I'm in the process of reading a series of 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons modules in preparation for converting them to 5th Edition rules, and I'd like some clarification on a rule I read.
First Edition had something called "Percentile Strength," where a Fighter (and only a fighter) with a strength score of 18 was allowed to roll a d100 for "exceptional strength." Specifically, the quote from the rule book (Page 7 of Supplement I: Greyhawk, published in 1975) said:
"fighters with a strength score of 18 are entitled to make an additional roll with percentile dice in order to determine if their exceptional strength is highly extraordinary, consulting the table below:"
I've read through it dozens of times and searched multiple posts talking about it, but I can't fathom what exactly percentile/exceptional strength is supposed to do. Like, if my 1e fighter rolled an 18 for Strength and I rolled a 33 on a d100... what do I do with that 33? The only thing I could think of was adding it to my 18 strength score for a total of 51 Strength, which... that can't possibly be what it means. I know 1e was essentially the Wild West of tabletop gaming, but there's no way in Hell, Hades, The Abyss, or any combination of the three that First Edition was that much of a fustercluck.
To anyone who's played 1e and encountered this situation, I'd greatly appreciate an answer to what percentile strength is supposed to do. Thanks in advance.
I don't think scores went above 18 back then. So, like the above poster said, it's a way for your STR score to be "higher". So, once you have a STR of 18, you'd roll the percentile and consult the table to get your actual modifiers.
It was kind of like a fraction between 18 and 19, so you’d say your str was an 18.33. It was basically a fighter class feature.
And Sabin is correct, scores above 18 were all but impossible. You rolled for stats at character generation, and those were your stats. No asi or increases ever. The only way to increase them was with a wish spell.
For updating to 5e, I’d just ignore it. Say they have an 18 str.
It went to 25 for the giant type creatures and the different Belts of Giant Kind. All the scores went up to 25 while the optional comeliness score could go to 30.
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I'm in the process of reading a series of 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons modules in preparation for converting them to 5th Edition rules, and I'd like some clarification on a rule I read.
First Edition had something called "Percentile Strength," where a Fighter (and only a fighter) with a strength score of 18 was allowed to roll a d100 for "exceptional strength." Specifically, the quote from the rule book (Page 7 of Supplement I: Greyhawk, published in 1975) said:
I've read through it dozens of times and searched multiple posts talking about it, but I can't fathom what exactly percentile/exceptional strength is supposed to do. Like, if my 1e fighter rolled an 18 for Strength and I rolled a 33 on a d100... what do I do with that 33? The only thing I could think of was adding it to my 18 strength score for a total of 51 Strength, which... that can't possibly be what it means. I know 1e was essentially the Wild West of tabletop gaming, but there's no way in Hell, Hades, The Abyss, or any combination of the three that First Edition was that much of a fustercluck.
To anyone who's played 1e and encountered this situation, I'd greatly appreciate an answer to what percentile strength is supposed to do. Thanks in advance.
It was just a way to extend the table for bonuses at the time.
I don't think scores went above 18 back then. So, like the above poster said, it's a way for your STR score to be "higher". So, once you have a STR of 18, you'd roll the percentile and consult the table to get your actual modifiers.
It was kind of like a fraction between 18 and 19, so you’d say your str was an 18.33.
It was basically a fighter class feature.
And Sabin is correct, scores above 18 were all but impossible. You rolled for stats at character generation, and those were your stats. No asi or increases ever. The only way to increase them was with a wish spell.
For updating to 5e, I’d just ignore it. Say they have an 18 str.
I'd probably scale the strength up to 20 based on how high the percentile is.
But AD&D ability scores don't really convert cleanly. 8-15 were more or less equivalent to 5e's 10-11 (no bonus).
(That was definitely a choice.)
It went to 25 for the giant type creatures and the different Belts of Giant Kind. All the scores went up to 25 while the optional comeliness score could go to 30.