Telegraphic Attack for Ranged Combat?

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by Boge

It feels, with midieval weapons at least, that there needs more balance on the side of ranged. With melee, you get dual weapon attacks, rapid strikes, even extra attacks, where with ranged you get quick shooting at best?

Melee gets telegraphic attacks at +4, all out attack determined is +4. Ranged gets +1 and also suffers from ranged penalties which can be pretty severe.

I understand the benefits of staying at range, but when you play Gurps and you're a melee combat specialist doing 3+ attacks per turn, killing 3 people per turn with 3d6+ damage swings and then you see your friend over there shooting 1 arrow every other turn for 1d thrust, barely penetrating their armor, you realize the imbalance pretty quickly.

Out of turn combat can be a different situation with stealth bow kills. In combat sucks though. And forget about it if you use a crossbow. You might get off 3 shots before the combat is over.

On the other hand, when you're a melee character and you're on a wall, or a ship that's distant from another ship, you'll be sitting there twiddling your thumbs while the Archer is shooting people.

Gurps uses realism as it's baseline for mechanics. And realistically, there isn't a "balance" between ranged and melee. And if the problem is that the GM is allowing cinematic abilities for one style of character, while not allowing them for another style of character, that's a GM issue rather than a rules failure.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

And if the problem is that the GM is allowing cinematic abilities for one style of character, while not allowing them for another style of character, that's a GM issue rather than a rules failure.

On the other hand, if the GM is deliberately giving bonuses to one style and not the other, this might be a communication problem (the player and GM aren't on the same page as to what sort of game they're playing) or a player problem (the player is desperately trying to play a game the GM isn't running). A gunslinger in a Hong Kong action movie setting, for example.

[Ultraviolet]

This question came up years ago, and Dr Kromm made up somethign for this called "long distance telegram" IIRC.

I'll root through old stuff and see if I have it

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Plane

(that Speed-Range table can be pretty rough, especially for people throwing/shooting at default)

If characters are planning on using ranged attacks at default, they need a better plan.

Originally Posted by Plane

I love his "Aim as Attack" concept, but given it uses the same skill+penalties as shooting itself, it makes it really hard to make those rolls and actually begin building up bonuses.

That was why I concluded that rather than reducing the incentive for high skill, which was one of the intended effects IIRC, it actually increased that incentive.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Plane

I love his "Aim as Attack" concept, but given it uses the same skill+penalties as shooting itself, it makes it really hard to make those rolls and actually begin building up bonuses.

It uses half range and size penalties. It's much easier.

a basic +4 (Telegraphic Aim?) would make passing them a lot better

This is is "All-Out Aim" or "Committed Aim," also covered in the article.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

This is is "All-Out Aim" or "Committed Aim," also covered in the article.

What's the narrative rationale for all of this? How, for example, would you show the hero of a movie doing something in combat that these rules would represent?

[Boge]

Originally Posted by whswhs

What's the narrative rationale for all of this? How, for example, would you show the hero of a movie doing something in combat that these rules would represent?

Squinting his/her eyes really tight. ;)

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Boge

Squinting his/her eyes really tight. ;)

That just sounds like taking a second for an Aim maneuver. We have that rule already.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by whswhs

That just sounds like taking a second for an Aim maneuver. We have that rule already.

The difference between an aim and an all out aim is the amount of attention you're paying to your surroundings. Basic aim lets you defend freely if you give up your aim. An all out aim represents less situational awareness and more focus on your task.

[Boge]

Originally Posted by ericthered

The difference between an aim and an all out aim is the amount of attention you're paying to your surroundings. Basic aim lets you defend freely if you give up your aim. An all out aim represents less situational awareness and more focus on your task.

So teeth clenching then?