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Old 09-26-2020, 06:53 PM   #1
larsdangly
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

I was recently reminded of the interminable main gauche DX penalty issue when I went through the new Death Test combatants in Hexagram #5 and noticed that a couple of them had a main gauche with no associated DX penalty noted. This carries forward an established pattern that the official products, post core book, seem to never, to my knowledge, assign a DX penalty to the use of the main gauche.

This caught my attention because we recently had a discussion on these boards about the main gauche, where one of the regular posters said the errata from Hexagram #3 included a clarification that the main gauche carries a -1 DX penalty. So I went to check and found nothing of the sort.

So, does anyone have a verifiable reference, anywhere, of an official ruling on this from SJGames? The last discussion we had suggested several people were totally confident that a -1 penalty is now 'canon', but I can't find any evidence this is true.
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Old 09-26-2020, 06:57 PM   #2
TippetsTX
 
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Default Re: Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

110 – The DX penalty for a main-gauche should be -1.

This is from the TFT Errata page.
https://thefantasytrip.game/resources/errata/

But you are correct in your observation that this seems to be inconsistently applied in published materials.
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Last edited by TippetsTX; 09-26-2020 at 07:03 PM.
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Old 09-26-2020, 06:59 PM   #3
phiwum
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
Default Re: Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

Quote:
Originally Posted by larsdangly View Post
I was recently reminded of the interminable main gauche DX penalty issue when I went through the new Death Test combatants in Hexagram #5 and noticed that a couple of them had a main gauche with no associated DX penalty noted. This carries forward an established pattern that the official products, post core book, seem to never, to my knowledge, assign a DX penalty to the use of the main gauche.

This caught my attention because we recently had a discussion on these boards about the main gauche, where one of the regular posters said the errata from Hexagram #3 included a clarification that the main gauche carries a -1 DX penalty. So I went to check and found nothing of the sort.

So, does anyone have a verifiable reference, anywhere, of an official ruling on this from SJGames? The last discussion we had suggested several people were totally confident that a -1 penalty is now 'canon', but I can't find any evidence this is true.
It's in the errata page. Sounds like canon to me.
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Old 09-26-2020, 07:00 PM   #4
phiwum
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
Default Re: Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

I should say that the bit where some of us concluded the DX penalty applies only if you use the main-gauche to parry hasn't been confirmed anywhere that I know. That interpretation came up in the Fencing thread and I like it, but it's a house-rule far as I can tell.
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Old 09-26-2020, 10:56 PM   #5
Skarg
 
Join Date: May 2015
Default Re: Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

Well, it seems to me that you could choose NOT to stop 1 hit per attack with the Main-Gauche in your left hand, on a turn-by-turn basis, and then it wouldn't be reducing your DX by 1 when you were just holding it but not protecting yourself with it.

Also, the example characters you mention in Hexagram #5 make sense not to list the Main-Gauche adjDX penalty, because they are short-form one-line opponent descriptions, and their first weapon is a missile weapon. The Main-Gauche starts out slung, and would only reduce DX if readied and used to protect the figure in Melee (not HTH) combat.

Last edited by Skarg; 09-26-2020 at 11:00 PM.
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Old 09-27-2020, 09:06 AM   #6
larsdangly
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Re: Main Gauche re-re-re-re-redux

Ah, thanks for that; it must have been added to the errata page after publication of Hexagram #3 (which contains most of the errata entries, but not this).

Also note that the errata for p. 111, '111 – Add new sentence after the first one. "Like a small shield, it carries a -1 DX penalty."' is incorrect. The small shield does not carry a -1 DX penalty. And never has in any edition of the game. I have to say, it is quite confusing how many mixed messages we get on these little factual details!

Re. the character cards and official NPC stat blocks, I think I've reviewed (or at least seen) them all and can't recall any that have a main gauche and note the associated DX penalty, despite the fact that DX penalties for listed shields are generally considered. I think we'll just have to keep in mind that when the main gauche is out an extra -1 should be applied.

Incidentally, I like the new official version better; it feels like a fairer trade off given that you always get a second attack with a main gauche, and it is also more true to the experience of fencing with one of these things; you are substantially more impaired by a main gauche than you are by a buckler.
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