Topic: Missiles vs. Pole arms

[Dalewarrior]

Hi everyone,

Right now I'm having a fight between pikemen and swordsmen who protect the  archers. At rolling Initiative the pikemen have the edge, because they have a longer weapon: 'Longer weapon, when one or both opponents are charging (Closing) +30 to Initiative,' and 'Pole-arm, on 1st round of combat between two opponents +40 to Initiative.'


This bonus seems unfair when confronted by archers whose missile weapons should have a similar bonus to make them as quick as the pikemen. But it's what reads in the Initiative Determination Table, Arms Law, p. 93; Arms Law Classic, p. 25; & Arms Companion, p. 29.

What are your thoughts on this?

Cheers,
DW

[rdanhenry]

In the standard RM2 round, missile attacks always go before melee attacks, so the initiative bonus is irrelevant to the bowmen. If you change to a different round, then you need to use the rules specific to that round. Note that the wording you quoted for pole-arms is specific to combat between two opponents and thus does not apply to a general melee. It is arguable that the wording of the first bonus ("one or both opponents") also restricts it to combat between two foes, but it doesn't actually specify that and the use of "both" is explained by the fact that a given attack has two opponents, attacker and defender.

So, in short, the basic assumption is that the bowmen get to go first anyway, so the longer weapon bonus only helps the pikemen against the swordsmen. If you are not using the core RM2 round, then you should specify which round you are using to help people make relevant responses.

[Majyk]

Yup, strictly for melee vs melee combatants within reach =BMRx(allowable multiplier that one could (x2)Run - was how we ruled it - of one another, only, though the case could be made when charging against bowmen that this was allowable.

That, or give similar boni to your ranged folks since they have the longer “reach” due to range.

[Dalewarrior]

Thank you for your answers! I'll make it that the bowmen win automatic initiative.