Dumps 'n Documentation

Download a BASIC source code repository here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Kmm3lPfkgI65cPAMMYil5SWZ6hKmiQFs

I was curious about how several gameplay mechanics in DND actually work, most of all the spells. The source code available may or may not correspond exactly to the version that I played, but it seems to match as far as I can tell. But I went through it and now understand more or less precisely what each spell does, with the single exception of Fear.

A lot of these effects involve a “3d6” roll. This means rolling three six-sided dice and adding them, for a possible range of 3 to 18. Note that the 3-18 probability is not evenly distributed. Assuming that the BASIC RNG itself is fair, 90% of the 3d6 rolls will be between 6 and 15, and the odds of rolling 3 or 18 are less than half a percent each.

First, the mage spells. Misspellings are probably Lawrence’s.

Level	Spell	Duration	Effect
1	Magic missle	Combat	1d6 damage
1	Charm	Combat	Incapacitates if [(INT + CHA)/2 + level - monster level] >= 3d6. Never works on undead or dopplegangers. Monster breaks charm if [CHA + level – monster level] < 3d6.
1	Shield	1d10 steps	-20% chance to get hit
1	Sleep	Combat	Incapacitates if [INT + level – monster level] >= 3d6. Never works on undead or dopplegangers. Monster wakes up if [INT + level – monster level] <= 3d6.
1	Protection from evil	1d10 steps	-10% chance to get hit. -5% chance to be drained by energy attacks.
1	Light	1d10 steps	Reveals things and secret doors on the map.
2	Phantasmal forces	Combat	Kills if [INT + 1 + level – monster level] > 3d6.
2	Web	Combat	Incapacitates if [(INT + DEX)/2] >= 3d6.
2	Lightning bolt	Combat	1d6 damage per level. Monster can save for half damage if [6 + monster level – level] > 1d10.
2	Strength	1d10 steps	+3 strength for damage calculations.
2	Levitate	2d10 steps	Prevents falling in pits.
2	Invisibility	2d10 steps	70% chance that monsters don’t see you.
3	Fireball	Combat	1d10 damage per level. Monster can save for half damage if [monster level – level] > 4.
3	Confuse	Combat	Monster attacks itself. Never works on dopplegangers. Fails if INT < 3d6.
3	Pass-wall	1 step	Move through a wall
3	Hold monster	Combat	Incapacitates if [CHA + level – monster level] >= 3d6. Never works on dopplegangers.
3	Fear	3d20 steps	80% chance of something happening during each encounter, but I have no idea what.
3	Continual light	3d20 steps	Same effect as light but longer.
4	Teleport	1 step	Randomly teleport somewhere. Kills you if [INT+1] < 3d6.
4	Power word kill	Combat	Kills if INT > 3d6. Kills you if 3d6 rolls three sixes. Dopplegangers have 50% chance to resist.
4	Prismatic wall	Combat	70% chance monster goes away.
4	Time stop	1d10 steps	No monster encounters. Disables Excelsior transporter.
4	Wall of fire	Combat	30% chance of killing. 30% monster goes away. 40% chance of nothing.
4	Summon demon	Combat	Performs two rolls of [INT-1] >= 3d6. Nothing happens if the first one fails. Kills if both succeed. You fight a demon in the monster’s place if the first succeeds but the second fails.

And the cleric spells. Some spells are the same as mage spells. For instance, Holy word and Blade barrior are just Power word kill and Prismatic wall renamed.

Level	Spell	Duration	Effect
1	Protection from evil	1d10 steps	-10% chance to get hit. -5% chance to be drained by energy attacks.
1	Light	1d10 steps	Reveals things and secret doors on the map.
1	Cure light wounds	1 step	Restore 1d6 + 1 HP.
1	Turn undead	Combat	Undead leave if [WIS + level – monster level -3] >= 3d6.
2	Detect traps	2d10 steps	90% of recognizing trapped treasure.
2	Silence	2d10 steps	Get first strike if [15 + level – monster level] > 1d20.
2	Pray	2d10 steps	+5% chance to hit. -10% chance to get hit. -5% chance to be drained by energy attacks.
2	Hold monster	Combat	Incapacitates if [CHA + level – monster level] >= 3d6. Never works on dopplegangers.
3	Cure serious wounds	Instant	Restore 2d6 + 2 HP.
3	Dispell undead	Combat	Kills undead if [WIS – 2] >= 3d6.
3	Continual light	3d20 steps	Same effect as light but longer.
3	Plague	Combat	Kills if [WIS-2] >= 3d6. If successful, 10% chance it kills you too.
4	Holy word	Combat	Kills if INT > 3d6. Kills you if 3d6 rolls three sixes. Dopplegangers have 50% chance to resist.
4	Finger of death	Combat	Kills if WIS > 1d20.
4	Blade barrior	Combat	70% chance monster goes away.
4	Raise dead	Instant	Does nothing. Really.