Combat questions and more questions

[Mordjinn]

In order to get the rules down for our first sessions I ran a demo fight by myself yesterday. And came up with many questions. These are probably very obvious things, but I was unable to find a clear answer from the books. I find the way how the combat/battle rules are divided between two books very confusing. So here goes:

- Many adversaries have favoured and non-favoured ways to attack. Do they always use the favoured weapon/attack type if they can?

- A successful protection check prevents the wound from happening. Does it prevent endurance loss?

- Does armor reduce endurance damage?

- If the armor rating of a hero is zero, what is the Protection roll?

- If a hero rolls an eye when making a normal attack the feat die counts as zero. Are there any other bad things happening from the eye result?

- Adventurer's Book page 79 states: "Usually, a character’s Damage rating is equal to his basic Body score". What are the situations when the Damage rating is something else?

- One of the heroes in our fellowship has Woodmen cultural Virtue "Hound of Mirkwood". Can this hound be killed any way? Does the hound allow any other hero to be able to choose the Rearward stance is trained for protection? How do you handle the wounded hound storywise (is it just limping after the hero or does it have to carried etc.)?

Thanks.

[Hermes Serpent]

- Many adversaries have favoured and non-favoured ways to attack. Do they always use the favoured weapon/attack type if they can?

I believe that the favoured attacks are often at lower skill levels so it's really up to the LM which attack he uses.

- A successful protection check prevents the wound from happening. Does it prevent endurance loss?

No

- Does armor reduce endurance damage?

No

- If the armor rating of a hero is zero, what is the Protection roll?

Just the Feat die

- If a hero rolls an eye when making a normal attack the feat die counts as zero. Are there any other bad things happening from the eye result?

The adversary makes a Called Shot.

- Adventurer's Book page 79 states: "Usually, a character’s Damage rating is equal to his basic Body score". What are the situations when the Damage rating is something else?

When a Virtue or Reward alters the Damage Rating.

- One of the heroes in our fellowship has Woodmen cultural Virtue "Hound of Mirkwood". Can this hound be killed any way? Does the hound allow any other hero to be able to choose the Rearward stance is trained for protection? How do you handle the wounded hound storywise (is it just limping after the hero or does it have to carried etc.)?

Thanks.

Not sure about the death thing.
No.
Up to you.

[MadTrapper]

- One of the heroes in our fellowship has Woodmen cultural Virtue "Hound of Mirkwood". Can this hound be killed any way? Does the hound allow any other hero to be able to choose the Rearward stance is trained for protection? How do you handle the wounded hound storywise (is it just limping after the hero or does it have to carried etc.)?

Hermes Serpent already answered all the other questions, and I figured I would just weigh on this last one regarding the death of the hound.

As far as I understand it, Rewards and Virtues have "plot-immunity" meaning they should not become lost or broken. I would definitely include the Hound in this, but if as a LoreMaster, the story somehow called for it courageously giving its life to prevent a fatal blow to its master (versus dealing with the death of a player character), I would definitely find a way to get my Woodman another hound.

[jamesrbrown]

As far as I understand it, Rewards and Virtues have "plot-immunity" meaning they should not become lost or broken. I would definitely include the Hound in this, but if as a LoreMaster, the story somehow called for it courageously giving its life to prevent a fatal blow to its master (versus dealing with the death of a player character), I would definitely find a way to get my Woodman another hound.

I totally agree with this idea. Very nice explanation.

[Mordjinn]

Hermes, thank you again for your help. Very important to get the ball rolling.

I do agree with the plot immunity of the hound. The problem (in my head) is the half dead hound being dragged around the Middle Earth. Or how so you handle it after it has been "used"?

[Beleg]

I would say that a wounded hound is merely incapable of fighting, while still being able to walk. After all, that's how wounds work for the player characters. The party doesn't have to construct something to carry the wounded member on each time someone is wounded

[Robin Smallburrow]

I find the Loremaster's Screen has a good summary of the rules which should answer a lot of your (and others) questions about combat, encounters etc.

Robin S.

[ZioHal]

Hi to all!

I have a question too about battle.

- When characters roll the Battle dice, the bonus lasts for the whole fight?
- in the sheet of the enemies the parry shows not only the defence skill of the mod but also if has a shield like this 4 + 2 (Shield). So with the shield parry value is 6? or without it will be 2?
- rule said that when a character hits inflicts damage equal to waepon damage. When score a 6 he can add his body value. So if he score a double 6 add 2 times Body value. But if he scores only Gandalf Rune?
- for the enemis same question, if they roll anly "THE EYE" how much damage they inflict?

Many thank to you all!

[Hermes Serpent]

You get bonus dice from the Battle die roll. A bonus die is lost when used.

Yes the shield value is added to the Parry score for a total Parry.

A G or Eye rune does not add damage. It scores a value of 10 and is usually an automatic success. It may also result in a Piercing Wound if the Edge value of the weapon is 10.

[Beleg]

A G or Eye rune does not add damage. It scores a value of 10 and is usually an automatic success. It may also result in a Piercing Wound if the Edge value of the weapon is 10.

The runes don't really have their own value per se, and they have their own separate Edge rating e.g. Axes have an Edge of a Gandalf Rune, Swords have an Edge of 10