Pummeling Procedures

Most characters can make a single pummeling attack each round. Any character can gain an extra pummeling attack each round by punching with both hands (provided both hands are free). However, the character suffers the penalties for attacking with two weapons (see Chapter Two).

To make a pummeling attack, the character makes an attack roll vs. the defender’s Armor Class. Pummeling damage and speed varies with the type of implement used to pummel:

· Small, soft objects (bare hands) inflict 1d2 points of damage; base speed is fast.

· Small, hard objects (mailed fists, mugs, weapon pommels) inflict 1d3 points of damage; base speed is fast.

· Large, soft objects (saddles, unconscious characters) inflict 1d4 points of damage; base speed is slow.

· Large, hard objects (chairs, small tables, sacks of coins) inflict 1d6 points of damage; base speed is slow.

To be used as an improvised weapon, an object must weigh no more than one third of the attacker’s maximum press score (from PHB, Table 1) and its greatest dimension can be no larger than half the attacker’s height. For example, a Man-sized creature could wield a tall stool in a pummeling attack, but not a stepladder or banquet table; common sense must apply.

A cestus (see Chapter Seven) is a special case. A character employing a cestus uses the pummeling procedure but inflicts normal damage.

Strength bonuses to attack and damage rolls apply to all pummeling attacks.

There is no knockdown die for pummeling attacks. Instead, there is an opposed Strength roll to see if the defender is knocked down. Modify the opposing Strength scores as follows:

· 2-point bonus or penalty per size difference of the attacker versus the defender;

· +1 for attacking with a large object;

· +1, +2, or +3 for a specialized, master, or grand master attacker.

The defender is knocked down if the attacker wins the opposed Strength roll. If both Strength rolls succeed, the character who succeeds with the highest roll is the winner. If the attacker fails her Strength roll, there is no knockdown no matter what the defender rolls. If the defender fails her Strength roll, there is no knockdown unless the attacker’s roll succeeds.

If a pummeling attack scores a critical hit, do not use the procedures in Chapter Six. Instead, the defender must save vs. death or be knocked unconscious for 3d10 combat rounds. The attacker’s hit probability adjustment (from Table 1 in the PHB) for Strength applies as a bonus or penalty to the saving throw. If the attacker does not have a Strength score, determine the attacker’s effective Strength using the formula found in Chapter Two and apply the appropriate modifier from the PHB.

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