[net.games.frp] New AD&D Rules

tjc (10/21/82)

Has anyone been following the <official> mods to AD&D
rules by Gygax in the DRAGON?  New character classes
(details only for Barbarian class), new MU, Cleric, and
Illusionist spells, and the whole class of cantrips for
illusionist and mu's.  Some of them seem useful and/or
interesting.

One very useful rule change is the addition of weapon of
proficiency for the fighter class (which admittedly did
need some sprucing up).  It seems that any reasonably
dextrous fighter type should declare longbow as a weapon of
proficiency, given the new rules.

One other strange source for new rules...
As a new member of the TSR RPGA (Role Playing Gamers Association),
I ordered a <restricted> playing aid (printed in England), wiz,
(viz, that is) an attack computer wheel.  Among the list of rules
inscribed at the bottom was this interesting one:
	* A character may choose to use his weapon *
	* to parry instead of attack at the 	   *
	* beginning of any given round; if he does *
	* so, he of course may not attack that	   *
	* round, but may deduct his weapon's magic *
	* bonus from the opponent's die roll.	  *
(my paraphrase/interpretation).

QUERY:  Has anyone heard of this rule before?  Reference?

	***** Long Live AD&D ****

			Tom Cook
			Bell Labs, Columbus
			cbosg!tjc

mrs@sri-unix (10/23/82)

An addition to the parrying rule:
A combatant may declare a parry at the beginning of the round, at the cost
of one of his attacks (possibly all, if he doesn't have multiple attacks) and
subtract his strength bonus and weapon's magic bonus from the attacker's "to
hit" roll.
                                              Michael Stwalley,
                                              teklabs!reed!mrs