aside from his dexterity, Zvain's only other defensive adjustments are due to his drow elfin chain +5, which provides him with an AC of 0. With his dexterity's defensive adjustment, Zvain's total AC would normally be -4. Zvain normally wields a long sword (with which he is specialized) in his primary hand and a short sword in his off-hand. He thus receives the standard -2/-4 penalties to dual-wielding, but these penalties are nearly negated by his +3 reaction adjustment, which leaves him with only a -1 penalty to his off-hand short sword.

Zvain finds himself in a duel with Ktandeo. He decides that he wishes to use his single off-hand short sword attack per round as an individual attack parry against one of Ktandeo's ferocious blows. At 16th level, Zvain's normal parry AC bonus would be -9 (half his level rounded down, +1 for being a warrior). However, Zvain's penalties for dual-wielding are not completely negated for his off-hand weapon, and so Zvain's parry bonus with the off-hand short sword weakens by one, reducing his parry AC bonus to -8. Furthermore, Zvain is so concentrated upon defending himself from Ktandeo with his short sword that the drow is slightly slower with his footwork than usual. With his reaction adjustment of +3 and his defensive adjustment bonus of -4, the sum of his defensive adjustment is only a -1 bonus. Therefore, in the instance of this specific single attack parry and the next attack upon him, Zvain's AC is temporarily lowered to AC -1 due to his distracted dexterity, but with the parry AC bonus of -8, Zvain's final calculated AC for the single attack parry is -9.

Note: In the case of extreme dexterity, such as a 24 dexterity, the defensive adjustment is only detracted by the full value of the reaction adjustment if all the reaction adjustment is utilized in negating the penalties for the weapon hand being used in the parry, which will not usually be the case. For example, a 24 dexterity provides a +5 reaction adjustment and -6 defensive adjustment. If wielding a long sword and a short sword in the primary hand and off-hand respectively, the penalties to hit are only -2/-4. In this scenario, resolving an off-hand individual attack parry would be calculated by taking from the reaction adjustment only +4 of the +5, as +4 would completely negate the -4 penalty. Thus, only the +4 would be summed with the defensive adjustment bonus of -6. The godly dexterity of such a character would therefore not only completely negate any off-hand penalties to the parry, but would also leave the character with an overall defensive adjustment bonus of -2 during the individual attack parry. Now if the same character were wielding two medium-sized weapons, such as two scimitars, the primary/off-hand to hit penalties are -4/-6. If using the off-hand scimitar, the entire +5 reaction adjustment would not be enough to negate the penalty, and thus the final calculated AC for the single attack parry would be calculated in the same manner that Zvain's was calculated above.

Shields and Parrying

Naturally, shields are generally far better for dual-wield parrying than off-hand weapons. They are even better for parrying if one has proficiency or specialization in the shield/weapon and shield style (these proficiencies/skills are sublimated into the same proficiency).

Shield-punching (1d3 sub-duel damage plus strength modifiers) is not possible if one is wielding the shield in the off-hand weapon and chooses to parry with it.

If the shield is used in a single attack parry, there is only a -2 off-hand penalty for the shield (instead of the -4 for off-hand weapons). The primary hand holding the weapon receives the normal -2 penalty to hit. Calculations are handled the same.

Example: Brett the Bold is a 7th level fighter with a 16 dexterity (+1 reaction adjustment, -2 defensive adjustment). Finding himself in an unfortunate duel with Zvain the Cruel, Brett elects to use his shield in a single attack parry. Brett bears full plate mail and his shield as armor, which coupled with his dexterity, normally gives him an AC -2. By electing to give himself a -2 penalty to hit with his long sword throughout the round, Brett can use his shield as a single attack parry. Announcing that he will parry the first of Zvain's blows with his shield, Brett only has a -1 penalty to his shield parry after taking into account his reaction adjustment. After calculation, Brett enjoys a -3 parry AC bonus against Zvain's first attack (half his levels, rounded down, +1 for warrior, -1 for "dual-wielding" his shield). This betters Brett's AC against Zvain's first attack to AC -5, but since he is concentrating on a dexterous use of his shield, his defensive adjustment temporarily weakens to a -1 bonus, leaving Brett with a final calculated parrying AC of -4 (+1 reaction adjustment, summed with his -2 defensive adjustment, leaves him with an defensive bonus of -1 instead of -2). Due to his +1 reaction adjustment, Brett's two long sword attacks per round only receive a -1 to hit, instead of the -2 penalty.

For those proficient in the Weapon and Shield Fighting Style, when single attack parrying, the penalty for "dual-wielding" the shield for parrying purposes is reduced from -2 to -1.

If one specializes in the Weapon and Shield Fighting Style, when single attack parrying, the penalty to hit with the primary hand weapon is reduced from -2 to -1. The shield-master receives a general +1 bonus to AC due to his great skill with the shield.

3. Limited Full-Round Parry

Sometimes a character may be faced with multiple attacks from multiple opponents, and may desire as his strategy to improve his armor class throughout the round with a limited or partial parry. He can do this by sacrificing at least one of his attacks. This is also called a "spread" parry. The benefit of this method of parrying is that individual enemy attacks need not be singled out for an individual parry, and that rather a bonus to AC is enjoyed against any number of attacks endured during a given round, while still allowing at least one other attack.

To make a limited full-round parry, the character in question must declare his intent to do so, and must declare before any pertinent attack rolls from his assailants are made. The parrying character must also decide which and how many of his attacks are going to be sacrificed. This is usually done at the end of the round.

The improvement in AC is gained by much in the same way as described under "Individual Attack Parry". The AC bonus for the attack(s) being sacrificed is assessed (a shield is almost always a far better "attack" to sacrifice than a standard weapon). The bonuses for the attacks being sacrificed are averaged, rounded down. Once that number is attained it is factored by the fraction of attacks sacrificed over the total number of attacks the character possesses. The resulting number, rounded down, is the bonus AC enjoyed by the character.

Example: Khant the Cynic is a 30th level fighter. He wears dragon hide armor giving him an AC -4, and possesses a magical shield +5, thus giving him an AC of -10. Khant is about to fight the Chromatic Dragon, and so quaffs a potion of speed before he engages. Specialized in the bastard sword, Khant usually enjoys 5/2 attacks +1 attack (his shield) per round, and thus normally has at any given round three or four attacks. With the potion, his attacks double, to either six or eight attacks per round. Feeling confident, Khant the Cynic faces Tiamat, deciding to sacrifice one half his attacks any given round during the combat, so as to increase his overall armor class during the battle.

Khant's normal parry bonus would be -16, but dual-wielding and without a dexterous reaction adjustment, his bastard sword parry bonus reduces to -14. With his shield, there is only a -1 penalty for dual-wielding, because Khant has a proficiency slot dedicated to "shield". This leaves him with a -15 AC parrying bonus with the shield. The average of -14 and -15 is -14 (rounded down). Since half of Khant's attacks are sacrificed during any given round of his combat with Tiamat, this provides the fraction which is used to factor Khant's parry bonus:

-14/1 x 1/2 = -7

By sacrificing half his attacks any given round, Khant enjoys a -7 bonus to his AC, giving him an effective AC -17. Unfortunately, the DM determines Tiamat's calculated THAC0 is -10. Khant the Cynic may have made a mistake...

Spread parrying does not guarantee a parrying bonus of at least -1; if the penalties and averaging actually worsen a character's armor class, then the AC is worsened. Only truly skilled and powerful characters generally profit from this method of parrying.

Shields, and Weapon and Shield Fighting Style

As is noted in Player's Option: Combat and Tactics and elsewhere, shields are undervalued in normal AD&D combat rules, a contradiction that is obvious when one sees historical fighting reenactments in which the shield invariably plays a very large roll in combat.

Shields in Use as Missile Cover

Shields are excellent providers of missile coverage when being used to parry missiles. The AC bonus gained depends on the shield type being used:

Buckler: -2

Small Shield: -4

Medium Shield: -7

Body Shield: -10

Weapon and Shield Fighting Style

Weapon and Shield Fighting Style may be pursued by any class of character allowed to use the shield (all warriors, clerics, druids, bards and psionicists). Any of these character classes may become proficient in this fighting style, but only warriors may specialize in this fighting style. Specialization in a fighting style does not count against a warrior's choice of weapon specialization, which is separate. A multi-class warrior may also specialize in a fighting style.

Proficiency in Weapon and Shield Fighting Style costs one weapon proficiency slot. Principally, this slot gives the character proficiency with his shield in its use as a weapon. The character may shield-punch without weapon unfamiliarity penalties. Attacking with a shield causes 1d3 damage plus any strength damage modifiers. Only 50% of any of this damage is real (rounded down); the rest is temporary damage. Proficiency in the Weapon and Shield Fighting Style also decreases the penalty for dual-wielding a shield for parrying purposes from -2 to -1. Likewise, for purposes of using the shield as a weapon, the attack penalty decreases by one point (off-hand shield use become -3 instead of -4).

Specialization in Weapon and Shield Fighting Style costs an additional proficiency slot. With specialization, the character enjoys all the normal benefits of specialization with a weapon: +1 to hit and +2 to damage, and extra multiple attacks per round, if the character is for some reason wielding the shield in his primary hand. Any damage remains 50% real and 50% temporary. With specialization in this fighting style, the penalty for dual-wielding with the shield for the primary hand weapon decreases from -2 to -1. Furthermore, specialization gains the warrior a -1 AC bonus to his general AC when using a shield.

When using the shield as a weapon to cause damage, once the shield is used to attack, successfully or not, any AC bonus provided by the shield is no longer applicable for the remainder of the round.