Trow Fortress 05: The Encounter

Both sides roll surprise if they are even able to surprise, needing a 5+ in 1d6. If both succeed, no surprise happens.

Distance is slightly abstracted: If a side has surprise, they are as close as the scenario allows and get a free turn (the other side gets no actions). With no surprise, both sides are generally aware of the other, and are as far as it makes sense in context.

After the surprise turn, or if there is no surprise, the side with the single member that has the most HD has the initiative (on a tie, the contestant that carries a sword acts first, else randomize it). After all its integrants have their chance to act, the other side acts. Certain things allow reactions: for example, if you are walking towards a target, anyone with a readied bow can make an attack against you during the way. This consumes the bowmen's turn.

When it is uncertain, I roll monster reaction (I prefer to call it "disposition") in secret, with low numbers being bad. When it comes to the bestiary, I will write specifically what good and bad means for every monster: for example, Wargs that roll low are food deprived and will attack even when the numbers are disfavorable; while an average roll means they will only attack if they are more powerful; but will stalk the party anyways to see if they can catch a stray member.

Combat goes with people taking chunks of life, step by step and critical through critical.

BUT HOW DO I MAKE ATTAKK

You roll some d6 and must get the target's AC or more:

No armor is AC3
Light armor is AC4
Heavy armor is AC5

Having four HD or more gives you +1 extra AC
Wearing a shield has 2 in 6 chance to negate any attack (non fighters actually have 1d6 chance but they don't use shields normally)

Normally characters roll just 1d6 for melee at level 1, but you get extra melee attacks at 6, 10 and 14 HD. Ranged attacks improve only through specializations.

For each d6 that hits, you deal 1 damage, or more if its a critical hit (a 6) 

Damage scored on critical hits depends on weapon (here is the complete weapon list). The quick version is that small weapons such as daggers deal 2, one handed swords deal 3 and two handed weapons deal 4.

Enter table:

 

This table compares the damage output done by a normal BX fighter in each level, with a dagger, a sword and a "d12 weapon". I know that two handed weapons deal 1d10 but to make up for it, this fighter doesn't have any strength bonus (rare in a fighter) This serves to give me a general idea of how accurate is the damage per turn to the original with the new system. The numbers are percentages of damage done, taking a d4 hit dice and a d4 damage as the base. This means that a 100 would be the damage output of a d4 weapon that somehow ALWAYS hit. Whenever there are two numbers, the second indicates the damage percentage done if the wearer carries a shield (stastically tallying damage by a third unless something weird happens)

By comparing numbers, we can see that damage for each type of weapon is similar at the beggining, but that if I try to mash four attacks into a span of 14 levels, the damage will explode bestially in the end. I don't know if that can be a problem yet, the highest PCs are level 4 by now. Monsters also use the same progression, so in that way, its even.

When PCs get to 0 HD they get a save vs death: on a 4 they are unconscious and need medical help, on a 5 they are wounded with a disadvantage to most actions, and cannot save like this until healed; and on a 6 they are just fine and able to save again indefinitelly.

Named NPCs and leaders do get this save too; random monsters do not. Normally the rule is that if an enemy lives enough time for the players to know their name or backstory, it gets a save vs death. More on saves later.

Being mounted on a horse reduces critical hits from footmen attacks by 1, unless the footmen use polearms.

"Unhittable creatures" such as spectres receive only damage on criticals (1 damage) unless the weapon is blessed or is magically suited for the monster in question.

Resting rules are constantly changing and haven't settled yet. 2d6 take worst, and recover that many HD is the current way. This way I can introduce degrees of "resting", such as roll 1d6 instead if they are in a confortable inn or something.

SAVING THROWS

Traps, dragon breath and spells need a 6. Kobolds get an extra die for this category.
Paralyzation, poison and death ray need a 5+
Death at zero HP needs a 4, 5 or 6 for unconscious, wounded and unscathed respectivelly.

Level 1 characters have 1 saving die; and get more through leveling.

This is a comparison chart between B/X saves and my own, using the fighting man and halflings/kobolds.

Notes: NPCs are significantly weaker. I love that. There is a reason that NPCs fear death rays and sleep spells. Saves are plot armor after all, and NPCs are outside the plot. That is for main characters (the PCs). Save numbers are really smooth and alike the original, but they are a little harder now for level 1 characters. That is OK for me. I treat most traps as a save, too. The numbers from B/X (trigger traps 1 third of the time) remain unchanged in this way.

 

MORALE

Morale is used by the book sometimes, but the most times I just make a new reaction roll after significant damage or intimidation, and interpret it.