Escape combat to change engagement?

[JoeArcher]

Can a character escape combat and then the next round of combat return and engage someone else? The way it's written in the rules, make it seem like a permanent thing, but it seems a bit strange that it can't be used to regroup. How do other LMs handle this?

[Hermes Serpent]

You usually can't leave combat to change target. Leaving combat isn't always easy and usually involves Fleeing for your life - Athletics test as TN 10 +Attribute level of highest enemy unless you are in Rearward stance. Usually once engaged you fight your individual opponents until they are all dead. There are Tasks you can do in combat and they aren't restricted to fighting or only the designated Combat task (Intimidate, Rally and Protect) i.e. like rescuing a fallen comrade, sending out a warning, and so on.

The heroes fire any Opening Volleys, the LM sets Advantages and Disadvantages, and player roll Battle tests and then every combat round the LM asks the players to select which stance they are in.

"During the first round of combat, all players select a
stance for their heroes, choosing one of the four available
options from the table below. Characters may change
their stance at the beginning of each round. "

Note that Change Stance every combat round statement it's an important part of the heroes repetoire. After the first round characters and enemies are adjusted if one is not engaged. If a hero killed his only enemy he could attack another, go into rearward if they meet the requirements or help a friend by attacking an enemy that's already engaged.

if there are more enemies than Heroes the LM assigns one enemy to each hero and then assign the rest as either standing back and shooting or engaging a hero (max three per hero usually). Heroes choose which one they are engaged with to fight.
More heroes than enemies or equal numbers the heroes choose who to fight and may double/triple up as necessary if they have spare heroes after the one per enemy has been selected.

[JoeArcher]

Yep, that's pretty much how I read it. I guess it can also get a bit Benny Hillish if people start to flee only to engage someone else

[Dunkelbrink]

Among the first things my players wanted to do in a fight was attacking an enemy that wasn't assigned to him. I probably have unusually altruistic players, but at least half of them wanted to help other members of the Company, even if that meant that his own enemies would tag along and pund at him him while doing that. The RAW doesn't really allow it as a standard action, but I normally allow changes in engagement with a roll of Athletics or Battle. You're still engaged with the enemies assigned to you but you can then attack a different target if you want. Filure usually means you've wasted your round. The Protect companions is an option of course, but it doesn't allow the player to attack the new target. We use miniatures, which makes the engagements a bit easier to handle I think.

[Falenthal]

I'll reuse this thread to add an option to changing engagements mid-combat.

In the Bree supplement, on page 52, in the note to the Fell Speed Special Ability of the Old Troll, I've found this:

[the Troll] must succeed at a Movement test (TN14) at the beginning of a round to abandon combat or disengage and engage a different opponent.

Althoug I'm pretty sure this wasn't a rule before in the Engagement or Combat Tasks, I'd say it makes a lot of sense as a Combat Task for Any Stance (as Flee Combat).

I'd probably use it as this:

Combat Task: Change Engagement (Any Stance)

As his action for the round, the hero can attempt to change his engagement for the next round. He has to succeed at an Athletics or Battle test, with a TN of 10+Attribute of the engaged enemy. If the hero is engaged by multiple foes, then the highest Attribute level is considered for the TN of the test, and a great or extraordinary success is needed to Change Engagement.

If succesful, the hero can choose one foe to engage during the Engagement phase of the next round. Even if the enemies have the initiative and choose Engagements, the hero can't be selected to be engaged by other LM characters.

I'm sure strange situations would arise from this, but I think it's a good starting point for a new and interesting Combat Task.

Do you see any problems with it, or weird situations?

[Indur Dawndeath]

I'll reuse this thread to add an option to changing engagements mid-combat.

In the Bree supplement, on page 52, in the note to the Fell Speed Special Ability of the Old Troll, I've found this:

[the Troll] must succeed at a Movement test (TN14) at the beginning of a round to abandon combat or disengage and engage a different opponent.

Althoug I'm pretty sure this wasn't a rule before in the Engagement or Combat Tasks, I'd say it makes a lot of sense as a Combat Task for Any Stance (as Flee Combat).

I'd probably use it as this:

Combat Task: Change Engagement (Any Stance)

As his action for the round, the hero can attempt to change his engagement for the next round. He has to succeed at an Athletics or Battle test, with a TN of 10+Attribute of the engaged enemy. If the hero is engaged by multiple foes, then the highest Attribute level is considered for the TN of the test, and a great or extraordinary success is needed to Change Engagement.

If succesful, the hero can choose one foe to engage during the Engagement phase of the next round. Even if the enemies have the initiative and choose Engagements, the hero can't be selected to be engaged by other LM characters.

I'm sure strange situations would arise from this, but I think it's a good starting point for a new and interesting Combat Task.

Do you see any problems with it, or weird situations?

The troll have a special ability that permits this...
If you want everyone to be able to attack and change engagements, then I think it is too powerful. On the other hand, if the combat task require a full round and a successful athletics, then it would only be used in rare circumstances.

My rule for changing engagements is an athletics test, when it is the players turn. TN10+attribute. Great success is needed to attack in the new engagement in the current round. Aditionally I would consider the player to be Moderately hindered defending and attacking after the maneuvre.

[Glorelendil]

Yep, that's pretty much how I read it. I guess it can also get a bit Benny Hillish if people start to flee only to engage someone else

Oh, my...now I'm picturing the scene and it's overlaid with that Benny Hill music.

[jamesrbrown]

The core rules addresses this issue "sort of" with its example of a Non-combat Action on page 180:

For example, a player who describes his character as leaping from a boulder to reach an Orc-chieftain issuing orders from the rear of battle could be allowed an Athletics roll (TN 14). As a consequence of success, the character should be able to engage the commander in the following round unless one of the foul creature’s companions can intervene (or might even attack immediately if he scored a great or extraordinary success).

The situation in the example sounds a lot like a hero could try leaving a current engagement to attack a different adversary. When it says "unless one of the foul creature's companions can intervene," I picture the Loremaster allowing the new engagement on a success, but possibly giving the adversary he is currently engaged with one last attack before the move is successful (or even another adversary deeper in the fray). The example says that the LM might even let the engagement happen so quickly that the hero can attack his new target if his Athletics test succeeded with a great or extraordinary success.

Anyway, this example and the whole section on Non-combat Actions is proof that flexibility is built into the RAW.

[Falenthal]

Very good points, Indur and James!

I think the proposed Combat Task is ok to make it a variation of the Escape Combat, but I agree that giving the chance to attack in the same round if a 6 or 66 was rolled is needed to give it some use.

Thanks!