The systems used in roleplaying games to resolve conflict through violent means, often to the death of one or more characters. Combat often involves several subsystems that determine whether harm is inflicted (to-hit) and the extent of that harm (damage).
3
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2answers
143 views
Combat - What is the chance of hitting someone on Range? [closed]
I'm designing a game system, and am working on the combat system. I have several questions, and I'm trying to create a system that is as realistic as possible. Sadly I have no experience with guns or ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the best ways to move and full-attack in the same round?
One of the most important things for any physical fighter to accomplish is to maximize the amount of time you spend full-attacking. Once you have BAB +6, not full-attacking halves your potential ...
13
votes
2answers
459 views
Does making an opportunity attack with a ranged weapon provoke an opportunity attack?
If I make an opportunity attack with a ranged weapon (e.g., a crossbow) against an adjacent enemy, does it provoke an opportunity attack as well?
2
votes
4answers
344 views
Can any dragon be used for half dragon?
I would like to know if the half-dragon template can use other dragons from the various monster manuals like the Ssvaklor (MM3) or Dragon Turtle(MM1) or any other nonstandard dragon (i.e. the ones ...
3
votes
1answer
159 views
When should hit locations be determined randomly in GURPS 4e?
I may, once again, be drowning in the details, but would like to know when GURPS 4e calls for random hit determination. Do attacks always default to torso?
I have run a combat with hit locations ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I use a full attack and natural attacks in the same round?
I'm playing a 7th level monk variant in D&D 3.5e and I'm a werewolf. The variant has a 1 for 1 BAB. (level 1 = BAB+1) If I'm in hybrid form, Can I make my 2 standard attacks followed by 2 claws ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
What can I do in one round?
I'm still little confused about actions in Pathfinder. There are standard actions, move actions, full round actions, free actions, etc. I need to know which combinations of these actions I can use in ...
9
votes
9answers
401 views
How can I speed up combat with a large number of enemies?
I'm DMing for a campaign where the player characters will sometimes face small squads of creatures, most recently six ground troops and two archers helping out. In this setting, these creatures ...
1
vote
1answer
191 views
Counter-Attack Houserule
I'm thinking of making a house rule for Pathfinder which lets you counter attack when your opponent rolls a natural 1 to attack. First, is there already a counter attack system in Pathfinder? If not, ...
2
votes
2answers
226 views
Are magic missiles (generically) affected by the wind?
Are ranged attacks by spells affected by the wind? In the amended 4E rules for Magic Missile, the spell always hits, so I suppose we can take the answer for that spell to be that no, the cover and ...
26
votes
7answers
739 views
Fighting boredom in combat as a player
Sometimes (as a player) I get bored during combat. At times I feel like all my turns are the same (especially when playing lower level characters) and when that is combined with no combat progress ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
How to easily track combat in Feng Shui?
While incredibly fun, the Feng Shui combat system can get unwieldy when you have a large number of mooks and named characters fighting the players. Its hard to keep track of what shot each character ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
What rules discourage point blank missile use in Mazes & Minotaurs?
Underground, exploring a series of crypts and catacombs, the mighty heroes were set up on by a string of foes in close combat: bug men, a ghast, and a mummy. Fate was on their side, and they ...
2
votes
2answers
199 views
Avoiding meta-gaming in combat [closed]
What are some ways of avoiding meta-gaming (both as a player and as a GM) within combat. One of the basic decisions in combat is what to use on what, when and where and how to best position yourself ...
14
votes
4answers
329 views
When to use scarce resources in combat?
How does one choose when to use scarce resources (e.g. powers you can only use once per day or encounter) in combat? I am particularly concerned with D&D, but I believe the concept carries over ...
29
votes
5answers
2k views
Why is attacking from higher ground an advantage?
I just don't understand how attacking someone from higher ground is an advantage in melee combat. I always think of two examples where I can't see this to be an advantage.
Example 1: A kung-fu fight ...
5
votes
2answers
185 views
Does my secondary attack use up my standard action for my turn?
Visions of Avarice
Daily - Arcane, Illusion, Implement, Zone Standard Action
Area burst 5 within 10 squares
Effect: The burst creates a
zone in its origin square. The zone lasts ...
2
votes
1answer
292 views
How should a stealthy attack start combat?
Say, a PC fires a longbow at an enemy without their knowledge before combat has begun, how should combat start?
Should there be a stealth/perception opposed check?
Should a successful/unsuccessful ...
3
votes
1answer
171 views
Diceless miniatures? [closed]
I've seen diceless systems for narrative-focused role playing. But do any diceless combat tactics games exist, possibly based on miniatures? I'm thinking of personal-level combat where a single unit ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Calculating attack bonuses when fighting with two rapiers
In my current campaign the rogue has decided to take Two Weapon Fighting and Improved Two Weapon Fighting. What should the attack modifiers be during a full attack?
His current attack with one rapier ...
7
votes
1answer
483 views
Does 2 handed multiplier apply to Dex mod with Weapon Finesse?
I have a rogue with Weapon Finesse.
This allows me to:
When making a melee attack with a light weapon or rapier, you may use your DEX Mod instead of your strength Mod on the attack roll.
Since ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
While swimming during combat, do “double moves” allow/require 2 swim checks?
A PC is in water during combat and requires a swim check to move.
Say, a PC chooses to use the move action first, performs their swim check and fail, sinking 5 feet, are they then allow to use their ...
5
votes
3answers
915 views
Is Improved Trip / Combat Reflexes / Elusive Target / Spiked Chain overly powerful?
I have been leading by example and using enemies and custom monsters to show off combat strategies and builds to my players. This has worked pretty well so far – my players have been much more ...
0
votes
1answer
198 views
Combat and exp/gold reward equations
I have a pen and paper game that I'm creating, but I'm running across issues in keeping the ratios between high and low level players similar in the battle and reward equations. Obviously a higher ...
4
votes
1answer
214 views
Does combat while swimming affect anything other than movement?
Does combat while swimming affect anything other than movement speed?
I assume that melee/ranged combat is affected if a PC is underwater after failing a swim check or choosing to dive?
Do these ...
5
votes
3answers
266 views
Is there any good place on the internet that hosts monster playtests?
I've been a DM for a while for 3.5. I've run many NPC characters, however only a small fraction of monsters out of the books (comparatively). Also, I like to use templates liberally as well as advance ...
6
votes
6answers
618 views
Combat system that is less abstract than hit points yet is not more lethal
I have a campaign based on battles with miniatures in mind, with my players controlling the standard "heroes". It should be possible for the players to keep their characters alive through the ...
13
votes
3answers
539 views
How do you administer combat without an Initiative system?
So in Dungeon World, there doesn't seem to be any stat for initiative or any structure to the sequence of moves that people can make. Is the game intended to be simply played "round robin", or do ...
10
votes
1answer
285 views
Greater Feint Clarification
I don't understand the benefits of Greater Feint feat in Pathfinder.
Its Benefit states:
Whenever you use feint to cause an opponent to lose his Dexterity bonus, he loses that bonus until the ...
6
votes
1answer
104 views
Are grenade attacks made against opposed Fray tests?
Do Throwing Weapons (by using a grenade) attacks require opposed 1/2 Fray tests to connect and damage enemies within the explosion area, like every other ranged attack?
11
votes
4answers
411 views
Do weapons damage themselves?
Weapons have explicitly listed hardnesses and hit points:
Damaging Objects – PFSRD
Many medieval weapons were known for breaking; most notably, in jousting, breaking a lance scored points:
...
9
votes
2answers
245 views
Simulating grenade explosions in a stairwell
What would be a fair way to adjudicate the detonation of a grenade in an enclosed space, such as a stairwell?
I have used the rules for blowback in games such as Shadowrun before, but recently ran a ...
7
votes
3answers
124 views
How do Berzerk and Shaken interact?
If a character with the Berzerk edge takes damage and goes berzerk, they cannot perform any actions that require concentration. Is the Spirit test to recover from being Shaken considered to be a task ...
13
votes
2answers
304 views
How can I efficiently manage Ship to Ship Tactical Combat and Boarding?
I'm planning a campaign that will involve a fair amount of ship to ship combat and boarding. My group is accustomed to using a square grid battle mat, and I'm concerned about the mechanics of the ...
8
votes
3answers
350 views
How many spears can fit in one pincushion
In The Riddle of Steel on page 77 it notes that the maximum number of combatants that can surround a single opponent is three, except "groups of spearmen and the like, who may gather tightly together ...
5
votes
1answer
126 views
Does undirected damage require line of sight/effect?
Certain powers cause damage without specifying any conditions about how that damage is dealt. Consider, for example, the following Barbarian Rage Daily Powers:
Earthquake Dragon's Rage
Effect: ...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
What's the advantage to kicking instead of punching?
I can understand that, situationally, there are reasons one might want to punch instead of kick or vice versa. But what mechanical advantage is there to kicking instead of punching, if any? It seems ...
0
votes
0answers
153 views
What systems are designed to handle tactical tile/map-based combat? [closed]
D&D and Savage Worlds are designed for tactical combat. What other systems with similar focus on tactical maps/tiles or boardgame-like combat are available?
15
votes
1answer
1k views
Firing into close combat in Pathfinder
If I am using a bow against an enemy who is in melee combat with an ally of mine, I get a -4 on my attack roll, unless I have the precise shot feat. (See page 184 in the Core Rules.
Do I suffer the ...
11
votes
2answers
272 views
How do I make a physical challenge for Dawn-caste Solar Exalted?
I'm currently running an Exalted (2.5e) game (set in the West around Wavecrest, if it's relevant). The Dawn caste Solar in the party is carving through things incredibly fast - using Iron Whirlwind (6 ...
4
votes
2answers
328 views
Who gets the “grappled” condition when multiple grapplers participate?
In our group, we are having problems with D&D 3.5's grappling rules (no wonder), so I tried to find out how Pathfinder handles that situation. The rules are much better and more clear, yet I still ...
12
votes
3answers
648 views
Does flanking always grant advantage, or is it up to discussion?
The rules packet does not provide any specific rules about flanking. However the rule do say that the DM has lots of leeway in deciding when to give advantage or disadvantage in combat. Should it be ...
6
votes
1answer
185 views
Order of actions in combat
Is there a specific order in which move / move-equivalent actions and standard actions should occur during a combat round? I know you can take the 5-foot step at the beginning or the end of the turn, ...
5
votes
2answers
94 views
How do Called/Aimed Shots interact with the optional Hit Locations rules in A Time of War?
Hit Locations (p. 190 AToW) are an optional rule in A Time of War [Mechwarrior 4th Ed RPG] which alter some of the normal combat rules when in place, such as the effects of injury.
When a players ...
8
votes
2answers
327 views
Combat Challenge vs Opportunity Attack - which happens first?
If a fighter has marked an enemy, and the enemy does a ranged attack against someone other than the fighter, I believe the fighter can attack using Combat Challenge as the enemy is making an attack ...
6
votes
2answers
255 views
What is the total net bonus when attacking an unconscious creature?
I've been thinking about unconsciousness and performing a a coup de grâce lately. It came up in our game this past week and I want to make sure I'm understanding it correctly.
Unconscious reads:
...
9
votes
2answers
167 views
What do characters know about the battlefield?
The PCs generally know where all enemies are and vice versa (except those who are Hidden). They also know the effects of all zones and other buffs that are in effect. This is part of the "all the ...
7
votes
1answer
146 views
Extended conflict / bringing down the pain in hardcore dungeoncrawling
Context
I am developing house rules to use Solar system for hardcore dungeoncrawling. I've thus far run one session of the game and combat represented some problems.
Rules-wise
The characters can ...
10
votes
2answers
454 views
How can characters with low Fighting and Shooting contribute in combat?
I've run a few rounds of Savage Worlds, and I like the quick character generation and minimal bookkeeping. I'm a little frustrated with a phenomenon which is hardly unique to the system: in combat, ...
15
votes
1answer
194 views
Can a creature immune to Immobilized walk away from a creature grabbing it?
Grabbed:
While a creature is grabbed, it is immobilized. Maintaining this condition on the creature occupies whatever appendage, object, or effect the grabber used to initiate the grab. This ...
