Custom Rules

Character generation

Characters cannot be of Evil alignment.
Only standard 2nd Edition races and classes are allowed without DM approval. Kits from the complete handbooks may be allowable but do require explicit approval from the DM.
Ability scores are determined by distributing 75 points freely over the six abilities. No ability score can be higher than 18.

Classes

Bard

Bards tend to use their magic for entertainment only, and therefore they can only try to learn spells from the following schools, with the listed limitations:
- Full access: Illusion/Phantasm, Lesser/Greater Divination
- Limited access (up to level 3 spells): Alteration, Conjuration/Summoning, Enchantment/Charm
- No access: Abjuration, Invocation/Evocation, Necromancy
For learning spells from spellbooks or scrolls (the only way a Bard can obtain new spells), Bards follow the same custom rules as Wizards (see below).

Priest

Priests have to pay a tithe of 10% to their priesthood unless the specific priesthood has an explicit different tithe defined.

Wizard

Wizards get bonus spells similar to Priests. For Wizards this is based on their Intelligence (consult the Wisdom chart with the score for Intelligence).
Wizards are allowed to use 1 higher level spell slot as a lower level spell slot (e.g. use a level 2 slot as a level 1 slot, or a level 4 slot as a level 2 slot, etc...)
Wizards do not automatically get new spells when raising to a new experience level. Instead, a wizard will gain a new spell of his or her choice (of course, with DM discretion to limit the selection based on the adventure world) for every three levels (same as the rate for gaining Non-Weapon Proficiency slots). Thus, a new spell can be selected at 3rd, 6th, 9th, ... level.
When trying to learn spells from a spellbook, a Wizard must spend time concentrating on his studies. Per 8 hours, a total amount of spell levels up to the Wizard's level can be attempted to be learnt. Also, no more than 8 consecutive hours can be spent studying. The Wizard must rest for at least 45 minutes per hour spent studying.
When trying to research a spell from a scroll, a Wizard must spend sufficient time concentrating on the task at hand. Intensive study of 4 hours per spell level minus the level of the Wizard is required, with a minimum of 1 hour. Also, no more than 8 consecutive hours can be spent researching spells this way, and the Wizard will lose 8 points of Constitution. If the Wizard has less a Constitution of 8 or less, he or she will fall unconscious. Recovery of Constitution points is at a rate of 1 point per hour of full rest. (If the Wizard fell unconscious, the rate of recovery is reduced to 1 point per 3 hours.)

Game play

General

Spell casters must announce the spells they study (or pray for) each morning of campaign time. If no spells are announced, the DM will happily assume that none were memorised!
Additional weapon and non-weapon proficiencies cannot be chosen if the character did not work towards that goal. One cannot be all of a sudden proficient in something without practise and/or study. It is possible to cover that by spending time 'advancing to a new level' with a mentor.
Weapon proficiencies, non-weapon proficiencies, and spells that one wants to choose as one raises in level require DM approval to make sure it fits into the world (and for proficiencies also to make sure that the character has the 'experience' to have become proficient in the chosen field).
When a character gains enough experience to reach a next level, the character will not actually gain the next level until the beginning of the next playing session.
If a character reaches 0 hp, the player should roll against System Shock to determine whether the character retains consciousness.
If a character reaches -10 hp, the player should roll against System Shock to determine whether the character dies, or whether it hovers on Death's doorstep.

Combat

Exceptional abilities and movement
Any creature with a Dexterity above 18 will gain a movement rate bonus that is equal to amount of Dexterity points above 18.
Rear or flank attacks
The armour class of a creature in combat shall get a penalty of 1 for every opponent over 1 that is attacking the creature in melee combat. So, a creature that is engaged in melee combat with 3 opponents shall have an armour class penalty of 2 (e.g. AC 4 becomes AC 6).
Sitting, kneeling and lying prone
Quoted from the Player's Option: Combat and Tactics:
&nsp;
Characters may sit, kneel, or fall prone as a no-move attack. Getting up from sitting or kneeling is considered a half-move action, so a character can stand and still fire a missile or make an attack. Standing up from a prone position is treated as a full-move action, so the character can do nothing else in that round except rise.
Sitting or kneeling characters are slightly harder to hit with missiles or thrown weapons; they gain an armour class bonus of -1 against any ranged attacks. However, they're at a disadvantage in melee. Anyone making a melee attack against a sitting or kneeling character gains a +2 bonus to hit them.
Prone characters present very small missile targets and gain an AC bonus of -2 versus ranged attacks. However, they are very vulnerable to anyone close enough to threaten them. Melee attacks against prone characters gain a +4 bonus to hit.
Kneeling characters can use any weapon with no penalty. Sitting characters can only use crossbows without a penalty, with any other weapon, they suffer a -2 penalty to their attack rolls. (Note that characters on horseback are mounted, not sitting!)
Prone characters can only use crossbows or size S weapons while they're on the ground. A prone character firing a crossbow attacks at one-half the normal rate of fire and makes any melee attacks with a -4 penalty to hit.

Knockdowns
Whenever someone scores a critical hit (rolling a natural 20 for the to hit), there is a chance of causing a knockdown on the opponent. The chances for having a knockdown depend on the opponent size and the weapon size. Consult the following table to determine what die apply for a specific weapon size:

Weapon Size	Knockdown Die
Small	1d6
Medium	1d8
Large	1d10

Then use the following values for both the opponent size and the weapon size (Tiny=1, Small=2, Medium=3, Large=4, Huge=5) and subtract the weapon size from the opponent size. Find the correct number in the table below to determine the minimum roll to score a knockdown:

Size Difference	Knockdown Roll
-3	2
-2	3
-1	5
0	7
1	9
2	11
3	12

Spells and spell-like effects

Invisibility
The Invisibility spell is not well defined within the rules of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Therefore, the following description of the spell effects will apply:

The Invisibility spell creates a magical illusion that distorts the local space in a way that observers will not be able to see the invisible person. If the invisible person employs any other form of magic, the effects of the Invisibility will be negated and the person becomes visible. If the invisible person performs any action that causes a visible change in the material plane, any observers may notice the invisible person (based on their intelligence). If the invisible person performs an attack, any and all observers are very likely to notice where the attack came from, thereby no longer being fooled by the illusion, which amounts to the Invisibility being negated.
Resurrection
Although the spell description for Resurrection does not mention a loss of 1 point of Constitution when bringing the character back to life whereas the Raise Dead specifies the loss of Constitution, the loss of Constitution is a result of being brought from death. The loss of a point of Constitution is regardless of the means that are used to bring a character back to life.

Weapon Proficiencies

Base rule
Any character (regardless of its class) can gain proficiency with any number of weapons. Likewise, any character (regardless of its class) is able to specialise in a weapon. Not all weapons are available to any race/class combination, though. Specific races may have additional weapons that they can be proficient with regardless of their class. But certain classes may have limitations concerning which weapons are available to them. The allowed set of weapons that a character can gain proficiency (and specialisation) in is the set of weapons that is allowed to its class plus the set of weapons that is available to its race.
Multiclass characters shall combine the set of weapons for their classes. They shall also use the most favourable specialisation rule that applies to any of their classes.
Dwarf
Dwarves can be proficient with battle axe, club, and warhammer, in addition to any weapons that their class allows them to be proficient with.
Elf
Elves can be proficient with long sword, short bow, long bow, composite short bow and composite long bow, in addition to any weapons that their class allows them to be proficient with.
Gnome
There are no extra weapons available to this race.
Half-Elf
There are no extra weapons available to this race.
Halfling
Halflings can be proficient with blowgun, dagger, knife, and sling, in addition to any weapons that their class allows them to be proficient with.
Human
There are no extra weapons available to this race.
Bard
A bard can be proficient with all weapons in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. In addition, a bard can specialise in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.
Druid
A druid can be proficient with club, dagger, dart, knife, scimitar, sickle, sling, spear and staff. In addition, a druid can specialise in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.
Fighter, Paladin, Ranger
(The section below describes the fighter class, but it applies equally to the paladin and ranger classes.)
A fighter can be proficient with all weapons in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. In addition, a fighter can specialise up to two times in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Single specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon. Double specialisation requires two additional weapon proficiency slots to be spent on the weapon after the character obtained single specialisation in the weapon. The character will gain a +2 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Single weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 2. Double weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.
Example: Thoran the Great, a level 4 fighter gains double proficiency in using his bastard sword. To gain this, he spent 4 weapon proficiency slots on his bastard sword throughout his career as a fighter: 1 to be proficiency with the bastard sword, 1 to gain single specialisation, and 2 to gain double specialisation. proficiency slot on that particular weapon. Weapon specialisation given a +1 on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Mage
A mage can be proficient with club, dagger, dart, knife, sling, and staff. In addition, a mage can specialise in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.
Priest
A priest can be proficient with any weapon that his or her priesthood allows (refer to the Pantheon information for details about the priesthoods). In addition, a priest can specialise in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.
Thief
A thief can be proficient with broad sword, club, dagger, dart, hand crossbow, knife, lasso, long sword, short bow, short sword, sling, and staff. In addition, a thief can specialise in any weapon that he or she is proficient with. Specialisation requires an additional weapon proficiency slot to be spent on the weapon. The character will gain a +1 bonus on all attack and damage rolls with that weapon.
Weapon specialisation is not possible until the character has reached level 3.

Shield Proficiencies

Shields come in four different types: buckler, small, medium and body shield. Each type of shield has its own characteristics in combat, and therefore the effects on armour class in melee combat and ranged combat are different. In order to be proficient with a given type of shield, a weapon proficiency slot must be assigned to it.
Use the table below for modifiers to the armour class (melee and missile), and the attack roll (first number in the column) when the shield is used by a character that has a proficiency for that shield type.
When the wielder does not have a proficiency in the shield type, the armour class bonus is reduced by 1 (though it cannot be less than 0). In that case, the second number in the attack column applies also.

Shield type	Melee AC	Missile AC	Attack
Buckler	+1	0	0 / 0
Small	+1	+1	0 / -1
Medium	+2	+1	0 / -2
Body	+2	+2	-1 / -4