Combat

Combat is an essential part of most fantasy. It is a way of solving certain problems in many fantasy books and films. It gives the possibility to play out the valiant knight or the barbarian gladiator.

Melee Combat

Weapons are divided into 6 categories; unarmed (boxing, karate and the like), knives, one-handed weapons, two-handed weapons, polearms and shields. Dodging is an additional defensive skill.

The offensive and defensive modifiers along with the other weapon specifications are shown in the melee weapons table.

In combat a character will have an offensive value and a defensive value. The offensive value is for hitting the opponent and the defensive value is for avoiding getting hit by opponents.

The offensive value with a weapon is: the skill value + the offensive modifier. This total is noted on the character sheet under off.

The defensive value with a weapon is: the skill value + the defensive modifier. This total is noted on the character sheet under def.

Melee Weapons

Melee Weapons

Weapon	Type	Strength	Initiative	Off.Mod.	Def.Mod.	Damage	HitPoints	Weight	Length	Radius	Cost
Bastard sword 1H	1 Handed	6	6	0	0	-1	14	2.1	1.0	1.0	45
Bastard sword 2H	2 Handed	4	6	0	+1	0	14	2.1	1.0	1.2	45
Battle axe 1H	1 Handed	9	5	-1	-1	1	8	2.1	0.8	0.8	30
Battle axe 2H	2 Handed	5	5	-1	0	2	8	2.1	0.8	1.0	30
Broad axe	1 Handed	5	4	-1	-2	0	8	1.6	0.6	0.6	20
Buckler	Shield	2	-	N/A	+1	N/A	8	2.0	0.3	0.2	5
Club	1 Handed	4	4	-1	-2	-2	8	1.2	0.7	0.8	3
Dodge	Dodge	0	-	N/A	-2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.0	N/A
Great axe	2 Handed	7	6	0	+1	3	10	2.6	1.2	1.4	15
Great sword	2 Handed	6	7	+1	+1	1	16	2.4	1.2	1.4	50
Halberd	Polearm	7	7	0	+2	2	7	2.9	2.3	2.0	35
Hatchet	1 Handed	3	3	-2	-3	-1	8	1.4	0.4	0.4	10
Heavy mace 1H	1 Handed	6	5	0	-1	-1	8	1.7	0.4	0.8	25
Heavy mace 2H	2 Handed	4	5	0	0	0	8	1.7	0.4	1.0	25
Hercules club	2 Handed	6	7	0	+1	2	10	2.6	1.2	1.4	20
Kite shield	Shield	6	-	N/A	+3	N/A	12	6.0	1.3	0.6	15
Knife	Knife	1	2	-2	-3	-2	8	0.3	0.3	0.2	5
Light mace	1 Handed	3	3	-1	-2	-2	8	1.2	0.6	0.6	15
Longsword	1 Handed	4	5	0	0	-1	12	1.6	0.8	0.8	25
Rapier	1 Handed	2	4	0	-1	-2	7	0.8	1.0	0.6	35
Round shield	Shield	4	-	N/A	+2	N/A	10	4.0	0.8	0.4	10
Short sword	1 Handed	2	3	-1	-1	-2	12	0.9	0.6	0.4	20
Spear 1H	1 Handed	4	6	-1	-4	-2	7	1.0	1.5	0.6	10
Spear 2H	Polearm	4	7	0	+2	-1	7	1.6	2.0	1.2	12
Staff	Polearm	3	6	0	+2	-2	7	1.4	1.8	1.2	6
Unarmed	Unarmed	0	1	-2	-4	-4	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.0	N/A

Radius

This is the radius needed to fight with the weapon without any penalties. If you are restricted to fight with a lesser radius, you get a -1 penalty (both offensive and defensive values). Fighting within half the radius gives a -3 penalty. Fighting within a quarter of the radius is not possible.

Insufficient Strength

If you have less strength than required for the weapon you are using, the modifiers are as follows: 1 less = -1, 2 less = -3, 3 less = -5. If your strength is more than 3 below the strength requirement you cannot use the weapon.

Using a Weapon in Your Off Hand

If you are using a weapon other than a shield in your off hand you get -3, and the strength requirement is increased by 2.

New Weapons

If a character picks up a weapon he has not had any experience with, he will use his weapon skill of choice with the following modifiers: “same weapon” = -1, same category = -3, other category = -5.

Secondary weapons, unarmed and dodge

If a character is fighting with more than one weapon, 1 is added to his offensive and/or defensive value per extra weapon. A shield does not count as an extra weapon. Neither does Unarmed. Unarmed is generally helpful when fighting and adds one to both offensive and defend dive values per full five in Unarmed skill. Dodge gives + 1 in defensive value per full 5 in skill. Training and experience count towards both weapon skills when you fight with a weapon combination. But you increase separately in each weapon skill.

Dodging

Sometimes it is better to dodge than to parry, this depends upon your skills, your opponent’s weapons and other circumstances.

Armor

The armor table gives the armor points and the move quietly penalty. The values listed are for full suits of armor. When wearing partial or mixed armor, the values are adjusted according to how much is covered, i.e. half a suit of ringed mail gives 1 armor point. The AP is subtracted from the damage before it is applied to the BP.

Armor

Armor	AP	MvQt	Weight	Cost
Heavy cloth	1	-2	4.5	10
Leather armor	1	-1	5.0	15
Leather scale	2	-3	11.0	40
Ringed mail	2	-1	8.0	45
Cuir-boullie	2	-2	12.0	50
Cuir-boullie	3*	-2	19.0	68
Chain mail	4*	-4	26.0	168
Metal scale	5*	-6	30.0	318

Helmets

Helmets	AP	AWARE	Weight	Cost
Leather hood	1	-1	1.0	2
Chain hood	2*	-1	2.0	18
Open helmet	3*	-2	2.0	15
Cask	4*	-5	4.0	35

*Includes padding

Combat Rounds

A combat round lasts for 6 seconds and consists of many “attacks.” Each opponent normally gets but one attack roll each round. Attacks are resolved in the following sequence:

Combat Rounds

Second	Action
1	Innate magick
2	Polearms / Long weapons (great sword, hercules club, great axe, spears and better)
3	Normal weapons (heavy mace, swords, axes, etc.)
4	Short weapons (short sword, knife, hatchet, light mace, etc.)
5	Unarmed
6	Missiles/Magick

In the same second, the attacker with the highest awareness roll that round attacks first. A character defends as many times as there are attacks against him. A character who is fighting may not do anything else that round except move.

At the beginning of each round each PC states what he is going to do that round, with the PC with the lowest awareness going first, then the PC with the second lowest awareness, etc. If someone changes his mind during the round, he gets a minus equal to the number of seconds into the round he changed his mind.

Surprise attack

In an ambush, someone sneaking up on another, an archer awaiting an attack in a guard tower etc. will get a Surprise attack before the normal combat rounds start.

Endurance drain in combat (optional)

Each opponent in a combat will get -1 in Status (i,e, -1 to every skill roll) for number of combat rounds equal to its Endurance. Example: A PC has 4 in Endurance, and will get -1 in Status every 4 combat rounds.

Movement in Combat

If you move while fighting, your offensive and defensive values are penalized as described in the table below. The move for humans is 12 m per round (2 m per round in water).

If you move into a combat during a round, you add the number of seconds you move to the second you would normally attack to get the actual second you attack. If this exceeds 6, you do not get an attack that round. The movement in combat is calculated from the Base Move (See Movement and Weather): Movement in combat = 0.4 x Base Move.

Movement in Combat

Movement	Move	Off.	Def.
Run	x 2	-10	-5
Move	x 1	-5	-2
Move & Fight	x 1/2	-3	-1
Move in Melee	x 1/4	-1	-1
Disengage	x 1	X	-5

If you try to disengage from a fight, your opponent can decide to follow your movement or get one last attack and let you disengage. You can not attack if your opponent lets you disengage. If your opponent insted chooses to follow your movement, then you both end up with a "Move" (-5/-2 with a full movement, 12 m for humans), but you still will not get to attack that round.

You can always move 1m per round without penalties.

The Attack

To see if an attack is successful, roll the dice and add the offensive value. The opponent rolls a dice and adds his defensive value. If the attack is greater than this, a hit is scored.

Damage

The damage equals the damage of the weapon plus the character’s damage bonus. Whenever a hit is scored, roll a dice and add the damage. Subtract any armor points. The result is how much damage you do to your opponent’s BP.

Optional: Whenever you are damaged, you are stunned and have to subtract -1 from your rolls for the rest of the round.

Grapple

To grapple your opponent instead of doing damage, first make an Unarmed attack. If you hit, roll Hit Location (if those rules are in use), roll D + double damage bonus as the Grapple Roll. If your Grapple Roll is higher than you opponents Grapple Roll (D + double damage bonus), then you hold your opponent. Each round thereafter, both character rolls Strength + O6. If the attacker's roll is above the defender's, the grapple continues.

Fighting Several Opponents

If you fight more than one opponent, the illustration below shows how much you subtract from your offensive and defensive against each opponent depending on where each is standing relative to the direction you are facing (0).

Target not Defending

If the target is not defending itself, the attack is rolled against a defensive value of -5.

Special actions (optional)

Fighting Offensively

If you attack like a berserker without much thought for your own safety, you get +3 in offensive value and -5 in defensive.

Power hit

You may attempt to power hit your opponent by adding your damage bonus again while getting -5 in offensive value.

Attacking Earlier

You can attack earlier in the round by subtracting 1 from your offensive value for that attack per second earlier you want to attack.

More Than One Attack

You can get more than one attack roll during a combat round by subtracting 5 from your offensive value that round per extra attack. Attack number two takes place in second 6, attack number three in second 5, etc. You may not attack more than once during the same second.

Fighting Defensively

If you mainly try to defend yourself, you get +3 in defensive value and -5 in offensive.

Only defending

By giving up all opprtunities to attack, you gain +5 in defensive value.

Summary of Melee Adjustments

On the melee adjustments table you will find adjustments for several situations.

Melee Adjustments

Voluntary fighting modifications
Off	Def	Move	Condition
+3	-5	x 1	Fighting offensively
-5	+3	x 1	Fighting defensively
X	+5	x 1	Only defending
-5	+0	x 1	Attack one more time in a round
-1	+0	x 1	Subtract one from initiative
-1	+0	x 1	Remove one Hit Location that you can hit
+0	-1	x 1	Remove one Hit Location where you can be hit
-1	-1	x 1	Fighting restricted to less than the weapon's required radius
-3	-3	x 1	Fighting restricted to less than half the weapon's required radius
Motion penalties
Off	Def	Move	Condition
-10	-5	x 2	Run
-5	-2	x 1	Move
-3	-1	x 1/2	Move & Fight
-1	-1	x 1/4	Move in Melee
X	-5	x 1	Disengage
Position penalties
Off	Def	Move	Condition
+0	-1	x 1	Defending against opponent to the left or right
+0	-4	x 1	Defending against opponent from behind left or right
+0	-7	x 1	Defending against opponent directly from behind
+0	-2	x 1	Unable to move backwards
-3	-3	x 1/10	Down on knee
-5	-5	x 1/10	Down on ground
+1	+0	x 1	Fighting from higher ground (like in a stair)
-2	-2	x 3/4	Slippery ground
Defender's condition penalties
Off	Def	Move	Condition
-2	-2	x 3/4	Half Action (down to 1/2 Body Points)
-4	-4	x 1/2	Quarter Action (down to 1/4 Body Points)
+0	-5	x 1	Partially unaware
-3	-3	x 1/2	Stunned
X	-10	x 1	Unaware
X	(-5)	x 1	Immobilized (defense is -5 regardless of skills)
Lighting
Off	Def	Move	Condition
-1	-2	x 3/4	Twillight / torchlight
-2	-4	x 1/2	Moonlight (full moon)
-3	-6	x 1/4	Starlight
-5	-10	x 1/8	Darkness
Weapon adjustments
Off	Def	Move	Condition
0	+1	x 1	Per full 5 in Dodge skill
+1	+1	x 1	Per full 5 in Unarmed skill
+1	+1	x 1	Using a secondary weapon
-1	-1	x 1	Strength 1 less than required to use weapon
-3	-3	x 1	Strength 2 less than required to use weapon
-5	-5	x 1	Strength 3 less than required to use weapon
-3	-3	x 1	Using weapon in the "off hand" (Strength requirement is +2)
-1	-1	x 1	Using a new weapon practically same type as a skilled weapon
-3	-3	x 1	Using a new weapon in same category as a skilled weapon
-5	-5	x 1	Using a new weapon in other category as a skilled weapon

All effects are cumulative, but offensive or defensive can never go below -5 total.

An "X" indicates that no attack is possible.

Artificial light sources all have a “radius.” Within this radius the penalties due to light conditions are as for torchlight. Up to 2 times this radius the light is equivalent to moonlight. Up to 4 times the radius the light is equivalent to starlight. A candle has a radius of 1 m, a torch has a radius of 5 m and a lantern has a radius of 7 m. The GM has to use his discretion if there are more than 1 light source.

Missile Combat

For specifications on missile weapons, see the missile weapons table.

The difficulty rating for hitting something up to half the normal range of the weapon is 5.

The DR up to the normal range of the weapon is 10.

Up to twice the normal range of the weapon, the DR is 15.

At maximum range the DR is 20.

When checking for a successful attack, roll the dice and add the skill, the size of the target and any adjustments for a total above the difficulty rating.

Missile Weapons

Missile Weapons

Weapon	Strength	Off.Mod.	Damage	Range	MaxRange	Shots/round	Weight	Length	Cost
Bow (light)	2	0	1	30	130	1	0.6	1.2	15
Bow (medium)	4	0	2	35	160	1	0.7	1.5	18
Bow (heavy)	6	0	3	40	190	1	0.8	1.8	20
Bow (very heavy)	10	0	5	50	240	1	1.0	2.1	35
Bow (giant’s)	15	0	7	60	300	1	1.2	2.4	50
Crossbow (light)	2	+2	2	20	100	1/3	3.0	0.7	30
Crossbow (medium)	3	+2	3	30	175	1/4	4.0	0.7	40
Crossbow (heavy)	4	+2	4	40	250	1/5	5.0	0.7	55
Javelin	3	-2	0	20	40*	1	1.2	1.7	10
Rock	1	-2	-3	15	40*	2	0.3	0.05	X
Sling	2	-3	-1	40	120	1	0.1	1.0	2
Throwing knife	1	-1	-2	15	25*	2	0.3	0.2	6
Pointing**	0	+4	X	40	200	X	X	X	0

* When strength + coordination equals 10.

**The skill of Pointing is used to determine if certain spells such as Lightningbolt and Ice Strike hits its intended target.

Note: It is possible to get bows inbetween these steps.

Flight arrows have +50% range and -1 damage adjustment.

Broad point arrows have -25% range and +1 damage adjustment.

Missile Adjustment

For special adjustments on throwing or shooting with missile weapons, see the missile adjustments table.

Missile Adjustments

Basic DRs
Off	Condition
5	Close range (up to half normal range)
10	Normal range (from half to normal range)
15	Long range (from normal range to double normal range)
20	Very long range (from long range to double long range)
25	Max range (from very long range to max range)
+1	Per size of target
-3	Aiming at Hit Location other than body
Motion adjustments
Off	Condition
-3	Target is moving predictably (in a straight line)
-5	Target is moving unpredictably (randomly)
-5 & -1/full 3 in Dodge	Target is Dodging
-5	Attacker is riding a galloping horse
-2	Target is in a melee, occasionally obstructed (a miss by 2-5 means another target was hit)
-4	Target is in a melee, often obstructed (a miss by 2-5 means another target was hit)
Crossbow support
Off	Condition
+1	Kneeling with crossbow
+3	Bracing crossbow
Lighting
Off	Condition
-1	Twillight / Torchlight
-3	Moonlight (full moon)
-5	Starlight
-10	Darkness
Small target size
Off	Condition
-7	Target 5 cm diameter
-4	Target 10 cm diameter
-2	Target 15 cm diameter

Adjustments are cummulative.

Firing into a Melee

If you fire at a target in a melee and the target is occasionally or much obstructed, the modifiers are -2 and -4 respectively. If you miss by 2–5, roll a new dice to see who else is hit. This is determined by assigning each of the nearby targets a number from 1 and up to a maximum of 6. If there are only for instance 4 nearby targets, a roll of 5 or 6 indicates a miss.

Damage and Extra Damage

Use the same procedure as for melee combat.

Shields against Missiles

A round shield counts as 1 armor point and a kite shield as 2 against missiles if it is obstructing the target.

Dodging Missiles

If the target is dodging the missile, subtract 2 + 1 per full 5 in dodge.

Breath Weapon

Acts as a missile attack against all within the area covered by the breath weapon.

Damage Bonus

Damage bonus for throwing weapons equals 1 per full 5 in strength.

Damage from Poison

Damage from poison varies a lot (from d-5 to d+5 for a small dose) and it has a delayed effect after injection or consumption. We have not included a complete poison system here, so it is left to the GM’s discretion for the moment. One guideline though: a small dose of an average poison will do d in damage and take effect 10 minutes after injection. No naturally occurring poison on Amar will take effect less than 3 minutes after injection.

Antidotes injected before the poison takes effect will neutralize it. Nausea and vomiting is a standard side effect of most poisons.

Disarm

If you want to disarm your opponent in melee combat, you state so and resolve the attack. If your opponent is using a 1handed weapon, he is disarmed if you do more than his strength in damage. If your opponent is using a 2-handed weapon, he is disarmed if you do more than twice his strength in damage.

Break Weapon

If you want to break your opponent’s weapon in melee combat, you state so and resolve the attack. If you do more in damage than your opponent’s weapon has hit points, it breaks.

Critical and Fumbles in combat

If a character gets a double 6 on the dice (any time during the open ended roll) on an attack roll, it is a critical hit. Roll on the critical table below. If the result on the table is inapplicable to the situation, pick the one above. Roll first for the category, then for the specific critical.

If a character gets a double 1 on the dice (any time during the open ended roll) on an attack roll, it is a fumble. Roll on the fumble table. If the result is inapplicable to the situation, pick the one below on the Fumble table. Roll first for the category, then for the specific fumble.

A Critical is always a success (within reasonable limits (it's not a success if you try something impossible), while a Fumble is always a failure. If a Critical attack is countered by a Critical defense, then the hit is only a success if the attack was higher than the defense.

Criticals

1 = Impression
1	Looks really cool
2	Impressive, adjacent friends get +1 next round
3	Very impressive, adjacent friends gets +1 next D rounds
4	Fearsome, foe rolls on fear table with +9 adjustment
5	Awesome, foe rolls on fear table with +6 adjustment
6	Wild, foe rolls on fear table with +3 adjustment
2 = Side effect
1	Opponent off balance, subtract 1 in Status next round
2	Opponent confused, subtract 3 in status next round
3	Opponent stunned, subtract 3 in status for 3 rounds
4	Opponent staggered, subtract D in status for D rounds
5	Opponent reeling, subtract O in status for O rounds
6	Opponent shocked, subtract O+3 in status for the rest of the fight
3 = Increased effect
1	Good hit, add 1 to damage done
2	Tough hit, add 3 to damage done
3	Great hit, add D+1 to damage done
4	Greater hit, add O+2 to damage done
5	Power hit, double damage done (after subtracting Armor Points)
6	Opportunity found, you immediately get an extra free attack
4 = Added effect
1	Foe knocked down if a Tumble roll of DR 8 fails
2	Foe knocked down if a Tumble roll of DR 12 fails
3	Roll for disarming the opponent
4	Damage also done to opponents weapon
5	Damage also done to opponents weapon (double damage to weapon)
6	Opponent loses equipment (GM's discretion)
5 = Special
1	Bleeding -1 BP per minute
2	Bleeding -1 BP per round
3	Muscle strained, opponent subtracts 3 from Status until a Medical Lore roll of 8 is made
4	Disable special location (muscle, eye, nose, finger... GM's discretion), Medical Lore roll of 8 to fix
5	Disable special location (muscle, eye, nose, finger... GM's discretion), Medical Lore roll of 12 to fix
6	Opponent faints, Medical Lore roll of 8 to awaken
6 = Roll twice on this table, ignoring any subsequent 6s, add one experience mark

Fumbles

1 = Roll twice on this table, ignoring any subsequent 6s, subtract one experience mark
2 = Special
1	Lose next attack, opponent gets +10 to next attack
2	Hit self
3	Hit nearest friend
4	Hit nearest friend, half damage
5	Obstruct nearest friend, friend gets -3 in status next round
6	Muscle strained, subtracts 3 from Status until a Medical Lore roll of 8 is made
3 = Unwanted effect
1	Lose equipment (GM's discretion)
2	Damage done to own weapon
3	Weapon stuck, Strength roll of 10 to unstuck
4	Lose weapon (no attack until retrieved, -5 in defense)
5	Fall if a Tumble roll of DR 12 fails
6	Fall if a Tumble roll of DR 8 fails
4 = Stun effect
1	Shocked, subtract O+3 in status for the rest of the fight
2	Reeling, subtract O in status for O rounds
3	Staggered, subtract D in status for D rounds
4	Stunned, subtract 3 in status for 3 rounds
5	Confused, subtract 3 in status next round
6	Off balance, subtract 1 in Status next round
5 = Added effect
1	Very fatigued, subtract 3 from Endurance for the rest of the fight (no less than 1)
2	Very tired, subtract 3 from Strength for the rest of the fight (no less than 1)
3	Very dazed, subtract 3 from Reaction Speed and Awareness for the rest of the fight
4	Fatigued, subtract 1 from Endurance for the rest of the fight (no less than 1)
5	Tired, subtract 1 from Strength for the rest of the fight (no less than 1)
6	Dazed, subtract 1 from Reaction Speed and Awareness for the rest of the fight
6 = Impression
1	Terrible for morale, friends get -1 in all rolls for the next D rounds
2	Very bad for morale, friends get -1 in all rolls for the rest of the round
3	Bad for morale, friends get -1 in attack for the rest of the round
4	You make a fool out of yourself, laughter is heard
5	Botched it, giggles are heard
6	Awkward looking

Hit Locations (optional)

To add more realism the body may be divided into different hit locations in order to determine which part of the body is hit. See the illustrations below to see how different types of bodies are divided into hit locations.

A human has 50 % of his body points in the head and arms and 80 % in the body and legs. See the Creatures booklet for other creatures.

If you get your BP in a vital location (head, body) in damage in one blow, you are helpless. If you get double the BP in a vital location in damage in one blow, you are dead.

If you get the BP in a non-vital location (legs, arms, etc.) in damage in one blow, you cannot use that location. If you get double the BP in a non-vital location in damage in one blow, the location is severed, crushed, etc. and needs magic healing to mend.

Armor and Hit Loctions

Armor protects only the location(s) it covers. It gives full protection to those locations it covers and partial protection to those it partially covers.

Weight and cost is 20 % of a full suit per location covered.

Hit Locations in Melee

When a hit is made, roll a dice to determine which hit location is hit. If the number rolled is shared by two locations (certain animals and monsters have this), roll a dice: 1–3 is the left, 4–6 is the right.

Aiming in Melee

When aiming at a certain location or locations, subtract 1 from your offensive for every location you do not want to hit.

If you aim at more than one location and hit, roll to see which one of the locations aimed at is hit.

Aiming with Missiles

If you get 3 more than you need to hit, you hit the location aimed at. If you get up to 2 more than you need, you hit a random location. If you aim at a location other than the body, the DR is increased by 3.

Shields against Missiles

If the shield covers the location hit, it acts as armor. Half cover of location hit gives half AP as for armor. A buckler has a diameter of 0.3 m and 4 AP, a round shield has a diameter of 0.8 m and 5 AP, and a kite shield is 0.7 x 1.3 m and has 5 AP.

Hit Locations for a set of creatures

Next: Equipment