SR was Re: [Rq-rules] Thanks!

[Nick.Middleton at wrsl.com]

rq-rules-bounces at crashbox.com wrote on 17/10/2007 20:57:26:

> As the inventor of Strike Ranks, my suggestion is to ignore them
> entirely. Second best would be to revert to RQ2 style strike ranks,
> where they are only used to determine initiative between two
> fighters once they have engaged. I invented them originally to try
> to lend some authenticity to D&D combat. Once you actually think
> about them long enough, you realize there are so many special cases
> (what happens to long weapons when the fighters close? Does the
> weight of the weapon influence how fast it moves? etc.) that it
> becomes far more trouble than it is worth.
>
> The RQ3 attempt to incorporate movement (NOT my idea, though I
> didn't particularly fight it) took Strike Ranks away from any real
> use except to encumber combat, as Wayne points out.
>
> Throw them out and either use straight DEX or some DEX+die roll for
> initiative, or use RQ2's system.

I oscillate between really liking SR as is (accepting that they model
"enough" of the complexities of real combat to "taste right"), regarding it
as all to much faff and just using DEX rank and some simple closing rules
for reach (when I'm in a "life's too short!" mood, and / or channelling my
fourteen year old self playing Stormbringer 1), and desperately wanting to
find a simple tweak that will address the issue of timing speed and reach
in the same system...

One idea I've speculated about but never tested before is to have separate
Reach (SIZ and Weapon length SR) and Speed (DEX and Movement) SR. After
statement of intent has determined which combatants are directly
interacting, compare Reach SR's to determine who is at a disadvantage (has
the highest Reach SR using standard RQIII numbers) and penalised the
disadvantaged combatants Speed SR by the amount their Reach SR exceeded
their opponents. So if Karl's Reach SR is 4 an d he's fighting Johan who's
Reach is 2, Karl's Speed SR is penalised (raised) by 2... Not sure the
numbers work though.

Interestingly enough, I don't think know I'd be comfortable dropping back
to the RQII system that divides more heavily between engaged and unengaged.

Ah well, I'm about to start running Call of Cthulhu for the winter, so am
swinging back in to "life's too short" mode anyway! :D

Cheers,

Nick Middleton




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