Questions about Combat Manoeuvres

[Helmgard]

First of all I wonder what the designers consideration may be behind the decision, to chose CM before damage and hitlocation are rolled. This way, the usefullness of some CMs, e.g. "Chose Location" or "Stand Fast", seems to depend more on chance than on tactics.

Then, the "Slip Free" CM for breaking an Entaglement seems to be an automatic success, since in the description of "Entangle" no test is mentioned for this one of the three methods of escaping an entanglement. Is this intended?

The "Bleed" CM bears the danger, that a successful stopped bleeding will open up again, if the recipient of the wound paricipates in strenous or violent action. But for how long will this danger be existing?

 

[Helmgard]

*bump*

 

[Mongoose Pete]

First of all I wonder what the designers consideration may be behind the decision, to chose CM before damage and hitlocation are rolled. This way, the usefullness of some CMs, e.g. "Chose Location" or "Stand Fast", seems to depend more on chance than on tactics.

The primary consideration is that combat becomes far more deadly if the player can chose the 'best fit' if the location and damage are already known. The second consideration is that choosing prior to rolling makes more sense logically, since once the PC would have decided what tactic to attempt prior to any wound caused. In also sometimes saves a needless dice roll.

Then, the "Slip Free" CM for breaking an Entaglement seems to be an automatic success, since in the description of "Entangle" no test is mentioned for this one of the three methods of escaping an entanglement. Is this intended?

Yes.

The "Bleed" CM bears the danger, that a successful stopped bleeding will open up again, if the recipient of the wound paricipates in strenous or violent action. But for how long will this danger be existing?

Its up to the GM. If you like reality then it should take a few days. If you prefer heroic toughness, then allow the PC to recover faster, perhaps with a bit of successful surgery to stitch up the wound.

 

[Helmgard]

Thanks!

 

[Helmgard]

Following a very entertaining test drive round of rq2 yesterday, there emerged a couple of further questions on combat manoeuvres among the players:

Impale:
The downloadable "Combat Manoevers Sheet" indicates that each attempt of pulling an impaled weapon free causes the withdrawling damage, successfull brawn roll or not. Is this right or is the withdrawing damage only done by a sucessful attempt?
And: does the Impaler may spent a CA to withdraw his weapon immediatly after he impaled his foe, thus effectively spending two CAs on one and the same SR? Or will he have to wait for his next SR?

Pin Weapon:
The same question for the Pin Weapon CM: does the wielder of the pinned weapon may immediately spend a CA to get his weapon free or will he have to wait for his next SR?

Bypass Parry:
The only possible constellation in which the attacker will get a CM and simultaneously the opponent may reduce damage by parrying is "critical attack versus normal successful parry", right? So, the Bypass Parry CM effectively would be restricted by practicabillity to Critical Success Only. Is this right or do we miss the point?

Enhance Parry, Redirect Blow:
The same for Enhance Parry an Redirect Blow CMs: They are only practicable in the case of a critical parry versus a normal successful attack and thus restricted to Critical Success Only, right?

 

[Helmgard]

The Combat Manoeuvres Summary Table on p.86 marks the CMs Bypass Parry an Enhance Parry as stackable.

I don´t see how this is meant, since the maximum number of CM in situations where those manoeuvres would be of use is one CM, see the posting above.

Could anyone of you guys please help me to figure out how such a stacking could occure ?

 

[Deleriad]

The Combat Manoeuvres Summary Table on p.86 marks the CMs Bypass Parry an Enhance Parry as stackable.

I don´t see how this is meant, since the maximum number of CM in situations where those manoeuvres would be of use is one CM, see the posting above.

Could anyone of you guys please help me to figure out how such a stacking could occure ?

Straight out of the book, it won't occur. However you could imagine various heroic abilities, spells, unique combat styles and special items that might trigger it.
E.g. imagine a heroic ability which reads, "If your next attack is a success you automatically gain the Bypass Parry CM in addition to any other CMs you may gain." If you happen to critical that attack then you could stack Bypass Parry.