Throwing rocks

Steve Jackson · 07-13-2018, 07:06 PM

Will anyone be too unhappy with me if I remove the slightly silly "thrown rocks" entry from the basic Melee weapon table, because I have to save a line to get in cloth and half plate?

luguvalium · 07-13-2018, 07:28 PM

Not at all.

Always bring a sword to a rock fight.

Rick_Smith · 07-13-2018, 07:43 PM

Not at all.

In the paragraphs which describe fist damage you can drop in a line that a good sized rock does fist damage.

Rick

Tolenkar · 07-13-2018, 09:01 PM

You may throw out the rocks... as long as you don't live in a glass house. <guffaw & snicker>

No, seriously. I only remember rocks being used once... thrown at our party by children (nuisance creatures). They don't need to be on the list.

-Tolenkar

JLV · 07-13-2018, 10:51 PM

I wouldn't go into a depression over it, but I'd REALLY like you to make sure it shows up in the big ITL book. It may sound silly (and probably is in an arena combat game), but I had quite a few players over the past almost four decades resort to it when their weapon broke, or they were escaping prisoners (that is, escaping from prison), or in a street brawl in a town where weapons weren't allowed, or whatever.

Skarg · 07-13-2018, 11:29 PM

I don't think rocks need to be on the Melee weapon table. If there's room to mention someone could throw a rock for X damage somewhere else in Melee (or even that some arenas might traditionally be full of throwing rocks ;-) ), that'd be a nice nod to tradition and completeness.

However I would hope the new Advanced-Melee-equivalent would mention rocks, again not necessarily on a weapon table, but wherever side-tactics end up, possibly near bare hand damage like Rick suggests, and could suggest such notions as rocks not always being available ;-) , rock size, using rocks to bludgeon people in HTH, and varying rock damage by ST.

Actually, if there's a height advantage section, also dropping big rocks (or bodies) on people from high places, or while being a gargoyle, dragon or roc? Just a thought.

~~Jim Kane~~ · 07-13-2018, 11:46 PM

Go for it. I have only ever experienced a player do this *one time* in 40 years playing this system - and that player was a recruit from the "big daddy" game. We (long-term TFT'ers) were totally perplexed at this action (in context of the situation) and we talked about with "rock throwing" thing with him in depth after the session. Turns out, it's a fairly popular tactic in that game.

However, as we have a superior game (and combat rules), I think you are safe to delete it as a line-item in Melee; but perhaps as JLV suggests, put it back in for AM - who knows, maybe this time around, we can create some converts.

Not all peasants have pick-forks, and rocks are usually handy for a mob to get and throw at an adventure party - so, yes, I'd be sure to get it into the AM section of ITL.

JK

ak_aramis · 07-14-2018, 02:07 AM

Sounds reasonable.

schoon · 07-14-2018, 02:27 AM

Yes. Fine with that.

Chris Rice · 07-14-2018, 04:03 AM

To me, a rock or a club is the same, whether thrown or in hand, so I'd just combine them.

07-13-2018, 07:06 PM	#1
Steve Jackson President and EIC Join Date: Jul 2004	Throwing rocks Will anyone be too unhappy with me if I remove the slightly silly "thrown rocks" entry from the basic Melee weapon table, because I have to save a line to get in cloth and half plate?

07-13-2018, 07:28 PM	#2
luguvalium Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Throwing rocks Not at all. Always bring a sword to a rock fight.

07-13-2018, 07:43 PM	#3
Rick_Smith Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Coquitlam B.C.	Re: Throwing rocks Not at all. In the paragraphs which describe fist damage you can drop in a line that a good sized rock does fist damage. Rick

07-13-2018, 09:01 PM	#4
Tolenkar Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Cidri	Re: Throwing rocks You may throw out the rocks... as long as you don't live in a glass house. <guffaw & snicker> No, seriously. I only remember rocks being used once... thrown at our party by children (nuisance creatures). They don't need to be on the list. -Tolenkar __________________ Yes, I know Tollenkar is misspelled. I did it on purpose. Apparently, I purposefully misspell words all the time...

07-13-2018, 10:51 PM	#5
JLV Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Arizona	Re: Throwing rocks I wouldn't go into a depression over it, but I'd REALLY like you to make sure it shows up in the big ITL book. It may sound silly (and probably is in an arena combat game), but I had quite a few players over the past almost four decades resort to it when their weapon broke, or they were escaping prisoners (that is, escaping from prison), or in a street brawl in a town where weapons weren't allowed, or whatever. Last edited by JLV; 07-13-2018 at 11:49 PM.

07-13-2018, 11:29 PM	#6
Skarg Join Date: May 2015	Re: Throwing rocks I don't think rocks need to be on the Melee weapon table. If there's room to mention someone could throw a rock for X damage somewhere else in Melee (or even that some arenas might traditionally be full of throwing rocks ;-) ), that'd be a nice nod to tradition and completeness. However I would hope the new Advanced-Melee-equivalent would mention rocks, again not necessarily on a weapon table, but wherever side-tactics end up, possibly near bare hand damage like Rick suggests, and could suggest such notions as rocks not always being available ;-) , rock size, using rocks to bludgeon people in HTH, and varying rock damage by ST. Actually, if there's a height advantage section, also dropping big rocks (or bodies) on people from high places, or while being a gargoyle, dragon or roc? Just a thought.

07-13-2018, 11:46 PM	#7
~~Jim Kane~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2018	Re: Throwing rocks Go for it. I have only ever experienced a player do this one time in 40 years playing this system - and that player was a recruit from the "big daddy" game. We (long-term TFT'ers) were totally perplexed at this action (in context of the situation) and we talked about with "rock throwing" thing with him in depth after the session. Turns out, it's a fairly popular tactic in that game. However, as we have a superior game (and combat rules), I think you are safe to delete it as a line-item in Melee; but perhaps as JLV suggests, put it back in for AM - who knows, maybe this time around, we can create some converts. Not all peasants have pick-forks, and rocks are usually handy for a mob to get and throw at an adventure party - so, yes, I'd be sure to get it into the AM section of ITL. JK

07-14-2018, 02:07 AM	#8
ak_aramis Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alsea, OR	Re: Throwing rocks Sounds reasonable.

07-14-2018, 02:27 AM	#9
schoon Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oakland, CA, USA	Re: Throwing rocks Yes. Fine with that.

07-14-2018, 04:03 AM	#10
Chris Rice Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland	Re: Throwing rocks To me, a rock or a club is the same, whether thrown or in hand, so I'd just combine them.