Optional Combat Rules



While playing Dragonlance: Fifth Age, I noticed some problems. For one thing, when I tried to pit the heroes against several villains of greater Reputation, the heroes still beat them. And quite easily too. Just using the core Saga Rules, an Unknown elf and an Archetype elf fight and die just the same. So I created this simple rule to help even up fights. However, I do not recommend that the Narrator use this rule extensively. This rule need not be used for every bandit and rogue that the heroes face. However, some Narrators may want to. I recommend that Narrators use this rule to give heroes a tough fight at the dramatic points in an adventure. This rule should not be used for monsters and their ilk, only for the hero races.

Whenever a hero fights another person (member of the hero races), their actions are one degree higher for every reputation category that the opponent has above the hero. And vice versa.

Example:
Let's say John (Co 5, Ph 6, In 7, Es 5, Adventurer), an average warrior is ambushed by Torvik (Co 4, Ph 7, In 5, Es 6, Master), a dwarven mercenary. Torvik swings his battle axe at John. John must succeed in a daunting Physique (Physique) action to avoid being hit. Well, by some miracle called a Trump, he succeeds. So, bitterly enraged, John hacks at Torvick with his two-handed sword. He must succeed in a daunting Physique (Physique) action to hurt Torvick. But, not suprisingly, he misses. Grinning beneath his bristling beard, Torvick fingers his battle ax and steps forward. Looks like John is in trouble!

Example:
Okay, John manages to escape from Torvik (he ran screaming away and managed to lose the dwarf as he slid down a steep ravine). Bruised and battered, John limps into Solace. When he gets there, he catches a thief trying to steal his last two steels. Enraged, John draws his two-handed sword. The thief (Co 8, Ph 4, In 6, Es 6, Novice) draws a dagger in terror. John savagely hacks (no white-aura nature card for him!) at the thief with his sword. John must succeed in an easy Physique (Physique) action to hit the thief. However, due to his recent battle with Torvik, John's a little low on cards, and misses by a mile. The thief swipes back with his dagger in fear. John must succeed in an easy Physique (Physique) action or be hit. However, this is not John's day, as the dagger sticks him in the side. And just his luck, the constabulary arrives! All they see is a heavily armed warrior attacking a street urchin.



If you have any comments on my page, or want to submit stories, ideas, etc., then e-mail me at Eric94087@aol.com.