Keystonegamingsociety
Mongoose
Okay, I think I've read just about every thread on combat (particularly multi-character battles that include ganging up) and I think the conclusion we can all come to is that it's confusing. VERY confusing and Mongoose isn't offering any definitive answers. I think the rules attempt to directly translate the solo action book's rules a little too literally and it simply breaks down when multiple characters are involved.
Here are two alternatives that I think work just fine:
Both of these alternate rule sets assume that all characters (heroes and enemies) act on their respective Combat Skills. Enemies may engage, evade, make ranged attacks, and gang up just like player characters can.
#1) Like a traditional RPG, when a character attacks they can only deal damage, not receive it. When an enemy attacks, use the combat ratio as figured from their perspective (Kai Lord, CS 15, Giak CS 10 = Kai Lord CR +5, Giak CS -5) and count the player character as "E" on the combat ratio table (in essence, replace "enemy" with "defender."). This would be for group battles and one-on-one combat
Example: Mighty Wolf (CS 15) is engaged with three Giaks (CS 10+4 = 14, 11 +4 = 15, 12+4=16),.
Giak (CS 16, CR +1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll 7, result Might Wolf takes 10 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -1 on table).
Mighty Wolf attacks Giak (CS 15, CR 0). Roll - 6, result Giak takes 8 dmg, Mighty Wolf takes no damage (ignore the -2 on the chart).
Giak (CS 15, CR 0) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 3, result Mighty Wolf takes 5 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -4 on table).
Giak (CS 14, CR -1) attacks Might Wolf. Roll - 5, result Might Wolf takes 6 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -3 on table).
Result after round 1 - Might Wolf took a total of 21 damage. YIKES! Man is ganging up deadly! The GM would have to think long and hard before outnumbering the players!
#2) Have all characters attack, calculating the enemy's combat ratio and damage as listed above, but both characters do and receive damage on both attacks. This would be for group battles and for one-on-one combat.
Example: Mighty Wolf (CS 15) is engaged with three Giaks (CS 10+4 = 14, 11 +4 = 15, 12+4=16),.
Giak (CS 16, CR +1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll 7, result Might Wolf takes 10 damage, Giak takes 1 damage.
Mighty Wolf attacks Giak (CS 15, CR 0). Roll - 6, result Giak takes 8 dmg, Mighty Wolf takes -2 damage.
Giak (CS 15, CR 0) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 3, result Mighty Wolf takes 5 damage, Giak takes -4 damage.
Giak (CS 14, CR -1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 5, result Might Wolf takes 6 damage, Giak takes -3 damage.
Result after 1 round of combat: Mighty Wolf has still taken 21 points of damage (YIKES!) but at least he's dealt 1 damage to #1, 12 damage to #2, and 3 damage to #3. Ganging up is still deadly! GMs use with caution!
Here are two alternatives that I think work just fine:
Both of these alternate rule sets assume that all characters (heroes and enemies) act on their respective Combat Skills. Enemies may engage, evade, make ranged attacks, and gang up just like player characters can.
#1) Like a traditional RPG, when a character attacks they can only deal damage, not receive it. When an enemy attacks, use the combat ratio as figured from their perspective (Kai Lord, CS 15, Giak CS 10 = Kai Lord CR +5, Giak CS -5) and count the player character as "E" on the combat ratio table (in essence, replace "enemy" with "defender."). This would be for group battles and one-on-one combat
Example: Mighty Wolf (CS 15) is engaged with three Giaks (CS 10+4 = 14, 11 +4 = 15, 12+4=16),.
Giak (CS 16, CR +1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll 7, result Might Wolf takes 10 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -1 on table).
Mighty Wolf attacks Giak (CS 15, CR 0). Roll - 6, result Giak takes 8 dmg, Mighty Wolf takes no damage (ignore the -2 on the chart).
Giak (CS 15, CR 0) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 3, result Mighty Wolf takes 5 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -4 on table).
Giak (CS 14, CR -1) attacks Might Wolf. Roll - 5, result Might Wolf takes 6 damage, Giak takes no damage (ignore -3 on table).
Result after round 1 - Might Wolf took a total of 21 damage. YIKES! Man is ganging up deadly! The GM would have to think long and hard before outnumbering the players!
#2) Have all characters attack, calculating the enemy's combat ratio and damage as listed above, but both characters do and receive damage on both attacks. This would be for group battles and for one-on-one combat.
Example: Mighty Wolf (CS 15) is engaged with three Giaks (CS 10+4 = 14, 11 +4 = 15, 12+4=16),.
Giak (CS 16, CR +1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll 7, result Might Wolf takes 10 damage, Giak takes 1 damage.
Mighty Wolf attacks Giak (CS 15, CR 0). Roll - 6, result Giak takes 8 dmg, Mighty Wolf takes -2 damage.
Giak (CS 15, CR 0) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 3, result Mighty Wolf takes 5 damage, Giak takes -4 damage.
Giak (CS 14, CR -1) attacks Mighty Wolf. Roll - 5, result Might Wolf takes 6 damage, Giak takes -3 damage.
Result after 1 round of combat: Mighty Wolf has still taken 21 points of damage (YIKES!) but at least he's dealt 1 damage to #1, 12 damage to #2, and 3 damage to #3. Ganging up is still deadly! GMs use with caution!
