So... Managing reach/combat range.
First, as seen in
spreadsheet, I gave each weapon a reach, from 0 to 3. Basing myself on the
Arms Companion's
Close Quarters Combat (?4.7, p27), I wrote the little table you see at the end of the spreadsheet, giving the OB, DB, Initiative and parry modifiers when fighting, depending the distance from one's foe and one's weapon reach.
For instance, someone with a sword (reach 0) tries to fight someone with a spear (reach 2). At first, both are at a distance of 2, so the spearman can fight normally (0 range for him) while the swordsman can defend normally but not attack (+2 range for him). If the swordsman manages to close to a distance of 1, he fights at -80 OB (+1 range) while the spearman fights at -50 OB, -50 initiative and can parry with 50% of his OB (-1 range for him). If the swordsman manages to close to a distance of 0, he fights normally (0 range for him) while the spearman fights at -100 OB, -50 initiative and can parry with 25% of his OB (-2 range for him).
Now, how to get closer or farer?
First, it's an active action costing 75% activity, 50% OB and -50 initiative.
To resolve it, the one initiating the action (going closer or farer) makes a roll on his Closing skill (1/2 similarity with any weapon, so that someone proficient with a weapon and fighting with it still knows how to get close or far without the Closing skill) + armour MM penalty.
The "defender" then rolls a closing roll (calculated the same as previously i.e. Closing skill, with 1/2 similarity with weapon being used + armour penalty).
Compare both results, winner is the highest roll.
Important: the defender is considered "passive", with "keeping the same distance" giving no penalties to actions.
For instance, our swordsman and our spearman fight.
* They're at a distance of 2, so the swordsman wants to get closer whereas the spearman wants to keep the distance. The swordsman resolves his closing action while the spearman doesn't have anything to do (well, save attacking normally).
* When they reach a distance of 1, the swordsman may wish to get closer whereas the spearman may want to get farer, so two closing actions would be made.
* When they reach a distance of 0, only the spearman may want to get farer, so one closing actions would be made (or the spearman could just throw his spear away and use his sword!).
Of course, results from some criticals may be more obvious.