Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Rolemaster => RMSS/FRP => Topic started by: HawksNut on December 05, 2015, 09:51:29 PM
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I have a PC that is wishing to drink a heal potion while engaged in melee. I have ruled this as a moving maneuver (Extremely Hard) for success. How would each of you handle this situation? I know in many d20 games GM's allow this on a pretty regular basis but to me it seems like a very difficult move unless you can free yourself of the melee condition.
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If you call it a 30-40% activity, the PC will suffer a penalty of -30 to -40 on their attacking/parrying for the round. I assume the PC is already at a disadvantage, otherwise they wouldn't need to drink a healing potion. I don't know that additional penalties need to be piled on.
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In our group we're allowing a prepared herb to get picked out of a herb pouch and ingest it as a 50% action during a round. In a similar way I think we'd allow a potion to get fetched out of some container in easy reach and drunk. This 50% activity requirement means that melee combat, e.g. parrying, would not be possible. If there was some way for the character to have the potion very quickly available, like some kind of potions belt (never seen such as this), then you could reduce the required percentage below 50%. If you don't like that idea then simply don't allow such equipment.
Just my 2 cents
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10 Second round I'd say 50% activity and I'd probably modify the MM roll based on the degree of success of any attacks made on the PC.
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Thank you all for your comments. Running an adventure and having to make these decisions gives me ideas for what I would do as a player. I would hire a leather crafter to make a potion pouch similar to an ammo pouch to cut the activity down to 2 to 4 seconds.
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And get some damage resistant vials!
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A lot does depend on where the potion viles are being carried. If they are readily accessable a 30-40% penalty seems fine. Though if the person is in the middle of a melee in the heat of the combat hopes the character graps the right vial :)
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I had a character once that had a single does vial welded onto the back of a gauntlet. I could then pull the cork with my teeth and drink the dose.
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We play that taking a "readied" potion (can't be in your backpack...) is a 20% action. I thought I read that in one of the rule books, but can't remember where. Some potions/herbs only make sense to use during combat (like stun relief), so I think it should be allowed with at least no more than a 40% action (which would still let you attack/parry). A 20% action lets you use press and melee or react and melee as well - or cast a spell (though not prepare one).
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Remember that if the potion(s) are available they are open to being damaged (climbing, being jostled in the street, combat, you want to crawl up on the enemy on your belly -- while wearing a vest full of potions?) and have fun with fumbles (drop the potion! grab the healing potion when hoping for invisibility!). Lots of opportunities to have fun when the players get too clever by half...
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We play that taking a "readied" potion (can't be in your backpack...) is a 20% action. I thought I read that in one of the rule books, but can't remember where. Some potions/herbs only make sense to use during combat (like stun relief), so I think it should be allowed with at least no more than a 40% action (which would still let you attack/parry). A 20% action lets you use press and melee or react and melee as well - or cast a spell (though not prepare one).
When i use to play with the activity percentages, i ruled it as a 20% action. Since i have moved to the d20 round, i rule it as a move equivalent action.
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And get some damage resistant vials!
Preferably with the Unbreakable feature.
rmfr
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We play that taking a "readied" potion (can't be in your backpack...) is a 20% action.
We use the same rule, works very well! There is also a bandoleer option that we use specifically for potions/scrolls. This would take 5% to 10% off the action (being so readily available on your chest) and ready to pull. ;) Rummaging around in your backpack to pull it requires 100% action.