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RPG Combat: Sport or War?
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<blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 7726608" data-attributes="member: 3400"><p>And in a genuinely grim and gritty (and more realistic) RPG, ambushes with swords and crossbows would still not be 100% at killing the enemy yet leave the PC vulnerable to just as grim and gritty a retaliation. That's one element you're missing in all this focus on damage mechanics. It's not simply an issue of deadliness, but also of minimizing exposure to risk by eliminating it or reducing its duration. If Conan lurks above, ready to lever or push the boulder onto the monster as it comes out of its lair, he's reducing his vulnerability. And even if he doesn't outright kill it but just injures it, he still reduces his risk of death when he closes in to finish the fight.</p><p></p><p>Gandalf minimizes the risk of the fellowship by breaking the bridge. Tarzan minimizes his risk by staying out of the lion's reach until he can close off its path. Luke tries to avoid close combat with the rancor like the plague. The ents flood Isengard to reduce their risk. The ewoks are full of nasty tricks to take out stormtroopers. Kobolds lay traps galore. The Dwarves in Crusade trap the expected battlefield to reduce the mobility of the Tuigan horde. The in-genre and related genre examples go on and on.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="billd91, post: 7726608, member: 3400"] And in a genuinely grim and gritty (and more realistic) RPG, ambushes with swords and crossbows would still not be 100% at killing the enemy yet leave the PC vulnerable to just as grim and gritty a retaliation. That's one element you're missing in all this focus on damage mechanics. It's not simply an issue of deadliness, but also of minimizing exposure to risk by eliminating it or reducing its duration. If Conan lurks above, ready to lever or push the boulder onto the monster as it comes out of its lair, he's reducing his vulnerability. And even if he doesn't outright kill it but just injures it, he still reduces his risk of death when he closes in to finish the fight. Gandalf minimizes the risk of the fellowship by breaking the bridge. Tarzan minimizes his risk by staying out of the lion's reach until he can close off its path. Luke tries to avoid close combat with the rancor like the plague. The ents flood Isengard to reduce their risk. The ewoks are full of nasty tricks to take out stormtroopers. Kobolds lay traps galore. The Dwarves in Crusade trap the expected battlefield to reduce the mobility of the Tuigan horde. The in-genre and related genre examples go on and on. [/QUOTE]
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