Rule Clarification - Loss of CAs

[Snowedunder]

Hello all,

In combat, when either as a result of a minor or serious wound or even a fumble, a character loses a number or combat actions - does he also lose the same number or reactions?

In effect, does a character he loses 4 Combat actions as a result of being reduced to -1 or greater in a limb become helpless in combat for two rounds? (aside from being able to move and assuming he has base CA's of 2.)

Thanks.

 

[Kravell]

Hello all,

In combat, when either as a result of a minor or serious wound or even a fumble, a character loses a number or combat actions - does he also lose the same number or reactions?

In effect, does a character he loses 4 Combat actions as a result of being reduced to -1 or greater in a limb become helpless in combat for two rounds? (aside from being able to move and assuming he has base CA's of 2.)

Thanks.

I don't have an official rule to quote, but I would say a character does not lose reactions due to wounds. The description simply says they lose CAs.

The rules for reactions say a character gets a number of reactions based on the number of CAs they have. You'd have to rule whether that means current CA (after reducations for wounds) or base CA. I'd use base CA.

 

[B_Steele]

There are a number of spells and effects that have not been published yet that remove CAs or CRs...and sometimes both.

I have been working under the impression that I will write SPECIFICALLY when a CA/CR/both is being lost due to external conditions.

Cheers,
Bry

 

[Snowedunder]

Thanks Guys,

I think it makes sense to keep the CAs and the CRs seperate. After playing through a few combats it became apparant that anyone suffering a serious wound was essentially done for after losing CAs (and reactions as we were playing it).

It makes sense for a character to continue to react and defend themselves from further harm but be otherwise too focused on mangled limb to attack.

Cheers!

 

[Rurik]

I play that you only lose actions.

The tricky part about losing reactions is that they don't get used or expire on a set schedule like actions do.

Combat Actions get used each round whether you do anything with them or not (everybody takes 1st CA, everybody takes 2nd CA, etc). Reactions don't get used on any schedule like that.

For example, say you have 4 actions/reactions and the highest SR in a round. After using your 4th action you still have 4 reactions left and suffer a loss of 4 CA. If that also means you lose 4 reactions does that mean you lose the four you have saved up and get all 4 next round?

Conversely say you lose 4 actions/reactions as in the above example, but no one attacks you for 3 rounds. After one round you get all your CA's back, but still have this 'lose 4 reactions' result hanging around. If someone attacks you on the fourth round can you not defend yourself?

It gets kinda funky when you say things like "lose your next 3 reactions" as those could happen at any time, from almost instantly to a long time down the road.

If you want to have players lose reactions as a result of combat I would say play it like this:

You have no Reactions until your next combat action. In the round of your next combat action you only get reactions equal to the number of CA's remaining for that round.

For example if you have 3 CA's and lose 4 you lose all CA's for the current round and your first from the next round. So in the following round you would get only 2 reactions and not be able to use them until after the "everyone takes 1st action" part of the round is over.

I hope that makes sense.

I have found playing that way is quite deadly though, and allow using reactions while suffering a loss of CA's (you are too stunned to attack but can desperately try to defend yourself).

 

[Twigman]

In play I found it extremely difficult to remember how many CAs people lost and when they could start acting again. Plus losing multiple CAs seemed far to heavy a penalty, especially if the character only had a couple of CAs a round to start with.

As a house rule we found it much easier to just say that you lose just one CA at a time. So after you skip a turn you are back in action. This also means that the player spends less time just watching everyone else play, which pretty much sucks.

 

[Halfbat]

You have no Reactions until your next combat action. In the round of your next combat action you only get reactions equal to the number of CA's remaining for that round.

For example if you have 3 CA's and lose 4 you lose all CA's for the current round and your first from the next round. So in the following round you would get only 2 reactions and not be able to use them until after the "everyone takes 1st action" part of the round is over.

That's the way I've been playing it, as it doesn't make sense for someone to be so winded he can't attack but is still prancing around dodging incoming blows - and doesn't even get a penalty for doing so. It does leave a character open, but it's still not the case he can be hit with impunity (you still need to roll to attack!)

And yes, imho, it is unclear in the rules and should probably have been explicitly stated - I'm pleased to hear Bry's commitment to CA/CR clarity. But it depends what sort of battle you want to model as to whether you do or you don't, I guess.

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

I think the book does clarify that rule. Check the core book.

 

[Halfbat]

I think the book does clarify that rule. Check the core book.

Not that I can find - do let us know the page number.

 

[weasel_fierce]

we play it that you loose actions, not reactions as well