Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[Erich]

Has anyone used any type of area control for their games?
The reason I ask is because I am running a fantasy game and my players don't think someone should be able to run through a square next to the fighter to get at the mage in the back row.
I'm thinking of using the withdrawing from combat rule, which would give the fighter a free attack against anyone running past him. And while I'm thinking about it, could the fighter only attack the first person to pass him or would he get an attack against anyone who passed him.

Opinions?

-Erich

[Zadmar]

[Sadric]

This is withdrawing from combat, you know.
You was in my reach, you leave it, so I could smash you.
Its not important if you flee or move past me to get my buddy, the mage.

So if you have two or three fighters in a row, with one square space, there are even two free attacks.
I m not sure, but I think its not limited. So if a horde of orc rush away you could try to shred all of them.

First strike could be only used once a round, but its a cool edge.

[GranFalloon]

Actually, you only get the free attack if your opponent leaves melee with you, but being adjacent doesn't mean you're in melee. It sounds weird, especially if you're coming from D&D, since on the surface it looks pretty much the same as an Opportunity Attack. But there you have it. So a zombie horde, according to the rules, could just shamble right on through a loose wall of fighters. As a GM, I fudge this rule a bit. I try to make it a little tougher to move through a melee area, but a little easier to back out. But that's just my take on it.

[johnnii]

Even if you're not retreating, wouldn't technically leaving the square that brings you to melee be the same ruleswise?

[ValhallaGH]

[Takeda]

To be honest ladies and gents being that a combat round isn't just 1-second in duration if anyone runs past or away from (disengages) someone who could threaten them they get the free-attack on them as they leave that threatened square/hex.

In my opinion it's one of the few things D20 got right ... Attack of Opportunity or AoO for short (typing).

I suppose you could penalize (if you felt the need) the AoO based on how many targets the AoO'er is dealing with. So say you're fighting a baddie and they run. One AoO at no penalty. You're fighting two guys and another guy tries to run past you to get to the Mage: One AoO on the runner at -2. Sort of reverse Gang-Up but only for AoO.

If it was so easy to get past a bunch of guys in a defensive formation ... well things would be different ... conventional warfare would have been FAR DIFFERENT!
_________________
Dean: "Ya' know she could be faking."
Sam: "Yeah, what do you wanna do, poke her with a stick?"
[Dean nods]
Sam: "Dude, you're not gonna poke her with a stick?"
Supernatural Quotes

[ValhallaGH]

[Clint]

[GranFalloon]

It's come up a few times recently, and no RPG I've seen models it well, because it involves a lot of "acting out of turn."

Realistically, turning and fleeing from a melee fight will get you whacked in the back. Both d20 and Savage Worlds model this pretty well.

Slowly retreating from a fight is actually easier than standing your ground, and won't subject you to any extra beatin', but it's not going to help much if you're actually trying to disengage. Your opponent can easily follow you, unless you have something you can use to obstruct him, like a door or an ally. d20 games makes some allowance for this, such as allowing you to spend an entire move as a 5' step. The trouble is that your opponent has to wait until his turn to follow you, when really, he'd be following right along, not breaking melee contact.

Maneuvering around an enemy, so far as I've seen, isn't too hard, as long as you have plenty of room, are only facing one enemy, and he's not determined to block your movement. SW models this MUCH better than d20. If someone really wants to play the burly meatshield, First Strike or Sweep seem to be critical.

I'm not sure if there's a satisfactory solution to all these little quibbles. Most things I start tossing around in my head are not FFF in the least.

[shinryu]

Well, I'd argue Savage actually gives you some very good non-edge options in Tests of Will/Tricks and Pushes. Admittedly, you have to get a raise on the tests or tricks to get the Shaken result you'd want, but Push is a simple win on the Strength roll, so unless your opponent has Reach, you're free to move about after that. For that matter, pushing them down is a good option.

Interesting related question: officially speaking, is getting up considered to be a move "out of combat" if someone is engaged with you? I'd argue yes (the best time to kick a man is when he's down; the second best time is when he's getting up, and a remarkable amount of my jujitsu training revolved around getting up safely with a minimum of being kneed in the face), but I don't know if it's ever been officially stated.

[catalac]

[Erich]

Interesting thoughts on this matter.
The big problem I'm having with this is that not only am I trying to bring a group over from D&D, but 4 of my 6 players have actually fought melee combats as members of the SCA.
I am getting really tired of hearing "Kill Pocket!!!" every time a group of orcs show up.

-Erich

[ValhallaGH]

[shinryu]

[ogbendog]

to benefit from a trick, you have to hope you beat their init next turn.

[shinryu]

[FickleGM]

It does seem as though, in Savage Worlds, knocking someone prone is done for the exploitation of your allies, as opposed to you.

[FickleGM]

Thinking about this a bit more from a solo perspective, I'm seeing multi-action combining a knockdown with a followup trick or grapple as possibilities.

I realize the MAP doesn't make it easy, but I'm picturing the tackle, sit in his chest and pummel him into submission series as possible...and if successful, fun.

[Zadmar]