Combat Oracles 2 - Tavern Brawls

Not just rest and rumors

The more solo OSR-style games I play, the more I enjoy designing combat oracles.

I’ve been running a lot of playtests for the Wild West game I’ve been working on. In that genre, the saloon brawl is a staple.

I mean, it was also true in real life. A bunch of people drinking, gambling, and carrying weapons could easily turn into a fight. Often with fists, but sometimes with knives or guns.

Barroom Brawl - Anton Otto Fischer

The tavern or inn is usually associated with resting and gathering rumors in fantasy. The real danger lies down in the dungeon or out in the wilderness. But it doesn’t have to.

A rough frontier town is a rough frontier town, whether it’s the wild West, fantasy, sci-fi, or whatever. Remember when Han Solo smoked Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina?

Try this out.

Most of these are human opponents, so scale their level and abilities appropriately.

Encounter Table (d10)

1 – Local thieves/rogues work together to steal your valuables

2 – A fight breaks out between two groups of local thugs, and you’re in their way

3 – Traveling warriors think they own the place and act accordingly

4 – You take a fist or chair to the back of the head for no apparent reason (roll damage)

5 – A local gang with a grudge shows up to extort money from the tavern owner

6 – Town guard tries to arrest you for a crime (maybe you’re guilty, maybe not)

7 – Something tracked your party home from the wilderness or dungeon

8 – You’re challenged to a bare-knuckle fight for money by a local champ

9 – Barkeep’s pet bear (or other non-standard creature) is loose and angry

10 – Ergot (or something similar) tainted the food. Most people are tripping hard. Did you eat anything?

I included a few crazy ones, but everything here could conceivably happen, regardless of the setting. Might need a little tweak, but it should work.

Let’s assume you’d like a complete knock-down, drag-out brawl.

Each round (or two) that there’s fighting, roll this table.

Events During the Fight (2d6)

2 – Someone attacks you from behind (1-2 unarmed, 3-4 improvised weapon, 5-6 actual weapon)

3 – A chair or other object heads straight for you (Dex or Agility check to avoid or take damage)

4 – Something breaks and starts a fire

5 – Slip on a spilled drink (Dex or Agility check or fall)

6 – You get hard bumped by something/someone (automatically lose initiative or your turn)

7 – You get bumped hard by something/someone (penalty or disadvantage to next action)

8 – Another person joins the fight (1-2 ally, 3-4 doesn’t care, 5-6 enemy)

9 – Wine or liquid splashes in your eyes (disadvantage or penalty to next action)

10 – Authorities arrive and try to break things up, and no one listens

11 – You lose a significant item (Int or Perception check to notice), and someone makes off with it

12 – A wave of people falls on you, and you’re pinned (Str or Physical check to get up)

Now that tavern visit is one to remember!

See how long it takes before you always sit with your back to the wall and hand on your weapon.

If you use this, please put your craziest game bar fight story in the comments. I’d love to read it.