Combat in the Woods

[doktorstick]

Generally, my penalties will range from -1 per 10 squares (sparse) to -1 per 4 squares (very close).

Edit: Note that, as with most of the above posters, I also allow characters to take cover freely, and any such cover modifiers will be in addition to the penalties to hit listed above.

For movement, I generally allow a standard move without any problems.

For a double move, charge or run, I generally require a dex check, DC 5 to 15 (depending on density) to avoid tripping. On horseback, I up the DC by 5 and use a ride check. A fail may mean damage to the rider (and a check to fall off), or the horse may take damage or even go down.

OK. I will try this in my next session and see how it works. The party is in dense woods right now. Two more questions resulting from this conversation:

1) IIRC, run can only be done in straight lines. This means that if you are 30 ft. from a 90 degree turn, you can only take a double move (30 ft. to it and 30 ft. after making the turn). Is that right? (Assuming 30 ft. movement). I think that odd.

2.) If you can take any amount of cover you want at any time, does ranged combat ever happen? Assuming everyone takes full cover at the end of their move (intelligent beings), you'll never see anyone when it is your turn... until you can find the right tree they stopped behind.

Edit: I was in Vancouver two years prior and had the opportunity to go mountain biking in the Seymour Mountains (IIRC). I would qualify the forest as a dense given my very limited exposure to forests. There was quite a lot of underbrush, rotten logs, and roots--they were the worst. I would probably make normal movement hindered as well unless, as a FRA, they only moved their movement (not a double move). In then end, I might modify it to be 1/2 movement in dense forest; 3/4 movement in light forest lest you make the balance checks as per your suggestion. Failure on the check would make the character fall prone--no damage, subdual or otherwise.

Thanks.

/ds