Underwater Combat?

[Zoombaba]

Try as I might, I couldn't find underwater combat rules in the core rulebooks. Are there underwater combat rules for DnD 3e?

Here was the situation: everyone had a breath water potion. Everyone decided to move along the bottom of a underwater temple (about 10 feet underwater), and were attacked by 3 massive Skum with underwater operating crossbows. I eventually ruled that movement was halved, and all DEX based skills were at -4, and so was AC, Attacks and Damage. The Skum operated with no penalties.

Anyway, let me know if that sounds good or what the actual rules are.

Thanks, Zoombaba

 

[Moulin Rogue]

Check out the free web enhancement for "Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil" on the WotC site. I'd post a link to it but the site is down for me at the moment.

 

[dcollins]

It's on page 5 of the download here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20010713b

 

[RogueJK]

If you have access to Dungeon Magazine #92, you can find rules for underwater combat on page 91.

They are only slightly different from the web enhancement's version.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Skip Williams wrote an underwater combat article in Dragon #291 (cover features the iconic gnome illusionist, Nebin). I don't have it, but The Seafarer's Handbook is supposed to have underwater combat rules, too.

Edit: Skip's article in Dragon #291 seems to be identicle to what he wrote for Monte's web enhancement for Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.

 

[Taloras]

I dont remember where, but i remember reading somewhere that all damage is halved underwater. Its probably in the DMG

 

[Voldrath]

Check the manuel of the planes.
The elemental plane of water listing has some info.

 

[hong]

Just to add to the clutch of references flying around, there's also something in the D&D FAQ on this subject:

What are the effects of fighting underwater?

Here's some rules Jonathan Tweet and I cooked up.

If you don't have a swimming speed (or a freedom of movement effect), you suffer a -2 penalty to attacks and damage when underwater. Any slashing weapon, blunt weapon, claw attack, or tail attack also inflicts half damage. (Subtract the 2 points first, then take half of the rest and round down.)

Remember that a successful hit still inflicts at least 1 point of damage.

Even if you have a swimming speed, you inflict half damage with slashing or blunt weapons (but not claws) unless you have a freedom of movement effect.