2D6 Combat variants, Part 1:
THE QUICK[EST] & THE DEAD
The Fastest Combat for Dungeonquest 3E
by J.C. Hendee, March 2011
NOTICES
Concept Ownership
All component concepts herein remain the intellectual prop-
erty of the listed creators / contributors for this expansion.
Content of components, which partially or wholly emulate
commercial components, may still contain original concepts
from contributors. This does not intend, imply, or infer in-
fringement. All trademarks and copyrights related to Dun-
geonquest 3rd Edition, its components and content, remain
the property of its current producer and/or other third party
sub-rights holders. This expansion is to remain free for per-
sonal, non-commercial use by the Dungeonquest commu-
nity.
Imagery
All content herein was created by J.C. Hendee. Images my
not be used in part or whole other than intended herein.
1. INVENTORY
The following components are in-
cluded in this package for home con-
struction by your preferred method.
• “The Quick[est] & the Dead”
original development article
from FantasticDiver-
sions.blogspot.com
• 2D6 Grid combat graphic
• 2D6 List combat graphic
• Two 2D6 Token Dice combat
graphics
• This manual.
If any components are missing, first
notify the owner / operator of the dis-
tribution point through which you ac-
quired this package. Please note that
you should not have paid anything for
this package, including being required
to provide any information in order to
download it. If that is not the case,
notify J.C. so that this violation can be
addressed.
NOTE: No printable tableside rules
cards are included with this expan-
sion. Once the rules of usage are re-
viewed and the chosen components
needed are assembled, the rules are
easy to remember.
2. CHANGES TO CHARACTER
COMBAT ABILITIES
Only two of the six standard charac-
ters in DQ3 need to have a re-written
ability. In both cases, the re-written
ability works as stated below for all
three 2D6 Combat variants.
Hugo the Glorious: You may re-roll
one combat die but not both. If you do
so, you must accept the second result.
Challara & Brightblaze: If you have 8
or more wounds, you can only cause 1
wound to an opponent and you ignore
any double wound result.
3. DEALING WITH “ESCAPE ”
In a future addition to the 2D6 Combat
there will be an option to do away
with use of the game’s combat or
power cards (as well as monster to-
kens). For now, you must resolve es-
cape attempts by the rules listed in the
official combat variants from Fantasy
Flight Games.
4. CHOOSING YOUR 2D6
COMBAT VARIANT
Each of these variants has a different
advantage for convenience of play,
though the “2D6 Token Dice” variant
is the fastest, leanest, and cleanest of
any form of combat for DQ3. If you
wish to understand further differences
between the variants, take the time to
read the included development article
called “The Quick[est] & the Dead.”
2D6 Grid Combat variant
The graphic enclosed for this is an
evolved version of the broadest his-
torically used variant—commercial or
fan-based—played in any version of
DQ. This reconfigured and reorganized
grid speeds up play over all previous
grid forms using cards/tiles, as it is
more sensibly configured for quickly
referencing combat results. It is so or-
ganized that you may even memorize
results and reference the grid less and
less often.
1. For combat, roll 2 six-sided
dice, preferably of differing col-
ors; one for the character and
one for the monster. You do not
need another player to handle
the monster.
2. Cross-reference the two sepa-
rate die results to find the com-
bat result on the grid:
• Blue: 1 wound to you
• Red: 1 wound to the mon-
ster
• Blue/Red: 1 wound to both
• Red/Orange: 2 wounds to
the monster.
3. Repeat as needed until combat
is resolved one way or another.
2D6 List Combat variant
This has all the advantages stated for
the 2D6 Grid combat but is faster to
reference and easier to memorize. It’s
results probabilities are not exactly
the same as the grid but are very
close.
1. Roll 2D6 and reference the total
of both dice together to find the
result on the list. Icons are in-
terpreted the same as for the
2D6 Combat Grid variant.
2. Repeat as needed until combat
is resolved one way or another.
2D6 Token Dice variant
This is literally the fastest combat me-
chanic for DQ (any edition). There is
no referencing of die rolls and no
memorizing results for additional
speed of play. The result of any com-
bat round is right before your eyes.
1. Roll die #1 and die #2 together,
always. [Die #2 is the one with
only two icons on it, both indi-
cating a double wound to your
opponent.] All Icons are inter-
preted the same as for the 2D6
Combat Grid variant… with one
exception.
2. If (and only if) die #1 rolls a
Red icon (1 wound to the mon-
ster), then look at die #2.
a. If die #2 has a double-
wound icon face up, then
 the monster takes 2
wounds instead of 1.
b. If die #2 has a blank face
up, then the monster
takes only 1 wound.
3. Repeat as needed until combat
is resolved one way or another.
NOTE: Die #2 has no effect on combat
results except when combined with
the roll of a pure Red icon on die #1.
5. PREPARING YOUR COMPONENTS
All graphics are 300ppi for their di-
mensions should you need to desig-
nate resolution in your printer set-
tings.
For the Grid or List…
1. Print out the graphic. Use matte
or semi-gloss photo paper if
possible if you intend to mount
the graphic on a backing. If no
backing will be used, print on
stiff photostock or card stock
instead.
2. If mounting to a backing, use a
stiff from of paperboard if pos-
sible. Matte board used in pic-
ture framing is highly recom-
mended for its balance of dura-
bility and clean cutting. Adhere
the graphic to the unfinished
side of the matte board, not its
display (textured/colored) side.
3. Whether mounted or not, score
lightly about three times along
edges indicated by crop marks.
Do not cut all the way through
until you have scored all cuts to
be made. This way, as you
make final cuts and lose some
crop marks, you will still know
where to make all subsequent
cuts.
For the Token Dice…
1. Print out the graphics for the
two dice. Use matte or semi-
gloss sticker stock or arrange
the graphics to print on suitable
sized labels.
a. Adhesive stock is highly
recommended for easier
application of cut icons to
a pair of standard 5/8”
white or blank dice.
b. If using paper instead,
matte photo paper (not
photo [card]stock) is
best.
4. Score lightly along edges indi-
cated by crop marks. Do not cut
all the way through until you
have scored all edges. This
way, as you make final cuts and
lose some crop marks, you will
still know where to make all
subsequent cuts.
5. Apply the two sets of token
icons to two separate dice. If
you are using non-adhesive pa-
per, apply the cut icons with a
non-water based glue; wax
based glue sticks are acceptable.
Make sure each icon is fully ad-
hered and at least half dried in
place before applying another
icon to the same die.
a. For die #1, place icons of
the same type on oppo-
site sides of the die.
b. For die #2, do likewise.
If using blank white dice,
you do not need to use
the extra blank pieces
you printed along with
 the two double wound
icons.
6. Let dice sit overnight in a warm
dry area before using for play.
NOTE: You might make more
than one set for convenience or
to have a back up set should ac-
cidents happen.

NOTE: the stickers you are making

can be applied to any standard 5/8”
(or larger) dice commonly bought
anywhere. If you prefer to get blank
dice instead, they are cheaply available
all over the Internet. Here are a few
places to look to start you off.

• EAI Education
• Amazon.com
• eNasco
• Koplow Games (wholesale?)
• FRP Games
• SciFi Genre
• Dice Gamers
• Great Hall Games