Tactical Combat for TOR

[redstone]

Has anyone created some home rules for a more tactical oriented combat system for TOR? My group likes the game, but we have started talking about adding movement and intitiative rules to the combat system to make it more tactical.

[SirKicley]

I believe there has been some discussion on the (old) board of that very thing.


Question: what is it about TOR as written that you and your group feel these changes need be implemented?

Question: what is it about TOR as written that you prefer to add strategic combat movement etc vs playing another game that actually already has that built in (such as D&D or Pathfinder)?


(Please don't take these queries as judgements or criticism - I assure you I am not judging you for asking; they are asked out of sincere curiosity. Often times my experience is that people who want to make wholesale changes to a system is simply a desire because they don't quite understand how to use the system as is or are doing something wrong and thus their experience of it is skewed. I feel if we understand a little more of where you're coming from it may help.)


As a caution: obviously any major overhaul like that would certainly create other compatibility issues to consider in other mechanics and rules that piggyback on combat adjudication.


Robert

[Otaku-sempai]

I'm guessing that redstone and his group like to use combat maps and miniatures in their game and that they are looking for optional rules for using minis.

[GhostWolf69]

I'm not even sure I understand the question really...

We use Miniatures and terrain quite a lot.
I've even built small dioramas for certain scenes.
I use different coloured poker-chips to place the Heroes on to show Stance chosen.
(I'll post some pictures!)

I have not changed a single rule, nor felt the need to add any house rule. The game is very tactical as it is.
Movement I can understand, but it's easily moderated by a fair LM. And Initiative? The game HAS Initiative rules, don't it?

/wolf

[Rich H]

The game HAS Initiative rules, don't it?

Yep!

We use Miniatures and terrain quite a lot.
I've even built small dioramas for certain scenes.
I use different coloured poker-chips to place the Heroes on to show Stance chosen.
(I'll post some pictures!)

I have not changed a single rule, nor felt the need to add any house rule. The game is very tactical as it is.
Movement I can understand, but it's easily moderated by a fair LM.

Same here, this game certainly doesn't impede tactical play but it relies a lot on GM rulings rather than rules - there's a massive difference between the two which is why RPGs exist to scratch each of those itches and others too.

[Throrsgold]

We use Miniatures and terrain quite a lot.
I've even built small dioramas for certain scenes.
I use different coloured poker-chips to place the Heroes on to show Stance chosen.
(I'll post some pictures!)

I look forward to seeing those pictures. I, too, have used miniatures and terrain in TOR...I even built a Weathertop (based heavily on LotRO). Kudos to you for the poker chips idea! I kept using the Stance Board that someone here (well, on the old boards...voidstate, I believe) created...but I like the idea of using colored chips instead as that saves me some space on the table.

[Rich H]

I look forward to seeing those pictures.

Before switching back to my "Darkening of Mirkwood" campaign, the hobbit PCs in my "Three's Company" found themselves drawn to an eerie barrow:



... The top comes off to reveal:

* I'll post a picture to show if you ask nicely! *

[redstone]

I'm guessing that redstone and his group like to use combat maps and miniatures in their game and that they are looking for optional rules for using minis.

Otaku is correct. I was just curious to see if it had been done yet. Everyone has different views on what qualifies as 'tactical'. We were looking for more detailed movement rules, positional modifiers, a randomizing factor in initiative, etc. We tend to enjoy a little bit more of the nitty-gritty in battle (a couple of us come from wargame backgrounds).

[GhostWolf69]

So the idea is simple. I print Stance Cards in different colours that I thought was appropriate.
Like Red = Forward, Green = Defensive etc. I laminate those cards to make them more sturdy.

Then I find Poker Chips to match...



Now if a Player chooses Open Stance he simply places his Mini on the Blue Chip and keeps the Blue card in front of him as a reminder:



When the scene is set and all minis are out on the battle field it may look like this:



or like this:



I also use the black Chip under the enemy to "mark" a Player who has rolled a "Sauron". Simply take the black chip from the enemy and stack it on top of that players stance chip. That way you can tell WHO is going to get a called shot and FROM what enemy.

And that's how we play...

/wolf

[Yusei]

Wow, this looks great. I need minis. And a bigger flat.