Robin Smallburrow wrote:I assume the hero dice roll result is at the top and the adversary one is at the bottom??
The top one is the "attack test panel". If the hero is attacking, you will find here the player roll with natural color dice. If the hero is defending, then you will find the LM roll with gray color dice.
The bottom one is the "protection test panel". If the hero is attacking and is a piercing blow, you will find here the LM roll with gray color dice. If the hero is defending, then you will find the player roll with natural color dice.
Furthermore, the player dice and TN are ever on the left side of the "vs.", and the GM dice and TN are ever on the right side of the "vs.".
Robin Smallburrow wrote:And are you supposed to hit the 'attack' button for each hero first, then the 'defend' button for whichever PC is being attacked?
The button labels are just in the hero perspective. When the enemy attacks, the button in his side (the right side) reads "defend" instead of "enemy attack", simply because is shorter =P
Robin Smallburrow wrote:Are you going to provide options later for when the PC's are successfully ambushed and/or surprised (since whoever has initiative has a HUGE advantage)?
The program is not a simulator, but a calculator. Players and loremaster have the freedom to choose who faces who in that moment and as it does, the weapons used, etc.. Once the initiative is determined the system allows any of the two groups to start attacking. If the enemy has the initiative, just select each one an his hero opponent and press "defend."
If the player wants to perform a task rather than a attack, or lose a turn to make a prepared attack, he's free to do so. Difficulty modifiers provide an extra axis of freedom. The system allows some house rules to determining the initiative too, for example is these aren't based on "enemies turn" and "heros turn" and use instead mixed turns.
Robin Smallburrow wrote:What about Opening Volleys and Preliminary Battle Rolls - i notice 'terrain used to advantage' comes up, so I assume something is built in??
The opening volleys can be perfectly calculated using the same system. Volleys can be made using PCs or NPCs unconscious to emulate the effect of simultaneous attacks. The LM may allow the character as many continuous attacks as necessary. Also you can decrease difficulty while the 2 groups are approaching using the modifiers.
The Preliminary Battle Rolls should be made prior to the fight. Some people use "Insight" to find weaknesses in the enemy's fighting style instead of "Battle". It is ultimately the same, winning success dies to spend during combat. And the system allow the heros to use the dies when they want.
I'm glad you were giving it a try. Feel free to ask and propose changes while you use it!