Lightsaber Duelling for Fun and Profit

[tkdco2]

I've been thinking of running my science fantasy campaign as a series of wargames. Aside from the lightsabers, there aren't too many other things taken from Star Wars.

I haven't decided on what system to use, but there's no reason I can't use D&D. The lightsabers can be treated as swords of sharpness, albeit without the chaotic alignment. I can also use HERO or GURPS, or even MERP, but I'd prefer to keep the rules light. If you can recommend any other systems, feel free to do so.

I plan to post my battle reports with photos eventually. I have been playing around with GIMP, so I can edit the photos to include the lightsaber effect.

[tkdco2]

I tried a game with D&D and swords of sharpness. The fight ended too quickly, after a natural roll of 20. Maybe I'll try another system, like the duelling rules from Castle Falkenstein.

But I did take photos, and I'll post them after editing.

[tkdco2]

I've been playing with a modified version of the duelling rules from Castle Falkenstein. The system itself uses playing cards to simulate attacks, defenses, and rests. However, I noticed when two swordsmen are equally matched, the duel can go on for a long time. I modified it for solo play and to make the duel go a bit faster.

Another system I can use is this one I came up with. You and your opponent roll 2d20, 1 for attack, 1 for defense. Compare your attack roll with your opponent's defense roll (and vice versa) and reference the chart.

www.dropbox.com/s/abgzkdvjsluoukq/L.%20Crew%20Casualty%20Matrix.PNG?dl=0

I originally came up with this system for a quick and dirty combat resolution, both for battles and for duels. I have been using it to determine crew casualties in my space combat game. The main problem is that there is a chance of an instant kill when used as is. And yes, double kills are possible.

[tkdco2]

My attack chart is pretty basic. You and your opponent roll 2d20: one for attack; one for defense. Compare your attack to your opponent's defense, and vice versa. Subtract the lower number from the higher number.

If the difference is 0, the result is a Kill.
If the difference is 1, the result is a Severe Injury.
If the difference is 2-3, the result is a Moderate Injury.
If the difference is 4-6, the result is a Light Injury.
If the difference is 7+, the result is a No Injury.

I've been modifying my chart to make things a little more cinematic and avoid a double kill result.

Two attacks with the same result cancel each other out. If Player A and Player B both get a "Light Injury" result, their attacks nullify each other.

An attack with a more severe result can cancel an opposing attack with a less severe result but will itself be decreased. So if Player A gets a "Severe Injury" result on Player B, and Player B gets a "Moderate Injury" result on Player A, then Player A's result will cancel out B's result. However, Player A's result is decreased to "Light Injury."

Damage is cumulative. If a character takes a Light Injury in one round and a Moderate Injury the next round, he is now Severely Injured.

I may also use this for a Highlander game. Immortals can heal damage over time. In this case, an immortal can heal one point of severity per round, as long as he takes no damage. So an immortal with a Light Injury will be fully healed if he takes no damage the following round. A Severely Injured immortal needs three consecutive rounds to fully heal, but he will be partially healed if he can avoid taking damage for a round or two.

[tkdco2]

Here's my AAR as promised. It's also my first attempt at making a comic book. It needs refinement, but I'm still experimenting.

While there are lightsabers involved, the setting is my sicence fantasy campaign rather than the Star Wars universe.

www.dropbox.com/s/kbnj68cihmqqxl6/comic0a.png?dl=0

[Deleted]

I am amused. Good work! I am not sure what an AAR is, though.

[tkdco2]

Sorry. AAR is short for "After Action Report," otherwise known as a Battle Report (batrep for short). I got in the habit of using that term after becoming a member of The Miniatures Page. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm still trying to learn how to use GIMP to make a comic book; hopefully, I'll get better. I realized not everyone would be able to see the GIMP file, so I ported it over to Paint.

[Deleted]

Hehehe, now I get it, thanks. You might want to consider *Prisma* as well; it's rather simplistic, but you can create a comic-y look without much difficulty.

[tkdco2]

Thanks, I haven't heard of Prisma until now. I'll take a look a it.

[tkdco2]

I recently bought several Jedi and Sith miniatures and made a few modifications to other miniatures. I plan to do some gaming, both lightsaber battles and duels set in the Highlander universe.

[tkdco2]

Second battle is up. This one was played with the Duel Blade (free download) system. Photos are here, in comic book form.

Part 1

Part 2

Here are the details of the battle, one turn at a time:

Cast
Sir Karel: Knight of the Pegasus
Arne: Sir Karel's squire
Sir Malgrys: Knight of the Flame


Sir Malgrys wins initiative for this fight.


Turn 1: The combatants circle each other, feinting occasionally.

Turn 2: A flurry of blows ensues, but neither one can land a telling blow.

Turn 3: Sir Malgrys slashes at Sir Karel's leg, but Sir Karel deflects it. Sir Karel's strike is likewise deflected.

Turn 4: Sir Malgrys lands a grazing blow on Sir Karel's arm. Sir Karel attempts a head shot but misses.

Turn 5: Another brief exchange ensues without any blows landing.

Turn 6: Sir Malgrys misses his strike but is able to block a slash to his leg.

Turn 7: Sir Malgrys misses again. Sir Karel wounds Sir Malgrys in the arm.

Turn 8: Sir Malgrys stabs at Sir Karel, but his blow is deflected. However, the parry grazes Sir Karel's leg. Sir Karel's strike grazes Sir Malgrys in the ribcage.

Turn 9: Now on the defensive, Sir Malgrys desperately slashes as he retreats. A lucky blow cuts Karel's other leg, sending the knight tumbling to the ground!

At this point, Arne rushes to the aid of his master. Knowing he is too injured to continue fighting, Malgrys withdraws with an oath to return. Arne carries Sir Karel to their pegasi, so they can fly back to Castle Bellerophon. Sir Karel will need quite a bit of healing before he can exact his revenge.

[Malcadon]

Aug 3, 2016 23:14:19 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

I've been thinking of running my science fantasy campaign as a series of wargames. Aside from the lightsabers, there aren't too many other things taken from Star Wars.

How about Stormtroopers using lightsabers and blaster-shields, along with blasters? What about said Stormtroopers equipped with Ironman-styed power-armor? What about a phalanx of those Stormtroopers with a wall of blaster-shields, armed with spear-like blasters with (short-bladed) lightsaber bayonets, and at the center of the formation, a trooper holds what looks like a battle standard that is also a Gungan-styled shield generator that project a force-field that extends around the unit like a protective tent? What about cavalry troopers, with hardware as above, who rides armored hover bikes like the Knights and Charioteers of yore?

Too much? I could never tell.


That would have been so cool, if they kept that!

[tkdco2]

Definitely a possibility. A lot of my stories are battle reports for miniatures wargames, so finding certain miniatures will be difficult. Modifications may be necessary. If robotic horses are too hard to find, I may turn to hovercraft instead. One of the reasons I included lance versions of lightsabers was that I wanted some jousting to take place.

I just had this thought about playing a scenario involving Sir Gawain and his brothers. The Knights of the Round Table, now with 100% more lightsabers!

[Malcadon]

Oct 24, 2016 13:57:29 GMT -6 tkdco2 said:

If robotic horses are too hard to find, I may turn to hovercraft instead. One of the reasons I included lance versions of lightsabers was that I wanted some jousting to take place.

When I was noting "armored hover bikes" I meant something like the rocket cycles from the Flash Gordon movie. The Masters of the Universe toyline also has a number of great vehicles that can do the trick. Just remove the wheels or treads and make them fly or hover. The Attak Trak (sans treads), Sky Sled (from the Battle Ram set; sans the mobile launcher), Artilleray platform (that comes with the Beam-Blaster set), Wind Rider, Jet Sled, Land Shark (sans treads), Road Ripper (sans the wheels), Roton (just add lightsabers around the saw-teeth), et al.

While they don't make miniatures of vehicles like these, their are a ton of images online that one could alter freely.

Admit it! You can totally hear Queen's Flash Gordon theme just by looking at this pic!

[tkdco2]

I found the perfect robotic horses for my knights, along with a few other types:

www.litko.net/categories/Tokens-%26-Markers/Mount-Markers/

I ordered six of the horses and received them today. I will be assembling them this week. Lightsaber jousting coming soon!

As for the Knights of the Round Table: