Movement and Combat Restrictions

If, like me, you use miniatures to define the physical layout of each fight, you have found that the case rules leave much to be desired in the way a definition. I developed the below table to assist in layoing groud rules as to what could be done "if you moved THAT far". Please note that I allow my players to "throw a battle axe". I needed to make a rule as to what effect it has and how to do it. If they want to disarm themselves willingly, who am I to argue. Also, you may notice the weapon called a "Kapar". This is a weapon I created based on the thrown hand blade used in the Beastmaster movie.

Phase 1:

Phase 2:

Combat is broken down into the following 3 steps for determining attack order:

1. Weapon Speed
2. Dexterity *1
3. Die Roll

NOTES:

• *1 - Dexterity is used for all physical attacks. Magic-User/Illusionist spells use Intelligence. Cleric/Druid spells use Wisdom.
• Any character can disengage from combat at their own weapon speed.
• The 'weapon speed' of a spell is determined by this formula: casting time in segments * 2, with the exception of 1 segment spells or spells pulled from a ring, which go at speed 1.
• Order of end of round attacks are determined by rules 2 and 3.

Horsemanship / Ride / Driver movement rules

Rider

• Can increase or decrease the speed of a horse up to 6” each round without roll.
• If the horse is moving at less than half full speed it can be stopped in one round, normal Ride roll required if the movement is more than 25% of full speed.
• Can stop a horse, regardless of current speed, in 2 rounds, a normal Ride roll is reqd.
• Can stop a horse moving at more than half full speed in one round, Ride roll required. Roll modifier is -1 per additional movement point above half full movement (ie. Rider moving at full movement of 24” would require a roll at -12 to stop in one round. Moving at 18” would require a roll at -6).
• Can change directional hex movement without a roll, if only changing one hex facing. Every additional hex facing change in a single movement phase requires a Ride roll with a -3 modifier. Every hex facing turn requires one movement in a straight line before another change of facing can be executed unless the horse is moving at less than one quarter speed.
• Dismounting is a ½ movement action.

In COMBAT

• A rider swings DOWN at opponents at +2, opponents attack up using melee weapons at -2.
• No traditional shield can be used by a rider unless wielding a pole weapon, employing it in charge attacks.
• A rider may use a Riders Shield if using a one handed weapon. Using a Riders Shield makes directions to the horse more difficult and applies a -2 penalty to Ride rolls.
• A rider may fire missiles while mounted but can NOT use a Long Bow. No attack bonus is gained when firing missile weapons from horseback.
• No Dexterity bonuses are applied to any attacks or defenses when mounted unless the rider has the talent Expert Rider. This skill allows the use of full Dexterity bonuses.
• When firing a 2 handed missile weapon, change of movement instructions to the horse require a Ride roll. The greater the desired change of movement the higher the roll penalty modifier. Small changes, such as minor speed changes or subtle direction changes will be at -1 or 2. Significant changes will be higher and depend on the severity of the change. When attempting any such changes on a non war horse an additional -10 is applied to the roll modifier.

Wagons

• Horses pulling a wagon can increase or decrease the speed up to 3” per round without roll. Speed can be increased up to a max of 6” with a Driver roll at -2 per additional movement point.
• Wagons moving at greater than half speed can be stopped in 3 rounds, normal Driver roll is required.
• Wagons moving at greater than 3” can be stopped in one turn, Driver roll required. Roll modifier is -1 per additional movement point above 3”.
• Turning a wagon one hex facing required a normal Drive roll. Every hex facing turned beyond the first requires a Drive roll at an additional -5 per hex.
• When turning a wagon, if moving at greater than half speed, it must travel at least 4 hexes in a straight line after changing hex facing before attempting another direction change. It requires a movement of 3 hexes in a straight line when moving more than 3” but less than half and only 2 hexes in a straight line of movement at 3” or less.

Spell Casting from Horseback

• Spells with only Verbal (V) : No restrictions
• Spells with Material Components (M) : Dex Roll -2, -1 additional for every component beyond the first
• Spells with Somatic Gestures (S) :
  • Requires the RIDE skill
  • -2 base adjustment
  • Expert Ride cancels this penalty
  • -1 on spell roll for every spell level

• *Spells requiring longer than 1 round to cast are not eligible to be cast from horseback.
• *Spells can NOT be cast when read from a spell book
• *Spells cast from a SCROLL are allowed with the following restrictions : caster must have the RIDE skill, Scroll reading / casting is done at -2 to the success roll.

i.e. Caster attempting the 1st level spell Comprehend Languages (V,S,M) from horseback with the Ride skill. The spell has TWO Components so the caster first makes a Dex roll at -3 (-2 plus an additional -1 for the second component). Next the caster rolls for the spell. The initial roll is at -4 (-3 base plus additional -1 for first level spell). The caster must roll 10 or higher for success. A roll of 6 or less is immediate failure. A roll of 7 – 9 requires a re-roll. The re-roll uses the same mods and would succeed on a 10 or higher and fail on a 9 or less.

The same caster with the Expert Ride skill would still require the Dex roll to get the components and then have an initial spell roll of -1 (only the level mod). Success would occur on 7 or higher. 3 or less is immediate failure. 4-6 would require a re-roll

Horseback Ride By Attack

• Requires a move of at least 6 hexes.
• May attack if horse moves up to ¾ full movement
• Ride roll has a modifier as noted, modifiers are in addition to those defined for the Ride skill.
• Rider can be attacked by a figure on the ground at -4 due to swinging up, damage is increased by ½ of listed rider damage bonus
• See Talent descriptions for additional mods (Ride, Expert, Mounted Specialist)

Trample Attack

• Requires a move of at least 6 hexes.
• Can be performed all the way to max movement of the mount.
• Ride roll is modified as noted, modifiers are in addition to those defined for the Ride skill.
• Attacked figure must either be prone on the ground or Man sized or smaller.
• See Talent descriptions for additional mods (Ride, Expert, Mounted Specialist)

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