08-09-2022, 11:52 AM | #1 | |||
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
|
DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
So, I've been thinking about the -4 DX penalty for attacking a flying critter and I searched for references to this penalty in ITL. They occur here and there, but these are the relevant references I've found (for purposes of this discussion, anyway):
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
NOTE: It's not an inconsistency if "larger creature" means "larger than a person but still one-hex. Now, let's think about the Bola entry. It's the only entry that suggests an exception for magical attacks, which is clearly not present in the Movement excerpt. It's not at all clear what a magical attack is, but if we take this quote literally, neither Missile Spells nor Staff Zaps have a -4 DX penalty when attacking a flyer. I'd say that the quote from Movement clearly does suggest that both of these attacks have a penalty. NOTE: Also not an inconsistency if Missile Spells and Staff Zaps are not magical "attacks", but the latter is implausible, since the zap is referred to as an "occult attack" on ITL 26 and also because, well, come on. So, here we have a knot of different rules which appear to be inconsistent. I'd like to know how others answer the following questions. I'll put my answer in parentheses.
|
|||
08-09-2022, 01:26 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pacheco, California
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Note also GM Screen note on "Target is a multi-hex figure in flight"
https://www.hcobb.com/tft/house_rules.html#GMscreen
__________________
-HJC |
08-09-2022, 02:25 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Well, that's another inconsistency, but I won't worry about the GM screen for now.
|
08-09-2022, 08:39 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Indiana
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Quote:
Hitting a one hex flying creature starts with -4 DX. Adjustments are made for multi-hex targets as applicable. This makes it work toward incrementally smaller DX adjustment based upon size and facing. It should apply to most direct attacks including magical ones with, perhaps, some exceptions per ITL. |
|
08-09-2022, 10:47 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2015
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Quote:
2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. Yes, of course. |
|
08-10-2022, 07:46 AM | #7 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
08-10-2022, 07:51 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston area
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Quote:
No need to go into that not-really-a-debate again. We'll agree that if it's a spell, your conclusion is obviously correct. We'll also agree, I think, that if it is an attack and not a spell, the penalty applies. We'll disagree on whether it is in fact a spell or an attack, but that's not what this thread's about. |
|
08-10-2022, 08:38 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pacheco, California
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
See also WSRB page 7: "DX ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO TYPE OF TARGET (FOR EITHER CASTING OF SPELLS OR PHYSICAL ATTACKS )"
So spells suffer the same penalties. Also see ITL 133: "Most flying creatures may attack foes on the ground. This attack will also be at -4 DX" and ITL 25: "so if he/she attacks while in the air, his/her DX will be adjusted by -2 for regular physical attacks or magic spells cast on another" So if a flying dragon attacks a ground target is it -4, -2, or zero adjustment?
__________________
-HJC |
08-10-2022, 08:51 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
|
Re: DX penalties for attacking a flying critter
Quote:
I'll take the opportunity to point out that the penalty for a flying figure's attack against a grounded one listed on ITL 24 (-2DX for regular attacks) is inconsistent with that listed on ITL 133 (-4DX). [EDIT: I see now that Henry was working on the same idea as me while I was typing] Last edited by Shostak; 08-10-2022 at 08:54 AM. Reason: updating |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|