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Old 10-17-2019, 05:54 AM   #1
David Bofinger
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sydney, Australia
Default Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

Has anyone tried replacing the pole weapon attack priority rules with something like this:

--

Every weapon has a length. Weapon length can be a benefit or a handicap. Spears are longer than swords are longer than daggers, to whatever level of resolution we require.

Effect of length in enclosed environments: Every environment also has a length. Weapons whose length is less than or equal to the environmental length can be used normally. Weapons whose length is greater than the environmental length suffer -1 DX and -1 damage for each point of difference.

Pre-emptive attacks: If Figure A melee attacks Figure B and all the following are true:
  • A and B are adjacent;
  • A and B were not adjacent at the end of last turn's movement;
  • B has the right to attack this turn (hasn't attacked already, hasn't moved too far, has A in front hexes, etc.) and
  • B has a longer melee weapon than A, or has a missile weapon
then B may attack A immediately. After B's attack actions continue in declining DX order as usual, which might mean A gets to act next.

--

The idea is:
  • The vague "pole weapon" is replaced by the idea of some weapons being longer than others.
  • Longweapons are only useful on the first turn.
  • The pre-emption mechanism makes it clear what first turn means.
  • In tight tunnels, crowded bars, etc. a long weapon isn't helpful.
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Old 10-17-2019, 06:14 AM   #2
hcobb
 
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pacheco, California
Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

Just add weapon length to your adjDX to determine attack order.
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Old 10-17-2019, 09:43 AM   #3
David Bofinger
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
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Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

Quote:
Originally Posted by hcobb View Post
Just add weapon length to your adjDX to determine attack order.
What I've done instead is use weapon length for the first turn of combat between two opponents, and DX order for all subsequent turns. I think this captures the benefit of a spear in the initial shock of contact. I'm not sure what you're suggesting, but I have a vague memory HarnMaster did something similar.
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Old 10-17-2019, 10:12 AM   #4
hcobb
 
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Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

Adjustment to adjDX to determine order of attack.

Jabbable pole weapon: +4
Most other wielded weapons: +2
Fists, daggers, claws, cestus, shields, etc.: +0

Unarmed Combat: Add level
Weapon expertise: +2
Weapon mastery: +4
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Old 10-17-2019, 02:35 PM   #5
David Bofinger
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sydney, Australia
Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

Quote:
Originally Posted by hcobb View Post
Adjustment to adjDX to determine order of attack.
I'm still unclear if this applies to every turn or just the first, what you're trying to achieve, and why you think this is a better solution.
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Old 10-17-2019, 03:52 PM   #6
hcobb
 
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Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

This would be every turn to keep the daggerous wizard from getting in two back to back attacks.
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Old 10-17-2019, 11:28 PM   #7
Skarg
 
Join Date: May 2015
Default Re: Implementing Pole Weapon Priority as Pre-Emption

I've done similar things in overly complex house rules and computer game mechanics. I do think it can be good to have length advantages that are at a finer scale than whole hexes, but it can get pretty fiddly.
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