Combat target number question

[izlear]

Ok I am finally getting a chance to read through the game and have a qustion about combat actions. When a character (PC or NPC) attacks do they do it based on the chart on page 36 (12 dificulty to shoo at someone for example) and then if it successds the character being shot at has the option to "React" or is the REACTION the target dificulty of the attack (in this case shooting)

If not what is the Target number in a combat situation (including Melee and ranged etc etc. . . )

Thanks, I'm sure this is obvious, but I am a bit lost with it.

[allenshock]

Jan 8, 2010 0:48:33 GMT izlear said:

Ok I am finally getting a chance to read through the game and have a qustion about combat actions. When a character (PC or NPC) attacks do they do it based on the chart on page 36 (12 dificulty to shoo at someone for example) and then if it successds the character being shot at has the option to "React" or is the REACTION the target dificulty of the attack (in this case shooting)

If not what is the Target number in a combat situation (including Melee and ranged etc etc. . . )

Thanks, I'm sure this is obvious, but I am a bit lost with it.

What I do is have both parties roll as a Contested task...but if the target does not actively React, I don't, instead defaulting to the 12 as the target number. If they do React, I go with the contest. You could also say that there is a minimum of 12 needed to hit even in a contest, but I don't; guessing wrong can mean you dodge INTO the shot

Allen

[renegadetimelord]

I think what Allen says makes sense. I'd go further to suggest that if the target is not actively dodging or parrying - and therefore a Contested Roll is not appropriate - you should assess the Difficulty based on circumstance, as you would if someone attacked an inanimate object. If the target is 100 yards away behind partial cover or engaged in a fight with a couple of others (and therefore able to use their existing 'dodge' roll, if any - and, otherwise, a tougher target to hit because of movement and being obscured by flailing limbs, etc.), then you should assess the Difficulty appropriately - and a plain 12 probably wouldn't suffice in either circumstance.

[Siskoid]

Yes, treat the target just as you would a beer can on the top of a moving car.

[Corone]

Thats how I'd do it too.

It does remind me of another thing I noticed on a similar subject: what if you roll the same number in a challenge?

My player is dodging the blasts of Autons chasing him. They both roll the same number. The difficulty chart says that beating the target number by 0-3 is a bare success.

As both rolls are done at the same time and form each other's difficulty numbers, the question is who is the active character.

Are we rolling to see if the Autons can hit their target, or are we rolling to see if the player can avoid their shots?

I decided that the game is designed to follow the players not the NPCs so the question is 'has the character avoided the shots' in which case rolling the same number is a success for them.

Anyone else have thoughts on this one?

[JohnK]

Hullo, Corone,

Jan 8, 2010 16:35:08 GMT Corone said:

Thats how I'd do it too.

It does remind me of another thing I noticed on a similar subject: what if you roll the same number in a challenge?

My player is dodging the blasts of Autons chasing him. They both roll the same number. The difficulty chart says that beating the target number by 0-3 is a bare success.

As both rolls are done at the same time and form each other's difficulty numbers, the question is who is the active character.

Are we rolling to see if the Autons can hit their target, or are we rolling to see if the player can avoid their shots?

I decided that the game is designed to follow the players not the NPCs so the question is 'has the character avoided the shots' in which case rolling the same number is a success for them.

Anyone else have thoughts on this one?

To all intents and purposes, you're rolling to see if the Autons successfully hit the target. By its nature, since the player is trying to avoid their shot, this is just like in any other system where the target is trying to defend agains the attack, so the "active" character is the Auton.

That said, one could handle it the way most other systems do these days - ties always go to the defender, unless Story Points are involved or the situation would best serve the player characters.

Just my $0.02.