Basic Combat Mechanics

02jul22: This page finalized and active except for missile range thresholds, which are temporarily in effect but still open for comments.

Melee Range
Normally combatants can engage in melee only if they began the round within Melee Range. Melee Range means that Bob can attack Doris after no more than 15’ of movement. Melee range is usually symmetrical: if Bob is within Melee Range of Doris, then Doris is also within Melee Range of Bob. However, weapon reach can make Melee Range non-symmetrical, and the Guard and Change Action options allow melee attacks on targets not in range at the start of the round.

Riposte
If Bob's melee parry achieves 3 or more Victories (before any Second Roll), Bob inflicts damage on the attacker as if he had achieved 2 fewer Victories in an attack. Bob's foe gets no Defense Roll against his riposte.

''Proposed (not active) Change (16jun22) Should Melee Dodges also get Ripostes? (02jul22) Propose that all melee defense rolls be considered parries and all missile defense rolls be considered dodges.''

Flanking
Melee attackers on different sides of a target (>90º) gives the 2nd attack Hit and Damage Advantage.

Dual Target Attack (Pushing-Through)
Bob can target two adjacent foes in a single attack. Bob's roll must beat both foes' defense rolls to be successful. If so, Bob may (depending on any Second Rolls) inflict damage against both foes. If Bob successfully attacks two foes who form part of a defensive line, Bob can also push between those foes and thus brake through the line.

Exploits
Exploits are combat options such as tripping, pushing, disarming or grabbing hold of an enemy. Start with Bob's normal attack roll, then consider whether a different Attribute, General Skill, and/or Narrow Skill would be more appropriate. If so, swap the normal ability with the more appropriate ability. Do the same for his foe’s Defense Roll. In the case of a result (such as being pushed off a high cliff) which greatly exceeds typical combat damage the loser may be allowed a Second Roll to mitigate the result.

Coup de Grace
Attacks against a bound or unconscious target do 3 wounds for each victory. The target defends with 3 dice.

Missile Range
Normally missile attacks can target only those foes who could be targeted at the start of the round. Distance for a missile attack is the greater of the distance at the start of the round or the distance at the time of the attack. The Guard, Delay and Change Action options allow missile attacks on targets not in range at the start of the round.

Quick Resolution for Missile Combat
Each player should know his missile Threshold in advance so no time is lost during his turn.


 * If Bob's Action Roll is below his Threshold, he missed and his turn is over.
 * If Bob's Action Roll is lower than his target’s Dodge Roll, he missed and his turn is over.
 * Compare Bob's Action Roll to his target’s Dodge Roll and calculate Victories.

Distance, Size, Time and Cover
Issues of distance, size, time and cover are reflected in the Threshold. Represent size and cover by modifying range: 25% cover => 75% size; 50% size => 200% range. Note that not all weapons can reach all ranges. Longer ranges are included to accommodate the modifications for size and cover.

Hint: To quickly determine the threshold for a missile attack, divide the distance in feet by 10, then round to the nearest multiple of 3. Eg. at 50' the threshold is 5 dice, which rounds to 6 dice. Exact borderline results (eg. 75') round up.