Combat#

How a fight runs

A fight runs in rounds of about two seconds. Whoever starts it goes first, and on your turn you swing, use a move or an ability, or run. Every attack is a d20 against the target’s Defense. A natural 20 always hits and buys you something extraordinary, and a natural 1 always misses and goes wrong.

A blow, start to finish#

Every blow in a fight goes through the same five steps, and each has a page of its own.

1. Who goes firstWhoever starts the fight acts first. Everyone else rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity modifier.
2. The attack rollA d20, your Dexterity modifier and your training with the weapon, against the target's Defense.
3. DefenseNatural AC and Dexterity, and a parry, a shield and a dodge for those trained in them.
4. DamageThe weapon's die and your Strength, more for good craftsmanship and magic. Armor takes its share off.
5. WearFrom level 15, a blow that hurts may wear down the armor where it lands, and a block wears the shield.

Who goes first#

There’s no roll for whoever starts a fight. The character who draws first, springs the ambush or throws the first punch acts first, the same as in the game. The rest falls in behind them:

1. Whoever strikes first acts first. That’s the character who declares the attack, or the creature that springs the ambush.
2. Everyone else rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity modifier. Highest goes next, and the order holds for the rest of the fight.
3. Anyone who joins later acts last, in the order they joined.
4. Anyone caught sitting, resting or asleep spends their first turn getting to their feet. That’s what makes an ambush worth setting.
5. When nobody clearly started it, because both sides saw each other at the same moment, everyone rolls, the attacker too.

Ties

Ties go to the higher Dexterity. If that ties too, the players go before the creatures.

Your turn#

A round is about two seconds, and everyone gets one turn in it. On your turn you do one of these:

Attack

Swing at someone in reach, or shoot or throw at someone you can see. Extra attacks give you more swings (More than one blow).

Use a move

Kick, bash, trip, disarm or rescue. Anyone can (Moves & Escape).

Use an ability

Cast a spell or use one of your class's abilities, and pay its willpower or stamina.

Get out

Flee, or try to break off where you stand (Getting out).

Something else

Drink a potion, draw a weapon, pick up what you dropped or get to your feet. Shouting at your friends is free.

A fight, blow by blow#

Ilse is a level 5 human page on the road out of Tharsis. She carries a broadsword (1d8, critical on 18 to 20 for double, plus 3) and an adequate shield, and she has Strength 14 and Dexterity 12. Her attack roll is a d20 plus 5: 1 for Dexterity and 4 for her 40 efficacy in slashing. Her Defense is 14: Natural AC 10, 1 for Dexterity and 3 for the shield she’s trained in. Each hit does 1d8 plus 7, 2 for Strength and 5 for adequate craftsmanship.

Two gray wolves come up out of the ditch at her. Each has AC 4 and 24 health and bites for 1d6, and as level 6 creatures they add 1 to hit.

1. Round 1 The wolves started it, so they go first.

   • 15 + 1 = 16 against 14The gray wolf's bite grazes you! 4
   • Natural 1, and a 3 on the fumble tableThe gray wolf stumbles and goes down.It spends its next turn getting up.
   • 12 + 5 = 17 against 4Your broadsword wounds the gray wolf! 9

2. Round 2

   • 9 + 1 = 10 against 14The gray wolf misses you.
   • Gets upThe gray wolf scrambles to its feet.
   • Natural 20Critical Your broadsword mauls the gray wolf! 20A 5 doubled, plus 3, plus 7. The first wolf falls to the ground, lifeless, and for her feat Ilse knocks the second one flat with her shield.

3. Round 3

   • Gets upThe gray wolf scrambles to its feet.
   • 6 + 5 = 11 against 4Your broadsword mauls the gray wolf! 14

4. Round 4

   • 19 + 1 = 20 against 14The gray wolf's bite hits you! 6
   • 14 + 5 = 19 against 4Your broadsword wounds the gray wolf! 11It had 10 left. The gray wolf crumples to the ground.

Four rounds is eight seconds. Ilse is down 10 health, and her leathers took nothing off bites that small.

The rest of it#

Each part of a fight has a page.

Attacking The attack roll, criticals, natural 20s and fumbles, damage, and a roller for any blow. A roller for any blow Defending Defense, parrying, shields and dodging, fighting off your feet, and how armor wears. 3 guards Moves & Escape Kick, bash, trip, disarm and rescue, and how to flee or break off. 5 moves, 3 ways out Defeat & Death Dying, every way back and how long each one has, being beaten instead of killed, and the spoils. 8 ways back Running a Fight Running the creatures: their numbers, sizing one up, how they fight and how a blow sounds. 11 words for a blow