Monster Combat House Rules

[Glorelendil]

Just for the sake of conversation (ie, not trying to convince anyone)...
someone is familiar with the system of The Riddle of Steel or the newer Blades of the Iron Throne?

In a nugget, the key of these system is that, in a single round, you either attack, or defend. Not both.
Who got the initiative dclares first if attacking and defending, and in the event of a mutual attack, his attack connect first.
Whoever rolled highest in the attack or defense roll, got the initiative in the next round.

I use this system, and I found it models the combats against Trolls in very convincing way: the Troll concede initiative, then he declares an attack on whoever declared an attack on him, so the result is a reciprocal automatic hit. Nobody can exchange hits this way with a Troll.

I will confess to a fascination with turn-less "simultaneous resolution" games. I haven't seen an RPG that does it, but Diplomacy and Ace of Aces are two of my favorite games. I'd love to see it done well in an RPG.

[Deadmanwalking]

Just for the sake of conversation (ie, not trying to convince anyone)...
someone is familiar with the system of The Riddle of Steel or the newer Blades of the Iron Throne?

In a nugget, the key of these system is that, in a single round, you either attack, or defend. Not both.
Who got the initiative dclares first if attacking and defending, and in the event of a mutual attack, his attack connect first.
Whoever rolled highest in the attack or defense roll, got the initiative in the next round.

I use this system, and I found it models the combats against Trolls in very convincing way: the Troll concede initiative, then he declares an attack on whoever declared an attack on him, so the result is a reciprocal automatic hit. Nobody can exchange hits this way with a Troll.

I will confess to a fascination with turn-less "simultaneous resolution" games. I haven't seen an RPG that does it, but Diplomacy and Ace of Aces are two of my favorite games. I'd love to see it done well in an RPG.

The Riddle of Steel (which is an RPG) has an excellent implementation of that which, having been come up with by people associated with ARMA, apparently represents real sword-fighting pretty well (or so people I know who do that sort of thing tell me). Which is, y'know, pretty cool, though it makes for a really deadly (and not particularly simple) system.

Though, for the record, it does have several 'combat maneuvers' that combine attack and defense to some degree (they're just technically classified as attacks and are risky vs. equally skilled opponents for various reasons). The Troll likely wouldn't bother with those, mind you...

[Rich H]

I always have thought Pendragon does combat resolution incredibly well. It's quick, simple, and can be wonderfully brutal.

[Terisonen]

I always have thought Pendragon does combat resolution incredibly well. It's quick, simple, and can be wonderfully brutal.

I totally subscribe to that, to have used this sytem for years. Two D20, and it's over.