grodog
Hero
It's certainly written that way in the 2E DMG, so it might be from there you're remembering it.
No, I didn't own 2e rulebooks until I started buying lots on eBay several years ago, so I hadn't read it there (though it could certainly have been in Dragon).
One of my favourite "what's the point?" rules is that given for parrying in the AD&D PHB. Yes, you get to reduce their attack roll by your Strength modifier to hit, and you don't get to strike back in turn. For most characters, it does nothing. For a few, it gives a -1 modifier for them to hit. Hardly seems worth it...
Agreed completely!