Rules clarifications

[Shadrack]

Love the game. Couple of rule questions we had.

Example is a party fighting fewer enemies. Two characters engaged with one enemy. One player is in open stance, the other in defensive.
Open stance player kills the enemy.
Noe the defensive player has no enemy. Can he move to attach another enemy in close combat that may be on another player?

Secondly Some called shots cause the enemy to drop their weapon. I couldn't find anywhere that talks about how long it takes to pick it up.
If this is a free action, then what is the use? Do you lose attack in order to pick up your weapon?

[Majestic]

For your first question, yes, the player who isn't engaged with any enemy should be able to attack that other enemy, provided it makes sense within the narrative. The stances are as much about frame of mind, aggressiveness, and outlook of the individual player, as much as they are actual positions on the battlefield, if that helps you as you picture things. So the defensive player doesn't need to actually change his stance. He'll just end up attacking a little later in the round, based on the fact that he's being a bit more defensive as he fights.

I don't recall anything specific on how long it takes to pick up a weapon. but I've always figured it would take up one's action for a round (otherwise, what's the point?). I don't think it's actually come up in any of my games yet.

[Shadrack]

Thanks for the reply. That is how I read it. Considering that the swords called shot specifically point to the opponent dropping their weapon I figure that it would take at least a turn to pick it up and possibly force the opponent to lost his stand and maybe force a "forward" stance due to you exposing yourself to pick up your weapon.
That kind of makes sense to me, thoughts?
This way you knock the weapon out there is more of a penalty than just spending an action picking it up in a defensive stance, what are you defending with?

[Hermes Serpent]

You could check the forum archive for previous threads about picking up dropped weapons where its been discussed extensively.

[Falenthal]

Thanks for the reply. That is how I read it. Considering that the swords called shot specifically point to the opponent dropping their weapon I figure that it would take at least a turn to pick it up and possibly force the opponent to lost his stand and maybe force a "forward" stance due to you exposing yourself to pick up your weapon.
That kind of makes sense to me, thoughts?
This way you knock the weapon out there is more of a penalty than just spending an action picking it up in a defensive stance, what are you defending with?

If it's an adversary that dropped the weapon, remember that they don't choose stances, only PCs do.
Therefore, it would be unfair that PCs are forced to have the lowest TN possible if disarmed, while the creatures just get the TN of the attacker, which will be equal or better.

I would't complicate it further and just bypass the action that turn.

About your other question, wether a hero can change engagement during combat if his target was killed before his action, I don't recall anywhere in the rules saying yes or no. As I understand them, the engagements are declared at the beginning of the turn, as are the actions, and cannot be changed until next turn. Therefore, it would be a "no, you lose your action this turn". But I'm not 100% sure. I'd like to hear what others have to say about this.

[Majestic]

About your other question, wether a hero can change engagement during combat if his target was killed before his action, I don't recall anywhere in the rules saying yes or no. As I understand them, the engagements are declared at the beginning of the turn, as are the actions, and cannot be changed until next turn. Therefore, it would be a "no, you lose your action this turn". But I'm not 100% sure. I'd like to hear what others have to say about this.

I agree that one couldn't change stance in the middle of a turn, but the opportunity to attack that other character would depend on the circumstances and narrative of that particular fight. If they were all fighting in a fairly small area, then I'd no question allow it. If the company was spread out, or there was some situation that suggested the two (PC and adversary fighting the other PC) were a distance away from each other, then I'd make that PC wait (until the next turn, or to change stance). Ordinarily, though, unless there was some reason from the narrative not to (or some other reason, like say three characters already fighting that character), I'd allow it.

[Shadrack]

I wasn't really concerned so much about changing stance, but more on whether that character, in this case in a defensive stance, could re assign the object of that attack that he hasn't used yet. I think it makes sense in the narrative of the combat, in a small area vs spread out. He would still be acting defensive but could at least apply that to a close or adjacent enemy.

As for the dropping weapons, new on the forum so not familiar with all the tools and frankly, scrolled through looking for reference.
Usually though, if I know of an answer to someone newer on the forum, I will send them a link to what they are looking for and then give a polite nudge.
Guess that is just me.

[Shadrack]

You could check the forum archive for previous threads about picking up dropped weapons where its been discussed extensively.

Tried to search for dropped weapons and picking up weapons and am having no luck.
So it takes a turn to pick up your weapon?

[zedturtle]

You could check the forum archive for previous threads about picking up dropped weapons where its been discussed extensively.

Tried to search for dropped weapons and picking up weapons and am having no luck.
So it takes a turn to pick up your weapon?

I'd go with that.

And I strongly encourage other folks to remember we were all new and trying to figure out all the moving parts of this wonderful game once upon a time (and still make mistakes and weird interpretations from time to time... that might just be me). A link to a thread or two is vastly more helpful (and nice) than just asking people to search.

[Majestic]

Seconded.

And FWIW I did a Google search using various combinations of "One Ring" "Cubicle 7" "forum" and "disarm" and was not able to find anything (well, it took me to threads here, and ones that talk about Disarmed, but not what the OP was looking for).