Rearward Stance and Range

[Glorelendil]

Personally I've always ignored the 2:1 rule and 'assumed' that the archers would just back off a ways, within reason of course.

And the orcs they were fighting would politely decline to advance on them?

Sportsmanship alive and well in Middle Earth.

[Hermes Serpent]

Last night a Hill troll had a discussion over taxes with my FTF Friday group. Then the Elf archer shot him. I called for Battle dice rolls and the company went into stances with the Elf archer in rearward. The troll enraged at the elf charged straight through the others and went for the Elf archer. I gave the Elf an Athletics test to see if she could get out of the way as the others closed in. The troll took some minor damage and then hit the other, spear wielding, elf who had stabbed him as he rushed past, with his heavy hammer for 22 damage. Next turn he lined up the hobbit and only the Small trait saved him from the same fate, another Extraordinary success.

It's all about thinking how the scene plays out in your mind and describing it to the players as a movie scene. The hardest thing starting out is dis-associating stance with location for players used to battle grid style combats. Going forward I'm accruing action figures and starting to use circular 'beer' mats with the stances on for better visual representation for public games.