Hackmaster

[Falstaff]

Yes, i imagine that would greatly help. What would happen if 4 goblins close on you at once, but you have reach against them?

Well, you're in a tight spot if your character has 4 goblins closing in on you. You would most likely have reach over the small goblins, meaning you would attack first once within melee range. But, on the following second, all four goblins get to attack you. The good news is that you get to make a defense roll against each attack. However, one of the goblins might get an advantage if he attacks you from the rear or sides. For example, instead of rolling a d20 for defense, you'd only roll a d12p (or maybe a d8p if attacked from the rear).

Getting surrounded by multiple opponents in HMb is a good way to spend the rest of the session rolling up a new character.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Getting surrounded by multiple opponents in HMb is a good way to spend the rest of the session rolling up a new character.

Fortunately, we've just uploaded the Quick-Start rules from the book as a free PDF download on our HackMaster Basic web page. (These are not the full character creation rules, but an abbreviated and modified version to help you roll up a character faster.)

There are also other free PDF downloads, including the character sheet, on that page.

 

[Agamon]

I've played every version of D&D and haven't seen a whole lot of this tactic thing you speak of. I mean other than moving to set up a flank or a rogue trying to get a sneak attack. All of that is in HM as well. More advanced combat maneuvers are promised to be in AHM.

I meant 4e. 3e is very tactical in build, too. But one of the complaints directed towards 4e is that it's a very tactical game, where it's a good idea tha the players all work together.

That said, I can see the tactics in HMb. The combat options are there, for sure.

 

[Ghost_of_Vortigern]

Fortunately, we've just uploaded the Quick-Start rules from the book as a free PDF download on our HackMaster Basic web page. (These are not the full character creation rules, but an abbreviated and modified version to help you roll up a character faster.)

There are also other free PDF downloads, including the character sheet, on that page.

As of this reply, the link to the Quicklink Guide is broken, Mark.

For those interested, the PDF can be found here.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

As of this reply, the link to the Quicklink Guide is broken, Mark.

For those interested, the PDF can be found here.

You're too fast for me, GoV. It was down for a few minutes but is fixed now.

 

[Ghost_of_Vortigern]

You're too fast for me, GoV. It was down for a few minutes but is fixed now.

Looks good, Mark. Thanks!

 

[Nikosandros]

I've been eagerly reading the rules in the past couple of days and next Tuesday, I should run a session.

So far I've noticed a couple of negative things (IMHO, naturally).

1) I'm a bit surprised that on a successful defense by a shield user, the shield is always hit. I can see that it would be the most likely outcome, but sometime the attacker would miss completely and other times the attack would be parried by the defender.

2) While the idea of having quirk and flaws in order to give some depth to the characters is nice, I really don't like the implementation. The limited list gives results unfitting for many character concepts.

 

[Falstaff]

I've been eagerly reading the rules in the past couple of days and next Tuesday, I should run a session.

So far I've noticed a couple of negative things (IMHO, naturally).

1) I'm a bit surprised that on a successful defense by a shield user, the shield is always hit. I can see that it would be the most likely outcome, but sometime the attacker would miss completely and other times the attack would be parried by the defender.

2) While the idea of having quirk and flaws in order to give some depth to the characters is nice, I really don't like the implementation. The limited list gives results unfitting for many character concepts.

Well, the attacker can still sometimes miss completely even if his opponent is wielding a shield; see page 114, Misses & Fumbles.

You can leave the Quirks & Flaws out and it won't affect the game that much. The player will have one less category to earn Honor, but that just means he'll have to work harder for the other three.

 

[mhensley]

Well, the attacker can still sometimes miss completely even if his opponent is wielding a shield; see page 114, Misses & Fumbles.

You can leave the Quirks & Flaws out and it won't affect the game that much. The player will have one less category to earn Honor, but that just means he'll have to work harder for the other three.

I find it entertaining that you could miss with every attack and still manage to bludgeon your opponent to death by hitting his shield. See, it's just like 4e with its powers that do damage on a miss except this actually makes sense and you can do it all day.

Expect the Q&F's to be much expanded in Advanced.

 

[Particle_Man]

Well, you're in a tight spot if your character has 4 goblins closing in on you. You would most likely have reach over the small goblins, meaning you would attack first once within melee range.

Would that be 4 attacks (one per goblin) or 1 attack? The former puts me in mind of Inigo Montoya polishing off the 4 mooks before taking on the 6 fingered man.