RE: defense

[Lyle H Janney <lhjanney@adpc.purdue.edu>]

I want to show my support for the defense skill as a sub-skill
of the weapon skill (I just wish the AQ system was stabilized
and that the environment had been conducive to this idea
about 8 years ago when I first proposed the idea to Dan).  ;-)

I do, however, have a couple personal opinions on the topic.

1)  I agree with the below statement that the defense provided
by a successful skill roll would only carry into the immediately
following sub-round (be it the bottom of the current round if the
party went first, or the top of the next round provided that the
opposition wins initiative).  Wright's proposal that continue until
combat ends or you re-roll your weapon skill was, I think, not
very well thought out (Wright, you must not have had your
morning requirement of caffeine yet    ;-)    ).  If we allowed that,
then we would be completely redefining the use of the weapons
skills and I don't think we are out to do that (after all, I made my
multi-attack, why can't I keep swinging my sword around and cut
up my enemies at 5 swings per round?  I mean, hey, if I had
made my defense with 4 dice, that would continue, right?).

2)  Since we are talking about using the weapon for defensive
purposes, we should only be adding that +2 per die rolled to
the CDV and the GDV as those are only ones affected by
weapons to begin with.  (so, no, this wouldn't apply to helping
against getting shot in the back by a party member on your
own round, but it might apply to you blocking a critical miss
by your comrade on the baddie that you are both hacking to
pieces)

3)  And speaking of getting shot in the back, the defense sub-
skill should not apply to combat or grapple attacks from behind
anyway.  Nor should most of the other DV's.  Greg very loudly
pointed out that I seem to be the only GM who uses the optional
directional attack rules on DV's (both when moderating and when
playing); why doesn't everyone else?  I mean, hey, we're striving
for more realism here, right?  Actually, I'm not the only one; I know
that I've seen Dan do it as well, but how many others use these
rules?  We all should be doing so (after all, they aren't that tough
to use).  The only reason I can see against using them is that they
are an optional rule that can hurt you as opposed to making you
better/more powerful.  In other words, I don't see a good reason
here.

Okay, enough said on that for now.  Is the group interested in me
writing up the addendum to horseback rules I posted (pertaining
to dealing with being de-horsed)?

Lyle

-----Original Message-----
From:	Steve Ames [SMTP:steve@ns1.cioe.com]
Sent:	Thursday, October 01, 1998 4:39 PM
To:	belgarat@expert.cc.purdue.edu; GMlist@cioe.com
Subject:	Re: defense

>
> What ever happened to the defense skill?
>

It didn't really make a lot of sense to have it without the
split dice option... in other words we got sidetracked.

With split dice it works like this:

When you roll your dice you specify that X dice will be used
for "defense" during the following round. You can use whatever
other dice you rolled for combat this round (split target, multi,
lethal, etc...).

If you get a flip-flop on initiative then you oopsed and your
defensive dice were wasted. Bad you.

If its a fresh combat and the opponent gets to move first you
don't get a defensive option.

That said:

The defensive subskill allows you to use your weapon in a defensive
manner. For every die you successfully roll against your weapon skill
you may add 2 to your DVs during your opponents round. In the event
that you have two rounds sequentially any defense used in the first
round is lost and should be re-rolled in the 2nd.

I suppose a case could be made that the defense works even on a flip 
flop for things such as your own party shooting you in the back, a 
T'orite with a rebound, etc... I'd agree with that.

It should either be a weapon subskill (as outlined above) or a REALLY
high base cost skill... otherwise it becomes another skill that people
will roll dice for every round. Blech. I'd vote weapon subskill...
everything in one tidy die roll and another thing that will cut into
multi-attacks dominence of the game.

I think the defensive skill is alive and well and biding its time :)

						-Steve
~