07-19-2019, 12:43 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
Looking only at the options seems to be what is causing some of the confusion. The detail regarding what is regarded as a "charge" is clearly outlined on p111 of ITL.
In addition, I think the word "attack" is misused. I've always ruled that any movement which could result in a charge attack is a charge for the purposes of the Pole weapon user regardless of whether an attack is actually carried out. |
07-19-2019, 01:06 AM | #12 | |
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: London, UK
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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The polearm user still gets a minor advantage in this instance, which is a "free attack". The "stab before you approach" is the function of the pike, not the regular polearm. |
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07-19-2019, 09:00 AM | #13 | |
Join Date: Mar 2018
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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For example, Sword and Spear start one hex apart, and Sword moves next to Spear. Whether Sword declares he is charge attacking or not is irrelevant, because he can always change his option later. Spear gets the bonus and the priority attack before Sword can act. Then, assuming he's still standing, Sword can choose an action and execute it at his adjDX. He could then decide to Charge Attack, Disbelieve, Change Weapons, etc. |
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07-19-2019, 09:17 AM | #14 | |
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Arizona
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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__________________
So you've got the tiger by the tail. Now what? |
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07-19-2019, 09:20 AM | #15 | |
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Arizona
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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__________________
So you've got the tiger by the tail. Now what? |
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07-19-2019, 10:55 AM | #16 | |
Join Date: May 2015
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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2. It would be meaningless to require a literal "attack" by the enemy of a polearm user to get the defensive bonuses, because the polearm attack happens before the foe has to pick an action anyway. i.e. The figure wanting to avoid a polearm defensive charge bonus could declare his option was going to be any non-attack action (e.g. change weapons, defend, disbelieve, change position) just in order to negate the polearm effect, and then when his turn to act comes, pick some other action (i.e. attack) because you can always change your option up until you actually act on it, which happens later in the turn after pole weapon charge attacks. (You could add a house rule to prevent that, but it would be a house rule.) 3. What do you mean about pikes? |
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07-19-2019, 11:26 AM | #17 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
Last post is spot on. The problem with linking the pole weapon attack to the action selected by the moving figure is that the latter does not need to commit to an attack or other action until after the pole weapon attack is delivered.
In any event, it seems clear to me that the intent of the rule is to grant pole weapons the capacity to attempt early attacks vs. figures that try to close distance on their wielders, which seems very reasonable to me - in fact it is basically the design goal of a pole weapon. I feel this is yet another instance where it is possible to tangle yourself up in knots if you try to reconcile the exact wording of every rule, but that the spirit and intent is more clear than that. SJ's writing simply isn't precise enough to use as the basis for a strictly legalistic argument about these sorts of issues. |
07-19-2019, 12:24 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Mar 2019
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
We can only guess about the "intent" or "spirit" of the rules, but what is actually written is clear.
"A charge attack is defined as an attack in which the attacker moves from a non-adjacent hex to a hex adjacent to his target." That is the full sentence, and it is very clear. If you do not attack, you are not a charge attacker. As for changing your action when your turn comes up I would say this falls into the same realm as moving and defending. You can't move and defend then, after everyone has attacked you with 4 dice, decide you weren't defending after all and now you are going to attack. So likewise if you close on a pole arm user and avoid his charging bonus and can't later decide to attack after all. That action is no longer a valid choice. |
07-19-2019, 01:21 PM | #19 | |
Join Date: Mar 2018
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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07-19-2019, 02:18 PM | #20 | |
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Arizona
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Re: Safely Approaching Pole Weapons
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I would allow a pole weapon user to make a jab if a figure moved through 2 continuous hexes of the possible jab hexes, even if the opponent wasn't moving to attack the pole weapon user. He would NOT get a bonus to the opponent charging, though, since the opponent is not charging the pole weapons user.
__________________
So you've got the tiger by the tail. Now what? |
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