Stairs

JimmyPlenty · 05-09-2020, 01:26 PM

OK. So standing on a table (1 1/2 feet) give a +2 DX bonus. (ITL 119)

But no to stairs? 4 feet away (1 hex) on stairs is at least 1 1/2 ft.

hcobb · 05-09-2020, 02:34 PM

See combat on stairs at ITL 119.

ISTR some official note about how the four-hex stairs work in combat, but can't seem to find it now.

JimmyPlenty · 05-09-2020, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcobb

See combat on stairs at ITL 119.

ISTR some official note about how the four-hex stairs work in combat, but can't seem to find it now.

That's what I am saying, according to that, there is zero bonus.

Jeff Lord · 05-09-2020, 03:05 PM

See pg. 8 of Hexagram #2.

Skarg · 05-09-2020, 05:22 PM

I tend to think of that answer as one of the "it's simpler this way" answers.

It's also less interesting and makes interesting-loking terrain meaningless.

Seems to me that yes many stairs would be steep enough for a +2/-2 bonus.

AND, that a +2/-2 bonus is a huge bonus... lesser height differences should probably give a +1/-1 bonus, for those players who can handle the extreme complexity of that...

Jeff Lord · 05-09-2020, 05:31 PM

Heresy - but depending on the configuration of the stairs, perhaps BOTH combatants should receive a -2 DX penalty.

Senturian · 05-09-2020, 09:22 PM

I would say the lower person has the advantage. Attacking someone higher than you gives you a larger target from their feet to however high you can swing your weapon. Whereas the person higher would have a shorter reach which could only target the head/shoulder areas, not that I would want those areas to be targeted. I suppose you'd have to watch out for kicks as well.
Fatigue would become a disadvantage the longer you have to swing a weapon up near your head.
thoughts ?

Celjabba · 05-09-2020, 10:06 PM

I would rule that if the stairway is steep enough to give enough height difference between adjacent steps (ie 1.5' steps), then the bonus would apply.

The "Combat on Stairs" rule is separate and cover the "terrain" modifier, not the "height" imho.

Jeff Lord · 05-09-2020, 10:19 PM

Senturian makes some very good points.

The "high ground" is more of a mass combat advantage (despite anything Revenge of the Sith might have to say on the matter ;)).

larsdangly · 05-11-2020, 10:58 AM

A big 'nope' for me on the idea that it is an advantage to be in the lower position. There is a good reason why the late medieval swordsmanship manuals said 'what comes from above defeats what comes from below'. Anyone who has done a fair amount of trained historical fencing knows that swiping at someone's legs is a rookie move and usually gets you hit on the noodle.

05-09-2020, 01:26 PM	#1
JimmyPlenty Join Date: Dec 2017	Stairs OK. So standing on a table (1 1/2 feet) give a +2 DX bonus. (ITL 119) But no to stairs? 4 feet away (1 hex) on stairs is at least 1 1/2 ft.

05-09-2020, 03:05 PM	#4
Jeff Lord Join Date: Jul 2018	Re: Stairs See pg. 8 of Hexagram #2.

05-09-2020, 05:22 PM	#5
Skarg Join Date: May 2015	Re: Stairs I tend to think of that answer as one of the "it's simpler this way" answers. It's also less interesting and makes interesting-loking terrain meaningless. Seems to me that yes many stairs would be steep enough for a +2/-2 bonus. AND, that a +2/-2 bonus is a huge bonus... lesser height differences should probably give a +1/-1 bonus, for those players who can handle the extreme complexity of that...

05-09-2020, 05:31 PM	#6
Jeff Lord Join Date: Jul 2018	Re: Stairs Heresy - but depending on the configuration of the stairs, perhaps BOTH combatants should receive a -2 DX penalty.

05-09-2020, 09:22 PM	#7
Senturian Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania	Re: Stairs I would say the lower person has the advantage. Attacking someone higher than you gives you a larger target from their feet to however high you can swing your weapon. Whereas the person higher would have a shorter reach which could only target the head/shoulder areas, not that I would want those areas to be targeted. I suppose you'd have to watch out for kicks as well. Fatigue would become a disadvantage the longer you have to swing a weapon up near your head. thoughts ?

05-09-2020, 02:34 PM	#2
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Re: Stairs See combat on stairs at ITL 119. ISTR some official note about how the four-hex stairs work in combat, but can't seem to find it now. __________________ -HJC

05-09-2020, 10:06 PM	#8
Celjabba Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Luxembourg	Re: Stairs I would rule that if the stairway is steep enough to give enough height difference between adjacent steps (ie 1.5' steps), then the bonus would apply. The "Combat on Stairs" rule is separate and cover the "terrain" modifier, not the "height" imho. Last edited by Celjabba; 05-09-2020 at 10:23 PM.

05-09-2020, 10:19 PM	#9
Jeff Lord Join Date: Jul 2018	Re: Stairs Senturian makes some very good points. The "high ground" is more of a mass combat advantage (despite anything Revenge of the Sith might have to say on the matter ;)).

05-11-2020, 10:58 AM	#10
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Stairs A big 'nope' for me on the idea that it is an advantage to be in the lower position. There is a good reason why the late medieval swordsmanship manuals said 'what comes from above defeats what comes from below'. Anyone who has done a fair amount of trained historical fencing knows that swiping at someone's legs is a rookie move and usually gets you hit on the noodle.