Topic: What Combat system do you use with HARP ?

[pming]

Hiya.

 Martial Law. I like a lot of the stuff from H&S, but it's just a tad too numbers/abbreviations heavy for what I want right now.

[Hobilar]

We use Martial Law, but without the armour mods to the crit results. We like the hit locations and the one roll results tables. 

We found the extra armour adjustment to the criticals as redundant. After all, the higher DB should ensure lower crit results already, if you needed to tweak it further then maybe there should have been higher DBs built into that armour system. Also, the extra math takes away from the speed of play provided by the one roll results.

Otherwise, it seems to be a nice mix of RM style crits with hit locations, and it feels right to my play group.   

[Aaron]

The armour mods to criticals in ML really shine with called shots. Ability to target badly armored locations... sweet:) DB is more general, crit mods apply to specific bodyparts.

[Crypt]

H&S with some modifications :

- i use simpler mods for locations :
foot/calf -2 crit letters
knee -2
thigh 0
groin +2
abdomen +1
chest 0
neck +2
face/skull +2 and +2 stuns
shoulder/upper arms -1
forearm/hand/elbow -2

- i use a more graphical location method =>
-10 OB per +1/-1 square.
+1/-1 size difference = move 2 squares down/up
Always use the shortest way.


- i do not use the 170 roll vs KO.
I simply use that : stunned and head* and stun>=CoBonus ====> KO

* only. Head also adds 2 stuns.



About Dodge : I use the "new Rasyr version" but with a +25 minimum final DB bonus.
50 or 25 + Bonus Roll >=+25
So the bonus roll could be negative but the final DB bonus would never be lower than 25.

(Notes:
-the Harp default version = minimum 50 or 25 (because the Bonus Roll cannot be negative)
-the "new Rasyr version" =Bonus roll can cancel the base 50 or 25 leading to final 0 DB bonus)

[Falenthal]

Although this topic seems more or less finished, I still have a small doubt:
How deadly is every system?

I prefer the one roll combat resolution, so I'm using the core rules system. I will probably advance to the Martial Law system after some adventures. But in the combats I've played so far, it seem very easy to hit (for foes and PCs alike). Is it as easy to hit with the HB#11 system? The Hack'n'Slash book is no longer available, so it is not an option for me, but from what I've read here, it's still more deadly than the other systems.

Could there be some sort of "ranking" indicating "Deadliness" and "Fastness of combat resolution"?

[Ecthelion]

With HB#11 it is harder to hit an opponent. But it uses a two-roll combat resolution (at least when achieving a critical), so perhaps you won't like it for that reason. Btw., somewhere in the middle between the core combat system and HB#11 is a combat system for HARP I wrote for the Guild Companion. It also uses a two-roll attack resolution (2nd roll for criticals), which I like (and even prefer), but which again might not be for your taste.

[Falenthal]

I like your combat system!
With the HB#11 system I saw the problem of the cumbersome secondary criticals (realistic, but did slow combats).
With yours, the weapons modifications are very simple but effective. Also, you can manage to kill a chain mailed enemy with a dagger, which you couldn't in the core system.

I'll try this system, with and without the armor modifications.
thanks for the answer.

[Old Man]

Arms Law.  Surprisingly (or not) very little tweaking required.

I've thought about bringing AL in as I found I missed the bulk damage done before the critical hits. Do you find combats are shorter with Arms Law or the same but with more critical variety?

[Ecthelion]

I like your combat system!

Glad you like it