Whirlwind Attack and Striking Into a Close Combat - accidentally target a rear ally?

mburr0003 · 03-17-2023, 05:30 PM

I will note that the wording of the Technique says "every foe adjacent" not "every person adjacent", so there already is no chance to hit adjacent allies. Unless they're in Close Combat, in which case I'd treat a miss of/successful defense by the foe as a potential hit on the ally. If the foe is hit the ally is technically safe.

I ignore the "determine random hit location" nonsense of Whirlwind Attack and let the attacker pick a "height of attack". It makes no sense to swing randomly at foot level... or be hitting everyone in say the left hand (especially if everyone has shields on the left hands). The height of attack sets the 'random location set" and I roll for each enemy.

And yes, this can mean some enemies get skipped* because their too short, or some get "head, arm, hand, and torso" and others get "torso, arm, hand, and groin" or whatever because of radical height disparities.

* If it's an attack like the 'swung giant fish' or ye olde "I swing my sword in circle around me" or even "cinematic flying roundhouse kick". If it's a 'flurry of swings', then the attacker decides where they're hitting.

03-17-2023, 05:30 PM	#2
mburr0003 Join Date: Jun 2022	Re: Whirlwind Attack and Striking Into a Close Combat - accidentally target a rear al I will note that the wording of the Technique says "every foe adjacent" not "every person adjacent", so there already is no chance to hit adjacent allies. Unless they're in Close Combat, in which case I'd treat a miss of/successful defense by the foe as a potential hit on the ally. If the foe is hit the ally is technically safe. I ignore the "determine random hit location" nonsense of Whirlwind Attack and let the attacker pick a "height of attack". It makes no sense to swing randomly at foot level... or be hitting everyone in say the left hand (especially if everyone has shields on the left hands). The height of attack sets the 'random location set" and I roll for each enemy. And yes, this can mean some enemies get skipped* because their too short, or some get "head, arm, hand, and torso" and others get "torso, arm, hand, and groin" or whatever because of radical height disparities. * If it's an attack like the 'swung giant fish' or ye olde "I swing my sword in circle around me" or even "cinematic flying roundhouse kick". If it's a 'flurry of swings', then the attacker decides where they're hitting. Last edited by mburr0003; 03-17-2023 at 05:40 PM.