So . . . Snowball fights!

[Maz]

I agree that range 3-10 is much more plausible. Actually by my experience, most balls are thrown at 2-5y.
I also agree children in general has 1 point in throwing or at the very least higher default and familiarity bonus.. In areas with baseball or cricket they probably have up to 2 points.

Anyway. This gives us a skill of 9-10, before modifies. And effective skill of 9 seems likely and plausible to me. (About 1/3 hits) I think we can disregard dodging in most cases.

[Green-Neck]

I don't see the problem?
DX 10
Throwing 9
+4 AoA
+4 non combat/life threatening
=17 minus range penalties.
=13 at 10 yards...

[Phaelen Bleux]

Originally Posted by Maz

I agree that range 3-10 is much more plausible. Actually by my experience, most balls are thrown at 2-5y.

I would agree. The other factor for range is that to throw a snowball hard enough to make 20 yds usually means the snowball disintegrates from the vigorousness of the throw. Unless you use the dreaded slushball. . .

I think we can disregard dodging in most cases.

Agreed. Hitting is far more important than being hit.

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

plunging into close combat assault trooper territory

That's a different kind of attack altogether. . .close combat snow attack right down the long underwear, no throwing required.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Green-Neck

I don't see the problem?
DX 10
Throwing 9
+4 AoA
+4 non combat/life threatening
=17 minus range penalties.
=13 at 10 yards...

AoA gives only +1 to ranged attacks.

[Þorkell]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

2 points is pretty serious. That's 400 hours of training with a teacher, or probably 800-1600 with a whole class / self-training.

No, it isn't. Those points can also represent some kind of mini-talent or something like that. The 1pt=200hrs training is a vague sort of guideline.

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by Green-Neck

I don't see the problem?
DX 10
Throwing 9
+4 AoA
+4 non combat/life threatening
=17 minus range penalties.
=13 at 10 yards...

All-Out Attack gives only +1 with Ranged attacks. I do think the non-combat bonus makes sense though, and 50% hit rate at 10 yards seems appropriate. Maybe a little high, since it also means ~25% hit rate at 20 yards, and folks are suggesting that that should be more rare. But how fast does a snowball move? If 20 yards takes a full second we can invoke the rule from Tactical Shooting for a -(1d-2), IIRC. Or at the very least a bonus to Dodge, since at that range it's very possible to see the shot incoming and react accordingly.

[Green-Neck]

Originally Posted by RyanW

AoA gives only +1 to ranged attacks.

Ah yes, thanks.
That brings us to 10 or less at ten yards, which sounds more realistic.

[Green-Neck]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius;.

But how fast does a snowball move? If 20 yards takes a full second we can invoke the rule from Tactical Shooting for a -(1d-2), IIRC. Or at the very least a bonus to Dodge, since at that range it's very possible to see the shot incoming and react accordingly.

If it wasn't summer here I could crank out my chronograph...
:-)

[Purple Haze]

We used shields. Garbage can lids if you were desperate, "flying saucers" if you came looking for trouble. So, 2-5 yards was normal range, any farther was to easy to block.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Þorkell

No, it isn't. Those points can also represent some kind of mini-talent or something like that. The 1pt=200hrs training is a vague sort of guideline.

Even if they weren't, how many hours do you think that active kids spend playing some form of ball game? Some of it with coaches, some just with friends.

I used to play football a couple of hours per day between ages four and thirteen. Dodgeball at school during recess and sometimes after school too.

Ten years. It adds up to thousands of hours.

In any group of kids, you'll get a few who throw softly and inaccurately. You'll also get a fair number of kids who throw their snowballs like they throw the baseballs or dodgeballs that they play with many hours a week.