Players Companion: Unarmed Combat

The Companion Set includes detailed rules for striking and wrestling:

By using Unarmed combat rules, characters are free to perform acts of heroic fantasy— wrestling huge opponents to the ground, or escaping from imprisonment when no weapons are available. Unarmed combat is actually the most common of all forms, and can now be used as often as desired.

These systems may be applied to any Unarmed attack. A giant may attempt to kick a halfling; a character may attempt to use a shield to “bash” an opponent. (Both attacks are Strikes.) If a purple worm attacks a town, the guards may all try to pile onto the creature, rather than risking normal combat and being swallowed (though dozens would be needed to stop the monster).

Players Companion, pg 7

Striking:

Striking in B/X results in 1-2 points of damage + the character's Strength bonus (X25), with a 1 in 20 chance of a knockout (1-10 rounds) when maximum damage is inflicted (see module X2).

Unarmed combat in the Expert Set rules (pg. 23) results in 1 point of damage per hit + the character's Strength bonus.  All standard combat rules apply.

The base damage in the Companion Set rules is 0 + the character's Strength bonus, with chances to stun or knockout an opponent, depending on the victim's Constitution score.

Several optional rules are given, including some restricted to fighters, such as parrying (blocking with a weapon), multiple attacks, and the "Haymaker" punch.

Wrestling:

A "Wrestling Rating" (WR) is determined (level/2 +/- Strength and Dexterity bonuses/penalties + base AC) and rolls of 1d20 + WR are compared.

Three consecutive rolls greater than ones opponent are necessary in order to grab and pin them to the ground, after which damage can be inflicted.

Illustration by Jeff Easley, from CM1 "Test of the Warlords" (1984)

A mini-adventure in the Dungeon Masters Companion "The Arena of Garald the Blue" showcases unarmed combat.  The setting is a rocky isle off the coast of Vestland.

Wrestling also features in the short encounter "Barbarians' battle" in module CM1 "Test of the Warlords" (1984).

The Companion Set rules for unarmed combat are somewhat complex, but more usable than the rules for pummeling, grappling, and overbearing in the AD&D 1e DMs Guide.