A Small Combat Matrix

This was inspired by my recent read-through of Holmes Basic. When I've played older versions of d&d previously, I've tended towards converting to ascending AC. To mix it up, I wanted to try an approach to the classic combat matrix that appealed to me a bit more. Yes, this could all still be done with Ascending AC and attack bonuses, but I wanted to play around with how tables/vocabulary can effect game feel.

(For use in games where characters never pass level 3. This post from Idraluna Archives got me interested in that style of play!)

Roll needed to hit by AC:

Armour Class	9 None	8 Shield	7 Leather	6 L+S	5 Chain	4 C+S	3 Plate	2 P+S
Mortals	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Monsters	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13

Mortals refers to all classed characters, but also regular people, elves, orcs, etc, as well as mundane animals.

Monsters refers to the ghastly and the super-natural. Ogres, basilisks, dragons, etc.

A Mortal battles with a Monster.
Illustrated by John Dickson Batten, for Joseph Jacobs' Celtic Fairy Tales (1892).