04-27-2019, 04:14 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Apr 2019
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Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
Hi everyone,
Both ITL p116 and Melee p17 say: "A figure may move into an enemy figure's hex, initiating HTH combat, if (a) the enemy has his back to the wall, or is lying down, prone, or kneeling, or (b) the enemy has a lower MA, or (c) the attacker comes in from the rear, or (d) the enemy agrees to HTH combat. Initiating HTH combat is considered an attack." This seems to suggest that a defender with a higher MA than an attacker trying to initiate HTH combat may simply refuse to enter HTH combat. However, I'm not quite sure how this is intended to interact with the 1d roll to determine how the defender reacts - results 5 and 6 seem to clearly indicate that the defender doesn't want to engage in HTH. Here's my imagined scenario: two characters are engaged in melee, one drops his weapon. Instead of trying to pick it up, he simply throws himself at his opponent, intending to initiate HTH. However, the opponent has a higher MA, and obviously prefers to keep hacking at the unarmed guy with his sword. Can he simply decide to refuse the "invitation" to enter HTH? IE, in such an instance only fighters with a higher MA than their opponent may force them to engage in HTH? Or does the very act of trying to initiate HTH automatically precipitate the 1d roll, which itself assumes the defender is going to try and fend off the attempt to initiate HTH? Or am I misreading things? Cheers, Sarah |
04-27-2019, 08:36 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
If the 'attacker's MA is lower than the 'defender' and none of the special tactical situations mentioned applies, then the attempt to enter HTH cannot be made and no die roll occurs. If the attacker meets one of the three preconditions, then you use the 1d roll to resolve what happens when he or she attempts to enter HTH. It is possible for this system to yield irrational results (like, the attacker having to back away from a weapon or receive a free attack when jumping on someone from behind). I believe those situations should receive a table ruling so that nothing crazy occurs. And, it can feel a bit odd that every attempt to enter HTH is a risky, 'who knows what could happen' sort of thing that doesn't depend on DX or skill of the combatants. But, that's how it works. I suggest not thinking about it too deeply; it works pretty well in a game-ist sense. It is sort of like the basic initiative roll in this sense.
So, in the situation you describe, assuming the combatants are just faced off on open terrain, no attempt to enter HTH can be made. I hope that helps, and welcome to the TFT cult!!! |
04-27-2019, 09:17 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
The question that entered my mind was that if the defender is willing to enter HTH, do you still roll the 1d6 on the table (Melee p18) to see exactly how? A 5 or 6 means there's no HTH, even though both parties were willing to enter HTH. Perhaps in that case, those two entries should be dropped, and it should just be 1-3 barehanded, 4-6 enough time to draw a dagger.
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04-28-2019, 01:06 AM | #4 | |||
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
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04-28-2019, 06:33 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Oct 2018
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
I think this is a very good rule. Consider how easily heavily armored characters could turn most battles into wrestling matches, where their armor makes them mostly immune to the damage of hth weapons. At the same time their lightly or unarmored opponents would be quite vulnerable to those same hth weapons. As it stands this rule encourages thoughtful maneuver and helps to maintain game balance.
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04-29-2019, 08:49 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
[QUOTE=Skarg;2258947] ...It does not seem irrational or crazy that you need to be faster than someone to tackle them to the ground unless you can them cornered or manage to get around their guard. .../QUOTE]
I wasn't questioning the basic rule about prerequisites for initiating HTH; those strike me as quite sensible. What I had in mind is the case where you try to enter HTH from behind but roll a 5 on 'entry' roll (meaning you are forced back into the hex from which you approached). That one doesn't make a lot of sense to me. |
04-29-2019, 09:30 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pacheco, California
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
[QUOTE=larsdangly;2259190]
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-HJC |
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04-29-2019, 10:33 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
It is good as is, but it would have also been good if it had been based on attributes and/or talents in some fashion.
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04-29-2019, 11:17 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Initiating Hand-to-Hand Combat
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On this I completely agree (and q.v. GURPS), but of course that'd be for the House Rules subforum. |
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