From: tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Deus Imperator)
Subject: Re: Input wanted on a combat scenario
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 12:05:37 GMT

In article <68760012@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM> moursund@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM (David_Moursund) writes:
>
>A situation, which I would like opinions on:
>
>Questions:  Put yourself in the elf's place; what can you do to escape
>  this situation?  While being strangled, will spells with a vocal 
>  componant work?  Will being strangled and flung about, is it possible
>  to concentrate enough to cast spells?  Do you just curse yourself
>  for not casting _Stoneskin_ and _Vocalize_ on yourself before you
>  went to engage your enemies?  How many rounds can you live while being
>  subjected to this abuse?  Can command words be spoken while you are
>  being strangled?  Should you pull a dagger, and try to stab the 
>  gigantic musclebound oaf who is beating the stuffing out of you?
>  Your weapons are poisoned, but you have already seen this brute 
>  withstand this poison when he first attacked you.
>
This is how I'd DM it...
Brawny strikes Elfie, and does a grab maneuver.  Damage per round from 
just _squeezing_ is 1d2 + Strength bonus, but after the character is 
grabbed, this is autodamage until he breaks out (beats brawny in a 
strength test).  Being thrown into a wall should do a bit more, but not 
much...1d3 or 1d4.  All the damage Brawny can do should be coming from that
strength bonus, and nowhere else.  Base Danage from being thrown into a wall
should be the same whether it's me, with no strength bonus, or Brawny.
Every round, players roll the ol' initiative die (1d10).  Whatever 
Brawny rolls is the segement the insta-damage is done.  If, after adding
casting time and die roll, the Elfie gets the spell off, GREAT!  More power to
him!  He gets it off.  If Elfie gets hit during the time dictated by his
initiative die, he loses concentration, but not the spell.  If he got hit
during the casting time, he loses the spell.  EX:  Fireball:  casting time 3,
elfie rolls initiative of 3.  Spell will go off in 3+3...segment 6.  If 
Brawny rolls 1-2, Elfie cannot cast a spell (lost concentration from damage)
Ib Brawny rolls 3-5, spell is lost.  If Brawny rolls 6-10, spell goes off.
Command words can be spoken while strangles if the speaker can make an 
intelligence check, with a minus in proportion to the strangle damage, to
see if he gets it right.  Best idea is to do something that sounds cool,
but does little damage, like trying to scratch out one of Brawny's eyeballs
("He drops you fast!")  Try to catch Brawny offguard.  Sometimes it works...
 

>  Now put yourself in Mr. Brawny's place; you actually managed to get
>  the drop on your enemy, and so far have kept him from casting any
>  of his devastingly powerful spells at you.  His armor seems almost
>  impervious to attacks, so you decide to just manhandle him.  How
>  can you keep him from attacking you?  Should you try to pull his
>  head off?  You know that your ass is grass if he gets a chance to
>  unload on you?  You also are fairly certain that his weapons are
>  poisoned, and you are not sure that the protective measures you
>  have taken will stand up to this poison.
>
iWhile giving elfie a bear hug, kneel down, and let the other people have
free shots at his head.  You do your insta damage, and they can do theirs.
-- 
I don't mind being the smartest	    / Thanatos, DeathUrge, Master of Unknown
man in the world...I just wish it   \ Time and Space tgt33358@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu 
wasn't this one...	       	    / "No, I don't know how much unknown is... 
	-Ozymandias 		    \	...THAT'S THE POINT!" 
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