Resolving Everything with Turn Undead
A small system to resolve tasks using the Turn Undead table from the Holmes Basic Set (1977).
Set Difficulty
When a task must be performed and there is a chance of failure the GM assigns the task a Difficulty from 1 to 8, where 1 is trivially easy and 8 is almost impossibly hard for even the most skilled character.
The GM may instead roll 1d8 to set the Difficulty.
In combat the Difficulty is determined by the enemy’s Hit Dice.
Make An Attempt
If you lack both skill and the proper tools, you fail.
If you have either skill or the proper tools roll 2d6 and compare the result the table below, cross-referencing your level with the Difficulty. If the roll is equal to or greater than the number given in the table then you have succeeded.
If the table contains an S, you succeed automatically. You may roll anyway to attempt to score a Critical.
If the table contains a C, you succeed automatically and gain some additional advantage. There is no need to roll.
A roll of 12 (6-6 on the dice) is always a Critical. You succeed and gain some additional advantage.
A roll of 2 (1-1 on the dice) is always a failure, and you suffer some consequence.
Level | Difficulty: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 7 | 9 | 11 | ||||||
2nd | S | 7 | 9 | 11 | |||||
3rd | S | S | 7 | 9 | 11 | ||||
4th | C | S | S | 7 | 9 | 11 | |||
5th | C | C | S | S | 7 | 9 | 11 | ||
6th | C | C | C | S | S | 7 | 9 | 11 |
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Roland Volz
December 21, 2021 @ 4:41 pm
Uh, the table doesn’t have either “C” or “S” results. Is “C” meant to be in the place of “D” and “S” meant to be in the place of “T”?
LtR_Chris1
December 21, 2021 @ 8:14 pm
Yeah, that’s fixed now. Well spotted.