Help me teach how combat rules work!

[xnosipjpqmhd]

One thing that I think would really help my players (and I suspect my other players out there) to understand the combat system would be to read a concise description of a fantasy combat that illustrates how and why various parts of the combat system work. I started to write one, but then I decided to save myself the trouble and turn to the experts at ENWorld!

Does such a thing already exist? If so, where?

If not, want to help me write it? I'll share my vision in the next post...

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

sample combat - elements

Here's what I think an illustrative combat should include:

(A) A system-independent prose narrative of the encounter.
(B) Stat blocks for four generic characters.
(C) An in-game dialogue explaining how and why the rules are used.

1. Example of surprise and/or initiative
2. Example of advantage of having a shield (if any)
3. Example of attacks of opportunity (if any)
4. Example of magic use (if any)
5. Example of charging
6. Example of tripping
7. Example of sundering
8. Example of bull rushing / pushing
9. Example of grappling / wrestling
10. Example of taking damage and results of heavy wounds (if any)
11. Example of non-lethal damage (if any)
12. Example of disadvantages of heavy armour (if any)

(I put if any in some of the items above because, ideally, I'd like to repeat this same exercise with various sets of rules while keeping the same prose narrative.)

In the next post, I'll offer a prose narrative that I hope will fit the bill as concisely as possible. Let me know if you have any ideas to improve it.

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

(A) system-independent prose narrative

Below is my proposed prose narrative for a sample combat that illustrates various RPG rules. Each paragraph corresponds to roughly half a round, more or less (though different RPG systems may handle time differently).

One night, a wizard and a warrior are strolling down an alley where a rogue and bard--hired to steal the wizard's pouch--are hidden. The wizard and warrior fail to spot the rogue, but the warrior spots the bard at the end of the alleyway. He stops and calls out to the bard, who raises a bow and fires! The warrior blocks the arrow with his shield and then pulls his sword. At the same time, the rogue jumps out of the shadows behind the wizard and surprise attacks him with a club in an attempt to knock him out. The attack hits but is not a knock-out. The wizard is too surprised to react right away.

The warrior charges the bard, trying to knock him down. He is successful. Meanwhile the wizard turns around and tries to cast a spell at the rogue, but the rogue strikes the wizard and disrupts the spell.

The fallen bard lets go of his bow and pulls a magic wand from his pack. Meanwhile, the rogue hits the wizard yet again, but the wizard remains standing.

Next the wizard realizes he needs to take a step backwards before casting his spell, which is successful and damages the rogue. The warrior swings his sword and breaks the bard's magic wand in two.

The bard discards the broken wand and stands up, narrowly missing yet another sword swing by the warrior. The rogue steps forward and successfully grabs the wizard, placing him in a hold.

The warrior makes a furious attack and slashes the bard's chest open. The bard falls back down to the ground, wailing in agony and clawing the ground in a futile attempt to escape. Meanwhile, the wizard struggles against the rogue but cannot break free.

During the struggle, the rogue snatches away the wizard’s pouch. The bard tries to staunch the flow of blood from the massive wound in his chest.

The bloodthirsty warrior puts the bard out of his misery, then looks up to see the wizard struggling unsuccessfully against the rogue.

With the object of his mission in hand, the rogue releases the wizard and runs away at top speed. The warrior's heavy armour prevents him from catching the fleeing rogue.

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

(B) Stat blocks

will go here.

The easiest thing would be to use 1st level iconics. Can we post the stat blocks for the iconics without infringing on copyright? If not, we'll just have to make up some generic heroes (wizard, warrior, rogue, bard).

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

(C) In-game dialogue

will be assembled here.

(Introduction)
DM: Ok, the alleyway beside the guildhall is dark. (Before the adventure began, the DM made Hiding skill rolls for the rogues, 9 and 17 after skill ratings were added. Now he makes secret Spot checks for the PCs to see if they notice either of the rogues. He rolls a 5 for Naull and a 12 for Redgar.) When you are about halfway through it, Redgar, you notice a figure standing at the far end of the alley, maybe 20 paces away.
Redgar: Who is it? Do I recognize them?
DM: Make a Spot check at -8. (The penalty is -2 for the darkness and -1 for each 10 feet of range.)
Redgar: I'll have to do it untrained. (Rolls.) 18 minus 8 is 10.
DM: You don't recognize the person, but you can tell it's probably a human male, and he's facing you. It's too dark to make out any other details.
Naull: What about me? Do I know who he is?
DM: You haven’t seen him yet.
Redgar: I’ll motion for Naull to stop walking, and I’ll call out, “Who’s there?”

Ok, your turn!

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

Hey all you ENWorlders who know the rules backward and forward... please help me write the sample combat that shows how the rules work!