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Old 06-23-2018, 11:26 PM   #1
luguvalium
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Running and Engaging

I played Melee tonight for the first time in years and the following situation came up:

Abner has the initiative and runs more than half MA and ends up with with Brina in one of his front hexes. Brina hasn't moved yet. Is Brina engaged?

I would think Brina is not engaged since Abner moved more than half his MA and can not take any actions. If Abner moved half MA or less, I would think Brina is engaged. I don't find anything in the rules about this particular situation.
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Old 06-24-2018, 02:00 AM   #2
zot
 
Join Date: May 2018
Default Re: Running and Engaging

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Originally Posted by luguvalium View Post
I played Melee tonight for the first time in years and the following situation came up:

Abner has the initiative and runs more than half MA and ends up with with Brina in one of his front hexes. Brina hasn't moved yet. Is Brina engaged?

I would think Brina is not engaged since Abner moved more than half his MA and can not take any actions. If Abner moved half MA or less, I would think Brina is engaged. I don't find anything in the rules about this particular situation.
Weird. That sure makes sense to me. It does remove a "chess tactic" but there's no way Abner can attack Brina this turn, so maybe it should. Maybe other folks on this board who are way more grognardian than I have more insight. I'll bet JK has an opinion on it...
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Old 06-24-2018, 02:02 AM   #3
Rick_Smith
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Coquitlam B.C.
Default Re: Running and Engaging

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Originally Posted by luguvalium View Post
...
Abner has the initiative and runs more than half MA and ends up with with Brina in one of his front hexes. Brina hasn't moved yet. Is Brina engaged? ...
Hi Luguvalium, everyone.

She starts her movement in his front hex so she is engaged. On the other hand, she gets an attack and he does not, so she might not be engaged next turn, if she can hit him and knock him down.

Warm regards, Rick
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Old 06-24-2018, 02:34 AM   #4
zot
 
Join Date: May 2018
Default Re: Running and Engaging

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Originally Posted by Rick_Smith View Post
Hi Luguvalium, everyone.

She starts her movement in his front hex so she is engaged. On the other hand, she gets an attack and he does not, so she might not be engaged next turn, if she can hit him and knock him down.

Warm regards, Rick
Good point. Or she could just force him to retreat if no one else hits her.
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Old 06-24-2018, 02:54 AM   #5
Chris Rice
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
Default Re: Running and Engaging

I see this as a key feature of the combat system; taking the option to move over half MA to lock up (engage) and opponent is an important tactic. It's also why sometimes you choose to use initiative to go first rather than wait to see what the opponent will do.
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Old 06-24-2018, 08:58 AM   #6
larsdangly
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Default Re: Running and Engaging

Brina is clearly engaged.

I don't know whether to call this element of the game a problem or a feature; it is how the game works and is one of the drivers of tactical decision making. It is important to any game like TFT that there be clear decisions with advantages and disadvantages; this is what gives the game a chess-like quality. Without such rules combat falls back to a more abstract state where there aren't any significant tactical decisions to be made - once combat starts you are simply rolling.

You could argue that this particular rule doesn't have the right sort over versimilitude you are after. But what would you replace it with? I think an interesting alternative would be to increase weapon ranges (e.g., spear = 3, sword 2, dagger or mace 1, etc.), reduce MA, and remove the concept of 'engagement' - unless someone has physically grabbed you, you can always move. This sort of game would be more dynamic (perhaps more chaotic) and a bit more realistic.
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Old 06-24-2018, 09:12 AM   #7
Oneiros
 
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Default Re: Running and Engaging

Another option might be: during the movement phase, you can move up to half your MA. In the action phase, if you are not engaged (or knocked down, or otherwise hindered), you can take any remaining movement you have left as your action.
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Old 06-24-2018, 10:49 AM   #8
larsdangly
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Another option might be: during the movement phase, you can move up to half your MA. In the action phase, if you are not engaged (or knocked down, or otherwise hindered), you can take any remaining movement you have left as your action.
That's actually pretty good!
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Old 06-24-2018, 10:56 AM   #9
zot
 
Join Date: May 2018
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Another option might be: during the movement phase, you can move up to half your MA. In the action phase, if you are not engaged (or knocked down, or otherwise hindered), you can take any remaining movement you have left as your action.
That sounds like it could unlock some new tactics -- like one character could clear a path for another so they could engage an archer or wizard...
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Old 06-24-2018, 02:40 PM   #10
Jim Kane
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Default Re: Running and Engaging

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Weird. That sure makes sense to me. It does remove a "chess tactic" but there's no way Abner can attack Brina this turn, so maybe it should. Maybe other folks on this board who are way more grognardian than I have more insight. I'll bet JK has an opinion on it...
I wrote about the finer and esoteric benefits of "Engaging a Foe" on another post long ago. *Scroll Down* to the section under: On the 2nd Point for those who are interested.

JK
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