Post by Stormcrow on Feb 12, 2016 15:41:28 GMT -6
I think I've figured out what happened to the explanation of the combat system in Eldritch Wizardry.
The main trouble has always been the paragraph that explains what to do after the first round. Picture this. Kask is writing this paragraph and looks at the +15/+19 line. He counts the number of blank segments between the two X's: six. Starting with his finger on the X in the Post- segment, he counts 1 (Pre-), 2 (seg 1), 3 (seg 2), 4 (seg 3), 5 (seg 4), 6 (seg 5). In the paragraph he claims "on the 3rd melee round he would act during the 5th movement segment." He continues to count another six spaces for the next action: 1 (seg 6), 2 (post-), 3 (pre-), 4 (seg 1), 5 (seg 2), 6 (seg 3). And we have in the text, "on the 4th
melee round he would be able to act during the 3rd."
The error was in counting the number of spaces BETWEEN actions for the first round, but then counting UP TO another action using the same count. If we were counting correctly, the third round he would be able to act on the 6th movement segment and on the fourth round he would be able to act on the 5th.
The one thing that's still a little unclear is the bit about losing segments when you're surprised. I THINK this means losing ACTIONS.
Another funny bit about the section is the terminology it's using. In this section, "melee" and "combat" are reversed from their usual meanings.
If all this is correct, here's how the system works.
In the first round of combat, anyone not moving or fighting hand-to-hand checks their modified dexterity by using the Adjustments to Dexterity table. They get to do their thing where the first and maybe second X appears on that line.
Anyone moving moves according to the Movement During Melee Round table, which excludes movement during the pre- and post- segments.
Anyone within melee range (3") makes a single attack as soon as they're in melee range. Movement is still possible after an attack is made (though I suspect the idea is that you can approach but not leave after contact). Melee allows one attack per round, as usual.
Anyone who rolled a 1 for surprise loses the first X and must wait for the next one. Anyone who rolled a 2 for surprise loses the first two X's.
The second round of combat is assumed to be under somewhat changed circumstances than the first (weapons are ready, no one is surprised, and so forth), so it is assumed to be representative of the rest of combat in general. Anyone not moving or engaged in melee recalculates their modified dexterity. If it is 14 or less, you will always go on the segment indicated on the chart. If it is 15 or higher, you find the number of segments between one X and another, and continually count to the next action you get. +15/+19 always goes every seven segments (including pre- and post-), +20/+24 always goes every six segments, and +25+ always goes every five segments.
Movement and melee occur the same as in the first round. Dexterity is not checked. Movement happens continually except for the pre- and post- segments, and melee always occurs as soon as parties are in melee range which, if they started in melee range, is during the pre-movement segment.
So: combat as soon as possible for melee, at a pace according to the chart for missiles and spells.
The main trouble has always been the paragraph that explains what to do after the first round. Picture this. Kask is writing this paragraph and looks at the +15/+19 line. He counts the number of blank segments between the two X's: six. Starting with his finger on the X in the Post- segment, he counts 1 (Pre-), 2 (seg 1), 3 (seg 2), 4 (seg 3), 5 (seg 4), 6 (seg 5). In the paragraph he claims "on the 3rd melee round he would act during the 5th movement segment." He continues to count another six spaces for the next action: 1 (seg 6), 2 (post-), 3 (pre-), 4 (seg 1), 5 (seg 2), 6 (seg 3). And we have in the text, "on the 4th
melee round he would be able to act during the 3rd."
The error was in counting the number of spaces BETWEEN actions for the first round, but then counting UP TO another action using the same count. If we were counting correctly, the third round he would be able to act on the 6th movement segment and on the fourth round he would be able to act on the 5th.
The one thing that's still a little unclear is the bit about losing segments when you're surprised. I THINK this means losing ACTIONS.
Another funny bit about the section is the terminology it's using. In this section, "melee" and "combat" are reversed from their usual meanings.
If all this is correct, here's how the system works.
In the first round of combat, anyone not moving or fighting hand-to-hand checks their modified dexterity by using the Adjustments to Dexterity table. They get to do their thing where the first and maybe second X appears on that line.
Anyone moving moves according to the Movement During Melee Round table, which excludes movement during the pre- and post- segments.
Anyone within melee range (3") makes a single attack as soon as they're in melee range. Movement is still possible after an attack is made (though I suspect the idea is that you can approach but not leave after contact). Melee allows one attack per round, as usual.
Anyone who rolled a 1 for surprise loses the first X and must wait for the next one. Anyone who rolled a 2 for surprise loses the first two X's.
The second round of combat is assumed to be under somewhat changed circumstances than the first (weapons are ready, no one is surprised, and so forth), so it is assumed to be representative of the rest of combat in general. Anyone not moving or engaged in melee recalculates their modified dexterity. If it is 14 or less, you will always go on the segment indicated on the chart. If it is 15 or higher, you find the number of segments between one X and another, and continually count to the next action you get. +15/+19 always goes every seven segments (including pre- and post-), +20/+24 always goes every six segments, and +25+ always goes every five segments.
Movement and melee occur the same as in the first round. Dexterity is not checked. Movement happens continually except for the pre- and post- segments, and melee always occurs as soon as parties are in melee range which, if they started in melee range, is during the pre-movement segment.
So: combat as soon as possible for melee, at a pace according to the chart for missiles and spells.
