Rules Questions and Other Chatter (Thran)

[tibbius]

darn it. Rus' attackers should have been [3d6c1-16] for their attack (result range -4 to -14) due to Evasive boon (3d6c1-14 to get the negative of result from 2d6L) plus two rabble assisting (-2 to "increase" the negative result).

[Rex]

I thought it would work like this in the macro: instead of 2d6+/-?, it would be 1d6 1d6 1d6 +/-?, then you would select the 2 lowest riolls and add them with the bonus penalty. That is how we do it in the L5R game I am in and it has a similar mechanism where you only keep the best rolls.

[tibbius]

That's less of a kludge. Ok - thanks!

[Xacha]

Sorry, laptop went kaput on me. All better now.

[tibbius]

Please remember to link your characters (in the Dice Roller) to campaign ID 800.

[tibbius]

Galeschin rolls his eyes and steps to the front of the soldiers, attacking with his handaxe, aiming to kill his foes as they charge him. He should make short work of them, he thinks, and hopefully after a few are decapitated the others will realize not to harass a Riverine man.

[2d6+2 Str+1 Armed+3 Barbarian] = [2d6+6] = 3+6 = 9
Damage: [1d6] = 4+2

Please use Agility as the attribute for making attacks. It also affects the target number for attacks. This is a difference from d&d.

Also, because Galeschin equips a shield, he is at -1 to attack and all attacks against him are at -1. Unless he has a large shield in which case it's a penalty die to attacks.

Either way his total is 8 and he misses.

[sirravd]

Oops, sorry

[tibbius]

No worries, I realize you are working with a new rule set here ... sorry for the curtness of my previous post, I was hasty with it.

[sirravd]

I wasn't offended

[tibbius]

Combat in Large Groups
Sometimes combatants gather in large groups. The rules for assisting tasks are used here. A lead combatant in each group makes a normal attack roll against the lowest target number for the opposing group, assisted by the other combatants in the group. The effective size of each group equals its number multiplied by a damage factor based on its weapons and its opponents’ armor. For the damage factor, add 2 for unarmed, 3 for light weapons, 4 for medium weapons, or 5 for heavy weapons; subtract 1 for light armor, 2 for medium armor. If the lead combatant of a group succeeds, the other group suffers casualties equal to the group’s effective size divided by the other group’s number (round up).

For example: If a group of six rabble wearing no armor and wielding light weapons confront a group of four rabble wearing light armor and wielding medium weapons, the group of six has a damage factor of 1 and an effective size of six; the group of four has a damage factor of 4 and an effective size of sixteen. If the leader of the group of six rolls 4 or better (target number 9, five assistants of rank 0), then the group of four will suffer two casualties (six divided by four). If the leader of the group of four rolls 6 or better (TN 9, three assistants of rank 0), then the group of six will suffer three casualties (sixteen divided by six).

Player characters operate independently from this scheme.

[tibbius]

A group of NPCs attacking a Hero
Use the rules for "assisting tasks" - the lead NPC gets a bonus to their roll based on the subordinate rolls of their assistants. Generally this will only be the case for Rabble, Toughs will attack individually.

[tibbius]

Change to combat rules (for balance to eliminate the "totally invulnerable to rabble" issue)

The target number for an attack roll is

9 + target's relevant Combat ability + target's Agility.

The roll itself is

2d6 + attacker's relevant Combat ability + attacker's Agility.

The relevant Combat ability is determined by what type of weapon each combatant is using. The three potential abilities are Unarmed, Armed, and Ranged. Either Unarmed or Armed can contribute to the target number for an Armed or Unarmed attack that is directed at the character. If a character has a shield, they use their Armed ability. For a Ranged attack, the target has no relevant ability.

The intent here is to make ranged weapons a bit more fearsome and to require heroes to charge or take cover in response to incoming missiles.

[tibbius]

Regrettably, I think Xacha no longer is participating. Hasn't been on the forums since 2/9.

[Rex]

You could try a PM, might work.

[tibbius]

It might be helpful to know more about your characters' history in the city of the Moon. They're both outlanders, how long have they been in town and why? What have they been doing? We know that Galeschin is acquainted with Robert, the commander of the late King's forces outside the city. We don't really know anything about Rus.

You're welcome to make stuff up.

[tibbius]

Does anyone have any ideas where they want this game to go?

I ask because I started with a setting, a recent event, and a set of rules. I have some ideas for future events, but what I lack is a defined mission for the characters to undertake.

That's something I need you to point me toward by expressing interest in character.

Is Galeschin's mission to ingratiate himself to Robert and obtain command of a detachment of soldiers? That could quickly lead to a grinding counter-insurgency. Will that be fun to play? I don't know.

I have no idea what Rus' mission might be. Please let us know.

If we can't come up with a direction for this game, maybe we should let it go.

[Rex]

It does feel like it needs a bit of direction. I see Rus as sort of along the lines of the Varangian Guard, obviously where I got the name. A mercenary for sure, but one with a certain amount of honor. Once bought he holds true for the terms of the agreement. He is also a clear outsider, this is advantages in many cases. Perhaps he could get hired to protect someone on a a journey, maybe they are transporting something important or its vital information and of course some wants it or doesn't want it delivered. Galeschin could fit right in and he needs the cash for his habit. I am also open to other ideas, trying to think of some hooks that would get us into something with some direction. I find that PbP needs more direction then FtF to work well.

[tibbius]

It does feel like it needs a bit of direction. ... I find that PbP needs more direction then FtF to work well.

Ok. I'm thinking, wide spread insurrection breaks out, there are bodies in the streets, and Pelias (now an NPC) asks for an escort back to Dharta. With his funds he acquires an ample supply of steadyberries for Galeschin. Sound good?

[Rex]

That sounds good to me. I thought we had a map but now I don't see one.

[sirravd]

It does feel like it needs a bit of direction. ... I find that PbP needs more direction then FtF to work well.

Ok. I'm thinking, wide spread insurrection breaks out, there are bodies in the streets, and Pelias (now an NPC) asks for an escort back to Dharta. With his funds he acquires an ample supply of steadyberries for Galeschin. Sound good?

Sure, that sounds fine. Galeschin's major goal is to attain political power of some sort, perhaps kingship, and fighting an insurgency is one way to do that.