Mugging—the Thief's KO (CTH)

A thief can attempt to knock out a victim under certain circumstances by striking from behind with a blunt instrument. In order to be eligible for a mugging attack, a target must be eligible for a backstab, as explained in Chapter Three of the Player's Handbook. In addition to all restrictions governing a backstab, a thief cannot mug a victim more than twice as tall as the thief.

The eligible thief character simply makes a mugging attack instead of a normal backstab. The thief gains his +4 backstab bonus and the victim loses shield and Dexterity bonuses. If helmets are detailed in the campaign, the victim has AC 10 unless the head is protected.

If the thief scores a hit, the victim must make a saving throw versus petrification or fall unconscious for 2d8 rounds. Modify the saving throw by the difference in level or hit dice between the mugger and the victim.

For example, Pwill the thief (T9) sneaks up behind the ogre sentry (4 HD). Pwill's blow is successful, so the ogre saves as a level 4 warrior. Normally he would save on a 12 or better, but the difference in Pwill's level (9) and the ogre's HD (4) modifies his necessary save to 17. However, the DM rolls a 19 for the ogre, so Pwill's attempt only makes the sentry mad. And loud.

Armor and Acrobatic Proficiencies

This system of modifiers for armor other than the usual leather may be used for non-thief characters as well as those thieves who may be found wearing heavier protection.

Elfin chain mail is light and thin and can be worn under normal clothing. All other types of armor except simple leather are stiff or bulky, and can only be covered by a full body cloak.

Jumping: For an acrobat wearing armor and attempting a jumping maneuver other than pole vaulting, compute the height or length of the jump as described in the Player's Handbook, Chapter Five. Then adjust this distance according to the armor of the character, as shown on Table 37. Should the resulting total be less than zero, the character fails the acrobatic feat entirely (probably by tripping and landing flat on his face).

Pole vaulting is a different matter. To successfully get off the ground in armor bulkier than leather requires a proficiency check, adjusted, as indicated on Table 37, according to the pole vaulter's armor. In addition, a pole vaulter with armor heavier or bulkier than studded or padded can vault no higher than the height of the pole.

Tightrope Walking: Adjustments listed on Table 37 indicate the penalties associated with each sort of armor if it is worn while tightrope walking. The DM should also take into account how heavy the character and all his armor, weapons and equipment are, and whether the rope or beam or other surface on which the character walks is capable of supporting such weight.

Tumbling: Defensive and offensive tumbling maneuvers are limited by the use of armor. As the Player's Handbook states (Chapter Five), a character with tumbling proficiency can improve his armor class by 4 against attacks directed solely at him in any round of combat, provided he has the initiative and forgoes all attacks that round. The row "Tumbling—Defensive" on Table 37 indicates what AC bonus, if any, the character can get when he is wearing various sorts of armor. When in unarmed combat, a character with tumbling proficiency is also normally able to improve his attack roll by 2. The bonus, if any, that the character has when in armor is shown in the row "Tumbling—Attack."

The third function of tumbling proficiency is the ability to avoid falling damage. If the character makes a successful proficiency check, he takes only half damage from falls of 60 feet or less, and none from falls of 10 feet or less. Modifiers to this proficiency check are listed in the row "Tumbling—Falling."

Table 37: Effects Of Armor On Acrobatic Proficiencies

Skill	No Armor1	Elfin Chain	Studded or Padded	Hide	Ring or Chain	Brigandine or Splint	Scale or Banded	Plate Mail2	Plate Armor3
Broad jump, running	+1'	—	- 1⁄2'	-3'	-5'	-7'	-10'	-15'	-20'
High jump, running	+1'	- 1⁄2'	-1'	-2'	-4'	-8'	-10'	-20'	-18'
Broad jump, standing	+ 1⁄2'	—	- 1⁄2'	-2'	-3'	-4'	-5'	-7'	-10'
High jump, standing	+ 1⁄4'	—	- 1⁄2'	-1'	-2'	-2 1⁄2'	-2  1⁄2'	-3'	-3'
Pole vaulting	—	-1'	-1'	-3'	-5'	-8'	-10'	-12'	-15'
Tightrope Walking	—	-1	-1	-3	-5	-6	-8	-10	-12
Tumbling Defensive	4	4	3	1	2	1	0	0	0
Attack	2	2	2	0	1	1	0	0	0
Falling	—	-1	—	-3	-5	-6	-8	-10	-12

General Notes: Leather armor is taken to be the standard, with no positive or negative adjustment to thief skills. No dexterity bonuses apply to thief functions (though penalties do) when wearing armor other than simple leather.

¹ This category applies when wearing bracers of defense or a cloak, but no large protective devices.

² Includes bronze plate mail.

³ Encompasses both field plate and full plate armor.