Troll Lord Games

I've uploaded a couple of small articles (http://freepdfhosting.com/9f6215d1b0.pdf) addressing some ideas I have for C&C. They're basically house rules. If you wouldn't mind, please take a look at them and give me your feedback. I'm more interested in whether the rules will work rather than if they fit your personal preferences (since house rules are always so subjective!).

Nice clean layout, will read when I have time!

Not to sure about the Skill ones, but that just personal taste. The layout is fine....crips, clear and very understandable. I really like the Combat Manuevers and may even adapt some of those. They just look like fun!

I only briefly looked, but it seems the sunder thing is too easy against many weapons as all you need do is double the EV to break them. I did not notice any mention of material being a factor, but I did just glance at what was there so I could have easily missed something. Also, I would probably have some sort of double break so you can actually shatter another's weapon but also lose your own, or even try to snap theirs but wind up seeing your own go bye-bye.

Lobo316 wrote:Not to sure about the Skill ones, but that just personal taste. The layout is fine....crips, clear and very understandable. I really like the Combat Manuevers and may even adapt some of those. They just look like fun!

Great, thanks!

Keep in mind that the skill article is just something that clarifies the extent to which using another class's unique abilities will work; it isn't really a skill system per se.

serleran wrote:I only briefly looked, but it seems the sunder thing is too easy against many weapons as all you need do is double the EV to break them. I did not notice any mention of material being a factor, but I did just glance at what was there so I could have easily missed something. Also, I would probably have some sort of double break so you can actually shatter another's weapon but also lose your own, or even try to snap theirs but wind up seeing your own go bye-bye.

Well, the op will have to correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like the material may be taken into account based on the EV, no?

I'm not sure that is "too easy", but if so, what would make it "acceptable"? Twice the EV+1? Three times the EV?

I'm not disagreeing with you btw, I like the maneuver and if I allow it's use, want to make sure it's "fair" so to speak.

serleran wrote:I only briefly looked, but it seems the sunder thing is too easy against many weapons as all you need do is double the EV to break them. I did not notice any mention of material being a factor, but I did just glance at what was there so I could have easily missed something. Also, I would probably have some sort of double break so you can actually shatter another's weapon but also lose your own, or even try to snap theirs but wind up seeing your own go bye-bye.

You could certainly be correct; I haven't tested any of it so it may be too easy to break a weapon. I haven't accounted for material specifically. It would probably be best to give metal weapons a +1 or +2 advantage over wooden weapons. Since the general rule is that only one maneuver may be tried per character per encounter, meaning the weapon breakage attempt wouldn't occur very often. I like your idea of potentially shattering both weapons at once!

There is a mechanic in place for breaking your own weapon on a failure of more than twice your weapon's EV.

Would anyone like to run a test combat and tell me how these maneuvers work?

I would use these as guidelines to assist in on-the-spot freeform adjudication of those special actions the characters attempt that are not covered by the basic rules. However, I am firmly in the "less rules is better" camp, and would still handle all special actions with on-the-spot freeform adjudication with an eye towards what would be the most fun. That is why I play C&C. It is simple and easy to freeform adjudicate things like that. The last thing I want to do is create more special case rules that I would have to learn to apply and then learn not to apply. Just me. YGMV.

One other minor tidbit while I'm thinking about it... that sunder thing; did it provide any modification for the use of, or against, a magical weapon? I would probably rule that a magical weapon struck cannot be broken by a non-magical one (unless the wielder is exceptionally strong; probably in the 20+ range). However, this is all layers of complexity that may work great after lots of practice with it. Me, I would probably use a slight modification of my existing "AD&D saves" system, specifically that of crushing blow.

Update: Davis wants to put the maneuvers into Troll's Tusk! If anyone has further suggestions or notices any potential problems, please post 'em here!