Mounted Combat and Martial Techniques

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  • October 24, 2013 at 10:08 pm #150225
    Anonymous
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    Question: Can you use your Martial Techniques, specifically Guarded Charge or Passing Strike, while Mounted? Mounted Combat in ARPG only comments that the mount takes the place of the Hero’s pace, and they must have a hand free and that a Ride roll is needed, so I see no objections to it.

    October 29, 2013 at 4:05 pm #251823
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I see no reason why you couldn’t. However, I’m loathe to say that, since once the door is opened, who or what will push it’s way through? Guarded Charge? Sure, I can see that. (Although I wouldn’t let the ability affect your steed. The mount would still have a 12 avoidance, IMO.) Passing Strike? Yeah, but I worry about abuse if you have a particularly fast steed.

    And this, then opens the door to performing other maneuvers while mounted. But what maneuvers shouldn’t be allowed while mounted? Well, that’s up to the GM. (ex. I couldn’t see Spinning Strikes being performed while mounted. And I don’t think I’d allow Lunge while mounted, either. But I’ll bet that other judges would allow it.) And then you get into that gray area that players of living-style campaigns hate, where their bread-and-butter maneuver might be allowable and might not, depending on the judge.

    So, in a nutshell, yeah, I’d probably allow it, but I’m not sure that I’d like the results that are sure to follow.

    Scott

    October 29, 2013 at 4:10 pm #251824
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Passing Strike, at the very least, seems custom made for Cavalry Charges. After all, having a Cavalry Charge where your horse stops in front of an enemy so you can swing at it seems silly to me from a realism and flavour point of view.

    Guarded Charge is a little bit more of a stretch, but overall anyone who wishes to charge at all basically needs this technique to do it.

    Perhaps putting a note on Mounted Combat saying: Any Martial Technique which can be performed with a melee weapon which leaves one hand free may be used when mounted?

    October 29, 2013 at 4:23 pm #251826
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Perhaps putting a note on Mounted Combat saying: Any Martial Technique which can be performed with a melee weapon which leaves one hand free may be used when mounted?
    To my mind, this wouldn’t cover it. Take my previous example of Lunge. It leaves a had free. But I really don’t see it as a ‘charging’ kind of thing. If we were to discuss what maneuvers are/are not allowed while mounted, I’d be more inclined to add a “[Mounted]” tag to the individual maneuvers that are allowable. The obvious down side to this is that two books have already been released and would need to be retroactively identified. so I don’t see that happening.

    Scott

    October 29, 2013 at 4:37 pm #251827
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think a [Mounted] tag is preferable as it allows those that make sense while disallowing those that shouldn’t. Having a Rules Expansion Note that says “These Talents should receive the [Mounted] tag” isn’t bad. Put it int he campaign rules.

    John

    November 6, 2013 at 10:28 pm #251975
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think a [Mounted] tag is preferable as it allows those that make sense while disallowing those that shouldn’t. Having a Rules Expansion Note that says “These Talents should receive the [Mounted] tag” isn’t bad. Put it int he campaign rules.

    John

    Sadly, though very effective way of fixing the issue, would be more along the lines of a 2nd edition to the game :/

    I think creating a list of approved maneuvers may be the best course of action, at least for now

    November 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm #252209
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I don’t know, I think I could see Lunge making sense. Wheeling your mount for a quick step over while you attack with a quick application of the spurs. I’ve seen horses leap quite a ways very quickly at mounted combat demonstrations before.

    November 14, 2013 at 6:14 pm #252210
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Possible options:

    1) Any Martial Technique or Weapon Trick which can be done with one hand.

    Pros – Simple rule which can be understood. Rather inclusive, allowing for many options.
    Cons – Leaves some options which are possible in real life, such as using a Horsebow with two hands.

    2) Make an exhaustive list of what techniques qualify.

    Pros – Very clear.
    Cons – A lot of work.

    3) Only Techniques and Tricks with the category “Base” (ie: not Advanced) may be performed while Mounted, with them then becoming “Advanced” by being done mounted.

    Pros – Also simple to understand.
    Cons – Brings up some issues with ‘realism’, as Spinning Strike on a horse seems. . . odd.

    November 14, 2013 at 6:18 pm #252211
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I don’t know, I think I could see Lunge making sense. Wheeling your mount for a quick step over while you attack with a quick application of the spurs. I’ve seen horses leap quite a ways very quickly at mounted combat demonstrations before.Exactly my point. Personally, I don’t think Lunge makes sense while mounted, but I could see other reasonable people coming to a different conclusion.

    So, I could certainly live with a list of allowable (for the campaign) maneuvers while mounted. (Or maybe just a “suggested” list of mounted-allowable maneuvers.) I have two questions about that, though.

    1. Would that list be updated when the next book is released? (Or would future books incorporate the [Mounted] tag?)

    2. Is this just an idea, or should we expect that it might make it into the FAQ/Errata? (especially if some enterprising player submitted the first draft to this thread for review.)

    \":)\"
    Scott

    November 14, 2013 at 6:23 pm #252212
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Cody: While I like the simplicity of 1 & 3, the idea of a player performing a Spinning Strike or Earth to Sky while mounted really detracts from the game for me.

    If we were to adopt #2, crowdsourcing the initial list would reduce the effort needed, and any additional books could have a [Mounted] tag. (Or the list could be updated with input from the players, assuming that PCI doesn’t want an “official” ruling on the matter, but is okay with an unofficial one for the LA campaign.

    Scott

    November 14, 2013 at 6:48 pm #252216
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Weapon Tricks (Main Book / Codex of Heroes)
    Bring them Down
    Bypass the Shield
    Crippling Shot
    Crushing Blow
    Darken the Sky
    Dismount Opponent
    Edge of the Shield
    Entangle Opponent
    From Earth to Sky
    Grasp the Blade
    Grasping Strike
    Hamstring
    Juggernauts’ Hammer
    Long Strike
    Mighty Swing
    Mighty throw
    Neck Snapper
    Palm Throw
    Pin them Down
    Pinning Shot
    Point Blank Shot
    Pommel Strike
    Quick Reload
    Quick Set
    Ranged Disarm
    Rapid Strike
    Render Shield Worthless
    Shield Defense
    Shield Formation
    Shield Slam
    Shield Throw
    Shielding
    Slashing Disarm
    Snatch Object
    Steel Rain
    Stinging Shot
    Stunning Strike
    Throw the Blade
    Twin Arrows
    Twin Throw

    Martial Techniques (Main Book / Codex of Heroes)
    Arcane Strike [Limited]
    Between the Seams
    Blinding Strike
    Blood and Steel
    Bonebreaker
    Careful Aim
    Concentrated Rage [Limited]
    Cunning Feint
    Deadeye shot
    Devastating Blow
    Disarm Foe
    Disengaging Strike
    Distracting Blow
    Double Stab
    Flowing Sand
    Force the Opening
    Guarded Charge
    Lunge
    Make them Bleed
    Moment of Prescience
    Overpower
    Passing Strike
    Penetrate Guard
    Pounce [Limited]
    Powerful Thrust
    Precise Aim
    Pressing Attack
    Punto Riverso
    Rapid Shot
    Reckless Swings
    Riposte
    Shattering Shot
    Shield Charge
    Snap Shot
    Spinning Strikes
    Splitting Hairs
    Stab & Bash
    Strike Without Thought
    Sweeping Strike
    Take Down [Limited]
    Trail of Bodies
    Trap & Cut
    Trip Foe
    Two-Handed Throw
    Unbalancing Attack
    Vital Strike
    Wall of Steel
    Whirlwind
    Wicked Snap

    Go! \":)\"

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