Re: Team Tactics

[Greg Mowczko <mooch@ns1.cioe.com>]

Along with Rob's "body language" insight combine that with Kris's
verbal cues. If I have been in many a combat with Elesina and as
I start my run towards a group of people I hear her starting to
cast fireball I think I'll redirect myself and hope that I stop
far enough out to not get hit by this incoming fireball. Or likewise
I and 5 others run into a group of 6 people and Elesina who begins
casting sees this can't she stop casting? Obviously she sees that
we all are going for her targets and becoming incidental targets as
well. She just stops casting ( probalby by saying "fuck they're in
the way now" instead of continuing "oogada bogida" ).

This is something I would only let occur if people made their 
tactics check. Its the fact that in four seconds we as real people
can change our minds. Watch a baseball game when there is a pop fly
and two players start towards the balls destination. Sometimes they
collide ( failed tactics ) sometimes one stops and the other catches
the ball ( successfull tactics for at least one ) and sometimes they
both stop to let the other catch ( failed tactics ). In game terms:

Team A: has initiative
	Pitcher throws the ball.
Team B:
	batter swings ( hit but screws his "home run" skill )
Initiative:
Team B: Player on first stays put seeing it is going to be caught
	but moves a little just in case
	Batter runs
Team A:
	Shortstop locked in action catch the ball
	2nd Baseman locked in action catch the ball
GM has them roll tactics and they make it and catch the ball

And yes Lyle usually someone will say "got it" but you have a locked
in action and you can't change your action in the middle of a round.
And what if they both say got it? Someone has to give in.

> From: "Kris Ames" <kris@cioe.com>
> Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 09:44:24 -0500
>
> Another reason was also eluded to by someone else (I think Rob). 
> Basically during the informational questions stage after all
> "situation type questions have been asked" their conceivable could
> be another informational questions of "character body language".  I
> mean if I see a fire mage "staring at a nice circular group of
> people and poised to raise their hands"  my character would take
> this to mean that they might be contemplating a fire ball and
> running up to that group of people to melee would be a bad idea. 
> This second round a questions would take forever and be a real pain
> in the Arse to judicate.  It would have to be a second round because
> characters might have no way of knowing what they were going to do
> until the GM has stated what the "enemy" and surroundings look like.
>
> In reality people can change actions in mid stream (just like Steve
> said).  I mean if I am starting to walk across the street and I hear
> Greg shout STOP!!! I can stop (all in under 4 seconds).  The tactics
> skill is just a short cut and allows a little bit more reality into
> the situation without bogging down combat rounds.
>
> Also by programmed actions being barred by Dan, I think everyone
> means that I can't say to Dan "Anytime I see the fire mage raise his
> hands like so, I will not charge up to a group of people for melee
> even if that was my stated and locked in action"  or anytime I see
> another player running toward a wall that I am within 10 feet of I
> will change my locked in action to become a kneel with a cupped hand
> (I.E. set up to boost them over the wall). 
>