tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12314897875958388532024-02-19T23:32:05.699-08:00Roll and ShoutA blog about GURPS and sometimes other games.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-54312188383036304222013-05-03T02:46:00.000-07:002013-05-03T02:46:00.302-07:00Divine Favor prayers: the oddsI use <a href="http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG37-0139" target="_blank">GURPS Powers: Divine Favor</a> in my Circus Sophia campaign. If you are not familiar with it, it allows a character to pray to the gods to grant some sort of miracle. There are three sorts of prayers: general, specific, and learned. Learned prayers are automatically successful, but the others require you to roll some dice to see if you god hears you and is favorably inclined to your request.<br />
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It's those die rolls that I want to explore a little. General and specific prayers work nearly the same. First, you GM makes a roll against your Divine Favor level, with suitable modifiers. On a success, your god hears you. Then the GM makes a reaction roll to see how your god feels about you at that moment, again with suitable modifiers. If this succeeds, your prayer is answered. With a general prayer (a simple "help me, my lord!"), the better the reaction, the better the result, but the GM decides how the god wants to help you. With a specific prayer ("lord, please heal this fool of a meatshield"), you get what you asked for if the result is good enough, or nothing if you don't.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Petition Roll</span></b><br />
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The first roll, the petition roll, is based on your Divine Favor level, the advantage that lets you (semi)reliably call upon the power of a god. It ranges in level from 4 to 16. Modifiers can push this down below 3, in which case you have no chance of contacting your god, or up above 20, in which case it's guaranteed. If you fail, repeated attempts are at -1 for each attempt in the next five minutes. This is explicitly not a success roll, so there are no critical successes or failures.<br />
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Given that Divine Favor starts at 15 points for level 4, and is 70 points for level 10, this seems a bit harsh. You must pray for 1d seconds, and even after spending 70 points, you only have a 50/50 chance of being heard. It's not going to be a very good idea to try to rely on this in combat.<br />
<br />
Out of combat, though, it's not as bad as it seems at first. In basketball, they say, you get four fouls, so that must mean they want you to use them. With Divine Favor, you can make repeated prayers at a cumulative -1, so the rules must want you to try. This means that at Divine Favor 10, you get to roll at 10, at 9, at 8, at 7, and so on down to 3. At 1d seconds per try, this will take you a maximum of 48 seconds, and the odds of success are much better than 50/50.<br />
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Is there any downside repeated attempts to get your god's attention? No, not that I see in the rules. You do take a -1 penalty for every <i>successful</i> prayer your god has granted to you that day, but there's no effect on the reaction roll for repeated but answered prayers. So if you get a divine busy signal, you just hang up and redial. Given that, your odds of contacting your god with a given modified Divine Favor are listed below.<br />
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<table align="center">
<tbody>
<tr><th>Initial target </th><th>Probability </th></tr>
<tr><td>3 </td><td>0.46% </td></tr>
<tr><td>4 </td><td>2.31% </td></tr>
<tr><td>5 </td><td>6.83% </td></tr>
<tr><td>6 </td><td>15.46% </td></tr>
<tr><td>7 </td><td>29.16% </td></tr>
<tr><td>8 </td><td>47.52% </td></tr>
<tr><td>9 </td><td>67.20% </td></tr>
<tr><td>10 </td><td>83.60% </td></tr>
<tr><td>11 </td><td>93.85% </td></tr>
<tr><td>12 </td><td>98.41% </td></tr>
<tr><td>13 </td><td>99.74% </td></tr>
<tr><td>14 </td><td>99.98% </td></tr>
<tr><td>15 </td><td>100.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>16 </td><td>100.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>17 </td><td>100.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>18 </td><td>100.00% </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 1: Probability of a successful Petition Roll on repeated tries</b></div>
<br />
That seems like a lot of die-rolling for a spread of probabilities that's not a lot different from a one-minute prayer that give you a one-try roll at Divine Favor+1 or +2. And in fact one of the modifiers for this roll is +1 for a five-minute prayer. This is only a better probability if you are starting from a roll of 6 or less.<br />
<br />
And if your god still doesn't answer, you can try again in five minutes. That being the case, the only reason to take the +2 bonus for a two-hour prayer is if your target number for the roll would otherwise be a 1. In any other situation, you're better off with repeated shorter prayers.<br />
<br />
I don't much see the benefit of all this die-rolling. It hasn't come up in my game so far, because none of the PCs have Divine Favor and NPCs have only been using learned prayers, but I'd be tempted to say that outside of combat, petition rolls are at +1 and take 1d6*10 seconds. If you fail, you can't try again for five minutes.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Reaction Roll</span></b><br />
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But getting heard is only half the battle. Even if your prayer gets through, your god may or may not feel like helping you. For a general prayer, you need a Neutral or better reaction, which is a minimum 10. Again, that's a 50/50 shot. In this case, repeated tries may not be such a good idea. There's no penalty on a Poor result, but a Bad result or worse means your god punishes you in some way.<br />
<br />
You get modifiers to this roll depending on what the stakes are, how faithful to your religious beliefs you've been lately, the sanctity of the area, and how many <i>successful</i> prayers you've had so far that day. This can put your reaction roll modifier anywhere from +10 to -10 or even lower. So, at a given modifier, if you make repeated prayers, what are your chances of getting a Neutral or better before you get a Poor or worse? That's given by the second column of the chart below.<br />
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<table align="center">
<tbody>
<tr><th>Reaction </th><th>Neutral </th><th>Good </th><th>Very Good </th><th>Excellent </th></tr>
<tr><th>Modifier </th><th>or better </th><th>or better </th><th>or better </th><th></th></tr>
<tr><td>+4 or more </td><td>100.00% </td><td>100.00% </td><td>100.00% </td><td>100.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>+3 </td><td>99.49% </td><td>99.26% </td><td>98.25% </td><td>90.91% </td></tr>
<tr><td>+2 </td><td>97.84% </td><td>96.43% </td><td>89.74% </td><td>50.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>+1 </td><td>94.12% </td><td>89.01% </td><td>66.67% </td><td>9.09% </td></tr>
<tr><td>0 </td><td>87.10% </td><td>73.68% </td><td>33.33% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-1 </td><td>75.52% </td><td>50.00% </td><td>10.26% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-2 </td><td>59.12% </td><td>26.32% </td><td>1.75% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-3 </td><td>40.88% </td><td>10.99% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-4 </td><td>24.48% </td><td>3.57% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-5 </td><td>12.90% </td><td>0.74% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-6 </td><td>5.88% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-7 </td><td>2.16% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-8 </td><td>0.51% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
<tr><td>-9 or less </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td><td>0.00% </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 2: Probability of getting a given reaction or better before getting a Bad or worse reaction on repeated tries</b></div>
<br />
It's not so bad, as it turns out. Even with a -2, you're more likely than not to eventually get a positive outcome. If you can get a +1, which is not that hard, you can get a positive result almost 19 times out of 20.<br />
<br />
But that's for general prayers. With a specific prayer, you may be asking for something fairly minor, such as the ability to withstand pain, or something huge, such as bringing the dead back to life. The smallest blessings require only a Neutral reaction or better, with more powerful effects requiring better results, all the way up to Excellent.<br />
<br />
Before calculating Table 2, I figured you might need some pretty high modifiers to pull off the best miracles. And indeed you do, if you're in a hurry about it. If not, a bonus of only +4 guarantees you a minimum result of 7 on your reaction roll, which is Poor. Since you will never get a Bad reaction, you just need to keep praying, and eventually you'll get there. A +4 is not exactly easy to get, but it's far from impossible.<br />
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So, does this mean the system is broken? Is all this die-rolling unnecessary? Well, let's look at an example. Joshua, a priest of the god Yahweh, is leading his people into battle. The battle stretches out all day, and his enemies are in danger of escaping if the sun goes down. Joshua prays to Yahweh to cause the sun and the moon to stand still, so that there will be light enough to finish the battle.<br />
<br />
This is a specific prayer for a very powerful miracle, and it requires an Excellent reaction. Assuming Joshua has made his petition roll, it takes a 19 to get an Excellent reaction, which means he's going to need some bonuses.<br />
<br />
He can get a +4 from the fact that many people's lives are at stake. Nothing but a miracle is going to provide enough light to fight by. That would require him to roll a 15 or better, which he has only about a 9% chance of doing. If he fails, he can try again as many times as he likes, but it's going to take time. He's going to have to make several tries at it to even have a 50% chance of success, and he could still be praying in an hour. If that's the hour it takes for the sun to go down, it will be too late.<br />
<br />
But wait! Joshua can also get a bonus from his faithfulness to his religion. If he has led a particularly saintly life and inspired people to work in the cause of Yahweh, he could get another +4. That would put him at +8, meaning that if he rolls 11 or higher, he gets an excellent result. That's 50% odds. It's very likely that his prayer will succeed within 4 tries, and he will probably save the day. If he hasn't been that saintly or inspiring, but still has scrupulously adhered to the tenets of his religion, he can get a +2 bonus for behavior, taking him to +6 overall. Now he's got about a 1 in 4 chance to succeed with his prayer, and things get a bit dicier.<br />
<br />
So this is where the extra die-rolling counts for something. If you have all day, a +4 pretty much guarantees you a success. But if time is a factor, much might happen while you're trying to get that success. Your enemies might catch you, your people might lose faith and desert you, the volcano might erupt and kill you all. That's when the difference between any old priest and a saint shows.<br />
<br />
And if you're Moses, and you need to be <i>sure</i> the sea is going to part, no question about it? That's what learned prayers are for. It will cost you, though. You'll need Divine Favor 15 just to qualify for Part the Sea, which is 170 points, and then it's another 32 points for the learned prayer. Being that powerful doesn't come cheap.<br />
<br />
<br />Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-59793262432183735102013-05-01T02:38:00.000-07:002013-05-01T02:38:00.922-07:00Game Session 2013/04/07<br />
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The Circus Sophia:</div>
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Sophie O'Griffin, human, the leader and ringmaster. Played by Echo.</div>
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Esmond Gellert, human, trick-shot archer and dog trainer. Played by Mike.</div>
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Ganz, elf, stage magician and wizard. Played by Jessica.</div>
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Quexechetl, lizard man, strongman and wrestler. Played by Karl.</div>
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Talman, half-elf, acrobat. Played by Joe.</div>
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Fiorio, human, a peasant with a knack for playing to the crowd that the circus picked up along the way. Played as an NPC.</div>
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<b>July 1, 850, very early in the morning, in the Bekel</b></div>
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When we last saw our heroes, they had just found and killed the orc that they believed was controlling the army of undead orcs, and the dead orcs had then attacked the living ones. Three living orcs survived and ran away into the darkness. Talman recovered the staff from the body of the orc priest or wizard or whatever he was.</div>
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After backing off to a safe distance from the eight or so remaining dead orcs, the circus decided to follow the living survivors. Esmond, with his amulet of night-seeing, tracked them easily, with the rest stumbling along by the light of Sophie's lantern. They followed the orcs around the edge of a rise on the right side of the valley, down into the ravine that cut off the route to the north, where they found a ford. Climbing up the other side of the ravine, Esmond was just in time to see the fleeing orcs enter the forest on the far side.</div>
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He pursued, while the rest of the circus followed at a distance behind him. Not far into the forest, he saw first one light, then more. Small groups of orcs were gathered together, some carrying torches. The three survivors of the recent battle approached one group and spoke with them, pointing frequently back the way they had come, and also off toward King Miklo's army. The orcs dispatched a goblin messenger, who returned in about ten minutes. All the orcs then withdrew.</div>
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Esmond watched until he was certain all the groups of orcs were leaving, then withdrew. He reported what he had seen, and then the whole circus crossed the ravine again and returned to the king's army. They passed a handful of dead orcs who were stumbling around blindly at the bottom of the ravine. When they reached the army's encampment, they found that it had nearly finished off the undead horde, with only a little mopping up left to do.</div>
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At the center of the encampment, they found King Miklo with his principal advisors, including Count Anelmo and the Archmagus Tor. They began an explanation of what they had seen and done, but the Archmage interrupted, and asked Ganz if he would be so kind as to lay the staff they had found on the ground and step away from it. Ganz did so, and everyone gave it more room.</div>
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When the performers finished their tale, Archmagus Tor sent a squire to inform High Priest Eddicollo, the King's personal priest and another member of the regency council about these events. The square returned in the company of the High Priest, and the whole story had to be repeated again. Then, with many exchanges of "Your Grace" between them, the Archmage and the High Priest debated about who should take custody of the mysterious staff. In the end, the High Priest decided that if it were unholy, it might desecrate the holy objects in his care, and so that Archmage took it.</div>
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Than done, and with no enemies to be fought, everyone headed for bed.</div>
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In the morning, the army scouted about to make sure there were no more dead orcs around. Lord Fels took a group of knights with him to investigate the outcrop where the circus had fought the orcs and killed what might have been their leader. The men-at-arms and laborers were put to work dragging the bodies of the orcs into a pile and burning them. The dwarven engineers finally began constructing the bridge that would let the army pass over the ravine.</div>
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Meanwhile, the Circus Sophia had some free time, and so they decided to return to the ruined wizard's tower and investigate that cabinet they had found there. The cabinet was decorated with square panels crossed by X-shapes, each arm of each X being a separate piece of joinery. There were three panels on each side and six in the front. On their earlier visit, they had discovered that by depressing each arm of the top X-shapes on the sides and then rotating them, they could release the catches that held it to the wall. By fiddling around with some of the other panels, they found that the cabinet had a number of other interesting properties:</div>
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<a href="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/cabinet_zps502176cb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/cabinet_zps502176cb.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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When the middle panels on the sides were rotated, the top third of the cabinet drew inward and then collapsed into the middle section, leaving a much shorter cabinet. Opening the doors, they found it had two shelves. A slim, leather-bound book lay on the top shelf. It was filled with sketches of the surrounding countryside and the tower itself, from long ago when it was intact. Each drawing was labeled dwarven writing. There was no sign of the bottles and crumbling cloth that the cabinet had contained when it was full-size.</div>
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Rotating the bottom side panels, the performers found that the cabinet collapsed again, down to the size of a large chest or trunk for clothing. It now opened from the top instead of the front, and was empty.</div>
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Returning it to full size by rotating the panels the other way, they then discovered even stranger properties. By rotating the top panels on the front, the doors opened to show not a wardrobe, but a multitude of small, deep drawers, like an <a href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&hl=en&authuser=0&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1471&bih=986&q=apothecary%27s+cabinet&oq=apothecary%27s+cabinet&gs_l=img.3...1092.9211.0.9372.23.11.1.11.11.0.60.431.11.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.img.nab1KjMI6oI" target="_blank">apothecary's cabinet</a>. Most were empty, but some contained musty bits of herbs or lumps of wax.</div>
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After rotating the middle panels on the front, the cabinet drawers opened to reveal dozens of wide, low shelves, only a few inches high. Most were empty, but a few held yellowed pieces of paper with dwarven writing on them.</div>
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Rotating the bottom front panels revealed the strangest transformation of all: the interior of the cabinet was more or less like a wardrobe again, but with a wide door at the back. Opening this door led into a short, wood-lined space, about six feet deep, with cubbyholes for storage on each side. The cubbyholes held a collection of mostly mundane-looking rocks, but there were some examples of quartz and lapis lazuli. Altogether, the rocks probably weighted a couple hundred pounds.</div>
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Talman volunteered to step inside the cabinet while Sophie transformed it into another configuration, to see what happened. She collapsed it to its two-thirds height, opened in, and Talman was gone! And yet he could hear his companions talking, and they could hear him, muffled as if he had been stuffed into any mundane closet.</div>
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At its smallest size, when collapsed to a chest, it weighed about thirty pounds, which Quexechetl could easily carry. He, more than anyone, was bothered by the question of where the extra space that the cabinet seemed to hold really was, but the others vetoed his suggestion that they go inside and start knocking out walls to see where they led to.</div>
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They all decided that they would tell no one about their amazing find. The took it back to camp, kept it chest-sized, and threw a few circus costumes into it. Sophie kept the key.</div>
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<b>July 2, 850</b></div>
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The next day, the army finally broke camp. They ventured carefully into the forest on
the far side of the ravine, but saw no sign of orcs. The marched until
they found a large clearing, then stopped for the night.<br />
<br />
<b>July 3, 850 </b><br />
<br />
The army reached the ruined dwarven city of Norogon. A couple hundred orcs were observed fleeing, but nothing like the large numbers the army had been hoping to catch. </div>
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The foreign knights in the army were rather disappointed at this, since they more than anyone hoped to prove their gallantry in a fight. The king's counsellors decided that they had achieved what they wanted from a short campaign, and it would be a good time to return to Lodea and face the Gondans. That night, the circus decided to put on a show, and the dogs were particularly good.</div>
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<b>July 4 to July 14, 850</b></div>
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The king's army marched back to civilization, without meeting any more groups of orcs large enough to care about. Drums were sometimes heard at night, but never very many, or very near. The army reached the northern Lodean town of Gorno on July 14, 850.<br />
<br />
With King Miklo now safely back in his own country, Sophie called upon Lord Fels and raised the delicate issue of their payment. He said he figured they had performed valuable service by keeping the king away from trouble and killing the orc who seemed to control the horde of dead orcs. He paid 21 gold crowns altogether, to be split amongst the circus performers as Sophie saw fit. He also warned them off of trying to get paid twice by going to the Archmage. The less they talked to him, the better, he said, but he didn't elaborate on his reasons.<br />
<br />
But when he heard that she intended to lead the circus back into the Bekel, on some quest by Quexechetl to find some ancient dwarven stronghold, he tried to convince her not to go. When she would not be dissuaded, he urged great caution, but also made another offer: if they could find out how the orcs managed to raise that horde from the dead, he would pay them another 21 crowns -- but only for tangible evidence. Sophie said she could make no promises, but would keep her eyes open.<br />
<br />
<b>June 14 to June 17, 850</b><br />
<br />
The majority of the king's army marched south the next day, while King Miklo and his advisors took a boat downstream.<br />
<br />
The circus performers hit the local shops to load up on supplies. They decided not to take horses, because they might not be capable of handling all the terrain. Instead, they decided to rely upon the magic cabinet for most of their storage. Talman and Quexechetl together fixed up a leather harness that would let Quexechetl carry the cabinet on his back after it was collapsed down to its smallest state.<br />
<br />
They also found an old dwarf who could read the papers they had found in the cabinet. These turned out to be letters written to a dwarven wizard named Zabar, concerning everyday matters such as orders for supplies, inquiries about an apprenticeship, and payment for services. This told them nothing about the cabinet, but at least they could put a name to the owner.<br />
<br />
With the shopping done, asked around for a local dwarf who might know some of the geography of the Bekel. They found a young farmer's son named Matto who said he knew the Bekel as well as any dwarf might claim to -- that is, only from stories. But he could at least translate a little. That was good enough for Sophie, and they planned to leave the next morning.</div>
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Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-50851629346733701032013-04-15T02:04:00.000-07:002013-04-16T09:55:29.296-07:00Feint as a combat optionThis subject came up in a <a href="http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=107873" target="_blank">thread</a> on the GURPS forums: if a Feint can take the place of an attack in either part of an All-Out Attack (Double) or any part of a Rapid Strike, why not treat it as a combat option rather than a maneuver?<br />
<br />
Here's the rules as they stand now. GURPS Martial Arts, p. 97, says<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The GM should be generous about substituting feints for attacks, too. An All-Out Attack (Feint) is just an All-Out Attack (Double) that trades the first attack for a feint, so there's no reason why a fighter couldn't reverse the order: attack first and then feint to benefit a later attack. Other alternatives include using All-Out Attack (Determined) to feint at +4 and All-Out Attack (Long) to feint a distant foe.</blockquote>
<br />
And on Martial Arts, p. 127, discussing multiple attacks:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A fighter can trade melee attacks for feints (see Feint, p. B365) on a one-for one basis. Modifiers for maneuvers and attack options <i>do</i> affect skill for this purpose; e.g., a feint during a Rapid Strike is at -6. A warrior can use Move and Attack to "Move and Feint," but at -4 and with a skill limit of 9, it's self-defeating.</blockquote>
So we're most of the way there already. What remains is to go through the maneuvers and attack options to see what's compatible with the Feint attack option, and to figure out how opting for a Beat or a Ruse would make things any different.<br />
<br />
Already, by RAW, these maneuvers are compatible with Feint:<br />
<br />
Attack<br />
All-Out Attack (Double)<br />
All-Out Attack (Determined)<br />
All-Out Attack (Long)<br />
Move and Attack -- t<i>his is "self-defeating" with a skill cap of 9, but see Heroic Charge, below</i><br />
<br />
And Rapid Strike is already compatible by RAW.<br />
<br />
Here are my proposals for handling the rest:<br />
<br />
<b>Maneuvers</b><br />
<br />
All-Out Attack (Strong): by RAW, an ordinary AOA (Strong) maneuver gets you +2 to damage, or +1 per die if that is better. This is approximately equivalent to +2 to Strength. I don't how increasing the power of a Feint would help to fool your opponent, so I say this one applies only to a Beat (MA p. 100).<br />
<br />
Committed Attack (Determined): +2 to your Feint roll. You are penalized on Active Defenses as usual. This may not be your best option if you are a single-weapon fighter and you rely on your Parry for defense, but it could be effective for a two-weapon or unarmed fighter.<br />
<br />
Committed Attack (Strong): Only available with a Beat. You get +1 to your roll.<br />
<br />
Defensive Attack: you take -2 to your Quick Contest roll, and gain all the benefits of Defensive Attack as usual.<br />
<br />
Wait: a Feint is not compatible with a Stop Hit (MA p. 108).<br />
<br />
<b>Combat Options</b><br />
<br />
Deceptive Attack: For every -2 penalty on the Quick Contest roll you take, your opponent loses an additional -1 to defenses on your following attack. If you do not win the Quick Contest, your Deceptive Attack gains you nothing. You can also use Deceptive Attack on a Defensive Feint to impose a penalty to your opponent's next attack roll, but this will seldom be worthwhile.<br />
<br />
Hit Locations: you gain nothing by targeting a hit location with a Feint, so this option is not so much incompatible as useless.<br />
<br />
Dual-Weapon Attack: You may apply the Feint option to either half of a Dual-Weapon Attack. If the first attack is a Feint, only the remaining attacks in this round benefit from it.<br />
<br />
Telegraphic Attack: Not compatible with Feint.<br />
<br />
Slam and Shove: Not compatible with Feint.<br />
<br />
Defensive Grip, Reversed Grip, Tip Slash: Compatible with Feint.<br />
<br />
Extra Effort: Flurry of Blows, Giant Step, Great Lunge, and Heroic Charge are all compatible with Feint. In fact, Heroic Charge is about the only way to make a Feint work with a Move and Attack maneuver. Since a Feint does not make a weapon unready, Rapid Recovery is irrelevant.<br />
<br />
Beats and Ruses: Except as noted above, Beats and Ruses are handled just like Feints.<br />
<br />
I don't think there are any other problem combat options. Please let me know if you think I've missed anything.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-90317199727923835172013-03-29T13:15:00.000-07:002013-03-29T14:30:20.836-07:00Game Session 2013/03/24<div class="MsoNormal">
Sophie O'Griffin, human, the leader and ringmaster. Played by Echo.</div>
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Esmond Gellert, human, trick-shot archer and dog trainer. Played by Mike.</div>
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Ganz, elf, stage magician and wizard. Played by Jessica.</div>
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Quexechetl, lizard man, strongman and wrestler. Played by Karl.</div>
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Talman, half-elf, acrobat. Played by Joe.</div>
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Fiorio, human, a peasant with a knack for playing to the crowd that the circus picked up along the way. Played as an NPC.<br />
<br />
<b>June 30, 850, in the cellar of a ruined wizard's tower in the Bekel</b><br />
<br />
When we last saw our heroes, they had just scrambled to safety in an underground chamber below a ruined wizard's tower, while undead orcs prowled around outside, held back only by a magical ward. It was an hour or so after midnight, and they had no idea how long the ward would last.<br />
<br />
The chamber was circular with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome#Corbel_dome" target="_blank">corbel dome</a>, and somewhat smaller in diameter than the ruined tower above. Inside, a table and chair stood against the wall on one side, a cabinet against on the other side, and on the floor was a circle of dwarven symbols. Ganz immediately recognized that the cabinet had a magical aura.<br />
<br />
The cabinet stood a bit taller than a dwarf, and had two full-length doors in front. It was covered with square panels divided by broad X-shapes, six on the front and three on each side. Quexechetl immediately tried to open it. It was locked, but a key lay on top, easily spotted by someone of Quexechetl's height. Inside, the cabinet was divided by a partition down the middle, with shelves on the right and pegs on the left, presumably for hanging clothes. There were some crumbled bits of cloth on the floor on the left, and the shelves held a handful of bottles with dried-up stains at the bottoms. There were also a couple of pen quills. One of the bottle appeared to have held ink, but the rest of the contents were unidentifiable.<br />
<br />
The table also held a few dried-up bottles, but was otherwise unremarkable. Ganz inspected the circle of symbols on the floor. He recognized some of them as being the same as the glyphs carved around the outside of the tower, and tentatively identified the design as a summoning circle, but he wasn't familiar enough with dwarven magic to say more.<br />
<br />
Quexechetl tried to move the cabinet, but it was firmly fixed to the wall. The performers then began experimenting with the cabinet in order to discover its magic, getting inside, pushing and pulling on the pegs, rapping on it, and so on. They discovered that the shelves could be folded up toward the center partition, and that then the partition could be folded back to the right side, leaving the whole interior of the cabinet undivided. When this was done, the pegs could be pushed in so that they were flush with the inside back wall.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I feel like I'm in one of those video games where you just click on everything to figure out how the puzzle works."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Echo (Sophie)</i></span></div>
<br />
Sophie discovered that the X-shapes on the panels on the outside could be pressed inward with a click, and she and Talman tried clicking them in various combinations to see if something would happen, but they didn't get anywhere. Ganz took a more methodical approach and discovered that if he clicked in the top Xes, he could then turn them, and this released the cabinet from the wall. Quexechetl moved it aside, and behind it there was a passage leading away from the underground chamber.<br />
<br />
The circus members filed into the passage and dragged the cabinet to cover the entryway behind them. As soon as they left, Ganz felt that the magical barrier holding the dead orcs back had collapsed. Their way lit by Sophie's lantern, they went down and, as far as they could tell, parallel to the mountainside. After a few gentle turns, they emerged into the night air from a crack between two boulders.<br />
<br />
It was very dark, the moon having set a couple of hours ago. They could see the fires of King Miklo's army, and the vague shadows of the host of dead orcs who were fighting them, in the valley below them, about a mile or so north. Esmond, who wore the night-seeing pendant below his clothes, could see as clearly as day, and noticed a group of figures standing on a rocky promontory across the valley, something like a quarter mile away.<br />
<br />
Quexechtl immediately wanted to go join the fighting, and after a brief debate, the rest of the performers decided that getting a better view of the group on the promontory was a better idea than simply hiding and waiting until dawn. Sophie didn't like the idea of taking on twenty orcs, but she went along with the majority opinion. She tried to keep her lantern as well-covered as she could, and they all stumbled down the dark mountainside.<br />
<br />
As they grew closer, Esmond could see, first, that they were indeed orcs, and later that one of them carried a staff of some kind. He counted about twenty of them, although the uneven, rocky ground could have hidden some more. A couple hundred yards away, they stopped and made a plan. Esmond would creep around to the right, which would put him to the orcs's rear, assuming they were watching the battle below them. He would get close enough to take an aimed shot at staff-bearer's heart, hoping to kill him with one arrow. The rest would move forward directly, and when close enough, Ganz would cast a spell to throw an exploding fireball at them. This would be the signal for Esmond's shot.<br />
<br />
Ganz was a little dubious of this plan, since his power over magical forces was a little low, but he relented and agreed. Esmond left to make his flanking maneuver, and the rest crept forward in the darkness. At about twenty-five yards, they stopped, and Ganz cast his spell. It flared up, and he held a fireball in his hand. A very good one, he felt, and aimed it as well as he could in the darkness.<br />
<br />
Esmond, as he got closer, saw that the orcs were a mixed group of the living and the re-animated dead, with the dead orcs forming a perimeter around the living. He also noticed that one of the orcs carried a shield, and appeared to be in command, given his body language. Hoping that Ganz's spell would kill the staff-bearer, he switched targets and took aim at the orc leader.<br />
<br />
Ganz threw his fireball, but his aim was bad. Missing the staff-bearer, he instead hit another orc a few yards away. With a great boom, it exploded, throwing all the orcs into confusion. On this signal, Esmond loosed his arrow and caught the commander solidly in the back.<br />
<br />
But the commander did not fall, and quickly shouted orders to his troops. He started getting them into a line of battle facing toward Esmond, where the arrow had come from. Talman and Quexechetl ran forward while Esmond drew another arrow. Sophie drew her own bow, and Ganz moved forward slowly, wondering if he could come up with any way to control the undead orcs.<br />
<br />
Esmond's second shot stuck the staff-bearer, who fell on his face and laid there unmoving. Talman and Quexechetl reached the ring of dead orcs that surrounded the live ones and attacked two of them, Talman with a spear and Quexechetl with a grapple and a bite. Sophie aimed and took a shot at the prone staff-bearer with her bow, but in the darkness she badly missed and ended up dropping her bow.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Darn, I was hoping that taking out that guy would kill all the zombie orcs."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Mike (Esmond)</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
Esmond shot a couple more times, but the commander blocked the arrows easily with his shield. Talman and Quexechetl's attacks hit home on the dead orcs, but didn't drop them. Their targets fought back with spear and axe, but didn't land any blows.<br />
<br />
Esmond, seeing things much more clearly than anyone else, realized that the dead orcs weren't advancing on him -- instead they had turned on the live orcs, and the living and the dead were now locked in battle! He began to run toward the other group, shouting for everyone to fall back.<br />
<br />
Talman ran back toward Sophie and Ganz, and so did Quexechetl, after Sophie shouted at him. One of the dead orcs followed, but the rest attacked their live counterparts. Quexechetl turned to take on the lone dead orc, sinking his teeth into its neck and then wrenching until the head came off. The body fell, no longer animated, and Quexechetl was a little disappointed that the head stopped moving as well.<br />
<br />
A few yards away, the battle between the living and the dead tilted in favor of the latter, and the commander fell. Four surviving living orcs fled into the night, and the dead ones simply milled around senselessly. Esmond lured the group of them away from the fallen staff-bearer, while Talman ran in and grabbed the staff. He carried it back to the others. It was an unremarkable wooden staff, decorated only by a dead bird attached to the head.<br />
<br />
The circus then turned back to the larger battle below them in the dark, wondering how King Miklo's army was faring against the horde of dead orcs.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, how did that go?</span><br />
<br />
For the second time in the two-year history of this game, the players did pretty much the right thing the whole way through. They didn't figure out what was magical about the cabinet, but they stopped fiddling with it when they discovered an escape route. I put a secret one-hour time limit on the magical protection that kept the dead orcs outside the tower, and the party left right before it expired.<br />
<br />
Then when they left, Esmond made his perception roll to spot the orc shaman and his guards, the party went straight there, and they correctly guessed that the guy with the staff was commanding the dead orcs. You could criticize Mike for switching targets from the shaman to the orc leader at the last minute, but that turned out fine. The leader made a very good Tactics roll just after getting shot, and managed to rally his troops, but when Esmond shot the shaman (killing him instantly), the dead orcs all went uncontrolled and started attacking the nearest visible living targets. The orc leader was already in negative hit points from Esmond's first shot, so it was only a matter of time before he dropped. The living orcs never really had a chance.</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-63257269567155668562013-03-27T02:53:00.000-07:002013-03-27T16:33:33.399-07:00GURPS Combat Choices: Deceptive Attack and Telegraphic Attack<b>Update: Martin Leuschen pointed out an error in the table, since fixed. My thanks to Martin for keeping my honest.</b><br />
<br />
Patric Halter over at <a href="http://d20to3d6.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Renovating the Temple</a> beat me to it with <a href="http://d20to3d6.blogspot.com/2013/03/deceptive-yak-shaving.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, but here is my take on Deceptive Attack and Telegraphic Attack.<br />
<br />
In GURPS combat, Deceptive Attack is a combat option that lets you penalize your opponent's defense by -1 for every -2 you take to your attack roll. The only limits are your GM's indulgence, and a minimum final skill level of 10.<br />
<br />
Telegraphic Attack, on the other hand, is a combat option that goes in the other direction: you can add +4 to your attack skill, but your opponent's defense increases by 2. Unlike DA, you don't get to pick how much Telegraphic Attack you want to use: it's +4/+2 or nothing. Also, TA doesn't affect your chances of scoring a critical hit. To determine if you got a critical, you use the skill you had <i>before</i> adding the TA bonus.<br />
<br />
So, when do you want to use Telegraphic Attack? When do you want to use Deceptive Attack, and how much? Here's a handy table I made.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th colspan="18">Defense </th></tr>
<tr><th>Attack </th><th>3 </th><th>4 </th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>3 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>4 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>5 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>6 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>7 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>8 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>9 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>10 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>11 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>12 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>13 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>14 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td><td bgcolor="#FFCCCC">Flee </td></tr>
<tr><th>15 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF94">TA </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>16 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>17 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>18 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>19 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>20 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>21 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>22 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>23 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td></tr>
<tr><th>24 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td></tr>
<tr><th>25 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td></tr>
<tr><th>26 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>27 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>28 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td></tr>
<tr><th>29 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#B77FD4">DA 8 </td><td bgcolor="#BA4EA9">DA 9 </td></tr>
<tr><th>30 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Hold </td><td bgcolor="#A3F06C">DA 1 </td><td bgcolor="#B7F03C">DA 2 </td><td bgcolor="#5DE100">DA 3 </td><td bgcolor="#62B1D0">DA 4 </td><td bgcolor="#3AA6D0">DA 5 </td><td bgcolor="#0776A0">DA 6 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BF96D4">DA 7 </td><td bgcolor="#BA4EA9">DA 9 </td><td bgcolor="#BA4EA9">DA 9 </td><td bgcolor="#BA4EA9">DA 9 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Caveat: this table only considers Deceptive Attack and Telegraphic Attack. If you also considered Rapid Strike, Dual Weapon Attack, hit locations, or other combat options, things would change a lot. But that will have to wait for later.</b></blockquote>
The attacker's skill runs along the side, and the defense runs across the top. The entry for a given skill and defense shows your best choice. "Hold" means that you can't improve your chances with either a Deceptive Attack or a Telegraphic Attack; you're already at the best level. "Flee" means that no matter what you do, your attack is going to be worth less than zero. Yes, I mean that <i>on your own turn</i>, you are more likely to get hurt than to hurt your opponent. Might as well run away.<br />
<br />
You probably don't want to waste time looking things up on this table all the time, so let me try to reduce this information to a few rules of thumb.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Don't use Deceptive Attack if your opponent's defense is already at 3 or 4. </li>
<li>Don't use Deceptive Attack unless you can get your opponent's defense below 13.</li>
<li>If the sum of your skill and your opponent's defense is above 24, try to bring it down to the range of 22 to 24. Each level of DA will reduce the sum by 3.</li>
<li>If the sum of your skill and your opponent's defense is 19 or below, use Telegraphic Attack.</li>
<li>But don't use Telegraphic Attack if your skill is above 13.</li>
<li>If your opponent's defense beats your skill by 8 or more, don't even try making an attack this turn. </li>
</ol>
<br />
These rules don't get you optimal results in all cases, but they cover most of the chart pretty well.<br />
<br />
For those of you interested in all the math behind the scenes, for now I'll just say that in this table, I considered the value of a normal hit to be 1, and discounted it by the probability that it gets past the defense. Then I valued a critical hit on the attack at 1.3, a critical failure on attack at -1.5, and a critical failure on defense as worth an extra 0.1. A critical success on defense imposes a critical failure on the attacker, and so is also worth -1.5.<br />
<br />
These numbers are somewhat arbitrary, and anyone could reasonably question them, but after fiddling around with various values, I find that they don't alter the results very much.<br />
<br />
A more detailed explanation of the number-crunching behind the chart will have to wait for another day.<br />
<br />
<br />Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-21268039780975522492013-03-25T02:20:00.000-07:002013-03-25T02:20:00.187-07:00Show your RPG collectionInspired by the banner over at <a href="http://jeffro.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jeffro's Space Gaming Blog</a>, I have a challenge for all and sundry. Show us your RPG collection!<br />
<br />
Here's mine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/RPGBookscropped_zps9b6fb753.jpg?t=1364188349" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/RPGBookscropped_zps9b6fb753.jpg?t=1364188349" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This represents the combined collection that resulted from my marriage. I contributed the GURPS and the Paranoia. The D&D is mostly my wife's, but that's my copy of the Mentzer Expert set there at top left, plus a few modules. I used to have Basic, too, but that disappeared decades ago. And of course you can't see the PDFs.<br />
<br />
So, what does your RPG collection look like?Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-62787553190260095832013-03-22T02:44:00.000-07:002013-03-22T02:44:01.173-07:00The Henchmen -- a campaign ideaSince Jason Packer posted an <a href="http://rpgsnob.blogspot.com/2013/03/gurps-fantasy-barebones-setting-idea.html" target="_blank">interesting idea for a fantasy setting</a> the other day, and Douglas Cole has been <a href="http://gamingballistic.blogspot.com/2013/03/krails-folly-pouring-sand-into-sandbox.html" target="_blank">embellishing on it</a>, I thought it would be an opportune time to post a campaign idea I had.<br />
<br />
<b>Name:</b> The Henchmen<br />
<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Dungeon Fantasy<br />
<br />
<b>The Setting:</b> Any Dungeon Fantasy world, or any setting that enables dungeon crawling at all<br />
<br />
<b>The Team:</b> Sure, adventurers get all the credit, but they didn't loot that dungeon alone, did they? Did they carry all their own provisions? Polish all their own armor? Bandage all their own wounds? Of course not! <i>You</i> did. You are a henchman in the employ of the Heroic League of Mylenbrak, a legendary band of dungeon-delvers. You are perhaps a guard, a clerk, a cook, an acolyte, or even a mere torch-bearer. Where they go, you go -- but at a safe distance from the fire-breathing dragons and flesh-rending demons, of course.<br />
<br />
<b>The Mission:</b> While the heroes enter the mysterious cave, you are supposed to stay behind and guard the horses. <i>Oh, no, goblin attack!</i> All right, this chamber has been cleared -- search for secret doors while we scout down the hallway. <i>Oops, someone hit a switch and the door opened, revealing that thing, whatever it is.</i> We're running low on healing herbs -- go foraging for some in that valley. <i>Hey, nobody said there would be fairies here!</i> Here, carry this magical figurine until we figure out what it does. <i>What is this strange new voice in my head?</i> Stay here while we scout out the lower level. <i>It's been three days. Should we go and look for them?</i><br />
<br />
The important thing here, since the adventurers are literally an entire party of GMPCs, is to keep them off-stage as much as possible and concentrate the game on what happens when the henchmen are left alone. Don't game out the climactic fight with the demi-lich, just say, "The heroes have gone down the stairs to the crypt. Now, while they're doing that, you're safe back here in the antechamber. But suddenly, the frescoes on the walls begin to move...." The NPCs are just there to serve up plots and then leave the PCs alone.<br />
<br />
For a GURPS campaign, <a href="http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG37-0326" target="_blank">Dungeon Fantasy 15: Henchmen</a> is an ideal source of character templates. I'd start the PCs at 125 points, because I think 62 points is just too low. Played straight, the PCs could gain experience and eventually become full-fledged adventurers heading up their own parties. The players would have the advantage of getting to know how the GM's world works before they have to set out on their own, so it might be less lethal than most DF games. Played for laughs, <a href="http://comic.nodwick.com/?p=536" target="_blank">Nodwick</a> style, the PCs become mightily competent henchmen as they gain experience, but they always remain henchmen.<br />
<br />
I think the big trouble would be coming up with a gaming group who want to play, or at least start as, low-powered peons in a world of high heroic adventure. I already run a fantasy game in which the PCs started at 130 points and are working their way up in the world, so I don't think it would interest my group. Sigh. Another campaign I'll probably never get to run.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-85951714409083860062013-03-20T02:12:00.000-07:002014-04-29T22:55:36.328-07:00GURPS Combat Choices: Thrust or Swing?When a GURPS combatant is deciding what to do in an attack, one of the most basic decisions is whether to Thrust or Swing. In some cases, this is a straightforward decision, either because the weapon's listing doesn't give you any options (brass knuckles, for instance), or because Thrust and Swing attacks do the same kind of damage, but Swings do more (a club, for instance).<br />
<br />
But for many weapons, you face a choice between a Thrust for Impaling damage and a Swing for Cutting damage. The Thrust does less damage, but Impaling gets a x2 wounding modifier, versus a x1.5 modifier for Cutting. When does the greater damage for a Swing outweigh the smaller wounding modifier?<br />
<br />
A few days ago, I posted a table showing the thrust and swing damage from all weapons with swing-cutting damage and thrust-impaling damage. Grouped according to their damage characteristics, these weapons fall into 23 classes (which number I attribute the the Illuminati at work). In the table below, I've listed each weapon class, with entries for each level of Strength from 5 to 20. The entries show the expected benefit in injury from making a thrusting attack versus a swinging attack. Negative numbers, with a blue background, mean that you are better off thrusting than swinging. Positive numbers, with a yellow background, mean that it's a better bet to swing. Remember, this is injury, not damage. The numbers in the chart reflect what you get <i>after</i> applying the wounding modifier.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Katar </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.01 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.39 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.11 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.47 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Pata </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-5.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Katar-LT </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Main Gauche </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.39 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.11 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.47 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Longsword 2 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-4 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-3 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Saber </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.75 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.11 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Bastard 2 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.73 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.55 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Broadsword </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-2 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Jian </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Long Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.01 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.01 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Glaive </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">0 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 1 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.34 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Kukri </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.94 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.41 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.44 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.94 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Shortsword </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.33 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.17 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">-0.17 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.34 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.42 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.92 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8.78 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">10.28 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Duelling Halberd </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 2 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Halberd </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Dao </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.33 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.16 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">9.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">0.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">4.17 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.92 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">9.42 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">10 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">10.28 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">11.78 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">1.67 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">2.66 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">3.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">5.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">6.41 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.91 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">7.75 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">9.25 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">8 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">9.5 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">9.94 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">11.44 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 1: Advantage of average swing/cutting attack over thrust/impaling attack in points of injury</b></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Let me just say right now that I'm posting this analysis as I do it. I don't know yet whether this is going to lead to something that will be useful at the table while actually gaming. I made these charts to see what general trends, if any, pop out, and also just for the hell of it. Will it ever pay off, or am I just noodling around? Stay tuned.</b></blockquote>
<br />
Here are the 23 weapon classes. Because GURPS Low-Tech changed the stats for some weapons, the large katar, shortsword, and cutlass appear twice, and are noted with (LT) in the list below. Some weapons can be wielded one-handed or two-handed, so these also appear twice. Note also that the naginata could be used one-handed with Broadsword skill in Basic Set, but Low-Tech removed that.<br />
<br />
Eleven weapons are in classes by themselves:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Katar</b></li>
<li><b>Pata</b></li>
<li><b>Large Katar (LT)</b></li>
<li><b>Main Gauche</b></li>
<li><b>Longsword 2</b></li>
<li><b>Long Knife</b></li>
<li><b>Kukri</b></li>
<li><b>Small Falchion</b></li>
<li><b>Dao</b></li>
<li><b>Falchion</b></li>
<li><b>Large Falchion</b></li>
</ul>
I named the other twelve classes after the weapon in the class I thought was most prominent.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Saber</b> -- saber, light edged rapier, large katar, shotel</li>
<li><b>Large Knife</b> -- large knife, bladed hand</li>
<li><b>Small Knife</b> -- small knife, bladed hand</li>
<li><b>Bastard 2</b> -- bastard sword 2-handed, naginata 1-handed, dueling bill, dueling glaive</li>
<li><b>Broadsword</b> -- broadsword, bastard sword 1-handed, longsword 1-handed</li>
<li><b>Jian</b> - jian, edged rapier, shortsword (LT), cutlass (LT)</li>
<li><b>Glaive</b> -- naginata 2-handed, greatsword, bill</li>
<li><b>Katana 1</b> -- katana 1-handed, late katana 1-handed, cavalry saber, backsword, qian ku ri yue dao</li>
<li><b>Shortsword</b> -- shortsword, cutlass</li>
<li><b>Dueling Halberd</b> -- dueling halberd, light horsecutter</li>
<li><b>Katana 2</b> -- katana 2-handed, late katana 2-handed</li>
<li><b>Halberd</b> -- halberd, heavy horsecutter</li>
</ul>
I should point out the rule on maximum effective ST (B270). Your maximum effective ST with a weapon is three times its ST rating. If your ST is higher than that, then you do damage as if your ST were at the lower figure. So given that small knives have an ST rating of 5, if your ST is higher than 15, you do damage as if your ST were 15. This affects the small knife, large knife, katar, and main-gauche classes.<br />
<br />
So, what does this chart tell us? Some obvious points are confirmed. If you have a falchion, a weapon designed for swinging, then you should swing it. Conversely, patas are made for thrusting.<br />
<br />
Also obvious: swing damage climbs faster with ST than thrust damage does, so stronger characters are better off swinging with weapons where weaker ones are better off thrusting. So even though patas are made for thrusting, when you have enough ST, swinging a pata makes sense.<br />
<br />
There are also some non-obvious things that turn up. There is a middle range of weapons that are built to be versatile, and it's good to know how you can best gain the advantage of your Strength with them. At ST 13, there are several weapons you're better thrusting with, where the same weapons in the hands of a ST 14 character would be more useful at a swing.<br />
<br />
The real oddity here is that some weapons go back and forth between swing-is-better and thrust-is-better as you go up in ST. That's an artifact of the way the Basic Damage table is structured, with swing damage going up every step, but thrust damage going up only every other step. This is especially noticeable with the Bastard 2 class. I imagine a master-at-arms teaching students to use a bastard sword two-handed: "Alright, I've lined you up from weakest to strongest. You lot, up to here, you're better off making thrusting attacks. Now, you fellows, from here to here, are better off swinging. But from here to here -- you'd better go back to thrusting. Now, from here on, again, swinging is better. Oh, except for you and you -- it doesn't matter which way you go."<br />
<br />
It's silly, and more than a little unrealistic, but does it really matter? Here's Table 2, which shows expected swing/cutting injury as a percentage of expected thrust-impaling injury. As before, a blue background, where numbers are less than 100%, means you're better off thrusting, and a yellow background, where numbers are above 100%, means you're better off swinging.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Katar </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">25 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">38 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">52 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">51 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">65 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">66 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">80 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">73 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">85 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">85 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">85 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Pata </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">38 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">38 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">41 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">56 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">59 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">73 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">79 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">78 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">88 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">82 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">91 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">103 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Katar-LT </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">34 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">38 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">52 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">56 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">66 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">80 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">79 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">90 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">83 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">97 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">106 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Main Gauche </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">33 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">46 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">66 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">84 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">81 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">97 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">87 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Longsword 2 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">52 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">52 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">56 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">73 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">86 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">79 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">90 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">88 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">98 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">91 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">103 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">111 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Saber </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">44 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">44 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">46 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">46 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">71 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">81 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">97 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">107 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">96 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">108 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">111 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">121 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">44 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">44 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">46 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">84 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">97 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Bastard 2 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">71 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">71 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">72 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">86 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">90 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">102 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">98 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">108 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">109 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">111 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">119 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">50 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">43 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">44 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">61 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">86 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">110 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Broadsword </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">71 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">106 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">107 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">102 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">113 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">103 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">113 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">116 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Jian </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">61 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">61 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">69 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">97 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">107 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">120 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">108 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">119 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">121 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">132 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Long Knife </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">57 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">57 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">61 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">61 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">104 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">127 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">129 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">142 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Glaive </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">93 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">106 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">100 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">102 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">113 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">108 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">118 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">109 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">118 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">119 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">128 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 1 </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">94 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">120 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">119 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">132 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">143 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Kukri </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">67 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">78 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">78 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">163 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">164 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">146 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">168 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">139 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">156 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">154 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">169 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Shortsword </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">78 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">78 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">89 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">150 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">146 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">147 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">127 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">141 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">142 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">154 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#99CCFF">92 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">158 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">215 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">217 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">267 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">219 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">256 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">220 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">249 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">200 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">221 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">207 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">225 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Duelling Halberd </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">106 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">114 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">127 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">113 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">118 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">128 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">118 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">126 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">128 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 2 </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">150 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">157 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">147 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">148 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">131 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">142 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">143 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">154 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Halberd </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">150 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">150 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">122 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">139 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">127 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">141 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">125 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">137 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">128 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">138 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">126 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">135 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">136 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">144 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Dao </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">157 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">157 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">167 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">167 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">163 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">200 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">178 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">206 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">168 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">189 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">164 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">181 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">155 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">168 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">167 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">179 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">134 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">184 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">184 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">215 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">279 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">267 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">317 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">256 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">294 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">249 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">277 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">221 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">243 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">225 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">243 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Falchion </th><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">184 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">184 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">214 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">214 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">217 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">267 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">238 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">275 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">220 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">248 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">211 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">232 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">189 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">206 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">199 </td><td bgcolor="#FFFF66">214 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 2: Advantage of average swing/cutting attack over thrust/impaling attack in percent</b></div>
<br />
In some cases, I would say it does matter. At the transition from blue to yellow, most values aren't that far from 100%, but a few are large enough to make me want to pay attention. The jian class, for instance, which includes the jian, the edged rapier, and Low-Tech versions of the shortsword and cutlass. At ST 12 and 14, you're taking a 14% discount if you're not swinging. There appears to be no simple way to describe the patterns here, so I guess you just have to know where your advantages are. That's not that bad a problem, since most characters don't change weapons very often, and change ST even less often.<br />
<br />
Overall, I think the chart shows that GURPS does a pretty good job of delivering results. The see-sawing effect with with some of the weapons in the middle range looks weird, but it doesn't look broken. I can live with a 14% difference in the blue-yellow border area. For the other weapons, the takeaway lesson is that you should try to use them as they were designed to be used -- thrust with a knife, unless you're very strong. Swing with a polearm, if at all possible.<br />
<br />
Now, what about the effect of hit location and Damage Resistance? DR comes off before the wounding modifier, the neck offers a x2 cutting modifier, and the vitals a x3 impaling modifier. I expect that will change things somewhat, but I'll have to take that up at another time.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>For the rest of this post, I'm just going to describe how I arrived at the tables above, in case anyone wants to double-check my work. You can ignore everything below here if you're not into the heavy number-crunching.</b></blockquote>
<div>
After compiling the list of all the thrust-impaling/swing-cutting weapons, I found that their damage statistics ran from Thrust-2 to Thrust+3 and Swing-3 to Swing+5. I created tables listing the damage roll for each of these stats at ST levels from 5 to 20.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Thr-2 </th><td>1d-6 </td><td>1d-6 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>2d-3 </td><td>2d-3 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr-1 </th><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>2d-2 </td><td>2d-2 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr </th><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>2d-1 </td><td>2d-1 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+1 </th><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>2d </td><td>2d </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+2 </th><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>2d+1 </td><td>2d+1 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+3 </th><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+5 </td><td>1d+5 </td><td>2d+2 </td><td>2d+2 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 3: Damage rolls for thrusting attacks by ST</b></div>
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-3 </th><td>1d-6 </td><td>1d-6 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>2d-4 </td><td>2d-3 </td><td>2d-2 </td><td>2d-1 </td><td>3d-4 </td><td>3d-3 </td><td>3d-2 </td><td>3d-1 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-2 </th><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-5 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>2d-3 </td><td>2d-2 </td><td>2d-1 </td><td>2d </td><td>3d-3 </td><td>3d-2 </td><td>3d-1 </td><td>3d </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-1 </th><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-4 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>2d-2 </td><td>2d-1 </td><td>2d </td><td>2d+1 </td><td>3d-2 </td><td>3d-1 </td><td>3d </td><td>3d+1 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw </th><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-3 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>2d-1 </td><td>2d </td><td>2d+1 </td><td>2d+2 </td><td>3d-1 </td><td>3d </td><td>3d+1 </td><td>3d+2 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+1 </th><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-2 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>2d </td><td>2d+1 </td><td>2d+2 </td><td>2d+3 </td><td>3d </td><td>3d+1 </td><td>3d+2 </td><td>3d+3 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+2 </th><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d-1 </td><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>2d+1 </td><td>2d+2 </td><td>2d+3 </td><td>2d+4 </td><td>3d+1 </td><td>3d+2 </td><td>3d+3 </td><td>3d+4 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+3 </th><td>1d </td><td>1d </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+5 </td><td>2d+2 </td><td>2d+3 </td><td>2d+4 </td><td>2d+5 </td><td>3d+2 </td><td>3d+3 </td><td>3d+4 </td><td>3d+5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+4 </th><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+1 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+5 </td><td>1d+6 </td><td>2d+3 </td><td>2d+4 </td><td>2d+5 </td><td>2d+6 </td><td>3d+3 </td><td>3d+4 </td><td>3d+5 </td><td>3d+6 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+5 </th><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+2 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+3 </td><td>1d+4 </td><td>1d+5 </td><td>1d+6 </td><td>1d+7 </td><td>2d+4 </td><td>2d+5 </td><td>2d+6 </td><td>2d+7 </td><td>3d+4 </td><td>3d+5 </td><td>3d+6 </td><td>3d+7 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 4: Damage rolls for swinging attacks by ST</b></div>
<br />
The next step was to calculate expected injury for each of these damage rolls. It was not possible to take the average of 1d, 2d, or 3d and apply simple arithmetic because of two complications. First, the minimum damage for cutting and impaling attacks is 1. That means it's not possible to say that the average of 1d is 3.5, so the average of 1d-2 is 1.5. In fact, the average of 1d-2 with a minimum of 1 is the average of (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4), which is 2. Roughly a third of the damage rolls had to be treated this way.<br />
<br />
Second, for a x2 injury modifier, you can simply multiply the average damage roll by 2, but because of rounding, you can't treat cutting damage the same. Injury is rounded down, which means that the possible damage results from 1d, which are (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) with an average of 3.5, become (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9) with the cutting injury modifier of 1.5. This gives an average of 5, rather than an average of 3.5 * 1.5 = 5.25.<br />
<br />
The upshot of all this calculating is shown in table 5, which gives the average of the damage, cutting injury, and impaling injury for all the die rolls I worked with.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>Die Roll </th><th>x1.5 </th><th>x2 </th></tr>
<tr><th>1d-6 </th><td>1.00 </td><td>1.00 </td><td>2.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d-5 </th><td>1.00 </td><td>1.00 </td><td>2.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d-4 </th><td>1.17 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>2.33 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d-3 </th><td>1.50 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>3.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d-2 </th><td>2.00 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>4.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d-1 </th><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5.33 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d </th><td>3.50 </td><td>5.00 </td><td>7.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+1 </th><td>4.50 </td><td>6.50 </td><td>9.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+2 </th><td>5.50 </td><td>8.00 </td><td>11.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+3 </th><td>6.50 </td><td>9.50 </td><td>13.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+4 </th><td>7.50 </td><td>11.00 </td><td>15.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+5 </th><td>8.50 </td><td>12.50 </td><td>17.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+6 </th><td>9.50 </td><td>14.00 </td><td>19.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>1d+7 </th><td>10.50 </td><td>15.50 </td><td>21.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d-4 </th><td>3.28 </td><td>4.61 </td><td>6.56 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d-3 </th><td>4.11 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>8.22 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d-2 </th><td>5.03 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>10.06 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d-1 </th><td>6.00 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>12.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d </th><td>7.00 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>14.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+1 </th><td>8.00 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>16.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+2 </th><td>9.00 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>18.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+3 </th><td>10.00 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>20.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+4 </th><td>11.00 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>22.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+5 </th><td>12.00 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>24.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+6 </th><td>13.00 </td><td>19.25 </td><td>26.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>2d+7 </th><td>14.00 </td><td>20.75 </td><td>28.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d-4 </th><td>6.52 </td><td>9.53 </td><td>13.04 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d-3 </th><td>7.50 </td><td>11.00 </td><td>15.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d-2 </th><td>8.50 </td><td>12.50 </td><td>17.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d-1 </th><td>9.50 </td><td>14.00 </td><td>19.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d </th><td>10.50 </td><td>15.50 </td><td>21.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+1 </th><td>11.50 </td><td>17.00 </td><td>23.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+2 </th><td>12.50 </td><td>18.50 </td><td>25.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+3 </th><td>13.50 </td><td>20.00 </td><td>27.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+4 </th><td>14.50 </td><td>21.50 </td><td>29.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+5 </th><td>15.50 </td><td>23.00 </td><td>31.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+6 </th><td>16.50 </td><td>24.50 </td><td>33.00 </td></tr>
<tr><th>3d+7 </th><td>17.50 </td><td>26.00 </td><td>35.00 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 5: Expected die rolls and injury for cutting and impaling attacks</b></div>
<br />
<div>
Equipped with these results, I converted tables 3 and 4, showing damage rolls, to tables 6 and 7, showing expected injury for thrust and swing attacks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Thr-2 </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>8.22 </td><td>8.22 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr-1 </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>10.06 </td><td>10.06 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>12 </td><td>12 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+1 </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>14 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+2 </th><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>16 </td><td>16 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Thr+3 </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 6: Average injury for thrust/impaling attacks by ST</b></div>
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-3 </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>4.61 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>9.53 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-2 </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw-1 </th><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw </th><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+1 </th><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+2 </th><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+3 </th><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+4 </th><td>6.5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>19.25 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td><td>24.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Sw+5 </th><td>8 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>19.25 </td><td>20.75 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td><td>24.5 </td><td>26 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 7: Aveage injury for swing/cutting attacks by ST</b></div>
<br />
Next I listed the weapons and copied their expected damage for thrust and swing attacks from tables 6 and 7 to create tables 8 and 9. Note that maximum effective ST for the katar, main-gauche, and large knife classes is 18, and for the small knife class it is 15.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Katar </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Pata </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Katar-LT </th><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>16 </td><td>16 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Main Gauche </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Longsword 2 </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Saber </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>14 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Knife </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Bastard 2 </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Knife </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Broadsword </th><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>16 </td><td>16 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Jian </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>14 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Long Knife </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>12 </td><td>12 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Glaive </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 1 </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>14 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Kukri </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>10.06 </td><td>10.06 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Shortsword </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>12 </td><td>12 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Falchion </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>8.22 </td><td>8.22 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Duelling Halberd </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 2 </th><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>14 </td><td>14 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Halberd </th><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>13 </td><td>13 </td><td>15 </td><td>15 </td><td>17 </td><td>17 </td><td>18 </td><td>18 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Dao </th><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>12 </td><td>12 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Falchion </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>2.33 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>5.33 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>8.22 </td><td>8.22 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Falchion </th><td>2 </td><td>2 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>2.34 </td><td>3 </td><td>3 </td><td>4 </td><td>4 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>5.34 </td><td>7 </td><td>7 </td><td>9 </td><td>9 </td><td>10.06 </td><td>10.06 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 8: Average thrust/impaling injury for various weapons by ST</b></div>
<br />
<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th><th>5 </th><th>6 </th><th>7 </th><th>8 </th><th>9 </th><th>10 </th><th>11 </th><th>12 </th><th>13 </th><th>14 </th><th>15 </th><th>16 </th><th>17 </th><th>18 </th><th>19 </th><th>20 </th></tr>
<tr><th>Katar </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>4.61 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>9.53 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Pata </th><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Katar-LT </th><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Main Gauche </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>4.61 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>9.53 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td><td>11 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Longsword 2 </th><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Saber </th><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Knife </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>12.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Bastard 2 </th><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Knife </th><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>4.61 </td><td>5.89 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>7.28 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Broadsword </th><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Jian </th><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Long Knife </th><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Glaive </th><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 1 </th><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Kukri </th><td>1.33 </td><td>1.33 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>7.28 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Shortsword </th><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Small Falchion </th><td>1.83 </td><td>1.83 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8.75 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Duelling Halberd </th><td>6.5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>19.25 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td><td>24.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Katana 2 </th><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Halberd </th><td>8 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>12.5 </td><td>14 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17.75 </td><td>19.25 </td><td>20.75 </td><td>21.5 </td><td>23 </td><td>24.5 </td><td>26 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Dao </th><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Falchion </th><td>2.67 </td><td>2.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>10.25 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>15.5 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td></tr>
<tr><th>Large Falchion </th><td>3.67 </td><td>3.67 </td><td>5 </td><td>5 </td><td>6.5 </td><td>8 </td><td>9.5 </td><td>11 </td><td>11.75 </td><td>13.25 </td><td>14.75 </td><td>16.25 </td><td>17 </td><td>18.5 </td><td>20 </td><td>21.5 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Table 9: Average swing/cutting injury for various weapons by ST</b></div>
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Finally, I used these two tables to compute tables 1 and 2, above.</div>
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Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-51618582037405229562013-03-15T02:42:00.000-07:002013-03-15T08:07:35.290-07:00That's how we rollMy gaming group has a thing for dice towers, it turns out.<br />
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Mike started it with his dice tower, made by <a href="http://www.vixentorgames.com/" target="_blank">VixenTor</a>.<br />
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His is the one on the right. VixenTor isn't around any more, sadly, because all of their production equipment and supplies were destroyed in a house fire.<br />
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The other tower pictured above is actually Karl's, and he sometimes loans it to Echo, but he doesn't use it any more. Instead, he's got a dice tower he got form a thrift store in a copy of a board game called <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3919/chute-5" target="_blank">Chute-5</a>.<br />
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It includes a tiltable panel at the bottom so you can make the dice fall either of the two trays, as you choose.<br />
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This seems almost useless, but I'm sure it was very important somehow to the game.<br />
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Jessica and I decided to make our own towers out of Lego. Here's hers.<br />
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She included a <a href="http://rollandshout.blogspot.com/2013/03/gm-practices-2-getting-them-there-on.html" target="_blank">reroll-chit</a> holder on the front. Because it's so annoying to lose track of your chit.<br />
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Jessica used plates to make side-to-side baffles in her tower. I opted for 2x3 low slopes to make front-to-back baffles, and a more open tower structure.<br />
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I also have an optional extension I can add on top, for when I need extra randomness.<br />
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At over 26 inches tall, it is easily the mightiest dice tower in the game.<br />
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You might think this is going a bit too far, but if you could see how random the numbers I get with this baby are, you'd have to admit it's worth it.<br />
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Joe, because he suffers from the delusion that K'Nex is in any way comparable to Lego, decided to make this cheap knock-off.<br />
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Yes, that's a dice basket at the top with a chain-driven axle that tilts the dice into the tower. Pathetic, isn't it? And it works about as well as you'd expect, which is to say not at all. I see this as an open admission from Joe that K'Nex are simply inferior to Lego in every respect, and this is a misguided attempt to cover that up by adding unnecessary bells and whistles to what is already a rather ugly design.<br />
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Fortunately, Joe came to his senses, and now he uses a dice tower that also comes from a thrifted board game, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3378/the-inventors" target="_blank">The Inventors</a>.<br />
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And it actually has a bell on it. You stack the dice in the hopper on the right, push the punger next to it, and the dice ring the bell as they fall through.<br />
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And no discussion of dice towers and Lego would be complete without a tip of the hat to whoever came up with this brilliant thing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VTE6ErZ3EQ" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<i>Edit: embedding the video failed, so I must link to it in a clumsy fashion instead. Thanks, Blogger.</i><br />
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<br />Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-52852046130123140392013-03-13T02:06:00.000-07:002013-03-13T02:06:00.162-07:00GURPS Combat Choices: Cutting/Impaling Weapons ChartHere's a table I've drawn up in preparation of analysis of some thrust/swing mechanics. It shows all the weapons from Basic Set, GURPS Martial Arts, and GURPS Low-Tech that have listings for both thrusting-impaling damage and swinging-cutting damage. It's mostly swords, plus some polearms and a couple of oddities.<br />
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<table border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><th></th> <th>Thrust-2 </th><th>Thrust-1 </th><th>Thrust </th><th>Thrust+1 </th><th>Thrust+2 </th><th>Thrust+3 </th></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing-3 </th><td></td><td>Small Knife, Balisong </td><td>Main-Gauche </td><td>Katar </td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing-2 </th><td></td><td></td><td>Large Knife, Bladed Hand </td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing-1 </th><td></td><td>Kukri </td><td>Long Knife </td><td>Saber, Light Edged Rapier, Large Katar, Shotel </td><td>Large Katar (LT) </td><td></td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing </th><td>Small Falchion </td><td></td><td>Shortsword, Cutlass </td><td>Jian, Edged Rapier, Shortsword (LT), Cutlass (LT) </td><td></td><td>Pata </td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing+1 </th><td>Falchion </td><td></td><td></td><td>Katana 1-handed, Late Katana 1-handed, Cavalry Saber, Backsword, Qian Ku Ri Yue Dao </td><td>Broadsword, Longsword 1-handed, Bastard Sword 1-handed </td><td>Longsword 2-handed </td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing+2 </th><td></td><td>Large Falchion </td><td>Dao </td><td>Katana 2-handed, Late Katana 2-handed </td><td></td><td>Naginata 1-handed, Bastard Sword 2-handed, Duelling Bill, Duelling Glaive </td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing+3 </th><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Glaive, Naginata 2-handed, Greatsword, Bill </td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing+4 </th><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Duelling Halberd, Light Horsecutter </td></tr>
<tr> <th>Swing+5 </th><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Halberd, Heavy Horsecutter </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Note that in Low-Tech, some weapon stats changed. Shortswords, cutlasses, and large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katar_(dagger)" target="_blank">katars</a> were bumped up one level in thrusting damage, and one-handed use of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naginata" target="_blank">naginata</a> was removed.<br />
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Two trends really stand out in this table. On a diagonal axis running from upper left to lower right, weapons go from small to large. Not surprisingly, bigger weapons do more damage.<br />
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On the other diagonal, from lower left to upper right, weapons go from more choppy to more stabby. (I hope I may be excused for lapsing into technical jargon there.) On one extreme, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falchion" target="_blank">falchion</a> has barely any point to it at all, and is nearly an axe. On the other extreme, the katar and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pata_(weapon)" target="_blank">pata</a> are about as far as you can go toward specialization in stabbing while still retaining a cutting edge. I think these two diagonal axes are more important to understanding how the weapons got their stats than the stats themselves are, and if I knew how to do it, I'd rotate this table 45 degrees and make a diamond-shaped chart with size running top to bottom, and choppy vs. stabby running left-right. Sadly, my HTML skills are not up to that.<br />
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Another thing that this chart shows is the effect of enchantment and weapon quality. Add Puissance +1 to any weapon, or make it Fine quality, and you move one space diagonally down and to the right. So a Puissance +1 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian" target="_blank">jian</a> becomes, as far as damage is concerned, a broadsword. Very Fine or Puissance +2 moves you two spaces, so a Very Fine small knife hits like a saber -- but it's rather expensive and you still can't parry with it.<br />
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In my next post on this subject, I'll crunch a great big pile of numbers and see what I have to say about swinging versus thrusting damage for these weapons.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-66575337885537867412013-03-11T03:29:00.000-07:002013-03-11T03:29:00.440-07:00GM Practices 2: Getting them there on timeI used to have problems getting my players to the game on time. They'd stop for snacks or something and be three, ten, fifteen minutes late. I prefer to have everyone there on time so no one is waiting on anyone else.<br />
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So to encourage punctuality, I started offering a chit good for one re-roll once during the game, usable in that session only. It's like a lesser version of luck. It's not much, but the players really enjoy it, so it gets players into seats on time.<br />
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I could just tally whether each player has used their re-roll or not during a session, but I find that giving them phyical chits helps them keep the option in mind better. For chits, I use pentagonal pieces from a <a href="http://www.jovotoys.com/" target="_blank">Jovo</a> construction toy set, which is a cool thing in its own way.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-16394993326888926652013-03-10T10:25:00.003-07:002013-03-10T22:45:30.146-07:00The Internet demands cat picturesWe interrupt this gaming blog to present to you these pictures of a cat.<br />
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Because we have a cat now. Her name is Chelsea and she is about 6 months old.<br />
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We now return you to our regular programming of grown men and women pretending to be elves and such. Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-54786054743465341172013-03-08T02:37:00.000-08:002013-03-08T11:59:02.835-08:00GURPS Combat Choices: IntroductionOver at Gaming Ballistic, +Douglas Cole has been ruminating about GURPS combat, and what options become available to you as you increase in skill (see <a href="http://gamingballistic.blogspot.com/2013/02/skill-levels-for-combat-in-gurps.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://gamingballistic.blogspot.com/2013/02/skill-levels-for-ranged-combat-in-gurps.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://gamingballistic.blogspot.com/2013/02/melee-skill-levels-surplus-of-awesome.html" target="_blank">here</a>). His posts do a good job of helping the GURPS combatant deal with the vast array of choices available on each turn.<br />
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And they make me want to run some numerical comparisons. If you've got a choice between a Rapid Strike and a Dual-Weapon Attack, which is better? Is it worth it to try for the brain? When does Deceptive Attack improve your chances of landing a blow?<br />
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There are literally millions[1] of ways to structure an attack. In forthcoming posts, I hope to use some calculations to help clarify when one option is better than another. For the time being, this post is here to goad me into following up on the idea, and as justification to write this ridiculously long footnote.<br />
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[1] Yes, really, millions. In fairly common melee combat situations, it's easy to get that high.<br />
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Let's suppose you're squared off against another fighter at a range of one yard, both of you equipped with thrusting broadswords, both of you standing, neither of you equipped with any armor. Only Basic Set rules apply, but none of the rules marked as optional. You have Broadsword-14 and Karate-14, and you are not incurring any other penalties for such things and darkness or bad footing. You want to make a striking attack on your opponent this turn.<br />
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Let's consider armed attacks first. To make an attack, you must decide to Thrust or to Swing, and you must pick a target. The legitimate targets depend on your Thrust/Swing choice, so let's take a look at this handy table.<br />
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<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr> <th>Target </th> <th>Thrust </th> <th>Swing </th> </tr>
<tr> <td>Torso </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Vitals </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">no </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Skull </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Eye </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">no </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Face </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Neck </td> <td align="center">no benefit </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Groin </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Weapon Arm </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Other Arm </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Leg </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Weapon Hand </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Other Hand </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Foot </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Weapon to Disarm </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Weapon to Break </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>Whatever target presents itself </td> <td align="center">yes </td> <td align="center">yes </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="p1">
A thrusting attack to the neck grants no benefit compared to the much easier thrust to the torso, so I do not count it as a real choice (keeping in mind for later that there may be other situations in which a thrust to the neck makes sense). Attacking the weapon hand or arm has different results compared to attacking the other hand or arm, so I consider these different targets. Contrariwise, an attack on one leg or foot or the other has the same consequences, and I don't consider those as separate targets. So that makes 15 targets for a thrust attack and 14 targets for a swing attack.</div>
<div class="p1">
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<div class="p1">
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<div class="p1">
Any attack includes the option of Deceptive Attack (B370), and because a Deceptive Attack is limited to an adjusted skill of at least 10, there are three options: no DA, DA at -2, and DA at -4.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Multiplying these three options by the above number of targets gives us 3 * 15 = 45 ways to make a Thrust, and 3 * 14 = 42 ways to make a Swing. Putting these together, there are 45 + 42 = 87 ways to make a basic armed attack. I will use the letter A (for "armed") to stand for this number in counting the number of ways to use this in a maneuver.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
So next you must chose a maneuver. Let's start with the Attack maneuver. You can make this a simple attack, or opt for a Rapid Strike. If you choose a simple attack, there are A different ways to do that, or if you choose a Rapid Strike, you get A choices and then A choices again. To put it into a formula:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for armed Attack manuever = A + A*A</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> = 87 + 7569</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> = 7656.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
This scenario stipulates that you are attacking this turn, and you are only one yard from your opponent, so Do Nothing, Move, Change Posture, Aim, Evaluate, Feint, Move and Attack, All-Out Defense, Concentrate, Ready, and Wait do not enter into the picture. That leaves All-Out Attack in its various forms.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
For three forms of All-Out Attack, the arithmetic is the same as Attack:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for armed All-Out Attack (Deternined) = A + A*A = 7656.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for armed All-Out Attack (Strong) = A + A*A = 7656.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for armed All-Out Attack (Feint) = A + A*A = 7656.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
For All-Out Attack (Double), either of the attacks can be at any target, and either attack (but not both) can be replaced by a Rapid Strike. That means you get either two or three picks from A attacks.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for armed All-Out Attack (Double) = A*A + A*A*A</div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
= 7569 + 658,503</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> = 666,072.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
Adding these all together comes to a splendidly pallindromic 696,696 possibilities for making an armed attack this turn. But what about unarmed attacks?</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
Sure, you're holding a sword, but it's a free action to drop it (B364), or you can hold onto it and attack with your off hand. You can then take a step into close combat and attack with fists, or stay where you are and attack with kicks, or both.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Punching is a thrust attack only and does Crushing damage. The eyes and vitals aren't legitimate hit locations for these punches, so we are left with 14 choices for hit location. As with armed attacks, you have the three options of no Deceptive Attack, DA at -2, or DA at -4. Multiplying those two together gives 3 * 14 = 42 ways to deliver a punch, which I will represent with the letter P.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
With kicks, things are slightly different. Kicks are made at -2, and Deceptive Attack limits your adjusted skill to 10 or better, so you can't do a Deceptive Attack at -4, and your two choices are no DA or DA at -2. Multiplying that by the 14 legitimate targets gives 2 * 14 = 28 ways to deliver a kick, which I will represent with the letter K.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
In cases where you can either punch or kick, you have to total of P + K = 42 + 28 = 70 ways to make an unarmed attack, which I will represent with the letter U. (I will need to introduce cases where you can kick but not punch later.)</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
The accouting here looks much the same as the accounting for an armed attack. An Attack maneuver can be either a simple attack with U choices, or a Rapid Strike with U times U choices.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for unarmed Attack Maneuver = U + U*U</div>
<div class="p1">
= 70 + 4900</div>
<div class="p1">
= 4970.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
The arithmetic is just the same for three forms of All-Out Attack:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for unarmed All-Out Attack (Deternined) = U + U*U = 4970.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for unarmed All-Out Attack (Strong) = U + U*U = 4970.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for unarmed All-Out Attack (Feint) = U + U*U = 4970.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
All-Out Attack (Double) is, again, where the big numbers come in.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for unarmed All-Out Attack (Double) = U*U + U*U*U</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>= 4900 + 343,000</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>= 347,900.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
So the total number of ways to make unarmed attacks is 367,780.<br />
<br />
We're not done yet, though. What about mixing armed and unarmed attacks in the same maneuver? For maneuvers other than All-Out Attack (Double), this is only possible with a Rapid Strike. Furthermore, the order matters. The scenario has you starting 1 yard away from your opponent. If you step into close combat to deliver a punch, you cannot then attack with your sword for a second attack. You can, however, kick at range 1 and then make an armed attack. So your options for an Attack maneuver featuring a Rapid Strike with both armed and unarmed strikes are Armed followed by Unarmed or Kick followed by Armed.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
Options for mixed armed/unarmed Attack maneuver = A*U + K*A</div>
<div class="p1">
= 87 * 70 + 28 * 87</div>
<div class="p1">
= 6090 + 2436</div>
<div class="p1">
= 8526.</div>
<br />
<br />
The first three All-Out Attack options are again the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
Options for mixed armed/unarmed All-Out Attack (Deternined) = A*U + K*A = 8526.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for mixed armed/unarmed All-Out Attack (Strong) = A*U + K*A = 8526.</div>
<div class="p1">
Options for mixed armed/unarmed All-Out Attack (Feint) = A*U + K*A = 8526.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
An All-Out Attack (Double) without a Rapid Strike is also the same.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Options for mixed armed/unarmed All-Out Attack (Double), no Rapid Strike = A*U + K*A = 8526.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<br />
But for an All-Out Attack (Double) with a Rapid Strike, things get yet more complicated. With three strikes, which may be either armed or unarmed, there are eight possibilities:<br />
<br />
Armed/Armed/Armed,<br />
Armed/Armed/Unarmed,<br />
Armed/Unarmed/Armed,<br />
Armed/Unarmed/Unarmed,<br />
Unarmed/Armed/Armed,<br />
Unarmed/Armed/Unarmed,<br />
Unarmed/Unarmed/Armed, and<br />
Unarmed/Unarmed/Unarmed.<br />
<br />
The first and last of these eight aren't mixed attacks, so they've already been accounted for in the purely armed or unarmed sections above. That leaves six possibilities. These are further constrained by the requirement that if an unarmed attack is followed by an armed attack, the unarmed attack has to be a kick.<br />
<br />
So these are the rest of your choices.<br />
<br />
Options for mixed armed/unarmed All-Out Attack (Double) with Rapid Strike<br />
= A*A*U + A*K*A + A*U*U + K*A*A + K*A*U + K*K*A<br />
= 529,830 + 211,932 + 426,300 + 211,932 + 170,520 + 68,208<br />
= 1,618,722.<br />
<br />
Adding up all of these mixed armed/unarmed attacks gives us 1,661,352.<br />
<br />
Adding that to the totals for purely armed and purely unarmed brings us to<br />
<br />
696,696 + 367,780 + 1,661,352 = <b>2,725,828</b><br />
<br />
total ways to make an attack.<br />
<br />
Are we done now? Well, we could go on. I stipulated making striking attacks for this scenario, but of course you also have the option of grappling. Or you could bite instead of punching or kicking. You could also use the <i>Pull your punches</i> rule from B401, which would increase the number of possibilities quite a bit, depending on your Strength.<br />
<br />
And then if you begin adding in optional rules such as Dual-Weapon Attack or Extra Effort in Combat, the possibilities increase again. And if you add in the options from <b><i>GURPS Martial Arts</i></b>...I think you get the idea. You've got millions of possibilities in even quite simple situation. Millions, at <i>least</i>.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-67532717008741738532013-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:002013-03-29T13:24:13.428-07:00Game Session 2013/03/03<div class="MsoNormal">
Sophie O'Griffin, human, the leader and ringmaster. Played
by Echo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Esmond Gellert, human, trick-shot archer and dog trainer.
Played by Mike.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ganz, elf, stage magician and wizard. Played by Jessica.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quexechetl, lizard man, strongman and wrestler. Played by
Karl.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talman, half-elf, acrobat. Played by Joe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fiorio, human, a peasant with a knack for playing to the
crowd that the circus picked up along the way. Played as an NPC.<br />
<br />
<b>June 26, 850</b><br />
<br />
When we last saw our adventurers, they had just chased an ogre into the ruined dwarven city and killed it, mainly with Esmond's bow and Talman's spear. Quexechetl had taken two good, strong blows form the ogre. He declined a healing potion, but he sat down and let Sophie bandage his wounds.<br />
<br />
Just seconds later, some of the knights and men-at-arms from the castle caught up with the circus. Looking at the huge, bloody mess of the ogre's corpse and the mostly untouched circus performers, they clamored for an account of the fight. Sophie spoke up first, saying that the ogre was already badly wounded when they found it, no doubt from the fighting in the castle and the fall from the tower after it bashed through the wall. The others agreed, the ogre was nearly dead when they found it, and it had expired while they were trying to get their over-eager lizardman away from it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"It kind of just fell on my spear."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Joe (Talman)</i></span></div>
<br />
Soon after this, King Miklo himself, in the company of Count Anelmo and some of the other nobility arrived, saying they had heard that an ogre had been killed. Count Anelmo was most impressed, remarking that yesterday they didn't even know what to do with a wounded goblin, and today they had defeated an ogre. No doubt the next day, they would slay dragons.<br />
<br />
One of the king's men, someone the performers didn't recognize, complained that the circus was acting out of place to take glory from the fighting men, but the king stifled this complaint, since he didn't like any criticism of "his circus."[1] The king and his attendants then left for the castle.<br />
<br />
That evening, most of the army camped outside the castle, since the courtyard wasn't that large, and the Circus Sophia put on a show. Esmond didn't do very well with the dog act, but the rest of the performers did well enough, although Quexechetl was still a bit slow.<br />
<br />
<b>June 27, 850</b><br />
<br />
Alarm! Alarm! The circus folk woke up at dawn to the news that a horde of orcs was approaching. Camp became a chaos as everyone rushed to pack up and shelter inside the ancient dwarven castle. Quexechetl and Fiorio tried to get the tent down as quickly as they could, but Quexechetl must have been suffering from the previous day's fight, because he made a mess of the job. Esmond and Sophie tried to help, but just got in the way and made matters worse. By the time they got things straightened out, they were nearly the last people to make it into the castle's very crowded courtyard, and they had to park the wagon quite close to the gatehouse, which didn't even have a gate.<br />
<br />
Once inside, they climbed up the stairs to the top of the wall, trying to get close to the king, because Sophie was worried about an assassination attempt in the chaos of battle. From this height, they could see the entirety of the castle. It was mostly intact, but there were a few breaches in the walls. Esmond noticed that the circus wagon, along with a few others, had been overturned and used to block the gatehouse entry to the courtyard.<br />
<br />
Soon the orcs marched into view, shouting, chanting, banging on drums, and waving weapons. They brought no siege equipment with them, not even ladders to try to scale the walls. Seeing this, most of the defenders left and went to reinforce the breaches, leaving only the archers and the king's party atop the walls. A group of mounted knights dragged the wagons out of the way and sallied out to harass the orcs.<br />
<br />
When the orcs decided they had enough numbers, they charged and tried to overrun the breaches. Quexechetl went down to take part in the hand-to-hand fighting, while shot orc after orc with this bow. Talman and Fiorio stayed with Sophie, who kept an eye on the king. Ganz improvised an explosive fireball spell, which dispatched a knot of orcs. After that, he joined in keeping an eye on the king. He noticed Archmagus Tor of the Lodean court casting protective spells on King Miklo, while Count Anelmo commanded the battle. Lord Fels led his men in hand-to-hand fighting in the courtyard.<br />
<br />
The first wave of orcs failed in their attack, there was a lull, and then another wave charged. This pattern continued for most of the day, and the defenders were never in serious danger. In the mid-afternoon, the remaining orcs retreated to the north, leaving a couple thousand dead behind them.<br />
<br />
Casualties among the king's army were much lighter. After the fighting, Sophie tended to the wounded as best she could, and tried to get a sense of the army's opinion of the orcs' attack. Everyone agreed that it wasn't typical of orcs to attack a well-defended position like that. The majority opinion was that orcs are just stupid, and there's no explaining what they do. But some of the wiser and more experienced among the army supposed that maybe the castle was important to the orcs' prestige, or that the attack was a result of political competition among the orcish tribe, or that the orcs were simply overpopulated that year. In the end, no one had a good explanation for what seemed like a suicidal attack.<br />
<br />
The performers did their best to gather their belongings, which had been spilled out of the wagon and mostly left in a pile, and bedded down for the night. <br />
<br />
<b>June 28, 850</b><br />
<br />
After sleeping in their armor and keeping an alert watch, the next morning, the army broke camp and marched north, pursing the orcs. Around noon, they came to a convergence of three valleys and faced the choice of a path to the northeast or one to the west-northwest. As the members of the circus were wondering which way they would go, a hush fell over the army. Everyone's attention was drawn to the west, where the faraway but distinct silhouette of a dragon could be seen lazily circling in the air. It lingered in view for no more than half a minute, and when it passed behind a mountain, everyone remembered to breathe again.<br />
<br />
The Circus Sophia was too far from the front of the army to tell who made the decision about which way to go, or what motivated them, but soon the army began marching again, and not in the direction of the dragon.<br />
<br />
<b>June 29, 850</b><br />
<br />
The next day's travel brought the army to a narrow but steep ravine. On the far side, after a few hundred yards of grass and scrub, the trees came together into a proper forest. The king's engineers prepared to lay a bridge over the ravine so the wagons could cross, and a vanguard of knights rode forward to guard the opposite side.<br />
<br />
When the vanguard came within arrow's flight of the trees, hundreds of orcs emerged from the cover and shot at them. Not knowing how many more were concealed in the forest, the knights withdrew back to the ravine. The engineers, worried about the security of the bridgehead, settled in for a long argument about how best to handle the task of getting the army to the other side.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, after most people had decided to begin setting up camp, a servant approached Ganz, and relayed a request for his presence by his grace the Archmagus Tor [2]. Ganz, of course, said he would be happy to oblige the Archmage, and followed the servant to a large and finely decorated tent.<br />
<br />
Inside the Archmage welcomed his colleage, as he called Ganz, and pointed out a certain ruined tower on a ridge a couple miles away, on the near side of the ravine. The Archmage explained that this was an ancient wizard's tower, and he had heard from veterans of previous campaigns against the orcs that there were magical glyphs engraved in the stones there. The Archmage had wanted to investigate this for himself, but since the orcs might attack at any moment, he was required to stay and protect the king. Would Ganz be willing, with his circus friends as protection, to to climb up to the tower and make a sketch of the glyphs? It would be a long climb and there wouldn't be much light left when he got there, but an overnight stay should be safe, since the orcs were very superstitious about magic and avoided the tower.<br />
<br />
Ganz said he would be happy to. He took his leave of the Archmage and returned to the circus wagon. Everyone wanted to go, but Sophie thought Fiorio should stay with the wagon and mind their belongings. The performers packed for an overnight stay and set out.<br />
<br />
The climb was steep, and the sun was much lower in the sky when they neared the tower. In its ruined state, it was little more than a low circular wall with a pile of rubble surrounding it. Esmond kept a sharp eye out for trouble, and Ganz cast a Sense Foes spell, but no one saw any signs of danger.<br />
<br />
There was, indeed, a belt of glyphs carved into the stone in a belt around the outside of the tower, a little above waist height. There were a few gaps where stones had fallen away, but it was mostly intact. Ganz set about copying them down on paper, while the others looked around for fallen stones with glyphs on them. Esmond discovered a stairway leading downward just inside the ruined walls, blocked by rubble. They decided to leave it unexcavated for now.<br />
<br />
Ganz finished his transcription a little before sundown, and though he wasn't very familiar with dwarven schools of magic, he came to the conclusion that they were some sort of protection signs. He finished off by casting an illusion of the scene of the whole ruin, with all the glyphs in place, in order to fix it in his memory.<br />
<br />
The circus then settled down for the night, with Sophie assigned the first watch, Esmond the second, and Talman the third. Quexechetl was already asleep. Esmond passed the magical pendant he usually wears to Sophie, to let her see in the dark.<br />
<br />
Toward the end of Sophie's watch, after the moon had set, she saw, down in the valley, another army of orcs marching toward the camp! They marched silently and slowly, with none of the drumming and chanting that usually announced their presence. She woke up the others, and though they couldn't see, she explained that the orcs had doubled back behind the king's army, and were making a nighttime attack on their rear!<br />
<br />
With the camp a couple hours away by foot and all the orcs about, Ganz felt that only way to warn the army was with magic. He considered teleporting Sophie back, but decided that was too risky. Better would be if he flew there himself. He cast a spell, transformed himself into a foxhawk [3], and took off.<br />
<br />
Almost immediately, he saw that a group of orcs had departed from the main horde and were climbing the ridge toward the tower. There were a couple dozen, at least. He circled back to the tower, landed, and yipping and pointing with a paw, got Sophie to take another look down the slope. This time, she saw the orcs that were climbing toward them, and warned the others to prepare to defend the tower.<br />
<br />
Ganz took off again and flew to the army's camp. He landed just outside the lines, then dismissed his spell and returned to the form of an elf. He found a sentry and warned him about the approaching orcs, then ran off to the Archmage's tent and repeated his warning. The message delivered, he snuck out into the darkness at the edge of camp, cast his transformation spell once more, and flew back to the tower.<br />
<br />
As he approached, he saw that he had undercounted the orcs. There must have been at least sixty of them, and though their climb was slow, they would reach the tower before long. He landed, transformed back into an elf, and updated the others on the enemy numbers.<br />
<br />
Talman thought they might do best to flee, since the orcs probably didn't even know they were there, weren't coming for a fight, and wouldn't miss them if they left. The others thought it would be too dangerous to leave a defensible position with that many orcs roaming around. They decided to stay, and thought this might be a good time to clear away the rubble and see where those stairs led.<br />
<br />
While Quexechetl stood guard, Esmond and Talman started clearing. It was tough going, and they hadn't made much progress when the orcs came within arrow range. The climbed slowly, looking tired. Quexechetl and Esmond traded places, and Esmond took the amulet of night seeing back from Sophie. He drew his bow and carefully watched the orcs. Ganz cast a Light spell, and began concentrating to send it down the slope to light up the orcs.<br />
<br />
When they got to withing fifty yards, Esmond shot. His arrow thudded home into the chest of one of the advancing orcs. The orcs kept coming, silently. Esmond drew again, aimed, and loosed another arrow. He hit the same orc again. The orc didn't so much as cry out, and kept coming.<br />
<br />
Esmond drew another arrow, and this time as he aimed, he saw that the orc he had just shot twice wasn't the only one with arrows in him. As they got nearer, he could see, plain as day in the darkenss by the virtue of his magical amulet, that the orcs were all dead. And yet still they marched forward.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Me: Yes, it turns out that they are zombie orcs. Or, "zorcs," if you will....</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Karl: I will not.</i></span></div>
<br />
He shot a third arrow, trying to hit the orc squarely in the forehead, but his shot missed. He dropped the bow, drew out his shortsword and buckler, and prepared to hold the gap in the wall that faced the orcs. Talman backed him up with his spear. Sophie said a quick prayer to Wen, god of the underworld, climbed up on the wall, and readied her bow. Ganz did his best to help Quexechetl with the digging.<br />
<br />
The first of the dead orcs reached the tower. Esmond stood at the gap in the wall. Two of them closed with him and attacked with axes. One missed, and he deflected the other with his buckler.<br />
<br />
Esmond struck back, slashing the orc across the throat with his sword. Behind him, Talman stabbed with his spear, but failed to connect. More dead orcs stumbled toward Sophie, where she perched atop the wall, and the two that faced Esmond attacked again. One of them connected, severely wounding him and nearly knocking him down.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"This would be a good time to find out that this is all a nightmare."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Mike (Esmond)</span></i></div>
<br />
Quexechetl dug frantically at the rubble blocking the stairs, and cleared barely enough room to let an elf squirm through, but not enough for himself. It seemed unlikely they would clear enough to get everyone underground before the orcs overwhelmed them. Ganz decided to take a long shot, and concentrated on the magical glyphs that he had studied so carefully, hoping to somehow activate them.<br />
<br />
Sophie shot an arrow at one of the dead orcs, hitting it but not slowing it down. It stabbed twice at her with a spear, missing both times. Esmond, struggling to remain conscious, slashed again with his sword, then stepped back from the wall. Talman attacked with his spear again and missed.<br />
<br />
Ganz, concentrating on the glyphs, thought that he had somehow connected with them. Sophie felt that her prayer had been answered, and hopped down from the wall. The dead orcs stumbled around outside, but made no attempt to enter through the gap in the wall. The circus performers were safe, but for how long?<br />
<br />
Esmond quickly gulped a healing potion, while Quexechetl finished clearing the rubble from the stairs. As soon as there was enough room to crawl through, everyone hurried downstairs. They examined the small, round, vaulted room by the light of Sophie's lantern. There was a summoning circle of some sort on the floor, a table and chair against one wall, and a cabinet against another.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, how did that go?</span><br />
<br />
Things moved along more slowly that I would have liked. Everyone's attention kept wandering, including mine. It had been more than a month since our last game, because of one thing an another, and I think that may have been a part of the reason.<br />
<br />
And, of course, things did not go as I had expected. When do they ever? I didn't expect JC to have Ganz fly off by himself to warn the army about the approaching orcs, but that was fine. I thought the group made a mistake by not clearing the stairs and investigating under the tower when they first got there. On the other hand, JC caught me totally off guard by having Ganz attempt to activate the glyphs. I just threw in "they're protection wards" off the cuff.<br />
<br />
Ganz has a Thaumatology of 14, so I added up some penalties and bonuses in my head and came up with 7 for him to activate the glyphs. Then I remembered Sophie's brief prayer to Wen, so I bumped it up to 8. JC used Luck to make three rolls, and the third and best was an 8. So they were just barely saved, by virtue of that prayer. I think the current situation made for a very good stopping point.<br />
<br />
One thing I think I need to manage better is my way of describing what's going on in the world. In order to make it seem like this story unfolds in a real place, I try to describe what's going on all around the party -- what the army is doing, how the orcs act, what a dragon flying in the distance looks like, and so on. But while I'm doing that, I'm not asking the players what their characters are doing. In the current situation, where they're following an army and have to go where it goes, it feels like I'm spending too much time on things they have no control over. I need to work on compressing that description and getting on the good parts where they get to decide to do something.<br />
<br />
[1] The Circus Sophia performed at the king's coronation feast, along with various other entertainers. In a strange mixup, a second circus, also named the Circus Sophia, was likewise scheduled to perform. The assembled nobles thought this was improper, and formed the general opinion that the two circuses should compete for the right to use the name. Our heros won, narrowly but convincingly, and afterward the court awarded the Circus Sophia a royal charter entitling them to call themselves "Entertainers to HIs Majesty King Miklo." Queen Luccola even gave them a banner embroidered with this slogan.<br />
<br />
[2] The circus has met the Archmage once before, in the aftermath of the strange plot by an alchemist to kidnap the king's cousins and use them in a ritual to do...something. The Archmage led the investigation to find out who else was involved, and eventually the Dean of the Royal College of Alchemists was arrested. The Archmage is also a member of the Lodean regency council, along with four other people. I'm not sure any of the players remembers this.<br />
<br />
[3] A foxhawk is just what it sound like -- a hybrid with the body of a fox, but with a hawk's wings and forefeet. They have normal coloration for a red fox, but with a line of feathers along the spine and banded coloration on the belly, white and red or red-brown. The circus encountered these creatures when they met the reclusive alchemist Fiuzo Panzal. He had made several, and they had escaped from their pens. After the circus recaptured them for him, Ganz decided he liked them enough to want to be one, at least temporarily, and improvised a transformation spell.</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-71406115776811941732013-03-04T02:05:00.000-08:002013-03-04T02:05:00.147-08:00GM Practices I: Question of the (Every Other) WeekHere's a simple thing that I do that other GMs might find useful in their own games. <br />
<br />
I run a GURPS fantasy game every other Sunday, with occasional interruptions. In order to make sure my players know that yes, this is the week we're gaming, I send out a reminder email on Fridays before a game.<br />
<br />
And that works, but only up to a point. People have a habit of glancing at routine email and then immediately forgetting about it. So I started including a question about the game with each email. I ask the players to think about it, and then each game we take a few minutes to talk about the subject.<br />
<br />
I find that this helps people to remember that they got the reminder email, and also it gives me some idea of how the players are enjoying the game and what I could do to improve it. Here are some of the questions I've asked over the course of the campaign:<br />
<ul>
<li>What do you think is the most important thing you found out last game?</li>
<li>What do you think is the best possible outcome for the circus in the
current situation? What's the minimum that you would consider a win?
What would you consider a loss? </li>
<li>(About a caper they had decided to pull just as the last game ended.) For this jailbreak, what do you think your tactical advantages over the Gondans are? What are your disadvantages?</li>
<li>Is there anything about the rules we play with that particularly bugs
you? If so, do you have a suggestion for how we could change it?</li>
<li>How would you feel about adding another player to the group? If I was
looking for someone, would you have someone in mind? How would you feel
about it if it were a complete stranger?</li>
<li>Is there any aspect of the gameworld you would like to see fleshed out
more? Geography? History? Religion? Technology? Folk songs? Cuisine?
Card games?</li>
<li>Which NPCs would you like to meet again? Which ones would you rather never meet again?</li>
<li>If your character were to get the chance to have some formal training in something, what would you like it to be?</li>
<li>What has been your favorite part of the campaign so far? What has been your least favorite part?</li>
<li>What in-game circumstances, positive or negative, would make you want to
retire your character? What would make you say, "Okay, this person's
story is over. Time for someone new"? If there are any positive outcomes
that would make you want to do that, is there one your is character
actively working toward that as a goal?</li>
<li>Suppose I were to run a short alternate game as a break from the Circus
Sophia campaign. What sort of game would you be interested in? Pulp
adventure? Buck Rogers-style science fiction? Modern shoot-em-up?
Fantasy, but of a different sort? Would you be interested in taking a
turn as GM for yourself?</li>
<li>The GM says to you, "Okay, I'm going to advance the timeline. X
days/months/years pass, and we pick up the story then..." How do you
feel about the GM doing this? What amount of time, if any, makes this a
fun-killing move by the GM?</li>
</ul>
Sometimes I drop in a little bit of background information about a new city the PCs have just traveled to, or a new group that they've encountered. And sometime I can't think of anything and I don't ask a question at all. But I manage to think of something for most of our gaming sessions, and I think it helps to keep me actively thinking about how the game is going.<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-21405138157776063622013-03-01T08:23:00.000-08:002013-03-01T11:44:36.449-08:00Review: GURPS Underground Adventures<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">GURPS Underground Adventures</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By William H. Stoddard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve Jackson Games</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">PDF format, $7.99, available <a href="http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG37-0144" style="color: #663399; font-weight: 800; text-decoration: initial;">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Free 8-page preview available <a href="http://e23.sjgames.com/media/SJG37-0144_preview.pdf" style="color: #663399; font-weight: 800; text-decoration: initial;">here</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For as long as there have been role-playing games, it has been possible to descend into a hole in the ground, run around, beat things up, and take their stuff. You might think that after all this time, the underground environment has been pretty well described. There probably isn't much more to say about the mere fact of being underground forty-odd years after Gygax started killing magic-users under Castle Greyhawk, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In <i><b>GURPS Underground Adventures</b></i>, William H. Stoddard answers, "Well, funny you should ask that." Turns out there's plenty more to say about underground adventuring. Caves have interesting accoustics. There are fun and exciting new ways to die from environmental hazzards, such as sudden floods or various kinds of bad air. People once thought that the earth might be hollow, or that it could be the body of a dead god. And do you have any idea how hot it gets down there?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Contents</b></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
In 37 pages (32 if you exclude the cover, front matter, and index), <i><b>Underground Adventures</b></i> delivers an impressive amount of information you didn't even know you needed for, well, underground adventures. It is divided into five chapters, covering the nature of the underground (real and fanciful), getting around underground, the sorts of people who venture underground, the kinds of critters they meet there, and the types of adventures they might have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chapter 1</b>, <i>The Foundations of the Earth</i>, covers caves and the interor of the Earth from a mythological and scientific standpoint. Ancient, medieval, and modern views are all covered, though briefly. Stoddard touches on the flat earth, the hollow earth, occult theories, and modern geology. Most of the information could be gathered by skimming Wikipedia for an hour or two, but this chapter will save you the effort, and there is some information you wouldn't be likely to find without some serious digging. A few things felt like filler, such as the chart of the Earth's ages, which will tell you that the Mississipian Period began 360 million years ago, but nothing about what the Mississippian was like. But there are outweighed by the tasty treats the chapter includes: stats for Ymir, the giant of Norse legend whose murdered body became the world (he's worth more than a hundred million points), for instance, or an answer to the question of what kind of damage it would take to destroy the Earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chapter 2</b>, <i>Tight Places</i>, is all about getting around underground, and it's the most cruch-heavy part of the book. We get rules for seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard, and creeping along by touch. There are rules on navigating, climbing, and fighting in dark, twisting, confined spaces, and rules on the dangers of low temperatures, high temperatures, bad air, cave-ins, floods, and simply getting stuck in a narrow space. Designing mines and digging them? That's covered too. There's a box on shooting grapnels with crossbows, and another on using magic underground. The chapter is only five pages long, but except possibly for the magic, every bit of it is solid information you can use in just about any adventure that takes place underground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chapter 3</b>, <i>Explorers</i>, features five character templates, a section on new or modified advantages, disadvantages, and skills, and a section on equipment. Templates first: the Caver is a modern (or near-modern) explorer who's in it for the fun. The Chthomancer (a word with fewer than 200 Google hits; use it before it gets all trendy) is a wizard specializing in spells that would be useful in a cave. The Geologist is interested in the rocks on the top of the earth as well as the ones underneath it, and so isn't as adept as the Caver at exploring, but has a wider background of knowledge. The Lurker is an adventurer who's gone native in the underground environment, and not in an entirely wholesome way. The Miner a technical expert at not just going into the spaces of the earth, but also on making new space where Nature never intended. Each template features notes on powering it up or down if you want a higher or lower point cost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next section of Chapter 3 covers special tweaks and additions to advantages, disadvantages, and skills for use underground. As you would probably expect, traits such as Dark Vision and Geology are covered, but so are less obvious traits such as Temperature Tolerance and Scuba. There are also a few new techniques and spells. Good, solid crunch the whole way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chapter 3 finishes with a section on equipment, including climbing gear, lighting, navigation equipment, protective clothing, scientific equipment, tools for digging, and vehicles. A bit over half have been previously described in GURPS Low-Tech, GURPS High-Tech, or GURPS Ultra-Tech, with the rest new. There is also a section on using explosives to break up rock, and a box on dowsing rods and the like, either as real magic or as quackery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chapter 4</b> is <i>Dwellers in the Darkness</i>. It features five short sections on the various kinds of creatures you might find underground with one or two examples of each. "Spirits of the Underworld" are represented by the spelid, the cave-dwelling variety of nymph. Griffins are given as example of a species of "Living Fossils" from an alternate history, and the Zwerg is a Neanderthal that has survived into the present day. "Cave Creatures" are represented by Scuttlers, fleshy worms with a paralytic bite that swarm over and devour the unwary. Nightfolk, who are trogdolytic humanoid carrion-eaters, represent "Burrowers." And "Life Under Pressure" describes the Crystalloids, sapient creatures who live on the surface of the Earth's solid iron core, in the sea of iron formed by its molten outer core. If you are wondering how a race that lives in such an extreme environment could ever interact with the PCs in your campaign, never fear. The chapter closes out with a Tech Level 11 surface suit for the Crystalloid explorer, and a box giving the under-the-hood mechanics for their stats.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chapter 5</b>, <i>Adventures Underground</i>, focuses on underground environments as the backdrop or setting for adventures. There is a box describing different sorts of cave, and sections on underground areas as recent discoveries, as ongoing excavations, and as entire worlds. This is followed by a page offering five campaign seeds, covering genres from fantasy to historical adventure to space-faring science fiction. This chapter is very short at only three pages, and I would rate it as the least useful part of the book. I find myself wishing that the ideas here had either been expanded upon or left out.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The book ends with a two-page appendix, <i>Recommended Reading</i> (which actually covers books, film, television, and music) and an index.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Strengths and Weaknesses</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main strength of this book, and it is a big one, is the great deal of crunch you get with it. This book packs quite a bit into 37 pages: 5 new templates, 3 new Talents, 2 new Standard Operating Procedure perks, 1 new Code of Honor, 4 new techniques, 6 new spells and 1 new form of Divination, 24 new pieces of equipment, including 3 new vehicles types, and 6 new creatures, not including the god Ymir.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the book is more than just a big pile of traits. The descriptions of the underground environment and the rules for dealing with them are integrated well, and the templates and creatures span a wide enough range of genres that just about any game will find something useful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As for weaknesses, it is difficult to find anything significant to complain about. As noted above, I thought the final chapter, Adventures Underground, was too brief to be very useful. Also, there's some inconsistency about wheelbarrows: an "average wheelbarrow load" is given as 0.1 cubic yards on page 13, but on page 26, we are told that a wheelbarrow "carries a load of six cubic feet," which is more than twice as much. If a flaw of that magnitude doesn't ruin your game, you will probably like the book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who will find this book useful?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For GURPS players, dungeon-delving games will obviously benefit from this book, but many other campaigns would benefit as well. Old West games have gold mines, horror games have ancient crypts, zombie survival games have ruined, partially-collapsed buildings, supers games have hidden underground lairs, and so on. The rules on senses and moving around in a constricted environment would be useful in environments that aren't even underground, such as a derelict space dreadnaught. I would recommend this book for just about any campaign, because if you read these rules, you will be looking for an excuse to send your players into a cave or a crypt or a subway tunnel or <i>something</i>. There's just something fun about exploring the dark underground that no other location can quite match.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For non-GURPS games, the book still offers many uses. The first chapter, aside from stats for the god Ymir and the damage calculations for destroying the Earth, is entirely system-neutral. The second chapter has information on hazards and unexpected conditions that would help in any system. The third chapter is largely concerned with GURPS mechanics, but the equipment list gives prices in dollars and weights in pounds, so it might not be too difficult to convert. The fourth chapter's creatures are GURPS-specific in their stats, but the ideas behind the stats might be useful. The fifth chapter is again system-neutral.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Style and Presentation</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The book is cleanly and clearly laid out. There is a table of contents and an index, both useful. The text is well-written and well-edited, and the only place I noticed a typo was in the index. I rate the text and layout a 5 out of 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The art, unfortunately, is typical for a GURPS publication. It ranges from uninspiring to bad, but there isn't very much of it. Apart from two small accent pieces, all the interior art is shown in a collage on the front cover, so if you look at the free preview, you can judge for yourself. There's nothing that's absolutely horrible, so I give the art a 2 out of 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>GURPS Underground Adventures</b></i> is an excellent book. If the PCs in your game ever venture underground, buy this book. If the PCs in your game don't ever venture underground, buy this book, and you will suddenly want them to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
(This review was also <a href="http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15825.phtml" target="_blank">posted to rpg.net</a> and the <a href="http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=105333" target="_blank">Steve Jackson Games forums</a>.)</span></div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-87539379853197468262013-03-01T02:54:00.000-08:002013-03-01T02:54:01.281-08:00GURPS Random Hit Location HomonculusHere's a simple visualization tool I made for those contemplating rolling on the random hit location table. It shows a human figure with body parts proportional to their odds of being hit. The areas are colored according to their hit location penalties.<br />
<br />
Hey, any opportunity to use the word "homonculus" is a good one.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/HitLocationHomonculus_zps86098b58.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/HitLocationHomonculus_zps86098b58.png" width="494" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hm. Gray tank top and green shorts, with blue tights underneath covering the arms and legs. Yellow gloves and shoes. And he's a big, beefy guy. Must be some sort of 80s action hero.</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-58069622630769193532013-02-27T07:03:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:14:10.069-08:00Random Dungeon Graffiti TablePeople scribble graffiti everywhere else, so why not dungeons? Lamentations, boasts, memorials, waymarks, gossip, threats, warnings, cryptic oddities -- they're all in there.<br />
<br />
And for more variety, I have included two bonus tables, one for the graffiti's medium, and one for the language. You might want to roll the message first, because not all languages and media will be appropriate to every message. Or, skip rolling and just pick what you like. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>Random Graffiti Medium Table</b> - Roll 3d6</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr> <td>3 </td> <td> Raised letters in stone formed by Shape Stone spell </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>4 </td> <td> Chiseled into stone </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>5 </td> <td> Etched into stone </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>6 </td> <td> Scratched into stone </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>7 </td> <td> Scratched in dirt or dust </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>8 </td> <td> Blood </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>9 </td> <td> Mud </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>10 </td> <td> Paint </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>11 </td> <td> Chalk </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>12 </td> <td> Charcoal </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>13 </td> <td> Whitewash </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>14 </td> <td> Ochre </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>15 </td> <td> Ashes </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>16 </td> <td> Fresh blood </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>17 </td> <td> Carefully painted calligraphy </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>18 </td> <td> Carefully painted calligraphy that glows magically </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<b>Random Graffiti Language Table</b> - Roll 3d6<br />
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr> <td>3 </td> <td>Old High Draconic </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>4 </td> <td>A sacred church language </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>5 </td> <td>Goblin </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>6 </td> <td>Elvish </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>7 </td> <td>Common, but in an ususual regional dialect </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>8 - 13 </td> <td>Common </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>14 </td> <td>Common, but in an archaic dialect </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>15 </td> <td>Dwarvish </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>16 </td> <td>Orcish </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>17 </td> <td>An ancient script -- roll vs. Hidden Lore (Ancient Languages) to decipher, or use magic </td> </tr>
<tr> <td>18 </td> <td>Demontongue </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<b>Random Dungeon Graffiti Table</b> - Roll 1d6, 1d6, 1d6</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 1 "Dorran, look for us in the white ch"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 2 An arrow on the floor pointing 3 degrees east of north</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 3 16 tally marks</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 4 "Safer in the dark"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 5 "Second sortie"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 1, 6 "Clear"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 1 "Stranger, know that Hemmond the Brave died here"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 2 "Bad water past here"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 3 "Silence"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 4 "Stairs" with an arrow</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 5 12 times 65 worked out in arithmetic</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 2, 6 "Terror"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 1 "Watch for spiders"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 2 "Gods preserve us"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 3 A map of the immediate area</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 4 "Ghost"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 5 "Fought raiders here"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 3, 6 "Sen is a thief"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 1 "The curse of the Empty Mind on those who stray from the path"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 2 "Morra was right"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 3 "Never trust a goblin"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 4 "Revenge"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 5 "5th camp"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 4, 6 "Angels watch"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 1 "The demon is with me still"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 2 "Can't kill"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 3 "Treasure gone"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 4 "Alone"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 5 "Never never never never never never"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 5, 6 "Outlet must be near"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 1 "Not worth it"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 2 "Take my body to Oried"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 3 "We will return"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 4 "Ten when the fever hit. Now two. Pray for us."</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 5 "Mother"</div>
<div class="p1">
1, 6, 6 "Gone"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 1 "Cursed be the King"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 2 "Many traps"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 3 "Red good black bad"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 4 "Don't stop here"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 5 "Better than you have died here"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 1, 6 "All humans die"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 1 "I found love, I lost love, I lost myself, death found me"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 2 "Get out while you can"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 3 "Ogre to north"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 4 A map of a nearby room with a sketch of a battle plan</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 5 "Go down to go up"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 2, 6 "The wraith has three fingers"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 1 "Knowledge is worth the price"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 2 "Left left right"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 3 "Water"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 4 "What riddle has no answer?"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 5 "We are brothers"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 3, 6 "Hope dies first"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 1 "Beware the vaksa"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 2 "In ten thousand hells / For ten thousand lifetimes / Ten thousand torments / Are not enough for you."</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 3 "Strike fast strike hard"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 4 "Bring more water"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 5 "In the silent room the"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 4, 6 "Five leagues southwest"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 1 "Lekki was mad I had to kill him"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 2 "Silver in well"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 3 "A blessing on you, stranger"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 4 "Treasure to fill thirty wagons we found here"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 5 "Cross the bridge quickly"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 5, 6 "Hobgoblins first"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 1 A horizontal line with vertical marks every 18 inches, 8 marks total</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 2 "8311"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 3 A large square on the floor, as if outlining a trap or pit</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 4 "Time"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 5 "The blue masks do not"</div>
<div class="p1">
2, 6, 6 "We fought four witches here"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 1 "Hall of kings"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 2 "Captain will return"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 3 "Weep, wretch"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 4 "Cut off that which weakens you"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 5 "No time"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 1, 6 "All returns to dust"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 1 "The Manican Brothers passed here"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 2 "Turn aside from wrath"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 3 "The arrow of Sebburus flies straight"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 4 "In the depths we found a place where the dead walk. We will not go back."</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 5 "I am the last"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 2, 6 "Frogs or snakes"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 1 "No life after this"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 2 "I abandoned my friends and they died. It's true, I am a coward. You would run too, if you saw what I saw."</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 3 "Keretz can't fight. He's no better than a mule."</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 4 "This place my tomb, and this my epitaph"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 5 "Last corridor"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 3, 6 "Gorgon"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 1 "Strength duty loyalty honor"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 2 "Elves got Harfan I will"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 3 "This Garzhad place you pass you die"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 4 "Were they good men or evil? No matter, their gold is mine now."</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 5 "She has poison"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 4, 6 "This is not the end"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 1 A group of ten dots in a triangular array</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 2 Two arrows, one pointing left and one pointing right</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 3 "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" (that's 27 times, if anyone counts)</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 4 "If you try to run you are already lost"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 5 "All is forgiven"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 5, 6 "Salt"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 1 "I warned him not to cheat"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 2 "This is the path"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 3 "185"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 4 "I hear the bells"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 5 "Six are near"</div>
<div class="p1">
3, 6, 6 "Kemel saw the demon and lived"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 1 "Count the teeth"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 2 "The son is greater than the father"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 3 "Guard"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 4 A pentagon with each side numbered, starting with 1 at the bottom and going around clockwise</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 5 "Cast off all burdens"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 1, 6 "We drew lots for the sacrifice. It was the only way. We will remember you, Tekfas."</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 1 "Stand your ground"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 2 A circle divided into quarters</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 3 "Three months and five days"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 4 "Two to go"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 5 "The wizard Zo is a poor employer"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 2, 6 "Know the hour"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 1 "No swords"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 2 Three arrows pointing right</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 3 "The tower"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 4 "Stay out of the mist"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 5 "Worms"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 3, 6 "Drink not from the cup of despair"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 1 "Looks bad"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 2 "Turn"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 3 "Survive"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 4 "No one hears prayers in this place"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 5 "Tomb empty"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 4, 6 "Leave the dead to the dead"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 1 "Ruby cursed"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 2 "Stand on the stone at the back of the south chamber. Turn three times, face the wall, and pronounce the name "Theken" three times. Great will be the blessing."</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 3 "The omens have proved that I shall triumph"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 4 "I stand and wait"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 5 "Seven swans, seven swimming swans, swimming circles, seven swans"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 5, 6 "The men of Regeg-Hol are cowards"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 1 "Judgement"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 2 "We agreed to equal shares, but we did not share in death"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 3 "I see your skull beneath your face"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 4 "There"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 5 "No torches"</div>
<div class="p1">
4, 6, 6 "A-larkey lay lie lie"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 1 "Both ways"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 2 "We are illusions, you and I"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 3 "Six shadows east maybe more"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 4 "The priests of the great temple in Lutar-peng are corrupt"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 5 "Human elf dwarf gnoll orc gnome" All of these except "gnoll" is crossed out</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 1, 6 "Do not run across the bridge"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 1 "Make haste"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 2 "I dreamt I was the sky"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 3 "I did not know such beauty could exist in the world"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 4 "Why do they dance?"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 5 "The prisoner deserves his fate"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 2, 6 "I cannot find the passage"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 1 "Gleefully we arrived, sorrowfully we depart"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 2 "There is a new king under the earth"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 3 "That elf deserved it"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 4 "Enough graves"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 5 "The skin has come loose"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 3, 6 "Catastrophe"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 1 "Tunnel under bridge"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 2 "I should have brought more rope"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 3 "Our maps are worthless"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 4 "A panther stalks me"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 5 "When the third bell tolls, the sparrow flies"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 4, 6 "Blood in the water"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 1 "They won't stop laughing" repeated over and over again. If someone bothers to count, 52 times.</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 2 "The statement below this one is true" / "The statement below this one is true" / "One of these statements is false"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 3 "Bring a gift for the golden man"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 4 "Right two, left three, right one, left one, right three"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 5 "Master Metri cheats at cards"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 5, 6 "The greatest virtue is stubborness. The greatest sin is stubbornness."</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 1 "The good are not great and the great are not good"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 2 "Dwell not on idle questions"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 3 "Break the jar"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 4 "Listen"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 5 "Sharat"</div>
<div class="p1">
5, 6, 6 "Better orcs than rats"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 1 Six crescents facing rightwards</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 2 "She is watching"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 3 "Of all the evils that dwell here, the hornets were the worst"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 4 "The fool of a wizard brought us here for a book. Can he read it while he's dead?"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 5 "Carry a coin in your mouth"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 1, 6 "A cursed arrow strikes twice"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 1 "The purest will survive"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 2 "Catch mice, catch cats"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 3 "You can never get clean down here"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 4 "If you have survived the grinding wheels, thank Geppias"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 5 A clock face with the hands showing 14 minutes past 7</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 2, 6 "Unknown unseen"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 1 "Which way?"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 2 "The Tower"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 3 "A faithful heart is my shield"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 4 "Silver and gold, silver and gold / Are not such treasures as you've been told"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 5 "Light the fire, douse the fire"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 3, 6 "The moss gives you blisters"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 1 "Do you hunt me, or do I hunt you? Let us meet in the crypt and end this."</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 2 Two vertical lines, half an inch apart, running from floor to ceiling</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 3 "We killed the creature and threw its body into the fire. The skull would not burn. We buried it here. If the gods are merciful, it will not rise again."</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 4 "Mystas is no hit with the ladies"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 5 "The demoness has fled this lair. We seek her next in Pertegua."</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 4, 6 "If we walk in the lands of the dead, where shall our spirits know peace?"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 1 "The mind sharpens the blade, the blade sharpens the mind"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 2 Four squares arranged in a square</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 3 "Time emptied these halls, and time will fill them yet"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 4 "I hope that those who read this are not as lost as I"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 5 "Speak my name and be free"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 5, 6 "I swear by all the gods that if I am delivered from this hell I will build a chapel at Menhad"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 1 "Illumination"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 2 "Hail Uld, god of warriors, protector of men in battle"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 3 "There are three tribes of orcs, and they will fight each other if you can provoke them"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 4 "Cold"</div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 5 An alchemical symbol -- roll on the <a href="http://rollandshout.blogspot.com/2013/02/random-alchemical-symbol-table.html" target="_blank">Random Alchemical Symbol Table</a></div>
<div class="p1">
6, 6, 6 "Goodbye"</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-5837857613775269042013-02-25T02:49:00.000-08:002013-02-25T02:49:00.092-08:00Circus Sophia PortraitHere's the Circus Sophia, the adventuring party in my GURPS fantasy game.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/CircusSophia106_zps9944f4ff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/CircusSophia106_zps9944f4ff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Esmond, Quexechetl, Sophie, Talman, Ganz, and Fiorio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please note that Quexechetl should actually be tan in color, and Ganz's cape should be green. We have to work with the Legos we've got.<br />
<br />
Those plastic bases are exactly 1 inch across, which works out great for me because we normally play on a hex mat. You can get them from Cat's Paw Productions <a href="http://catspawcustoms.com/products_new.php" target="_blank">here</a>. They come in two-stud and four-stud versions, and cost US$1 each.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-65707148445113912092013-02-22T02:11:00.000-08:002013-02-22T02:11:00.282-08:00Random Alchemical Symbol TableIn case you suddenly need to whip up a recipe for a potion. Or perhaps you'd like a mysterious symbol to appear somewhere.<br />
<br />
Please note that alchemical notation varied widely, and I make no representation that the symbols I use here are the best or most common symbols used for any particular substance. They are all drawn from reputable sources, and I picked the ones I liked.<br />
<br />
Roll 1d6, 1d6<br />
<br />
<br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr> <td>1, 1 Earth
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Earth20_zps5b58a71d.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Earth photo Earth20_zps5b58a71d.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Earth20_zps5b58a71d.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>1, 2 Water
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Water20_zps827b3a4a.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Water photo Water20_zps827b3a4a.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Water20_zps827b3a4a.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>1, 3 Air
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Air20_zps54cb3574.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Air photo Air20_zps54cb3574.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Air20_zps54cb3574.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>1, 4 Fire
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Fire20_zps3be5f912.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Fire photo Fire20_zps3be5f912.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Fire20_zps3be5f912.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>1, 5 Gold
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Gold20_zpsba7b70c6.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Gold photo Gold20_zpsba7b70c6.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Gold20_zpsba7b70c6.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>1, 6 Silver
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Silver20_zps0e1ab5cb.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Silver photo Silver20_zps0e1ab5cb.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Silver20_zps0e1ab5cb.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 1 Mercury
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Mercury20_zpsee05935b.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mercury photo Mercury20_zpsee05935b.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Mercury20_zpsee05935b.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 2 Copper
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Copper20_zps3ddec532.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Copper photo Copper20_zps3ddec532.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Copper20_zps3ddec532.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 3 Iron
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Iron20_zpse9e90c24.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Iron photo Iron20_zpse9e90c24.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Iron20_zpse9e90c24.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 4 Tin
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Tin20_zps8cc81bcd.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Tin photo Tin20_zps8cc81bcd.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Tin20_zps8cc81bcd.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 5 Lead
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Lead20_zpse809f365.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lead photo Lead20_zpse809f365.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Lead20_zpse809f365.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>2, 6 Zinc
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Zinc20_zpsc4e4f1b8.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Zinc photo Zinc20_zpsc4e4f1b8.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Zinc20_zpsc4e4f1b8.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 1 Arsenic
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Arsenic20_zpsff250203.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Arsenic photo Arsenic20_zpsff250203.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Arsenic20_zpsff250203.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 2 Antimony
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Antimony20_zpsaa9b8e0c.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Antimony photo Antimony20_zpsaa9b8e0c.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Antimony20_zpsaa9b8e0c.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 3 Bismuth
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Bismuth20_zps972a4f64.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Bismuth photo Bismuth20_zps972a4f64.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Bismuth20_zps972a4f64.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 4 Cinnabar
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Cinnabar20_zps1922f900.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Cinnabar photo Cinnabar20_zps1922f900.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Cinnabar20_zps1922f900.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 5 Borax
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Borax20_zps96256a7e.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Borax photo Borax20_zps96256a7e.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Borax20_zps96256a7e.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>3, 6 Lodestone
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Lodestone20_zps306c5742.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Lodestone photo Lodestone20_zps306c5742.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Lodestone20_zps306c5742.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 1 Aqua Vitae
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/AquaVitae20_zpsf3080115.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Aqua Vitae photo AquaVitae20_zpsf3080115.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/AquaVitae20_zpsf3080115.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 2 Aqua Fortis
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/AquaFortis20_zps1df3f73d.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Aqua Fortis photo AquaFortis20_zps1df3f73d.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/AquaFortis20_zps1df3f73d.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 3 Aqua Regia
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/AquaRegia20_zps33ce9c6b.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Aqua Regia photo AquaRegia20_zps33ce9c6b.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/AquaRegia20_zps33ce9c6b.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 4 Vitriol
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Vitriol20_zps90a700e8.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Vitriol photo Vitriol20_zps90a700e8.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Vitriol20_zps90a700e8.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 5 Oil
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Oil20_zps8b67f905.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Oil photo Oil20_zps8b67f905.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Oil20_zps8b67f905.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>4, 6 Milk
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Milk20_zps523c39e2.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Milk photo Milk20_zps523c39e2.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Milk20_zps523c39e2.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 1 Amber
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Amber20_zps452911ac.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Amber photo Amber20_zps452911ac.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Amber20_zps452911ac.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 2 Alkalai
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Alkalai20_zps486e9bc4.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Alkalai photo Alkalai20_zps486e9bc4.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Alkalai20_zps486e9bc4.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 3 Ashes
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Ashes20_zps2e63a969.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Ashes photo Ashes20_zps2e63a969.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Ashes20_zps2e63a969.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 4 Soap
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Soap20_zps52eb6415.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Soap photo Soap20_zps52eb6415.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Soap20_zps52eb6415.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 5 Nitre
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Nitre20_zpsaf3a4594.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Nitre photo Nitre20_zpsaf3a4594.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Nitre20_zpsaf3a4594.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>5, 6 Quicklime
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Quicklime20_zpsd7959506.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Quicklime photo Quicklime20_zpsd7959506.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Quicklime20_zpsd7959506.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 1 Sal Ammonaic
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/SalAmmoniac20_zps89c43b6b.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sal Ammonaic photo SalAmmoniac20_zps89c43b6b.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/SalAmmoniac20_zps89c43b6b.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 2 Salt
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Salt20_zps48e1c43d.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Salt photo Salt20_zps48e1c43d.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Salt20_zps48e1c43d.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 3 Sulfur
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Sulfur20_zpsbcbb47cc.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sulfur photo Sulfur20_zpsbcbb47cc.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Sulfur20_zpsbcbb47cc.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 4 Verdigris
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Verdigris20_zps26bbbf74.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Verdigris photo Verdigris20_zps26bbbf74.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Verdigris20_zps26bbbf74.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 5 Vinegar
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Vinegar20_zps83387610.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Vinegar photo Vinegar20_zps83387610.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Vinegar20_zps83387610.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>6, 6 Wax
</td><td align="center"><a href="http://s1280.beta.photobucket.com/user/ChrisConner/media/Wax20_zpsccdeac1a.gif.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Wax photo Wax20_zpsccdeac1a.gif" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Wax20_zpsccdeac1a.gif" /></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-78984105938768071562013-02-20T02:04:00.000-08:002013-02-20T02:04:00.845-08:00Special Collections -- a campaign ideaHere is a lighthearted approach to hunting monsters that I thought would be fun. As with most of my ideas, whether campaigns or one-shots, I'll probably never have the time to run it.<br />
<br />
<b>Name</b>: Special Collections <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Genre</b>: Monster Hunters</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The
Background</b>: Since the late 19th century, strange artifacts and curious specimens have found their way into the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Over time, other federal and state agencies began to rely upon the Smithsonian to clean up anything situation that carried the whiff of the occult. During the 1930s and through World War II, these situations grew from mere curiosities to serious threats to the welfare of the nation. In 1948, after the Roswell crash showed that the Air Force was unprepared to deal with extraterrestrial threats, President Truman officially gave responsibility for all paranormal investigations to the Institution, including alien visitations, hauntings, cursed artifacts, demonic possessions, esoteric technologies, and infestations of undead.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Organization</b>: The Smithsonian Institution is the
nation's formost authority on paranormal phenomena and technology. It
is led by Secretary G. Wayne Clough (Georgia Tech '64), a
practical-minded leader and a civil engineer by training. The Secretary
serves under the 17-member Board of Regents, a body made up of prominent
politicians and academics and which includes Chief Justice John Roberts
and Vice President Joe Biden. The Institution's vast collections and
state-of-the-art research facilities serve a staff of 17,000 scholars
and researchers, a select few of whom work in the area of Special
Collections.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Team</b>: You are a member of the Special
Collections Office of the Smithsonian Institution. You are an expert in a
field covered by one of the member museums of the Institution. You might
be an expert in extraterrestrial biology and technology working in the
National Air and Space Museum, or an expert in secret societies working
at the National Museum of American History, or an expert on
cryptozoology working at the National Zoo. Alternately, you might be a
liaison from the Library of Congress, specializing in holdings from
Class X: Secrets Man Was Not Meant to Know. But you're not just a scholar -- you're a member of the Field Team, trained in the <i>practical</i> side of collections as well as the academic. You are on call around the clock, ready at any time to pack your revolver, bullwhip, and field guild </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Mission</b>: Whatever your background, your job is
simple: discover, locate, and collect objects of paranormal interest for
return to the Institution, where they can be studied and kept from
harming the public. In some cases -- many cases, actually -- the
artefacts or specimens may put up a fight, and it's your job to quietly
subdue them while minimizing public danger and public exposure.
Remember, intact specimens are more valuable to science. Typical jobs
would be preventing General George Armstrong Custer from recruiting
young Army veterans into his Ghost Cavalry, trapping a wendigo that
wandered down from Canada, or thwarting the aliens who are <i>still</i> trying
to recover the wreckage from that crash in Roswell. Oh, and visitors to
the National Portrait Gallery have been disappearing lately -- could you
look into that?</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-7162874758173745262013-02-18T10:13:00.000-08:002013-02-18T15:59:55.196-08:00Map of LodeaHere's where my GURPS fantasy campaign takes place. My cartography is not the best, but having a map is better than not having a map.<br />
<br />
Lodea is situated just west of an isthmus that connects two continents. To the east is Hevria, the multinational civilization of which Lodea is a part. To the west is the Gondan Empire, an aggressive, expansionist empire that has invaded Lodea and is trying to incorporate it as a province. To the south, across the sea, is Turria, an arid land divided amongst many feuding tribes.<br />
<br />
To the north is the Bekel, a mountainous area that was once home to dwarven kingdoms, until orcs and dragons invaded and drove the dwarves out. That's where the Circus Sophia is right now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Lodeahighres_zpsdf5b3d14.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a496/ChrisConner/Lodeahighres_zpsdf5b3d14.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Yeah, my mountains kind of look like Hershey's Kisses, don't they? My next map will be better.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-29546440036855969152013-02-15T02:19:00.000-08:002013-02-15T02:19:00.586-08:00Optional rules in Basic SetOn the GURPS forums recently, Refplace started a thread on <a href="http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=104211" target="_blank">which optional rules are suitable for which genres of play</a>. The discussion, unfortunately, did not get very far, but it made me think about listing which optional rules I use.<br />
<br />
To do this, I thought I'd better figure out what the optional rules are, to begin with, so I flipped through Characters and Campaigns and listed all the rules that are labeled optional, or that include language like "the GM may wish to allow..." or "the GM may wish to prohibit...."I was a little surprised at how many there are. I was also surprised to find out what's on the list -- techniques as a whole, for instance, are explicitly optional. I never knew that before.<br />
<br />
So here is the list. Rules I use in my campaign are in <b>bold</b>. Rules I don't use are <strike>struck through</strike>. Rules that don't even apply to my campaign (TL3 fantasy) are in<span style="font-size: x-small;"> small text</span>. Rules that I probably would allow, but I've never thought much about it because it's never come up, are in <i>italics</i>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Limitations on Status unless accompanied by Wealth or Rank in classless societies, B28</span><br />
<i>
Potential advantages, B33</i><br />
<b>Exotic and Supernatural traits, B34</b><br />
<strike>
Alternative Attacks for Strikers, B61</strike><br />
<b>
Custom Talents, B91</b><br />
<b>
Modifiers, B101</b><br />
<i>
Limited Enhancements, B111</i><br />
<i>
Buying off leveled disadvantages one level at a time, B121</i><br />
<strike>
Wildcard skills, B175</strike><br />
<b>
Techniques, B229</b><br />
<i>
Omitting racial traits, B262</i><br />
<strike>
Modifying Dice + Adds, B269</strike><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
Malfunction for firearms and grenades, B279, B407</span><br />
<strike>
Maintaining skills, B294</strike><br />
<b>
Influencing Success Rolls, B347</b><br />
<strike>
More detailed jumping rules, B352</strike><br />
<b>
Extra Effort in combat, B357</b><br />
<strike>Fast damage resolution for multiple hits, B379</strike><br />
<b>
Tactical combat, B384</b><br />
<strike>
Changing posture in armor, B395<br />
Bulletproof nudity, B417<br />
Cannon fodder, B417<br />
Cinematic explosions, B417<br />
Cinematic knockback, B417<br />
Flesh wounds, B417<br />
Infinite ammunition, B417<br />
Melee etiquette, B417<br />
TV action violence, B417</strike><br />
<b>
Dual-Weapon Attack, B417</b><br />
<strike>
Bleeding, B420<br />
Accumulated wounds, B420</strike><br />
<i>
Last wounds, B420</i><br />
<b>Starvation and Dehydration, B426</b><br />
<i>
Losing advantages or gaining disadvantages through aging, B444<br />
Player-created races, B451<br />
New inventions, B473<br />
Funding for inventions, B474</i><br />
<strike>
Detailed HP calculation, B483</strike><br />
<strike>
Damage to shields, B484<br />
Time use sheets, B499<br />
Shared campaigns, B504</strike>Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-80637912391146719872013-02-13T02:02:00.000-08:002013-02-13T02:02:00.837-08:00Game Session 2013/01/27<div class="MsoNormal">
Sophie O'Griffin, human, the leader and ringmaster. Played
by EM.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Esmond Gellert, human, trick-shot archer and dog trainer.
Played by MK.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ganz, elf, stage magician and wizard. Played by JC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quexechetl, lizard man, strongman and wrestler. Played by
KF.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talman, half-elf, acrobat. Played by JM.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fiorio, human, a peasant with a knack for playing to the
crowd that the circus picked up along the way. Played as an NPC.</div>
<br />
<br />
<b>June 25, 850</b><br />
<br />
When we last saw our adventurers, they had followed the boy-king Miklo, who had strayed away from his army, to an old dwarven lookout post in the Bekel. Ganz's spell revealed that there were enemies somewhere behind the door that led into the mountainside, and the circus performers heard footsteps approaching from the other side....<br />
<br />
Sophie pushed King Miklo behind her, Talman and Quexechetl faced off against the door, and Esmond drew and nocked an arrow. All eyes were on the door, as it opened and revealed not orcs, but goblins.<br />
<br />
Quexechetl was caught a little off because he was expecting orcs, but Talman's spear and Esmonds arrows quickly dropped the three goblins. Sophie turned to grab King Miklo and carry him to safely, and saw a stranger standing in the doorway, also trying to grab the king. Sophie was quicker. She swept up the King and pushed past the man to get the him outside.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"And they shall call me...Goblin-dropper!"</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>JM (Talman)</i></span></div>
<br />
"Come, boys, get out of there," the stranger called to the King's companions. The two other boys weren't sure which way to go, but then Fiorio ushered them outside. By that time, the action with the goblins was all over. A quick check past the door showed a narrow corridor that ran into the mountain for a half-dozen yards and then turned to the left. It carried on as far as the dim light that Ganz conjured would show.<br />
<br />
Outside, Sophie saw that the man had a companion, an elf. From their clothes, Sophie figured they must be scouts in the employ of one of the lords marching with the army -- or, perhaps, that was only what they wished to look like. They carried bows and wore cloaks, the human's gray, and the elf's a patchwork of greens.<br />
<br />
King Miklo wanted to go back and see the goblins, and with the danger past, everyone figured there was no harm in it. It turned out that two of the goblins were alive, though unconscious. Sophie roused one of them and questioned him. After a few false starts, she learned that he spoke no Lodean, but some broken Gondan. Terrified and in great pain from the arrow in his chest, he told them they were scouts, and a ways down the passage -- "tunnel and tunnel and tunnel" -- there was a fortress with a great many orcs. Sophie thought this might be useful intelligence, so she bandaged up the goblin and had Quexechetl carry him back down the mountainside.<br />
<br />
King Miklo and his two friends came along willingly, since they had seen about all that there was to see at the lookout post. The two strangers, scouts or whatever they were, said they were traveling with Lord Haimel. Once the King was back with the army and his regular bodyguards caught sight of him, Sophie asked what he thought should be done with the goblin. "We ought to find Count Anelmo," he decided. So they marched toward the Count's banner.<br />
<br />
Count Anelmo proved to be someone of consequence in the army. He was gathered with a number of other noblemen, including Lord Fels. Sophie noticed Lord Fels quietly shake his head at her, but she wasn't sure what that meant. She showed the noblemen the wounded goblin and explained what they had learned, but her audience was unimpressed. They knew all about the castle, having visited this part of the Bekel in years past, and expected it to be defended. In fact they were waiting for an advance party of knights to return with intelligence.<br />
<br />
Since no one seemed to have any use for it or care what happened to it, Talman put the goblin out of its misery. The circus left the king with his knights, and went back to their wagon as the army got moving again.<br />
<br />
It was not long before they came into sight of a ruined city, or at least a large town, with a somewhat less ruined castle overlooking it. Sure enough, the walls were defended by orcs. While the baggage train set up a camp, the knights and men at arms began to make sallies against the castle, testing the resolve of the orcs and looking for weak spots in their defenses. It was late in the day, so they made no more than a few charges.<br />
<br />
Sophie thought she ought to call on Lord Fels and let him know about the man and the elf who had been at the dwarven lookout. He was not at his tent, so she waited. Meanwhile, the other members of the circus put in a little practice at their various arts. While Esmond was practicing archery, he noticed that he had gained an audience: the man in the gray cloak.<br />
<br />
He introduced himself as Borov, and complimented Esmond on his skill. He said that he and his elven friend, Lutzog, planned to go hunting in the morning, and asked Esmond if he would like to go along. Esmond agreed, and Borov said he would find the circus's tent around dawn.<br />
<br />
Sophie, meanwhile, waited until after sundown for Lord Fels to return. One of his servants invited her into his tent, and she told him about the day's events. Fels agreed that the two supposed scouts were a little suspicious, and asked her to keep an eye on them. She left, found out where they were camping, and chatted them up over the campfire. She learned that they been with the army since Nalfavor, where they entered the service of Lord Haimel, a Willanese. They seemed to be on the up-and-up, not trying to hide anything, so after a few rounds of dice (in which Sophie won a few pennies) she returned to the circus tent.<br />
<br />
The performers conferred and decided that Borov and Lutzog merited a close watch and some precautions, so Quexechetl was volunteered to go with Esmond on the hunt the next morning.<br />
<br />
<b>June 26, 850</b><br />
<br />
Just at dawn, Borov and Lutzog showed up at the circus tent. Esmond explained Quexechetl's presence by explaining that he could flush game for the three archers, and the two scouts made no objection. Quexechetl was worried that the army would attack the castle while he was away and he would miss his chance to fight orcs, but word around the camp was that the army wouldn't make their big push that day.<br />
<br />
The hunting party set out for the hills. Esmond bagged a rabbit, but as for bigger game, between the Lodean army and the orcs it seemed to have already been hunted out. Around noon they all sat down to eat and watch the probing attacks the king's army was making against the old castle. This caught Quexechetl's attention very well, and Lutzog, the elf, sat beside the lizardman and kept up a running commentary on the battle.<br />
<br />
A little ways away, Borov sat beside Esmond and worked the conversation around to Esmond's choice of occupation. Wasn't it a bit odd, he asked, for a man of Esmond's obvious talents to make his living as an entertainer? Didn't he think that there was more he could be doing for the good of the world?<br />
<br />
Esmond replied that he felt attached to the circus, because they had been good friends of his. Borov spoke plainly, then. He said that he and Lutzog were memebers of a brotherhood of travelers, wanderers of the roads and the wilderness who were dedicated to protecting the helpless from the evils of the world. They had no lord or commander, but answered the call for help whenever they heard it. And if Esmond was interested, he could join them for a forest gathering when they returned to Lodea.<br />
<br />
Esmond said he would be glad to, and silently felt relief at learning that the two scouts weren't secretly plotting to kill the king or the Circus Sophia or anything. Borov asked after Panzal, explaining that it was Esmond's hat that made him think he might be a fellow wanderer in the first place.[1] Panzal was just fine, Esmond said, and now that Borov pointed it out, he could see the Panzal's meticulous workmanship in the cloaks that Borov and Lutzog wore.<br />
<br />
They made it easier to blend into the rocks and grass, Borov explained, and Esmond agreed that they worked well, since he hadn't seen them at all when he followed the King up to the dwarven lookout.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"I noticed how good you were at not being noticed."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>MK (Esmond)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Afte<span style="font-size: small;">r eating,</span></span></span> the hunters returned to their work. Esmond shot another two rabbits and Borov and Lutzog bagged one each. Quexechetl tried his luck with the bolas he had made, but he never managed to find a good target.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Quexechetl's disappointment was magnified when, as the hunters descended from the hills, they saw King Miklo's army make a general attack on the orcs, which went splendidly. The attackers found a weak spot in the wall, breached it, streamed in, and soon had the orcs dead or fleeing in a rout. Quexechetl could only watch from the distance as his chances of getting into the fighting slipped away.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Back at the camp, Borov and Lutzog went their own way, and Esmond explained to Sophie that all the two scouts wanted was to make his acquaintance and perhaps recruit him into a group of informal guardians of the road. All the other entertainers thought this was a bit odd, but agreed that it explained why they might seem to be keeping too close an eye on the King -- it was after all the same thing the Circus Sophia was doing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All the fighting seemed to be over up at the castle, so the whole circus hiked up to take a look at the aftermath of the battle. They were stopped by a little knot of men-at-arms at the gatehouse, who explained that it wasn't safe inside. Quexechetl immediately asked what the most not-safe part of the castle was.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of the men began to explain that an ogre was still alive and barricaded in yonder tower, and that the knights were discussing who would get the honor of going in and -- when suddenly, with a great crash, the ogre bashed through the crumbling stonework of the old castle and leapt out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ogre, already with a couple of arrows in his back, sprang up and ran for the ruins of the city. Quexechetl was after him like a rabbit. Esmond and Talman, seeing that Quexechetl was determined to fight something that day, chased after, and the rest of the circus trailed after them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Esmond alternated running and shooting, and though he put three arrows into the ogre's leg, he didn't seen to slow him down at all. Quexechetl threw his bolas, but they just wrapped around the ogre's waist, apparently doing him no harm. The ogre was huge, probably eight or nine feet tall, and ran with gigantic strides. He had opened up a lead of about fifty yards when he reached the walls of the ruined city and disappeared inside.</div>
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Quexechetl was behind by only a few seconds, but saw nothing but streets overgrown with grass and tumbled-down walls when he entered the city. He looked around in vain, but when Esmond and Talman caught up, Esmond was able to spot the tracks and trial of blood easily.</div>
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The ogre hadn't gone far. A little ways down the street, he had found another ruin to hole up in. Quexechetl immediately charged in. The ogre threw a massive stone block at him, but it missed, and fortunately also missed Esmond, right behind him. Quexechetl ran forward and grappled the ogre with both arms and his jaws.</div>
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The ogre screamed and pounded at Quexechetl, who hung on and found the ogre's throat with his teeth. Though the hide was awfully tough, the lizardman tasted blood, so he knew he must be doing some harm. Esmond, meanwhile, poured arrow after arrow into the huge creature, while Talman stabbed at it with his spear.</div>
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The ogre managed to connect with Quexechetl twice, and the lizardman took a couple of blows that would have flattened most men, but the fight was soon over. Talman had stabbed the ogre in both eyes, blinding him, and in winding up to swing at Quexechetl, the ogre managed to pound his elbow into the wall behind him, breaking it and making his arm useless.</div>
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The other members of the circus, arriving just after the fight started, weren't of much use. Sophie tried to help out by snagging one of the ogre's legs with her cloak in order to trip him, but all she managed to do was get the cloak torn off her back after entangling a leg. At the end, Fiorio even tried to make an attack with a knife, but he missed, and the final blow went to Talman.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"And they shall call me...Ogre-dropper!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>JM (Talman) </i></span></div>
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Seeing that the fight was over, Ganz dropped the spell he had been preparing, and instead cast a magical cleaning spell over the others' clothing, since they were covered in ogre blood. Right behind them, the circus heard the sound of knights and men-at-arms approaching.</div>
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<b>Wrapping it up</b><br />
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Yay, a fight! And a potential plot hook for further use! I glossed over it above, but Quexechetl, besides working his bite on the ogres throat, also tried Wrench Neck a couple of times, which was utterly ineffective, the ogre being so monstrously strong. I think Quexechetl was a little disappointed that the others were responsible for most of the damage.<br />
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[1] Fiuzo Panzal is the eccentric, reclusive alchemist that the Circus got most of their magic items from. Panzal offered them in exchange for capturing and returning some of his foxhawk hybrids that had escaped.</div>
Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231489787595838853.post-48461137411005272822013-02-11T11:10:00.003-08:002013-02-19T11:10:40.441-08:00My combat crib sheetFolks over on the G+ GURPS community are talking about <a href="https://plus.google.com/102703620953237752645/posts/erLhRKRB9C6" target="_blank">combat cheat sheets</a>. If you haven't seen <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10971026/Combat%20Maneuvers%20Cheat%20Sheet%202.04.pdf" target="_blank">ONKL's Combat Maneuvers Cheat Sheet</a>, it's an extremely useful resource.<br />
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But ONKL's sheet has firearms rules on it, which I don't need for my fantasy campaign, and the type is very small, which would be a problem for some. So using ONKLs sheet as a basis (okay, okay, blatantly ripping off ONKL's work) I made my own version. I cut out the hit location effects, the weapon stats explanations, and everything to do with firearms.<br />
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Here is the result, in <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=2629E4B040299389!108&authkey=!AJl8KKk9kSTR5bs" target="_blank">pdf format</a> and in <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=2629E4B040299389!107&authkey=!AKE9CyvTFW3Emis" target="_blank">Microsoft Word format</a>, in case you want to edit it yourself. The sheet includes:<br />
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Combat maneuvers<br />
Attack options<br />
Active defenses<br />
Defense options<br />
Damage types<br />
Size and speed/range table<br />
Hit locations<br />
Critical hit table<br />
Critical miss table<br />
Posture effects table<br />
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I hope the links work properly. I tried using Google Drive, but no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to share the files without requiring a login.Grouchy Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.com4