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).
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1answer
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7th Sea - Why 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
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6answers
153 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
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1answer
93 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, ...
7
votes
1answer
119 views
How to describe combat with brutes
How can I describe combat where player characters face multiple opponents? For example, in 7th Sea there are up to six brutes in a squad. I'd like to have some inspiration for how to describe the ...
42
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10answers
1k views
Is it fair to press the players for decisions during combat?
My group tends to over-analyse during combat, which slows everything down.
I press upon my players to make their decision and roll the dice quickly. My players are all experienced in the system and I ...
14
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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 ...
6
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4answers
258 views
Creating rules for jumping or climbing onto monsters?
Partly inspired by this thread's discussion about creative role-playing and one answer there referring to stunts, I wanted to adapt a similar concept to the fairly rules-strict D&D 4th Edition.
...
8
votes
1answer
201 views
How hard is it to stake a vampire?
For staking a vampire through the heart in Pathfinder, what type of DC value or combat method should be used in order to perform the staking?
8
votes
3answers
246 views
Was psionic combat removed from Pathfinder?
I have the 3.5 edition of the Psionic Handbook that covers psionic combat. But reading through the Pathfinder I have found nothing so far.
If changing to Pathfinder, will I no longer need psionic ...
4
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2answers
73 views
Movement & attack in a Combat round question
If a player is say a Wizard and tries her best to avoid melee combat by trying to stay at a safer distance, and the enemies attacking need to attack her with melee weapons, how many feet can the enemy ...
7
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2answers
96 views
Does Full Defense assume you're also Defending?
The Full Defense action is, mechanically, somewhat unreliable compared to the Defend action: Defend gives you a straight +2 Parry, while Full Defense lets you roll Fighting+2 to set your Parry. Since ...
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0answers
90 views
What's the best class to be [closed]
This is my first time playing, I don't know what class to choose. I though maybe a warforged juggernaut?
14
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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 ...
9
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2answers
156 views
How do you handle Reach in Dungeon World?
How does reach actually work?
If I am wielding a long spear against a goblin with a dagger ("Staying far out of its reach, I make quick thrusts at the goblin's head!"), do I roll Hack and Slash? Do ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
80 views
Can I make my full round multiple attacks with the same weapon?
If I am level 6 with the attack progression +6/+1, can I use the same weapon to attack twice during a full-round action? If I am level 11 and get +11/+6/+1, can I use the same weapon to attack three ...
9
votes
1answer
64 views
Does telekinesis do Bashing or Lethal?
I'm trying to figure out what type of damage a direct physical assault with telekinesis would result in. (From NWoD)
From pg. 212 of World of Darkness:
Alternately, the ghost can make a direct ...
36
votes
13answers
758 views
How to communicate to the players that an encounter can be solved also through diplomacy?
When you play D&D, you are not supposed to chat with the enemy during encounters. The system is made for fighting. However, in some circumstances, it would be nice to make the players conscious ...
8
votes
2answers
177 views
What happens to aquatic creatures when they're pulled onto land?
A dire piranha swarm, for obvious reasons, has only a swim speed and no other available movement modes.
The warden in our party, while standing next to a lake, used Warden's Lure, which pulled all ...
33
votes
3answers
349 views
Shame him into not shooting: multiple stress tracks in a single conflict
If you insult the hitman enough, will he stop shooting at you? It doesn't seem likely, but that brings into play a question about whether some stress tracks are "more important" than others: If you ...
10
votes
5answers
267 views
Awarding XP for combat encounters in Dnd 4e
I am a very inexperienced DM. I have here what must be an obvious question, but I can't seem to find any solid clarification.
How is XP rewarded after a combat encounter? Is the total monsters' XP ...
6
votes
4answers
210 views
Is there a system with hit locations where missing hits another location?
This is my first time asking a question. I have only ever played D&D and I am now looking for a very different type of system.
My goal is to have a realistic system to use for a Zombie one-shot. ...
6
votes
3answers
324 views
Does a natural 20 initiative roll have any special rules?
I rolled a 20 for initiative in a pickup game today and I realized that I didn't know if that was supposed to be treated specially, like some other rolls treat a natural 20.
Does rolling a natural 20 ...
18
votes
2answers
741 views
Can an unconscious character use a healing surge?
Can an unconscious character use an action (like second wind or a healing power) to spend a healing surge?
Can an unconscious character spend a healing surge due to some external effect?
5
votes
5answers
327 views
Why “roll for initiative” in Pathfinder?
Perhaps related to this other question, what is the point in rolling for initiative in Pathfinder (so far the only RPG I've played)?
It would seem that certain characters would "automatically" ...
7
votes
2answers
236 views
Do two standard actions equal a full round action?
If a character was somehow able to get two extra standard actions on their round in combat, could those actions be used as an extra full attack action or full round action?
Elaboration: In the first ...
14
votes
6answers
10k views
How do I make a gunslinger with a decent damage progression?
I am considering playing a Gunslinger when next we play Pathfinder (I am currently GMing a game, and we'll be switching off afterwards), and thumbing through the Ultimate Combat Playtest v. 2, and I'm ...
3
votes
1answer
115 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
59 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?
5
votes
2answers
135 views
How can I gauge the strength of my PCs in Legend?
I've been trying to run Legend on and off lately, and I find myself faced with a frustration. Though I find the Mook rules easy enough to comprehend, I can't seem to create appropriate challenges for ...
1
vote
2answers
118 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?
7
votes
2answers
135 views
If I am using 2 weapons, can I trip with one and attack the tripped target in the same round?
I'm playing a dual wield fighter and I was wondering is it possible to, when using a full round action to attack and you have more then one strike, can you trip with your first hit and then proceed to ...
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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?
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votes
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 ...
9
votes
4answers
312 views
Making epic combat interesting and challenging but not complicated
I'm running up on the tail end of a year-and-a-half 4e campaign, and epic levels are exhausting to GM. Everyone has more weird powers than you can shake a dragon at, and that includes the NPCs ...
5
votes
3answers
267 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
160 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 ...
12
votes
3answers
712 views
What is the significance of a Basic Attack vs. any other sort of attack?
On the one hand, this is a pretty newb question: I’m not familiar with 4e and do not actually know what a Basic Attack is. That sort of question, however, I could answer by simply opening the ...
4
votes
2answers
73 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 ...
7
votes
0answers
128 views
Why is the Monk class considered sub-par in some games of 3.5? [duplicate]
This question is a combination of theoretical-optimization and practical-optimization. In some games, I acknowledge that the monk can be a fun and flavourful choice. Unfortunately, looking at the ...
10
votes
4answers
293 views
Can I Coup de Grace and/or make a death attack with a touch spell?
This question has two components: firstly, can a character with Assassin levels trigger their Death Attack (after the three rounds of study, of course) by making a Coup De Grace against the helpless ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
211 views
Frequency of combat encounters in Pathfinder
I'm starting a new self-designed Pathfinder campaign as the DM and I'm unsure how many combat encounters I should plan each session.
The characters will start at level 1. The group consists of 4 ...
4
votes
1answer
64 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
2answers
105 views
Can terrain shape area affect spells or attacks?
I don't know if this is referenced in the rulebooks or just a matter of houserule, but what happens if someone uses a cone-shaped spell or ability in a corridor that is narrower than the width of the ...
9
votes
1answer
262 views
Is there a limit to how many extra attacks I can have in D&D 3.5?
I'm playing a fighter/warblade with the Lightning Maces and Power Critical feats, and the Blood in the Water stance, so every time I score a crit, I have an immediate additional strike with the same ...
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: ...
26
votes
20answers
3k views
Beyond hit points: injury in D&D
I'm interested in adding a touch of realism to combat in D&D 3.5 or Pathfinder. Hit points are a very simple way of measuring injury and stamina, that contributes to the "hit things first, ask ...
4
votes
2answers
100 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
56 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.
