Combat Options and Maneuvers

Pre-Attack Roll Options
These are some commonly-used alternatives to the normal declaration of action and target. They are available to both players and NPCs.

Choose to Guard
If Bob announces that he will “Guard” he need not choose a target, but must choose both his action and any movement before action rolls are made. During the round Bob may take any of the following options, but making any attack ends Bob's activity for that round. Note that merely stopping next to Bob does not trigger any response.


 * On his initiative Bob may either:
 * 1) attack (without moving) any foe in range; or,
 * 2) make 0' to 15' of his declared movement and resume guarding (but not attack).
 * On Doris's move he may
 * 1) make an Attack of Opportunity, if Doris tries to move past him.
 * 2) attack first, if Doris makes a Melee attack on him and Bob's initiative was higher.
 * At the end of the round he may attack any foe in range (but not move).

Attack of Opportunity: If a foe tries to move past Bob without attacking him, Bob can move 5’ to attack that foe. This attack happens on the foe's turn as the foe moves past Bob. A successful attack will stop the foe's movement and cause the foe to lose any remaining attack.

Choose to Delay
Bob can announce that his movement and action will follow some other event (such as some other character’s action). Bob then acts
 * At the very end of the round, if his target was not in range at the start of the round; otherwise,
 * On his initiative, if his target's initiative was higher; or,
 * During or immediately after the triggering event, if Bob's initiative was higher.

For example, Bob could declare that he will attack the first person to come around a corner, which turns out to be Doris. Since Doris was not in range at the start of the round, Bob's attack must wait until the end of the round.

Choose to Defend
If Bob chooses defense as his action, he makes no Action Roll, but get +4 dice to every Melee Defense Roll. He can riposte.

Choose to Make a Fighting Retreat
If Bob has a clear path to move at least 20' from all currently adjacent foes, he may choose to retreat. When retreating, Bob rolls as if making a melee attack.


 * Only foes who either roll a higher initiative or are on guard can attack Bob.
 * Bob gets +6 dice to his melee Defense Rolls, but cannot riposte.
 * Whether or not Bob loses his action by taking damage, he must complete his retreating move.
 * A successful attacker may choose to advance to maintain Melee Range with Bob.
 * If Bob does not lose his action, he may choose to retreat an additional 20'.

Choose to Change Weapons
When changing weapons Bob must subtract dice from either the last Action Roll with the old weapon or the first Action Roll with the new weapon. He subtracts 2 dice for a quick change (eg. drop bow and draw sword), or 4 dice for a more difficult change.

Choose to Speak
When Bob chooses speech as his main action, his initiative is determined by a Awareness Roll as the Action Roll.

At Initiative Options
-- 11-May-22 -- Loosened up "cannot change action" rule at players' request.

When his initiative arrives, Bob may: Penalty represents the time lost changing direction.
 * 1) Change his action to Retreat without penalty (if a clear path is available).
 * 2) Cancel his action or change it to Defend at the cost of losing all movement.
 * 3) Change his target and/or his movement with a penalty of Hit Disadvantage to his Action Roll and a reduction of movement from 15’ to 10’ (or one-half movement for a movement action).

Choose to Avoid Losing A Good Action Roll (Suicidal Action)
So long as Bob would otherwise roll at least 4 dice for his Defense Roll, he can choose an alternate step 5. He rolls ½ his normal Defense Roll for defense, but takes his (later) action normally if he is still up.

Surprise
Ordinary surprise gives Bob both Superior surprise additionally gives Bob +4 to his Action-Rolls in the first round. A successful use of Stealth before combat will usually grant surprise.
 * 1) 1 round in which his foe may not act but may defend normally, and
 * 2) initiative advantage on the next round.