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).
4
votes
2answers
298 views
Difference between a crit and extra attacks
In DnD 3.x and related systems, you threaten a critical hit on a natural 20, but then have to confirm the crit by making another to-hit roll. If your followup roll beats the target's AC (or is another ...
4
votes
2answers
111 views
Aerial combat in 3.5e
I have a player who is using a homebrew flying race to add to his heal/buff cleric's survivability. He's promising not to use it too much to his advantage, especially because none of us have any ...
4
votes
1answer
236 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
How do natural and weapon attacks mix?
I have a level 1 Synthesist Summoner.
Since he has the Quadruped base Eidolon, when fused, my Summoner has a bite attack (Primary). In addition, I have spent evolution points on a tentacle ...
4
votes
1answer
293 views
What is the the damage die of a punch or kick?
Probably an easy question but I could not find the answer for it anywhere.
Our group have the Heroes of Fallen X books, the Dungeon Master Kit and the Monster Vault and although the DMK says that you ...
4
votes
3answers
302 views
Is there a good way of dealing with both movement and tactical combat in Shadowrun?
Many times, while I know the hard rules of Shadowrun, I fail to put together a good combat that can be clearly described to the players. When initiative is rolled, we calculate our phases and then ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
Drawing a gun and shooting before combat in D20 Modern
I'm new and I just had a quick question.
I'm going to be DMing a d20 modern on shot adventure for the first time. I am very new to DMing so many questions arise when making/creating the adventure.
...
4
votes
1answer
125 views
Does the Executioner Assassin apply dexterity to its melee basic attacks?
I am trying to figure out if the Executioner assassin (Heroes of Shadow) applies its dexterity to its melee basic attacks. The Attack Finesse Class feature says: You can use Dexterity instead of ...
4
votes
2answers
75 views
Need clarification on 1 on 1 combat in Sword Noir
I think I understand how combat works, but I just ran it recently and I am not sure. I need a action flow for the following 2 round situations, if the PC's beat NC combat tests be less than 5 when ...
4
votes
1answer
214 views
How is threat determined in Dark Heresy?
In Dark Heresy, you can gain a bonus to your melee attacks if you outnumber an opponent two to one or three to one. Are opponents threatened if a player is next to them or do they have to have ...
4
votes
2answers
391 views
Is that superior or partial cover?
Take the following diagram:
. E .
X X .
X X .
X X .
X X .
. A .
Considering the Attacker has line of effect (like an arrow slit) to the Enemy. According to RC pg 219 on determining cover, lines ...
4
votes
1answer
103 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
354 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
308 views
How is the Dragon Age RPG combat supposed to be played?
I had the opportunity to briefly see the Dragon Age RPG by Green Ronin in play today at Free RPG Day 2011 but not actually play it. I was able to pick up the FRPG Day mini-adventure and read through ...
3
votes
6answers
171 views
A system that models improved threat range of critical misses?
Have you ever fumbled with a flail? It sucks, especially when you are first learning it. It can happen very often; Sometimes in such a terrible way it far surpasses the risk of swinging a staff, hands ...
3
votes
2answers
168 views
What Resources are available to expand my critical hit multiplier?
I've recently developed an interest in critical hits, and I'm looking to create the largest critical multiplier possible. Note that I'm not asking about critical threat range - I'm familiar with that ...
3
votes
2answers
181 views
Fighting Withdrawal v.s Retreat in Moldvay's Basic D&D
This pertains to Moldvay's edition of D&D Basic from 1981.
I've never understood the rules behind meleed movement options. The rulebook says that a player in melee combat with a monster has only ...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
How to handle initiative while keeping the spotlight on a duel within a larger combat?
In some weeks we will play 7th Sea, an RPG with much fencing.
I want to make fights more like a duel between players and minions. I think some (most?) battles will be one player duelling a minion, ...
3
votes
1answer
174 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
312 views
What's the impact of a monster being immune to Unconscious?
Some monsters have immunity to being Unconscious. Since monsters die when they hit 0 HP (barring a PC deliberately inflicting nonlethal damage), what's the impact of this? Do they fight on when ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
When should I use active defense?
When you get hit by an attack you first use parry as passive defensse and if you fail you use active defense in the same knack, correct? For active defense you use an action.
But isn't an active ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
How exactly does lighting affect combat?
I understand that there are different types of lighting (dim, bright, complete darkness), but I haven't been able to find anywhere in the DMH or PHB that specifically describes how these different ...
3
votes
2answers
144 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Is there a step-by-step combat flowchart for L5R, 2e?
OK, so I played Legend of the Five Rings (2nd edition) years ago and enjoyed it.
When asked what he wanted for a present he replied: "an rpg campaign! But it should be different, not one of the one's ...
3
votes
1answer
180 views
How to plan to avoid combat deaths for NPCs that aren't obvious railroads? [closed]
I am playing a Pathfinder campaign based on the Beginner Box materials. The party were relatively diplomatic in the first adventure and didn't fight and kill the goblin boss King Fatmouth in Black ...
3
votes
1answer
105 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
174 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 ...
2
votes
4answers
373 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
296 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
227 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
240 views
How can I incorporate pressure point attacks?
I am wondering if there are any classes, alternatives, or anything else than roleplay to incorporate pressure point techniques in D&D 3.5.
The monk's stunning fist (or the feat) could be ...
2
votes
2answers
57 views
Do items that trigger off of “x basic attack” work with powers “used as” basic attacks?
For instance, I'm building a Level 4 Seeker (Ranged Arcane Archer-esque class) who has an At Will attack (Biting Swarm) that can be used "as a" ranged basic attack. I also have a couple of items that ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Moldvay D&D First Round in Encounter
I'm confused about how to DM the first round of an encounter using Moldvay's rules, specifically, when is the DM supposed to use the Monster Reaction table on page B24.
Say a party encounters a group ...
2
votes
2answers
257 views
Melee Combat in Moldvay's D&D Basic
I'm working on a CRPG, written in Python, that will hopefully re-create some of the fun from the original D&D Basic Set (Moldvay's 1981 red-box edition), and so I'm getting into some pretty ...
2
votes
1answer
186 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Feint checks in Mutants and Masterminds
In the combat section, "feint" is described as a use of Bluff to confuse the opponent into leaving an opening, treating the next attack as a surprise attack. (So feint is basically Bluff vs. Sense ...
2
votes
1answer
96 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
What are the complete set of combat modifers for fighting in darkness?
I am slightly confused on combat in darkness. There are modifiers for blinded combatants and invisible combatants, but not specifically combatants who cannot see due to darkness. Are they all ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Are there the equivalent of Attacks of Opportunity in the Mythus Game
Can anyone tell me whether there is an equivalent of Attacks of Opportunity in the Dangerous Journeys Mythus RPG? I thought there was but have searched through the rulebook and can't find any.
2
votes
2answers
201 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
199 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, ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
What book has Volley rules?
- Question -
What book are the rules for Archer Volleys in D&D 3.5?
- Bonus Points -
What page(s) in said book is it on?
1
vote
2answers
127 views
D&D 3.5 mounted movement in battle
If my gnome rider has the dodge and mobility feats does my riding dog mount gain the benifits of the feats in battle movement?
1
vote
0answers
142 views
Does a forced movement from an OA stop a movement action in progress? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does movement continue after an Opportunity Attack?
I am in the process of creating a Druid, and an interesting opportunity came up.
I a creature moves away from me to ...
0
votes
1answer
201 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 ...
0
votes
4answers
594 views
How can I make combat run more efficiently? Our encounters are taking way too long [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Speeding Up Combat
I'm thinking of starting my own campaign with a few of my friends with me as DM, primarily because I wasn't extremely impressed with the campaign my ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Throwing a knife versus tossing a grenade?
In my current system, every action is a skill check, even in combat. Every attempt is d20 + skill vs. a flat value or an opposing roll. Fixing a robot or destroying it, stabbing someone or sticking ...
0
votes
0answers
156 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?
