RE: Combat Questions

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

I suspect this has already been answered before, but I just want to clarify the combat.

For example:

Character 1 - Heroweard Huge Germanic Barbarian with Great Axe
Combat Actions = 2
Damage = 1D8
SR = 12 (reduced to 10 for light leather and metal helm)
Great Axe = 1D12+2, Skill 94%
Resilience 69%

Character 2 - Fabricius Paetus Roman Legionnaire with Gladius and Scutum
Combat Actions = 3 (+1 for shield) = 4
Damage = 1D2
SR = 15 (reduced to 10 for Lorica Segmentata, Greaves and Gallic Helmet)
Gladius 1D6+1, Sword & Shield Skill 91%
Resilience 63%

Initiative
----------
Heroweard SR10 + 3 on 1D10 = 13
Fabricius SR10 + 9 on 1D10 = 19

Round 1
=====
SR 19
Fabricius Spend 1 CA = Attack
Roll 59 = success
Heroweard Spend 1 CA = Parry
Roll 17 = success
No additional combat actions won or lost

SR 13
Heroweard Spend 1 CA = Attack
Roll 15 = success
Fabricius Spend 1 CA = Parry
Roll 90 = success

<< Heroweard is now out of CA's and Fabricius has 2 CA's left >>

SR ?? is it SR 13
Fabricus Spend 1 CA = Attack
Roll 09 = critical success
Heoward = fail (no CA's)
Fabricius wins 2 addition CA's

Add CA 1 = Impale
Add CA 2 = Choose Location

Impale (roll 1 = 2 = 3 + db roll of 1 = 4, roll 2 = 6 = 7 + db roll of 3 = 10)
Location chosen = Abdomen

Damage = 10 to the abdomen of Heorweard, he has 1 AP, so 9 go through, he has 9 HP in that location so he's at 0 (zero) resulting in a serious wound.

Heroweard resilience roll = 14
<< He doesn't go unconscious because in the opposed roll against Fabricius's attack of 12 he was successful and got higher than Fabricius >>

Fabricius chooses to leave the medium sized Gladius in Heorward causing -20% to skills / activities. In the coming round (if any), he Heoroweard can not attack only parry or evade.

SR ?? is it SR 13
Fabricus Spend 1 CA = Pull out Gladius (this is his 4th and final original CA)
Roll 50 = success (against a Brawn of 62)
Heoward = fail (no CA's)
Damage Inflicted = 2 on D6 for a total of 3 points in the abdomen

Heorward tries to roll against Resilience of 69 (-20) = 49 and rolls 82
This is not a success and even if he had of rolled a success, it would have to be above Fabricius's 50 Brawn roll.

Heorward slumps into unconsciousness for 3 minutes (I'm assuming the impale removal damage) and is dispatched by Fabricius the following round.

GIVEN THE ABOVE
---------------------

1. How should Heorward fight Fabricius to have a chance of winning?

2. How are CA's used up within SRs?

Fabricius has 4 CA's and can act from SR 19
Heorward has 2 CA's and can act from SR 13

Could Fabricius choose to use all his 4 CA's at SR 19 and force Heoroweard to react and hope he doesn't get any successes better than Fabricius and thus possibly result in Heoroweard having no CA's when SR 13 is reached?

3. Given SR 19 and SR 13 and 2CA's and 4CA's what would that look like? Would it be:

SR 19, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 19, Heorweard Parry, 1 CA
SR 19, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 19, Heorweard Parry, 1 CA
SR 19, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 19, Heorweard, No Action, No CA
SR 19, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 19, Heorweard, No Action, No CA
New round, new initiative

OR

SR 19, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 19, Heorweard Parry, 1 CA
SR 13, Heorward Attack, 1 CA
SR 13, Fabricius Parry, 1 CA
SR 13, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 13, Heorweard, No Action, No CA
SR 13, Fabricius Attack, 1 CA
SR 13, Heorweard, No Action, No CA
New round, new initiative

4. When Fabricius is pulling out his impaled weapon and Heoroward has no CA's left, could Fabricius declare that he's got 1 addition CA (difference between success and failure) and choose something like Bash so in addition knocking Heorweard back 1 meter or so (from impale damage level)

5. When Heoroweard is already seriously wounded in a location, if wounded there again, but not enough to bring it to a critical wound (i.e., double the location), does Heorward make a resilience roll against the damage of the additional wound, or the total of the wounds now received to determine the number of minutes he's unconscious?

Thanks

 

[Simulacrum]

Surely, he should get some better dice? If he loses initiative and also fails to connect and do any damage while his opponent gets lucky, he has a problem, we all would. His opponent got lucky with a crit, hence impale and choose location, so heorward is in trouble like any pc or npc would be.

Having said that, you overstated the legionary's potential damage bonus - he rolled 3 on a 1D2 - technically, unless he chooses bypass armour and does max damage on both rolls, he can't take the German down to zero on the abdomen with a gladius, so Heroward should not be in quite such a tight spot.

OK, so if Heorward wasn't such a man mountain, your point is still valid - but we can't see a solution in an abstract toe to toe. Heorward should have some friends (or magic) on hand to put the quicker little Roman with his bonus CA shield under some pressure, or he is taking a substantial risk.

I have to say, irrespective of game balance issues, if you take on a guy carrying a great big shield and are not similarly equpped, you are at a disadvantage. If Fabricius had somehow lost his shield he would be running for the hills at the sight of the German, and quite right too.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Hi GeneralPanic

You are correct - Fabricius damage bonus is 1D2 so the value should be 2 not 3, this would still leave Heorward at +1 HP in the abdomen and not having to make an unconscious check.

I take your point about the lucky critical and such, but assuming everything went normal success for attack and parry, once Heorward runs out of CA's, Fabricius will trump him.

<< That's where I'm slightly confused about could Fabricius use all his 4 CAs in SR19 against Heorward and thus Heorward uses up all his CA's even before we get to SR13? >>

I agree, Heorweard should be charging with a couple of mates to even the odds, and in reality would probably be better off using a Francisa one handed axe and a medium shield if he wants to go toe-to-toe with the better armoured Roman Legionnaire.

Yes, I could imagine Fabricius running very fast away from Heorweard if he didn't have his shield, he'd only be down to 3 CAs against Heorweard's 2 CAs.

What about the other questions, any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Rurik]

Everyone gets 1 CA at their SR. They can defend with at CA at any SR. After counting down from high SR to low SR you cycle back to the top and count down again until all CA's for all combatants are used.

So:

SR 19: Fabricus Attacks (1 CA), Heroweard Defends (1 CA).

SR 13: Heroweard Attacks, Fabricus Defends.

Now Fabricus still has 2 CA's so the GM goes back to SR 19 and counts down again.

SR 19: Fabricus Attacks, Heroweard can't defend.

SR 13: Herowaeard can't do anything.

We are still on Round 1, and Fabricus has a CA left. Back to SR 19.

SR 19: Fabricus Attacks, Heroweard reconsiders whether he should have gotten into this fight.

SR 13: Heroweard can't do anything.

Now everyone has used all of their CA's, so Round one ends. Round 2 begins:

SR 19: Fabricus attacks. Heroweard Defends.

SR 13: Heroweard decides NOT to attack. He will use all his CA's for Defense and hope for a CM so he can use Disarm against that pesky shield.

Both combatants have CA's left so we go back to the top.

SR 19: Fabricus attacks, Heroweards Defends. A CRITICAL! He chooses Disarm as his CM.

Does that make some more sense?

I assume since the Parry was a critical that means Fabricus needs to critical on his opposed roll.

By NOT attacking Heroweard gets to use his 2 CA's to defend, so Fabricus gets only 2 unnoposed attacks. The fourth attack has to be with the shield as well (the shields bonus CA can't be used for a Gladius attack - or so I believe). Heroweards best hope is to try to stay alive as long as possible (and he can take a couple hits) and hope for a critical or a failure/fumble on Fabricus part and go for a Disarm.

 

[Simulacrum]

Hmm - as far as I understand it, everyone gets to take a CA to do something positive (like attack) in order of strike rank, then you start again for those with CAs remaining, in order of strike ranks. So the question is, does using a CA to respond to an attack with a parry sacrifice your next combat action when you might have attacked in your SR turn - or simply reduce the number of CAs you have available?

The combat example on pages 97 and 98 make it pretty clear it is the latter - check out Lilina's Trollkin last paragraph on p.97: If Heorward uses a CA to parry, he still gets to attack on his SR (and before Fabricius can attack again). this of course assumes he doesn't mind finding himself without any CAs left afterwards. So it is his gamble, that either he'll connect and do some serious damage (of which he is very capable), or at the very least force Fabricius to burn a CA parrying. Note if Heoward had used Evade instead of Parry, he would indeed be prevented from attacking before Fabricius has another go at him (see Evade, page 84)

Where there is some room for confusion is between the description of the Combat Action choices on page 84 and the description of Attacks and Parries under Combat Mechanics on page 85. The first says that once you have declared a parry in advance of an opponent's attack, you cannot change your mind and spend the CA on something else, and if not used by your next SR, it's lost; the second says that if the parry misses you can decline the parry role and save the CA. Which I understand to mean that if you didn't need to use it after all because your opponent missed, you can only save the CA to parry another blow that comes in, and only until it is your go to do something again.

The long and the short of this is, you'd never declare a parry in advance of an attack unless you got a bonus for doing so because of the reasonable chance this will result in a wasted CA. I think there may have been some discussion of that on another thread. And if someone can put me right on it I'd be more than grateful!

 

[Zaron]

I don't know my roman weapons, but if that sheild is not rated as huge (or larger), it would only block 1/2 the damage when the barbarian struck.
(page 86 of rule book.) That is one advantage of carrying a 2H weapon, if your oppenent didn't spend the silver for a huge shield, success vs success still means you do damage (to the armor and possibly the body)

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Hi Rurik

Thanks for that, makes a bit more sense to me now.

Basically Heorweard shouldn't have got into this fight, or his tactics as you indicate should be to NOT ATTACK and hope on his defending dice rolls to win him additional CAs so he can do something to Fabricius.

The 4th CA for Fabricius which relates to the shield if used for attack can only be for the shield I wasn't certain of that. The damage would be 1D4 instead of 1D6+1. However, what skill % would be used as the Combat Style is Gladius and Scutum? Wouldn't the attack % be the same regardless if Fabricius is using the Gladius or the Scutum?

Of course, there are other options open to Heorweard - use of Hero Points or go for surprise! Anything but a straight toe-to-toe fight!!! ;-)

Thanks.

 

[Rurik]

The Roman Sheild would be a Hoplite Shield, so it is Huge, much to Heroweards chagrin.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Hi Zaron

I took the Legionnaire shield as a later Roman shield so like a portable Tower / Wall shield, so I assumed it was huge.

As you say, if Fabricius hadn't got this and something smaller he'd only be shaving some damage off for every successful hit that Heorweard gets against him.

Thanks.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

I have to say I really like the RQII rules and I think the combat should be very exciting and tactical and dramatic without becoming heavily bogged down.

The characters of Heorweard and Fabricius are two characters from Cthulthu Invictus Coc / BRP that I converted into RQII, hence the testing of the combat.

This was my first simple combat...

Another character is an ex-Gladiator (with Net, Trident and Galerus {arm armour protection}). I'm thinking this could be a very interesting combat!

 

[Rurik]

Hi Rurik

Thanks for that, makes a bit more sense to me now.

Basically Heorweard shouldn't have got into this fight, or his tactics as you indicate should be to NOT ATTACK and hope on his defending dice rolls to win him additional CAs so he can do something to Fabricius.

The 4th CA for Fabricius which relates to the shield if used for attack can only be for the shield I wasn't certain of that. The damage would be 1D4 instead of 1D6+1. However, what skill % would be used as the Combat Style is Gladius and Scutum? Wouldn't the attack % be the same regardless if Fabricius is using the Gladius or the Scutum?

Of course, there are other options open to Heorweard - use of Hero Points or go for surprise! Anything but a straight toe-to-toe fight!!! ;-)

Thanks.

Yes it would use the Sword and Shield%. MRQ1 had a -10% penalty for attacking with sheilds as well but I don't see one in MRQ2. In combat you may end up parrying with a sword, or bashing with a shield, or tripping with a foot or throwing an elbow if the opportunity arises, show the combat style covers both attacking with shield and parrying with the sword if either need arises.

The MRQ1 rules I am pretty sure had the bit about the Bonus CA for a shield or off hand weapon having to be used for that item. I don't actually see it in MRQ2, I'm not sure if that is an oversight or not but I intend to keep playing that way - it makes sense to me.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

Something nobody has spotted so far is that Fabricus cannot attack with his shortsword until he has manoeuvred into range. The barbarian has reach on him. So the best thing that Heroweard can do is wait for Fabricus to attempt to close and then chop him, since the Roman's Evade skill is not likely to be anywhere near as good as his combat skill.

Being such a lumbering giant of a man, it is his best tactic. One hit from his axe has a fair chance of causing a Serious Wound, at which point the fight swings in his favour.

 

[Denalor]

Damage = 1D8

You are aware that you need a sum of 41 from STR and SIZ to get that kind of damage bonus, right ? That’s a human, so 21 is the max value for each characteristic. That bloke put a lot of Improvement rolls into raising his characteristics ! or maybe he cast Strenght ?

As already mentioned by others: you cycle through the SRs, there’s no reduction/counting down of SRs.
Fabricus will act on SR 19 and use a CA to do some action, Heorweard may react using also a CA.
Then it’s the German’s turn, and after that, assuming the combatants still have CAs left, Fabricus will start again at SR19.
Note that the defenders must declare a parry before the attack. Only if the attack fails may they chose to not use their parry… but given the possibility for a CM, I’d always go through with the parry. CMs are just too great to be discarded, IMHO.

Roll 09 = critical success

Add CA 1 = Impale
Add CA 2 = Choose Location

That’s CMs, but doesn’t really matter, every one knows what you mean

Impale (roll 1 = 2 = 3 + db roll of 1 = 4, roll 2 = 6 = 7 + db roll of 3 = 10)

The damage modifier roll of 3 has already been addressed.
But: you do not re-roll the DM-roll for an impale, I think, you only roll twice the weapon dice and choose the higher, then you roll once for DM

Heroweard resilience roll = 14 << He doesn't go unconscious because in the opposed roll against Fabricius's attack of 12 he was successful and got higher than Fabricius >>

Nope, you need to use the orginal attack roll in the opposed roll. Thus the German needs to roll versus Fabricus’ 09. Since that was a critical, Heorweard needs to have a critical, too, so he’d need to roll below 07 (10% of his resilience rounded up) to get a critical. Since he can’t both roll a critical and roll higher than Fabricus, he cannot succeed.

Fabricius chooses to leave the medium sized Gladius in Heorward causing -20% to skills / activities. In the coming round (if any), he Heoroweard can not attack only parry or evade.

Some clarification: Heorweard suffers the -20% penalty, while Fabricus may not parry with his Gladius.

Fabricus Spend 1 CA = Pull out Gladius (this is his 4th and final original CA)
Roll 50 = success (against a Brawn of 62)
Heoward = fail (no CA's)
Damage Inflicted = 2 on D6 for a total of 3 points in the abdomen

Heoreweard has nothing to do in that action. Removing an impaled weapon is not opposed by the impaled foe. So Fabricus just retrieves his Gladius and does those 3 points of damage, without reduction from Heorweard’s armour.
Therefore

4. When Fabricius is pulling out his impaled weapon and Heoroward has no CA's left, could Fabricius declare that he's got 1 addition CA (difference between success and failure) and choose something like Bash so in addition knocking Heorweard back 1 meter or so (from impale damage level)

A very clear NO to that question.

Heorward tries to roll against Resilience of 69 (-20) = 49 and rolls 82
This is not a success and even if he had of rolled a success, it would have to be above Fabricius's 50 Brawn roll.

The Gladius has been removed, thus causing the damage and thus no longer sticking in the German’s abdomen. As such, Heorweard does not suffer the -20% penalty anymore.
Also, I’m not too sure whether you’d really use the Brawn roll of Fabricus for the opposing test. I think you’d need to again use the original Attack roll ? But really, I’m not sure at all !

5. When Heoroweard is already seriously wounded in a location, if wounded there again, but not enough to bring it to a critical wound (i.e., double the location), does Heorward make a resilience roll against the damage of the additional wound, or the total of the wounds now received to determine the number of minutes he's unconscious?

I would take the 3 from the removal of the Gladius only, i.e. 3 minutes.

The fourth attack has to be with the shield as well (the shields bonus CA can't be used for a Gladius attack - or so I believe).

I don't actually see it in MRQ2, I'm not sure if that is an oversight or not but I intend to keep playing that way - it makes sense to me.

I raised the same issue in this thread, and the answer from Loz was

There's no special treatment for bonus CA derived from two weapons styles. You can use them in exactly the same way and for the same things, as your base CA.

Of course, if people want to restrict the utility of these CA somehow, then that's all part of your RQ; however the rules don't make this level of distinction simply to keep things as simple as possible. I think that restricting bonus CA just adds a layer of unnecessary book keeping.

The first says that once you have declared a parry in advance of an opponent's attack, you cannot change your mind and spend the CA on something else, and if not used by your next SR, it's lost; the second says that if the parry no, it must be: attack misses you can decline the parry role and save the CA

The first simply describes that you cannot change your mind and rededicate your CA. However, the second shows that if the attack (rather than the parry as you write) misses, you may rededicate your CA.
I don’t think that there is a contradiction. Rather an additional condition (the failed attack roll) opens up further options.

you'd never declare a parry in advance of an attack unless you got a bonus for doing so because of the reasonable chance this will result in a wasted CA

And thereby disqualifying you for a CM ? If I were the German, I would rather do the parry and, assuming a failed attack, I’d shatter the Roman’s Gladius… well, or just disarm him. But disarming needs another roll and even though the German would only need a plain success (roll equal or below his combat style of 94%) I still think a whopping 1d12+1d8+2 has a better chance of dispatching the annoying Roman.

his tactics as you indicate should be to NOT ATTACK

I’m German, and I would never not attack that tiny Roman [chuckle]. Seriously, with that awesome axe and with a higher SR I would have gone for an attack, too. Hell, who would expect that kind of combat skill from that puny Roman ? But then again, faced with someone who obviously has more CAs than I and who wields a shield that can easily block all my massive damage… I suppose running would have been the better choice.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Thank you for all the responses.

I'll run the combat again with the extra I know now, especially:

* defense (to pick up CM)
* declare parry to allow CM to be picked up
* shield CA only for shield attack (and some neg % stuff)
* reach / range (long v short)

and see how it pans out...

Just to note, the characters are quite high-powered and both rather than being enemies are in the same party. Heorweard indeed has a STR of 21 and a SIZ of 20. There's no magic involved in the campaign, so he really is a man-mountain.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

ROUND 2 - DING DING
===============

Character 1 - Heroweard Huge Germanic Barbarian with Great Axe (aka The Man Mountain)
Combat Actions = 2
Damage = 1D8
SR = 12 (reduced to 10 for light leather and metal helm)
Great Axe = 1D12+2, Skill 94%, Reach = Long
Resilience 69%

Character 2 - Fabricius Paetus Roman Legionnaire with Gladius and Scutum (The Wily Latin)
Combat Actions = 3 (+1 for shield) = 4
Damage = 1D2
SR = 15 (reduced to 10 for Lorica Segmentata, Greaves and Gallic Helmet)
Gladius 1D6+1, Sword & Shield Skill 91%, Shield 1D4, Reach = Short
Resilience 63%

Fighting Distance L <-> S = 2

Initiative
----------
Heroweard SR10 + 3 on 1D10 = 13
Fabricius SR10 + 5 on 1D10 = 15

Round 1
=====
SR 15
Fabricius Spend 1 CA = Change Distance (close from Long to Short)
Heroweard Spend 1 CA = Attack
Roll 58 = success
Fabricius Evade of 36 rolls 62 and fails (but still closes the distance and gets toe to toe with Heorweard as his great axe comes slamming in)

Heorward damage = 12 (max'd) + 2 + 4 (on db roll) = 18 points of damage to 3 on D20 (right leg of Fabricius)

Fabricius has plate greaves worth 6AP so damage is taken down to 12, he has 5 HP in his leg, so he's taken to -7 (more than double so a major wound).

He goes prone and in all likelihood his leg has been severed or severely mangled.

Rolls his resilience of (63) v Heorweards attack of 58 and gets 98 and fails and slips into unconscious and certain death.

Questions:
------------
1. When Heorweard won his attack and Fabricius failed his evade when Fabricius tried to close does this mean that Heoweard could claim an additional CM for the differences in level of success?

2. Fabricius spent 1 CA to change distance (i.e., close) and when Heorweard attacked him, he had to roll an evade. Under the rules for evade on page 84, does that mean that assuming Fabricius hadn't of been dispatched and had remained in the fight, that his next CA could not have been used for attack?

3. Is there any reason Heorweard would try and use an evade to maintain the distance rather than make an attack, as it says that either an attack or an opposed evade will cost him 1 CA. I'm assuming he should attack and at least try and cut the Roman up as he closes. Is my logic correct?

Given the possible tactics now, Fabricius probably shouldn't feel as "cocky" about taking on this barbarian from the dark forests of Germania...

 

[Cassius]

3. Is there any reason Heorweard would try and use an evade to maintain the distance rather than make an attack, as it says that either an attack or an opposed evade will cost him 1 CA. I'm assuming he should attack and at least try and cut the Roman up as he closes. Is my logic correct?

Its basically a risk

In heroweards case attacking would almost always be the best option as he is doing an immense amount of damage and so is very likely to get a 1 hit kill

however if Fabricus was tougher or Heroweard weaker it would be more of a risk as if he does not down fabricus on the way in he is in a very dangerous positon being unable to parry

If he evades as long as he succeeds he gets to maintain his ability to defend himself no matter what and will get an attack in as that is his opponets go over

 

[Mongoose Pete]

1. When Heorweard won his attack and Fabricius failed his evade when Fabricius tried to close does this mean that Heoweard could claim an additional CM for the differences in level of success?

Yes.

2. Fabricius spent 1 CA to change distance (i.e., close) and when Heorweard attacked him, he had to roll an evade. Under the rules for evade on page 84, does that mean that assuming Fabricius hadn't of been dispatched and had remained in the fight, that his next CA could not
have been used for attack?

No. Using the Evade skill to change engagement distance is free of any penalty. You only suffer a CA loss if you are using it to take cover from an attack.

3. Is there any reason Heorweard would try and use an evade to maintain the distance rather than make an attack, as it says that either an attack or an opposed evade will cost him 1 CA. I'm assuming he should attack and at least try and cut the Roman up as he closes. Is my logic correct?

It depends on the tactical situation. If he has a bunch of friends coming to support him, it would be better to maintain the range.

Given the possible tactics now, Fabricius probably shouldn't feel as "cocky" about taking on this barbarian from the dark forests of Germania...

The free attack is a one-shot wonder. It may or may not work, and if it fails, then the barbarian is in for a world of hurt once the shield man has closed up.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

For your enjoyment Raegenhere, here's a historical single combat between a giant Gaul and a Roman noted by Livy in his Ab Urbe Condita. Its stories like this which heavily influenced the design of the combat rules. For those of you who have read it before, please feel free to skip. Others might like to figure out what manoeuvres were used and how to model the combat with CMs.

A Gaul of extraordinary stature strode forward on to the unoccupied bridge, and shouting as loudly as he could, cried: "Let the bravest man that Rome possesses come out and fight me, that we two may decide which people is the superior in war." A long silence followed. The best and bravest of the Romans made no sign; they felt ashamed of appearing to decline the challenge, and yet they were reluctant to expose themselves to such terrible danger.

Thereupon T. Manlius, the youth who had protected his father from the persecution of the tribune, left his post and went to the Dictator. "Without your orders, General," he said, "I will never leave my post to fight, no, not even if I saw that victory was certain; but if you give me permission I want to show that monster as he stalks so proudly in front of their lines that I am a scion of that family which hurled the troop of Gauls from the Tarpeian rock." Then the Dictator: "Success to your courage, T. Manlius, and to your affection for your father and your fatherland! Go, and with the help of the gods show that the name of Rome is invincible."

Then his comrades fastened on his armour; he took an infantry shield and a Spanish sword as better adapted for close fighting; thus armed and equipped they led him forward against the Gaul, who was exulting in his brute strength, and - even the ancients thought this worth recording - putting his tongue out in derision. They retired to their posts and the two armed champions were left alone in the midst, more after the manner of a scene on the stage than under the conditions of serious war, and to those who judged by appearances, by no means equally matched. The one was a creature of enormous bulk, resplendent in a many-coloured coat and wearing painted and gilded armour; the other a man of average height, and his arms, useful rather than ornamental, gave him quite an ordinary appearance.

There was no singing of war-songs, no prancing about, no silly brandishing of weapons. With a breast full of courage and silent wrath Manlius reserved all his ferocity for the actual moment of conflict. When they had taken their stand between the two armies, while so many hearts around them were in suspense between hope and fear, the Gaul, like a great overhanging mass, held out his shield on his left arm to meet his adversary's blows and aimed a tremendous cut downwards with his sword.

The Roman evaded the blow, and pushing aside the bottom of the Gaul's shield with his own, he slipped under it close up to the Gaul, too near for him to get at him with his sword. Then turning the point of his blade upwards, he gave two rapid thrusts in succession and stabbed the Gaul in the belly and the groin, laying his enemy prostrate over a large extent of ground. He left the body of his fallen foe un-despoiled with the exception of his chain, which though smeared with blood he placed round his own neck.

Astonishment and fear kept the Gauls motionless; the Romans ran eagerly forward from their lines to meet their warrior, and amidst cheers and congratulations they conducted him to the Dictator. In the doggerel verses which they extemporised in his honour they called him Torquatus ("adorned with a chain"), and this soubriquet became for his posterity a proud family name. The Dictator gave him a golden crown, and before the whole army alluded to his victory in terms of the highest praise.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Excellent - thank you Mongoose Pete!

I do remember a note about this combat, but not the full description as you put (I think it was in the podcast The History of Rome) or some other media I listened to.

Heorweard getting a CM for his successful attack versus Fabricious evade, I would certainly select Choose Location. I'd go for "Head", and watch the Fabricius head sail off his shoulders.

I'm also visualising that scene in Gladiator where a bunch of the Legionaires surround the Germanic Chieftan and massacre him.

I think I'll keep running the Heorweard v Fabricius combats to pick up the furhter nuances and teast more things out before I even do Brutus the Retiarius or Lysander the Pankration.

 

[Raegenhere (Huscarl)]

Just a quick thought on tactics.

Scenario 1
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When Heorweard gets the initiative on Fabricius - should Fabricius just wait for Heorweard to take his shot (use 1 CA for attack) and use 1 CA to parry. Assuming he gets the jump, he (Fabricius) could use any CM earned to 'Change Range' and move into inside (close range).

Of course, there is a danger that Fabricius will get whittled by Heorweard, but he does have a big shield and good armour!

... And of course, Fabricius has more CA's than Heorweard ...

Scenario 2
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If Fabricius gets the initiative on Heorweard, there's a danger in Fabricius using a CA to 'Change Distance' as Heorweard can launch an attack and Fabricius has to use his poorer evade to not get hit.

Could Fabricius chose not to go first, i.e., could he defer his CA and not lose it? I notice the rules have a CA called 'Do Nothing'.

Of coures, this cat and mouse game could be dangerous for Fabricius and he's evening the odds with Heorweard who has fewer CA's than him.

Tactically (ignoring Hero Points, Spells, etc) and going mano-o-mano how would you suggest playing it?