Interpreting Low (and high) Ability Scores: The Physical Attributes

Strength Score	Mechanical Advantage B/X	Descriptor Score = grip strength in pounds divided by 10	Jovial Priest House Rule Encumbrance effects on Movement 120’ up to Str*1/5 in dungeon stone (1 dungeon stone = 150 coin encumbrance) 90’ up to Str*2/5 60’ up to Str*3/5 30’ up to Str*4/5 15’ up to Str*5/5 Can carry an additional 50% if not dead weight (eg piggy back) or dragging along the ground
1		Weaker than a 6 year old
2	Non-combatant	7 year old	Non-combatant
3	-3 to hit -3 damage Open doors 1in6	9 year old	-3 to hit mêlée (increase chance natural 1) -3 damage mêlée (zero damage possible) Open doors 1in20
4-5	-2 to hit -2 damage Open doors 1in6	12 year old	-2 to hit mêlée (increase chance natural 1) -2 damage mêlée (zero damage possible) Open doors 1in12
6-8	-1 to hit -1 damage Open doors 1in6	14 year old	-1 to hit mêlée (increase chance natural 1) -1 damage mêlée (zero damage possible) Open doors 1in6
9-12	Open doors 2in6	16 year old male to Average Adult	Minimum Dwarf and Elf Adventurers Open doors 2in6
13-15	+1 to hit +1 damage Open doors 3in6	Tough ‘Indiana Jones, James Bond’	+1 to hit mêlée +1 damage mêlée Open doors 3in6 Able to wield medium weapon in off hand if Dexterity also >12
16-17	+2 to hit +2 damage Open doors 4in6	Strongman, pumped ‘Van Damme’ ‘Riddick’	+2 to hit mêlée +2 damage mêlée Open doors 4in6
18	+3 to hit +3 damage Open doors 5in6	Mr Universe ‘Arnie’	+3 to hit mêlée +3 damage mêlée Open doors 5in6
19+		Super Human

Notes regarding movement, strength and encumbrance.

Adapted from Delta's encumbrance rule:

150 coins = 15 pounds = 1 'dungeon stone' (as opposed to the normal 14 pounds = 1 imperial stone)

Strength score is multiplied by a fraction to determine max encumbrance for that given movement.

eg Strength 3, max encumbrance 3*5/5 = 3 dungeon stone = 45 pounds = 20kg or 30 kgs dragged along the ground. I think this might be reasonable for the AVERAGE 9 year old, who using grip strength as a real life comparator has strength of 3.

eg strength 10 average, max encumbrance 10*5/5 = 10 dungeon stone = 150 pounds = 68kg (I think this is pretty acceptable, I'm average, I could barely move with 68 kg unless I was piggy back someone, and I think my 50% increase rule, allows something almost realistic but simple to apply.

eg strength 18, max encumbrance 18*5/5 = 18 dungeon stone = 270 pounds = 122 kg.

Personally I think olympic weight lifters can be said to have strength exceeding normal human range.

Notes regarding natural 1 ‘to hit’ roll:

Always misses irrespective of other bonuses

Must roll on mêlée weapon breakage table

Notes regarding natural 20 ‘to hit’ roll:

Always hits irrespective of other penalties

Delivers maximum damage for class based weapon damage (irrespective of Strength penalty ie a magic user with strength 3 rolls a 20 whilst wielding a small weapon (damage range 1-4), he will deliver 4 damage and has no -3 damage penalty]. This allows the weak, with good fortune, to still have an opportunity to kill a normal man.

Able to ‘cleave’, which allows any remaining damage after the first opponent is killed to be carried over onto the next opponent in mêlée range

Dexterity Score	Mechanical Advantage B/X	Descriptor Mobility/Agility & Eye-hand coordination (choose one maybe two to describe you)	Jovial Priest House Rule Thieves add bonus / penalty to % skills
1		Bed bound
2	Non-combatant	Non-mobile (wheelchair)	Non-combatant
3	-3 to hit missile +3 AC penalty -3 personal initiative	Spasticity / walking frame	-3 to hit missile (increase chance natural 1) +3 AC penalty Automatically lose personal initiative -3 party initiative   Missile ranges short=long -2/3 movement penalty
4-5	-2 to hit missile +2 AC penalty -2 personal initiative	Klutz, can’t hit the backside of a barn	-2 to hit missile (increase chance natural 1) +2 AC penalty -2 personal initiative -1 party initiative Choose: Missile ranges short=medium, medium=long, or -1/3 movement penalty
6-8	-1 to hit +1 AC penalty -1 personal initiative	Uncoordinated, Butterfingers	Minimum for thief class -1 to hit missile (increase chance natural 1) +1 AC penalty -1 personal initiative
9-12		Average	Minimum Halfling Adventurer
13-15	+1 to hit missile -1 AC bonus +1 personal initiative	Lithe, good shot	+1 to hit missile -1 AC bonus +1 personal initiative Able to dual wield weapons
16-17	+2 to hit missile -2 AC bonus +2 personal initiative	Acrobatic, sure shot	+2 to hit missile -2 AC bonus +2 personal initiative
18	+3 to hit missile -3 AC bonus +3 personal initiative	Grace on legs / dead eye	+3 to hit missile -3 AC bonus +3 personal initiative
19+		Super Human

Thieves add their -1,0,+1,+2+3 ability modifier to all their thief percentile skills for Dexterity 6-18.
Notes regarding natural 1 ‘to hit’ roll:

Always misses irrespective of other bonuses

Must roll on missile natural 1 table                 

            1: Weapon Breakage of : string (bow, 1 turn to fix if spare), mechanism (crossbow, needs weapon maker to fix) or total destruction of device (other missile weapons or DM discretion)

         2-3: Randomly determine a new target from all allies and opponents within long range (a distracted wild random shot in any direction is what a 1 represents) and roll a new ‘to hit’ roll using the range to the new opponent.

Notes regarding Dexterity 3, -3 to party initiative - You don’t want such an individual in combat with you.

Notes regarding changes in missile ranges - eg short=long, such poorly dexterous individuals can not hit anything at medium range and all short ranges are at long range penalty in addition to other penalties, effectively -4 at Dexterity 3; less severe for dexterity 4-5.

A choice of penalty is allowed at Dexterity 4-5, movement penalty suggestive of an abnormal gait, or a missile weapon penalty must be chosen. At dexterity 3, both apply.

  

Constitution Score	Mechanical Advantage B/X	Descriptor Fitness, hardiness, physical resilience (choose one maybe two to describe you)	Jovial Priest House Rule
1		Bed bound
2	Non-combatant	Non-mobile (wheelchair)	Non-combatant
3	-3 hit points / Hit dice	Physical cripple	-3 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at -3 -3/4 movement penalty, and Make a save vs paralysis every morning or be too sick / exhausted to adventure that day
4-5	-2 hit points / Hit dice	Sickly, frail	-2 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at -2 Choose: -1/2 movement penalty, or Make a save vs paralysis every morning or be too sick / exhausted to adventure that day
6-8	-1 hit points / Hit dice	Unfit, unhealthy	-1 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at -1
9-12		Average	Minimum for Dwarf & Halfling Adventurers
13-15	+1 hit points / Hit dice	Fit, hardy	+1 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at +1
16-17	+2  hit points / Hit dice	Superfit, resilient	+2 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at +2
18	+3  hit points / Hit dice	Ironman	+3 hit points / Hit dice If negative hit points save vs death ray at +3
19+		Super Human

Notes regarding If negative hit points save vs death ray see this post.

Like for dexterity at Constitution 4-5 a choice of penalties is allowed (movement penalty for being so unfit and easily tired, or a frailty penalty preventing daily activity). At Constitution 3 both penalties apply.