I also updated the weapon cards that I posted HERE.
When playing Dungeons and Dragons, I have always thought that there should be some reason to choose one weapon over anther other than the amount of damage it does, or the damage type. This is something that I was hoping D&D 5.5 would fix. They tried to fix it with Weapon Mastery. I think that Tales of the Valiant did a better job with their Weapon Options, but why couldn’t each different weapon have its own unique feature? That is what I did for my Bold Against Monsters (BAM). If you are playing D&D and are disappointed with Weapon Mastery, you can replace it with my BAM weapon rules.
These weapons are intended as a replacement for the weapons in the official rules. They have been modified somewhat to work with Bold Against Monsters (BAM) and ShadowDark, but could be used with Tails of the Valiant (ToV), Dungeons and Dragons 2014 (D&D 5e) or Dungeons and Dragons 2024 (D&D 5.5). This free PDF file contains all the weapons that are in D&D 5.5 (except for the Musket and the Pistol). There is a card for each weapon containing the features for the weapon and a box at the top for calculating the Attack modifier and Damage for each weapon. For ranged weapons, there is a space at the bottom of the card for tracking used ammunition.
Update #1: 8/2/2025 Removed “Long” feature and added special features to most of the weapons.
This a black and white 22 page (8.5″x11″) PDF file. There are four 3″x5″ cards on each page that you will have to cut out (except on page 1). If printed 2 sided by long edge you will have 36 two sided weapon cards with a drawing of the weapon on the back of each card. Page 1 contains a card with information regarding Ability Modifiers and Character Sizes. It also has an example card with information on how to fill in the blanks that are on the weapon cards. There are also cards for Unarmed attack, Improvised weapons (both melee and thrown), and blank cards.
What I changed and why.
First I was just going to make a set of printable cards so each player could have a card for each of the weapons their PC had that would contain the basic information and the calculations used to arrive at that weapon’s damage and attack bonus. After working on this for a while, I realized that the old categories and properties needed to be re-organized and simplified.
Weapon Properties: I added a “medium” weight property and changed the weight property on a few weapons. I added the “light” property to the dagger, dart, spear, sling, flail, rapier, whip, blowgun, and hand crossbow. Then I added a “medium” weight property to the other weapons that weren’t listed as having the “light” or “heavy” property.
I got rid of the Simple and Martial categories so, for D&D, you will need to adjust Weapon Proficiencies for the Classes.
Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, and Ranger – “Simple and Martial weapons” changes to “All weapons.”
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard – “Simple weapons” changes to “Light and medium weapons.” [Note: To exactly match D&D 5.5 this will have to change to “No heavy weapons. No medium weapons other than the greatclub, javelin, mace, quarterstaff, light crossbow, or shortbow. All light weapons except for the flail, rapier, scimitar, shortsword, or whip.“]
Monk and Rogue – “Simple weapons and Martial weapons that have the Light property” changes to “Light weapons.” [Note: To exactly match D&D 5.5 this will have to change to “All light and medium weapons except for the Battleaxe, Longsword, Morningstar, Trident, Warhammer, or War Pick.“]
Added the “Thrown” weapon type and replaced “Reach” with “Long“.
Some melee weapons could be throne and some had to be thrown, making them more like ranged weapons. To clarify, I added the “Throne” weapon type.
ABILITY Which ability modifier to use for attack and damage.(For D&D, I removed the “finesse” property and added the DEX or STR option to the cards where it applies.)
Melee and Thrown weapons
Light: use your DEX modifier
Medium: use your STR modifier
Ranged weapons
Light: use your DEX modifier
Medium: use your DEX modifier
Heavy: use your STR modifier
ONE or TWO HANDED Which weapons can your character use one handed, based on your size, unless noted otherwise.
Large (or larger) character:
You can weld any weapon one handed.
Medium character:
Light weapons – You can weld them one handed.
Medium weapons – You can weld them one handed.
Heavy weapons – You must use 2 hands to weld them.
Small character:
Light weapons – You can weld them one handed.
Medium weapons – You must use 2 hands to weld them.
Heavy weapons – You must use 2 hands to weld them, and you have disadvantage on attacks.
Tiny character:
Light weapons – You must use 2 hands to weld these.
Medium weapons – You must use 2 hands to weld them, and you have disadvantage on attacks.
Heavy weapons – You can’t use these weapons
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Many of the weapons have a feature that is specific to that specific weapon type. For example, The greataxe has a feature called Second Target: “On a hit that drops the target, your swing can continue to also hit a target next to the first that is within range. If your attack could hit its AC, any remaining damage will be applied to the second target.”
When reading through these, keep in mind that in both BAM and ShadowDark your character only gets a single attack each round, making things like not adding your DEX modifier to your second attack made with a weapon in your other hand doesn’t apply.
I would love to hear your feedback on these weapon cards. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
This is an optional rule for Bold Against Monsters (BAM). Also, heroic actions can replace Weapon Masteries in D&D 5.5 or Weapon Actions in ToV. There are also Tips for the GM that might be useful when running any RPG.
In a combat round your character can move and take an action (or move twice if you don’t take an action). The core rules say, “Your action can be anything that your character can do, or attempt to do, that would normally take no more than 6 seconds.” And goes on to describe the “Attack Action” and the “Magic Action” – the two most common actions.
The “your character can do anything” rule may be intimidating to players, and GMs as well. So here a few examples of things the PCs can attempt and rules for succeeding. I’m calling these “Heroic Actions.”
Any player character can attempt a heroic action. Heroic actions do not do damage per se but may cause damage to be done as a result – dependent on environment or impact – so pushing someone off a cliff doesn’t do damage … it’s the fall that does it! If a heroic action forces a target creature into damaging terrain, such as lava or off a cliff, it can make a STR or DEX (target’s choice) save to avoid the move.
Performing a heroic action. To perform a heroic action requires making an ability check. First name what you intend to do and the effect you want to achieve. Like all other ability checks, the GM chooses the relevant ability and the target number, called a difficulty class (DC). To make an ability check, roll 1d20 and add the relevant ability modifier. If this is something you are proficient at you also add your proficiency bonus (PB). If the total is equal to or greater than the DC, you succeed; otherwise, you fail.
When characters succeed in performing a heroic action with a weapon, rather than doing damage they use the weapon to perform some other function as described.
The guide-lines that follow are only a few examples of how heroic actions are to be resolved. Creative players will certainly come up with new heroic actions.
DISARM (Unarmed) You must have at least one hand free. You specify which weapon, shield, or object you are attempting to make the target creature drop. Make a STR or DEX check (you decide which), adding your PB to the roll. The DC of the ability check is the AC of the target creature. You make the check with disadvantage. (With a light melee weapon) Select a weapon, shield, or object the target is holding. Make an attack roll against the target with a light melee weapon that you are proficient with. You make the attack roll with disadvantage. (On a success) The target drops the item. The item lands in an unoccupied space, chosen by you, within 5 feet of the target. If no unoccupied space is within range, it lands at the target’s feet.
GRAPPLE (Unarmed) You must have at least one hand free. Against a large or smaller creature, make a STR check, adding your PB to the roll. The DC of the ability check is the AC of the target creature. (On a success) The target must succeed on a STR or DEX save (it chooses which), or it has the Grappled condition. The DC for the saving throw and any escape attempts equals 8 plus your STR modifier + your PB. (Ending a Grapple) A Grappled creature can use its action to make a STR or DEX check against the grapple’s escape DC. It also ends if you are incapacitated. You can release the target at any time (no action required). PUSHBACK (Unarmed or with a shield) You must have at least one hand free or be wielding a shield. Make a STR check, adding your PB to the roll. You make the check with disadvantage unless you first move 20 feet in a straight line up to the creature. The DC of the ability check is the AC of the target creature. (With aheavy melee weapon) Make an attack roll with a heavy melee weapon that you are proficient with, against a large or smaller creature. You make the attack roll with disadvantage. (On a success) You push the creature up to 10 feet straight away from you.
TRIP OR THROW (Unarmed) You must have at least one hand free. Against a large or smaller creature, male a STR or DEX check (you decide which), adding your PB to the roll. The DC of the ability check is the AC of the target creature. (With along melee weapon) Make an attack roll with a long melee weaponthat you are proficient with, against a large or smaller creature. You make the attack roll with disadvantage. (On a success) The target falls prone. If the target is mounted, it can make a STR or DEX (target’s choice) save to avoid falling prone.
Tips for the GM:
How to handle it when a player wants to do something not covered in the rules. What if a player wants his character to swinging on a chandelier, jump onto the back of a monster or throw sand in an opponent’s eyes? Game Masters (GMs) have to quickly respond to these and many other unique situations that crop up all of the time in any RPG. This is a skill that GMs develop with experience. For new GMs, or anyone who would appreciate a few pointers, this will walk you through my thought process when faced with unexpected player requests.
Have the player describe the action and what they expect it to accomplish.
This does two things. First, it makes the player visualize the current situation and its environment. Would the action even be possible for the character to do? If not, it is part of your job to occasionally say no to a player. You should explain to the player why the action is impossible. Example: If they want to jump over a pit of lava that is 200 feet wide. Without flight or any kind of magical assistance, this will be impossible. Might it be possible if the rules were loosened? If they could “almost” do it, but the rules don’t allow it, you may want to make an exception in this specific case. It should require an ability check. Example: If they can jump over a 10 foot wide pit and the lava pit is 15 feet wide, I might allow a DC 15 STR check to succeed, but with a dire warning of the consequences of failing the attempt (you fall into the lava pit and take appropriate damage). How exactly will they do it? You may need to have the player explain how the character intends to accomplish what he is wanting to do. I find that the player is often thinking that all their character needs to do to accomplish something is to roll a high enough number on the die. By describing exactly how their character will do it, they often realize that they don’t have any way to accomplish their goal. Example: The player says, “While the others are fighting the monster, I run over to the coffin and remove its lid.” Depending on the specifics of the adventure, you might just describe what happens when he opens the coffin. If they haven’t examined the coffin or you haven’t described it, it might be made of stone and the lid is too heavy for a single PC to remove it. The lid may have been sealed by lead or gold. The coffin may be made of wood and the lid may be nailed shut. Another Example: The action may require a tool that the PC doesn’t possess. Maybe they could remove the lid if they had a crowbar. Does the character have what is needed and maybe the proficiency needed to accomplish the intended action?
Second, it gives you, the GM, a little time to decide how to handle the request.
Setting the difficulty. Always remember, you set the DC and can also require the check to be made with advantage or disadvantage. If they must succeed: If it is important to the story that they succeed, don’t ask for a check. Regardless of how easy you make it, they might fail (it has happened to me!) If they must fail: If it would ruin the story if they do succeed, you must resist the temptation to make it too hard for them. Regardless of the difficulty, they may succeed! It will be much better if you don’t allow a check and just say that they can’t do it. If you make it impossible for them to succeed on a natural 20, then why are you letting them roll at all?
If you feel that you must allow them a chance to succeed, be prepared for them to roll a natural 20. You must allow a natural 20 to succeed. If you allowed them to roll for it, they must have a chance to succeed or what is the point in rolling?
The following rules apply to “unique” actions.
1. A unique action will be your action for a combat round but it can also include some or all of your move for the round. 2. You must describe the action before you roll. 3. The action must be within the reasonable ability of your character to perform, as decided by your GM, given the character’s level and the difficulty of the action. 4. If the action is approved by the GM, they will determine the DC and the result of success or failure. 5. If you roll a natural 1 your attempt fails regardless of any bonuses. 6. A natural 20 is always a success.
Here are a couple of example unique actions.
Action: “I want to swing on the chandelier and land on the ogre’s back.” If the proposed action can’t be done, explain why not. But for this example let’s say that it is possible. You could always say something like, “Make a DC15 DEX check, if you fail you land prone at the ogre’s feet, if you succeed you are on his back.” Or you could make it more interesting. First, you need to visualize the physical layout of the room in 3 dimensions and the location of all the actors. To keep it simple, let’s say this is a large room with a chandelier hanging in the center of the room. It is hanging 10 feet above the floor from a chain attached to the ceiling high above. There is an open staircase on the side of the room with a landing 15 feet above the floor. Let’s also say that the chandelier would reach just above the handrail on the landing, if it were pulled over there. You might say that the character can’t just jump over and grab the chandelier where it is hanging, or if they did they wouldn’t make it swing very far, not far enough to reach the ogre on the other side of the room. For now, we will assume the chandelier is well made and could support the character’s weight. Remember we have already made the assumption that this action is possible. So, assuming the character is standing on the landing, you might ask, “How are you going to move the chandelier over to where you can grab it?” There may be several different options here. He, or another character may have some magic spell they could cast to move the chandelier. He might say he will use his whip, or make a lasso out of his rope and pull it over that way. Most options for retrieving the chandelier will use his action this round, and may also require an ability check. Let’s say at the start of his next round he has retrieved the chandelier and is ready to swing across the room and land on the ogre’s back. When he describes exactly how he will do this, he realizes (perhaps with some prompting from you) that he must have both hands free to hold the chandelier. If you are feeling generous, you may allow him to stow his shield and sheath his sword as part of this action. Where the chandelier is now, the center of the room and the ogre should form a straight line. You, as the GM, could dismiss with this requirement, especially if you are playing a more theater of the mind kind of game. That leaves, how does the character land on the ogre’s back and what happens if he fails? I wouldn’t make it too hard, perhaps a DC 10 DEX check to land on the ogre’s back without falling off. If he fails the check he falls prone within 5 feet of the ogre and takes 1d6 points of damage. At the end of his turn he will either be prone at the ogre’s feet, or hanging on to the ogres back. Either way he is holding no weapon and no shield. But if he succeeds, I would reward him for his creativity by giving him one luck point. And, if he is now on the ogre’s back I would give him advantage on melee attacks he makes against the ogre, and give the ogre disadvantage on attacks against the character. I might add that at the start of each of the characters turns, he must make a STR check to remain on the ogre’s back (The GM sets the DC, maybe 15). I might allow the ogre to use his action to attempt to remove the character from his back. This would be a good place to use a contest comparing a STR check from the ogre to a STR or DEX (player’s choice) check from the character.
You might make different decisions, but the point is that you and the player really need to take a minute to visualize, and analyze the situation. What would it look like if you were actually there? Base your decisions on that and you will do fine. Everyone will have fun.
Action: I want to throw sand in the assassin’s eyes. You could always say something like, “Make a DEX check, adding your PB to the roll. The DC of the check is 8 + the DEX modifier of the target creature. On a success the target is blinded until the end of your next turn.” This would be good if their response to your request to “Describe the action and what you want to accomplish.” Was something like, “The assassin just knocked me prone and you said that the ground there was sandy. I try to keep the assassin from noticing that I close my fist around a handful of sand. As I stand up I fling the sand into his face, trying to blind him.” Or, if the player didn’t make it so easy for you, you could still just make it a DEX check, or there are several things you may want to consider.
You can’t throw a handful of sand very far, so I think the target would need to be within 5 feet of the character.
Also, you would have to be unaware that someone is about to throw sand in your face, or you would instinctively block against it. So the player needs to indicate that he is attempting to be stealthy. Even if they do, you may want them to make a stealth check opposed by the targets perception check for the target to not notice the handful of sand about to be flung in their face.
Preventing sand from going into your eyes is relatively easy. You could turn away; block it with your hand, arm or shield; close your eyes; or all three. So I would either make the DC relatively high, have the PC make the check with disadvantage, or give the target a DEX save to avoid bring blinded.
As you see, there is always a balance between a fast, easy to play game and one that takes longer but is more “realistic.” The decision is up to you as the GM. The trick is to be consistent. Don’t make it easy for one player but more complicated for another player. And don’t get bogged down in all the numbers and the physics of reality. It’s a game, not a physics class. In the end, most of the decisions you make will, in the end, only add or subtract a few numbers from the die roll, and there are a lot of numbers on a 20 sided die. The big secret is that, no matter what ruling the GM makes, it won’t really make much difference! So, if there isn’t a rule for something, make one up! If you feel it is an important rule, make a note of it and, before the next gaming session, do some research and see if you feel a need to change the rule you just made. White that down and tell the group at the beginning of the next gaming session.
Let me know what you think in the comments below .
If you aren’t familiar with BAM, it is my rules light 5e comparable RPG named “Bold Against Monsters” that I refer to as BAM. It is available for free (or pay what you want) on DriveThruRPG HERE.
I am proud to announce that I have just published my first title on DriveThruRPG. My new title, Bold Against Monsters, was just activated for public sale. It’s free (or pay what you want) so please check it out and, if you like it, please tell all your friends!
This is an update to the version that I posted here last week. I added information regarding magic items, revised the cover image, and made many minor corrections and revisions (mostly cosmetic). The file is somewhat larger because it is 2 pages longer and I increased the resolution on all the images.
Get your free copy there (or pay what you like if you can and want to help support me). Also it would help a lot if you could spread the word about it and where it can be found.
Some of you have mentioned in the past that I should publish some of the stuff that I have always provided here for free. I want to assure everyone that everything on this blog will continue to be free. I am hoping that by publishing on DriveThruRPG I might reach a larger audience and maybe even start making a little more than I get from the adds here on this site. Please let me know your thoughts on this in the comments below.
Update: 11/2/2025 The PDF is no longer free on DriveThruRPG. But I am now providing a freee copy HERE on this blog.
I am proud to announce that I am now a DriveThruRPG affiliate, anyone going to DriveThruRPG.com by clicking to a link here on my site will be tagged as visiting via my link. If they make a purchase anywhere on that site within 15 days of coming to DriveThruRPG via my link, I’ll receive a small percent of that purchase (excluding gift certificates) credited to my account.
If you sometimes purchase things from DriveThruRPG and would like to help me out, it will cost you nothing to use this link to go to that site.
Let me introduce Bold Against Monsters. (You can call it BAM.). This is a new D&D 5E compatible rules-light Role Playing Game that I – the Old Dungeon Master – just finished writing.
I started with the 2014 versions of Dungeons and Dragons (5E). Then, based on my 40+ years of DMing, I eliminated or changed things I thought could be improved, added things I prefer from the 2024 versions of Dungeons and Dragons (5.5) and Tales of the Valiant (ToV), and used some of the concepts found in ShadowDarkRPG (SD), modified for a more 5E compatible campaign. To all of this, I added some of my favorite house rules to come up with the Table Top Role Playing Game – Bold Against Monstrers. This is the game I like best. Give it a try, I think you will like it too.
This Core Rule Book contains everything you need to play the game (except for the dice). It is compatible for use with any published 5E adventure for characters up to level 10. It can serve as an introduction to 5E role playing for new players or anyone looking for a game with familiar characters you can easily create and quickly play. Character creation, level advancement, inventory tracking, proficiencies, spellcasting, combat, and more have been simplified without moving too far from the basics I love about the 5E game system.
This was made possible through the use of the D&D 5E and D&D 5.5 rules as published under Creative Commons License in SRD_CC_v5.1 and SRD_CC_v5.2 respectively, the ToV rules published as “Black Flag Roleplaying” under the ORC license, and the “Shadowdark RPG Third-Party License V1.1”. No AI was used in creating this. All artwork was found on-line with commercial licenses, or created by the author.
Update #1: 6/24/2025 (BAM Rules_v2.pdf) Minor changes Removed the “Lifting and Carrying” and the “Push, Drag, or Lift” sections. They were in conflict with “Gear Slots”. I renumbered the pages (and updated the Table of Contents) so now when going to a page in the PDF, the number on the page will match the page number of the PDF file. Corrected misspellings (thanks to the comment from larrymannplays). Made a couple of cosmetic and formatting changes.
I’m always looking to improve my resources for the D&D community! I would love to hear your feedback on this new RPG. Let me know what you think in the comments below. I am especially interested in your opinion on which rules you like or would have done differently.
Download your free form-fillable PDF BAM character sheet HERE.
The BAM Core Rule Book includes a character sheet on the back cover, but I also created this form-fillable version.
You will need to enter your ability modifiers and character level before the calculations for Weapons and Armor Class can be made. You can select Ancestry, Background, Class, Deity, and Weapons from drop-down lists, or enter any text in the box. For selected text, the features and other information below will fill in. For Ancestry, Background, Class, or Weapons text you typed in, you can enter any information below as you would like. To change the information below a selection you made, just change the name (adding a space behind the name will do). Clearing the text in the box, or making a different selection from the drop-down, will delete all the text below it.
Selecting your armor and shield from the drop-downs will calculate and display your Armor Class (AC).
Refer to the BAM Core Rule Book for information regarding Gear Slots. All the Weapons, Armor, Tools, and other equipment listed in that book can be selected from drop-downs, or you can type any text you want into the boxes.
There are now free Class Reference Sheets available to download HERE.
I posted a 5E version of this some time back. (My friend Nicholas sent me this excellent combat tracker. If anyone knows who created it, please let me know so I can give credit to him or her.) Erichthegree commented on that post today that it needs to be updated to the new D&D 5.5 conditions, so that is what this is. One complaint I have with the new Player’s Handbook is that the conditions are not presented all together in one place. This can be used for that, but I did have to abbreviate them a lot in order to get them to all fit in a single column.
If you are one of us who are adapting to the 2024 version of D&D (D&D 5.5), Tales of the Valiant, or some other RPG you are finding that your old spell cards need to be updated. I made these without any symbols so you can use different colored cards for different classes, or school of magic, or any way that makes sense for the game you are playing.
These cards are 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″, 10 cards on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet. Each PDF file has 2 pages. The first page has 10 cards you can fill in with the spell info, and the second page has the 10 colored backs.
They are 8 1/2″ x 11″ so they are easy to print and to find backings or plastic sleeves to fit them in.
I oriented them with the long dimension horizontally to make it easier for the DM to see over.
I only listed information that might be needed during play – so no player creation or dungeon creation information.
Update #1: 4/27/2025 Enlarged the text size in “Weapon Options.”
Let me know what you think about this new ToV DM Screen in the comments below.
Dungeon Master Assistance 