Arms at the Ready

(White Dwarf #31 & #33)

Lew combines the Weapon vs. AC charts with attack matrices to create a streamlined weapon table for each weapon.

 

What’s it about?

This idea addresses a common issue: many players avoid using Weapon vs. AC tables because they’re cumbersome and slow play. The dauntingly large tables often feel like more trouble than they’re worth. Lew’s solution simplifies this by letting you use your standard THAC0 for unarmored monsters and referencing his weapon handout for armored foes.

However, there are errors: the battle axe vs. AC 3 is incorrect, as is the footman’s military pick. Lew decides to stagger the non-fighter classes, grouping them in a way that doesn’t align with AD&D attack matrices. I get why he staggered them (to smooth attack progression) but its a deviation from the DMG. I'm puzzled as to why he didn't stagger the fighter levels, particularly as the DMG suggests it as an option. This gave me a reason to create my own version that closely follows the rules as written.

Anything insightful?

A clever, simple way to integrate Weapon vs. AC. There’s no excuse not to use it now.

Should I share this with my players? 

Yes. I even created my own Arms at the Ready sheets, adding a THAC0 entry for unarmored monsters and including details like damage, speed, length, weight, space required, and cost. I also adjusted the class lines to align with AD&D combat matrices. This is a clever idea that improves the game and deserve a spot on the "best of" list.

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I decided to make my own Arms at the Ready sheets and include THACO (for when you are attacking monsters without armour) as well as adding in the rest of the weapon details (damage, SF, cost, enc., length, RoF etc). Should be everything you need, at least for the most commonly used weapons. Let me know if you spot any errors or if you find these useful.