Skeleton
Mindless undead created to guard tombs or serve their creator
Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game
| Armor Class | 13 (see below) |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 1 |
| Number Appearing | 3d6, Wild 3d10 |
| Attacks | 1 weapon |
| Damage | 1d6 or by weapon |
| Movement | 40' |
| Save As | Fighter: 1 |
| Morale | 12 |
| XP | 25 |
| Treasure Type | None |
Skeletons are mindless undead created by an evil Magic-User or Cleric, generally to guard a tomb or treasure hoard, or to act as guards for their creator. They take only ½ damage from edged weapons, and only a single point from arrows, bolts or sling stones (plus any magical bonus). As with all undead, they can be Turned by a Cleric, and are immune to sleep, charm or hold magic. As they are mindless, no form of mind reading is of any use against them. Skeletons never fail morale, and thus always fight until destroyed.
Special Abilities
Undead: Can be Turned by a Cleric. Immune to sleep, charm or hold magic. Mindless, immune to mind reading.
Damage Resistance: Take only ½ damage from edged weapons, and only a single point from arrows, bolts or sling stones (plus any magical bonus).
Never Fail Morale: Always fight until destroyed.
Other Sources
Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy
| Armor Class | 7 [12] |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 1 (4hp) |
| Number Appearing | 3d4 (3d10) |
| Attacks | 1 × weapon (1d6 or by weapon) |
| THAC0 | 19 [0] |
| Movement | 60' (20') |
| Saving Throws | D12 W13 P14 B15 S16 (1) |
| Morale | 12 |
| Alignment | Chaotic |
| XP | 10 |
| Treasure Type | None |
Skeletal remains of humanoids, reanimated as guardians by powerful magic-users or clerics. Often encountered in cemeteries, crypts, or other forlorn places.
Special Abilities
Undead: Make no noise, until they attack. Immune to effects that affect living creatures (e.g. poison). Immune to mind-affecting or mind-reading spells (e.g. charm, hold, sleep).
OSRIC
| Armor Class | 7 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 1 |
| Number Encountered | 3d10 |
| Attacks | 1 |
| Damage | 1d6 |
| Move | 120-ft |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Intelligence | None |
| XP | 1/15 +1/hp |
| Treasure Type | None |
| Size | Man-sized |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Lair | Nil |
These things are the result of an evil (or neutral at best) magic user or cleric wielding magics that animate the fleshless remains of humans, demi-humans, and various humanoids. They are completely mindless, only obeying the simple commands of their animator, which is often limited by the spell itself to a score of words. Some sages speak, though, of the mere proximity to great evil can animate the dead, resulting in armies of these horrors springing to unlife in forgotten catacombs and foul dungeons. Though given no commands, they seek out the living and attempt to force them into the ranks of the dead.
Special Abilities
Mindless: Completely mindless, only obeying simple commands of their animator, often limited to a score of words.
Immune to cold and mental attacks: Immune to cold, sleep, charm, hold and other mental based attacks.
Damage resistance: Take less damage from edged and cutting weapons, typically reducing the damage by half. Most piercing weapons, like arrows and spears, do but 1 or 2 points maximum per attack.
Holy water: Holy water inflicts 2d4 hp per vial that strikes.
Turned as type 9: Turned as type 9.