Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Rice
Surely the standard tactic against the charge is the Defend option? That renders the charge largely ineffective unless the attacker has a high adj DX. I'm not so keen on getting rid of double damage, although maybe the Halberd should be 2-2 and the Pike Axe 2d. Otherwise why would someone choose a Pikeaxe over a Battleaxe at ST15?
Also, I find it amazing that your unarmoured Naginata wielder was your most long lived. He probably wouldn't even survive the first room in Death Test!
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Yeah, that's true; I forgot about that.
With an adjDX of 13, the pole weapon user would hit someone taking the Defend option 44% of the time; with an adjDX of 14, he'll hit 55% of the time.
To have an adjDX of 13, a starting fighter would have a ST of 11 - enough for a spear. He'd have a 44% chance of inflicting 9 points of damage. His opponent would likely have a shield (at least 1 point), reducing the average to 8 points. After the charge attack his opponent's shortsword would inflict an average of 6 points vs 4.5 (less 1 point for the shield).
At first blush, spears seem a bit more powerful. But not too bad.
But with only 2 points more ST, the fighter becomes quite potent - a 44% chance of inflicting a hit that averages 14 points of damage (halberd). A nearly even chance of badly wounding or killing almost any comparable enemy. Assume a ST 13, DX 13(10) character with chain and small shield (-4 hits). The average hit will knock him down and reduce his ST to 4. 1 or 2 additional hits in normal combat (virtually certain since the halberd user has a DX of 13 (84% chance of hitting) will finish him off.
With only 4 points more ST, the fighter becomes stunningly potent - a 44% chance of inflicting a hit that averages 18 points of damage (pike ax). A nearly even chance of likely killing almost any comparable enemy. Assume a ST 15, DX 13(10) character with chain and small shield (-4 hits). The average hit will reduce him to ST 1 (unconscious).
With an additional point of DX, the pole weapon user has a 55% chance of inflicting these hits.
The ST 11 spear averages 3.5 points (1h) and 4.5 points (2h); the ST 11 shortsword averages 6 points (1h). The 2h spear (in a charge) will do 3 points (50%) more damage than a shortsword. (And the shortsword allows for a shield).
The ST 13 halberd (2h) averages 7 points; the Bastard Sword averages 8 (1h) and 8.5 (2h). In a charge, the Halberd does 14 points, 5.5 points (65%) more damage than the 2h bastard sword. It would take the bastard sword 3-4 subsequent normal rounds for the bastard sword to make up the difference in average damage, assuming both weapons hit every round.
The ST 15 pike ax averages 9 points; the ST 15 battle ax averages 10.5 points. In a charge, the pike ax averages 18 points, 7.5 (67%) more than the battle ax. It would take 5 subsequent normal rounds for the battle ax to make up the difference in average damage, assuming both weapons hit every round.
If you keep the double damage mechanic, I submit that the halberd and the pike ax need to be reduced in damage by at least 1 point and 2 points respectively.