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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bawylie" data-source="post: 7072486" data-attributes="member: 6776133">I played 2nd edition from the ages of 8 to about 16 or 17. Neighbor's game. They were older kids but our moms made them let me play.Now, 2nd edition was never the same game between tables. The experience was largely based on your DM and their decisions what rules, subsystems, and tables applied. That tended to vary. One of the things our group did in combat was a declarative phase prior to rolling initiative. Our DM would say what it looked like the bad guys were doing (readying a breath weapon, casting a spell, aiming a ranged weapon, closing into melee, etc) and we would then declare our plans in response. Taking cover from breath weapons, trying to disrupt or counter a spell, firing back or closing in on ranged enemies, readying to receive a charge, that kind of deal. Then we'd all roll initiative and apply various speed bonuses or penalties and resolve the actions accordingly. Now, if you beat the dragon who was readying its breath weapon, and you declared you were taking cover from it, you got out of it. But if it beat you, or you decided to ignore it in favor of some other action, THEN you'd save vs breath weapon. I recall we'd have Dwarven fighters on our front lines because they had good saves, and you could shoot over them. All that sort of thing made a difference. Our fights were maybe two or three long as h*ck rounds, but the general idea of it was that the saving throw was the last ditch mechanic that applied if you were too slow or ignored the impending hazards. Like "You've been poisoned, now what?" as opposed to "they're trying to poison you, let's see if it works."So your agency came in as you perceived threats and decided how best to neutralize them. And it got interesting. I remember one time we were fighting something that was going to lightning bolt us (in a hallway) for the second time. And we had a pretty big argument about how to react. Some of us wanted to get out of the way, some argued we could kill him before he got the spell off. I don't remember how it turned out. But I remember the argument. Anyway, that's how we rolled with saving throws and the issue of agency, I guess. Though we didn't call it that. I think we made fun of people who would take gambles. "So you're gonna stand there while the orc charges you? Better start rolling a new character." And then like that charging orc would get shot down or not and we'd all yell or continue mocking. -Brad</blockquote>

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