05-14-2019, 11:57 AM | #1 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
This is a classic situation: one guy has a long weapon like a spear, the other has a shorter weapon like a knife or is a beast like a wolf with sharp teeth but a short reach. The spearman doesn't try to parry attacks from the wolf as much as he tries to prevent the wolf from closing the distance.
What maneuvers do I use to represent this in Gurps? I don't think its a simple matter of wait maneuvers. I feel like the spearman should be able to attack without letting the wolf close the distance, and I feel like the wolf's attempt to close should be able to end in being driven off rather than either succeeding or getting spitted. How do I run this scenario?
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05-14-2019, 12:19 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
Perhaps have the wolf attempt to close with a maneuver that allows them to Retreat, and use that Retreat to avoid the spitting. Then don't let them to seamlessly carry on the advance, even though by the rules they seem to be clearly allowed to do so (aside from having to re-do a yard of their advance). So, basically, the spearman makes their attack roll successfully and the wolf makes the 'safe' response of falling back instead of trying to duck past.
If they elect not to retreat from the spearman's threat, they're committing to success or spitting. That's a thing they can do. If you want to model the possibility that it's not a thing they can make themselves do, that'd be the domain of some kind of will roll, perhaps akin to the one on Tactical Shooting p21 to leave cover while under fire.
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05-14-2019, 12:39 PM | #3 | |
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
Quote:
This is all not RAW of course, and a RAW method would be nice.
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05-14-2019, 12:39 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Southern New Hampshire
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
I think the wait maneuver does match this situation best. The short range combatant (SRC) is currently just out of reach of the long range combatant (LRC). The SRC doesn't want to risk getting stabbed on the way in... really... who wants to get stabbed. So, keeping them at a distance is probably largely a function of not wanting to be hurt. And, if you're using the Shock rules, if the LRC's attack hits on the way in, the SRC's attack is much less likely to connect. There's a fair amount of disadvantage to being the SRC.
If they decide to risk it, they have to try to defend on the way in. And this is pretty realistic too. If the wolf can juke out of the way as he runs in, he can try his bite... probably with a Move and Attack option. It also makes sense the bite would be less likely to connect if the wolf had to pay attention to moving, dodging, AND attacking. But now he's close to the LRC. I think the Wait maneuver is just right to represent this scenario. |
05-14-2019, 12:43 PM | #5 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
Does the spearman have to forgo attacking in order to retain his advantage then? That doesn't feel right. There is also no situation where the wolf tests his foe's defenses and backs up rather than making it in.
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05-14-2019, 01:09 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
Don't think of it in terms of the spearman forgoing their attack. They're just timing the attack so that it also serves as a deterrent.
If you spearman has a sufficiently high initiative they can hold action on the charge of the wolf, if it comes within step&attack reach, but cannot get in close, they can attack the wolf. Then at the top of the round, step and commit to a wait maneuver and attack the Wolf once again as it tries to advance, using that reach to force the wolf to move and attack on their turn for a poorer chance of hitting. |
05-14-2019, 01:09 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
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The situation where the wolf probes but then pulls back is a failed Feint on the wolf's part.
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05-14-2019, 01:11 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
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A Telegraphic attack is actually a very questionable choice in this situation. The spearman needs two things to happen: they succeed in their attack roll, and the opponent doesn't elect to keep coming anyway. If you telegraph it, you risk making them like their odds of dodging without retreating, at which point you're liable to get a face-full of wolf. Yes, the spearman can't simultaneously take the initiative and hold the line. I don't see that as a problem. EDIT: Of course, if you've got two spearmen, that becomes an option.
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05-14-2019, 01:24 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
Quote:
Spear-guy sees foe approach Spear-guy chooses to "Wait" until foe closes Foe tries to close to attack Spear-guy attacks as foe closes Spear hits (or not) Foe chooses defense, if needed (wolf could logically choose "Retreating Dodge") Defense succeeds or fails Damage roll either disables foe, or not, or defense works If not disabled, foe closes to attacK Attack roll succeeds Spear-guy chooses Retreating Dodge Dodge succeeds (or not) Spear-guy disabled (or not) If not, spear-guy chooses step-and-wait, and steps backwards Foe must close, again Rinse and repeat. Maybe something like that? (Of course, if in a formation, spearman blocks or parries, as a retreating dodge would break said formation. If he's got other spear-carriers behind him, though, the attacker might have to defend against multiple attacks, so that's the trade-off.)
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05-14-2019, 01:44 PM | #10 | |||
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Keeping a Foe at a Distance with a Longer Weapon
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Quote:
If someone with more mock melee combat than me can explain what I'm getting wrong about that, please do, my experience is fairly minimal, but I'm interested in getting the rules to model those combats, not optimizing the situation to fit with existing rules. Quote:
When I referred to telegraphic attacks I meant giving the wolf a bonus to dodge if it backs up in exchange for a bonus to hit on that first roll. If the wolf is going to back up on any hit, telegraphic is a good option. If its more accepting of risk, that could backfire. It still doesn't give weapons that can present a point an advantage.
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