The Tyranny of Claw/Claw/Bite
The Tyranny of Claw/Claw/Bite
Hey, OSR types. Has anyone gotten rid of claw/claw/bite in their games and gone to a single roll for all monster attacks? I do not think that monsters and PCs need to use the same exact systems, but claw/claw/bite is bothering me. PC attacks are all supposed to be a few jabs and strikes and feints, so why aren't monster attacks? Moving to one roll would speed things up a bit in a game where combat isn't supposed to be complicated anyway.
I'm playing ACKS for my OSR fix, so I'd probably give monsters with multiple attacks the "dual wield" +1 attack throw bonus that PCs can get and increase damage from whatever their "main" attack is.
I also wouldn't use this with hydras or dragons or similar monsters.
Thoughts?
Hey, OSR types. Has anyone gotten rid of claw/claw/bite in their games and gone to a single roll for all monster attacks? I do not think that monsters and PCs need to use the same exact systems, but claw/claw/bite is bothering me. PC attacks are all supposed to be a few jabs and strikes and feints, so why aren't monster attacks? Moving to one roll would speed things up a bit in a game where combat isn't supposed to be complicated anyway.
I'm playing ACKS for my OSR fix, so I'd probably give monsters with multiple attacks the "dual wield" +1 attack throw bonus that PCs can get and increase damage from whatever their "main" attack is.
I also wouldn't use this with hydras or dragons or similar monsters.
Thoughts?
Claw/claw/bite helps even the field for many "bestial" monsters with their easy to hit ACs. Alternatively it also helps fearsome monsters like Glabrezu seem even more monstrous.
ReplyDeleteIsn't claw/claw/bite just a different iteration of "I walk up to it and hit it"?
ReplyDeleteWith slightly more rolls ... but basically just as boring?
If you switch to BareBones Fantasy, then your characters can do hack/slash/jab and your creatures can do claw/claw/bite and everyone can have a shot at multi-attack.
ReplyDeleteIn BBF, your second action is at -20%, your third -40%, etc.. Creatures can do that too.
Rules-lite modern system with an old-school feel: http://dwdstudios.com/barebones/corerulebook
#NewlyConvertedBBFFan
I think I kind of like the idea of rolling once but applying the attack to two or more players depending on monster. Like an mountain lion could maybe attack two adjacent PCs, or an owlbear could attack three adjacent, but only roll once and compare that roll to all the targets' ACs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe base how many can be attacked on the monster's size.
Casey Garske So all monster multi-target attacks would basically just be AoE attacks? I thought the point wasn't to allow the monster to attack multiple people, but to rapidly maul the crap out of one opponent - you know, the way wild animals do IRL.
ReplyDeleteRob Bush I guess that is what I'm saying! I think that's right with a huge monster/animal like a dragon or even an elephant. It seems unrealistic to make multiple attacks against one PC when they would more be trashing around attacking a group.
ReplyDeleteBut, in the mountain lion case you might be right. That's probably better handled by making the one attack do more damage.
The size thing has me thinking that maybe giants need to be able to attack more than one person with a single swing though...hmmm...
Fix claw-claw-bite the 13th Age way...
ReplyDeleteRoll one attack roll normally.
* On an odd hit you get claw damage.
* On an even hit you get claw+claw damage.
* If the d20 result was 16-19 you add in the bite effect if the attack hit.
* On a 20 you get claw-claw-bite and any crit effects.
I like claw claw bite. Fighting a dude with a sword can be a die-or-walk-away-fine situation. Fighting a tiger for three rounds wears on everyone in the fight, even if you don't take any very serious damage. The animal is going to hit sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and be dangerous to everyone in the fight, not just the primary target. Animals aren't really built to fight 3 guys at once, so they flail about doing d4 to two guys and then lunge at the last.
ReplyDeleteI can see rolling one die if the animal is ambushing you, but in a melee it makes sense to me as a way to represent a different kind of combat.