Combat Sequence Per Round (OSE SRD)
Overview
OSE combat is side-initiative and phase-ordered. The important procedural consequence is that declaration and morale occur before attack resolution, which can change whether fights happen at all.
Combat Round Sequence
- Declare spells and melee movement.
- Roll initiative: each side rolls 1d6.
- Winning side acts in this order:
- Monster morale
- Movement
- Missile attacks
- Spell casting
- Melee attacks
- Other side(s) act in initiative order.
Round Phases (Quick Table)
| Phase | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Declaration | Commit spellcasting and melee movement before knowing final outcomes |
| Initiative (1d6/side) | Determines which side resolves first |
| Morale | Allows break/surrender before further losses |
| Movement | Repositions lines, sets missile and melee viability |
| Missile | Resolves ranged attacks before melee |
| Spell casting | Resolves surviving declared spells |
| Melee | Final close-quarters exchanges |
Coverage
- Fully covered from source: declaration step, 1d6 side initiative, winner-side phase order, and follow-up side action order.
- Fully covered from source: no extra exception procedures are specified in this clipped reference.
- Compression choice in this article: attack-resolution notes are included as practical adjuncts for table use.
Attack Resolution (Ascending AC)
- Roll 1d20.
- Apply modifiers: STR for melee; DEX, range, and cover for missile attacks.
- Add the attacker's attack bonus to the roll. The total is the AAC value the attack hits.
- If the result equals or exceeds the target's AAC, the attack hits. Roll damage.
Use At The Table
- Treat this as the per-round action stack once an encounter has entered combat.
- Keep declarations visible before initiative to preserve commitment on spell and melee movement choices.
- Run morale at the top of a side's action to allow retreats or surrender before attack resolution.
See Also
- Reaction and Morale Procedures - Cross-system morale timing and break-state comparison
- Encounter Sequence (OSE SRD)
- Dungeon Adventuring (OSE SRD)
Sources
- https://oldschoolessentials.necroticgnome.com/srd/index.php/Combat