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The Adventurer's Companion brought us some new called shot actions. One of these is 'Swift Strokes' to hit two targets with one attack in close combat.

I'm a little bit unsure about the correct reading of Swift Strokes.

A sucessful called shot inflicts an higher loss in endurance through the quality of the needed success (at least one rolled six). So you add the character's relevant damage rating (see the box on page 110 in AC).

The description of Swift Strokes (p. 111, AC) reads:
"If the called shot is successful, the target receives damage normally, and the roll result is compared against the TN of the second engaged adversary.
If the roll result matches or beats the TN again, then the second opponent is also hit and suffers damage normally. If the attack fails against the first target, it also fails against the second target."

The addition of the word "normally" confuses me. I see two ways of interpreting it:
a) both targets receive damage "normally" in regard of the defined rules with added damage rating for the rolled six(es). But if so, why did C7 add "normally" in both sentences?
b) both targets receive damage "normally", so without the added damage rating (this would make sense regarding game balance - two full force hits with only one attack is kinda strong)

What do you guys think?

I'd say a).

In fact, the attack could even result in an Edge, thus forcing two Protection tests with one roll (if the second target is also hit, of course).

Falenthal wrote: In fact, the attack could even result in an Edge, thus forcing two Protection tests with one roll (if the second target is also hit, of course).

...or not!

Rereading p.178 of the Revised Book, the section about Called Shots says:

The following table details the effects triggered by a
successful called shot: these effects are applied in addition
to the normal consequences of a successful attack (loss
of Endurance, Piercing blow, etc.).

That could mean that, when Swift Stroke is declared, if the roll results in an Edge, with at least one 6, and equals or beats the TN, then:
1) Damage is applied to the target (1st one), adding one or two times the Damage rating, depending on the number of 6s rolled. -> This is the effect of the Called Shot.
2) The Edge is applied in addition to the effect of the Called Shot, and I'd say it's applied only to the first target.
3) Then, the total number rolled is compared to the TN to hit the second target and damage (including 6s) is applied. This time Edge is not taken into account.

But some confusion is inherent to the wording. In fact, someone could even say that damage should be applied two times: once for the "normal consequences of a succesful attack (loss of Endurance)" and once again as the effect of the Called Shot itself.

The former is the correct reading of the rules and yes it is very powerful.

To be absolutely explicit: -

The attack has to be at least a great success so Damage will be added at least once. Twice if it is an extraordinary success.

If the Edge is rolled then it can be a piercing blow.

This is applied to both adversaries (provided you hit them both).

Thank you, bluejay!

Thanks from me, too, bluejay!

Really powerful, then.

You know it is powerful but I've played through many combats in the last few months where this is a massive temptation and the character keeps missing as a result (because they only roll a simple success).

bluejay wrote:You know it is powerful but I've played through many combats in the last few months where this is a massive temptation and the character keeps missing as a result (because they only roll a simple success).

Yeah, I guess is not indicated for characters under 4 skill ranks in a weapon. But I like how they introduced the "Glorfindel would kill more than just one Snaga Tracker each round" in the game.

The new Mastery dice makes the swift stroke even more powerful. Combined with Erebor Dwarven made reward, you could essentially roll 8 dice... wild.

I dont mind