rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP (10/12/83)
Scenerio: One party has just been viciously ambushed by another. When the first party recovers from their surprise, they are in disarray. To make matters worse, the MU in the first party is being attacked by a fighter from the second party. The fighter is still ten feet away from the MU but is closing fast. His sword is already wound up preparing for the big swing. The MU decides to try to throw a spell(defensive or offensive is irrelevent to the final question). As DM, how do you run the situation? I have seen it run various ways but none of them appear to be clear cut. So how about some opinions from out there in netland? Here are some possible solutions to help start off the discussion. 1. A MU in melee can never get a spell off. 2. If the fighter misses, then the spell will get off. 3. If the number of segments to throw the spell is equal to or less than the MU's initiative roll, then the spell will get off. 4. If the number of segments to throw the spell is equal to or less than the difference between initiative rolls that the MU won by over the fighter, then the spell will get off. 5. A combination of 2 and 3 or 2 and 4.
djb@cbosgd.UUCP (10/13/83)
Here's the way I play such situations: 1) MU announces magic for this round. This means MU intends to cast a spell beginning in his reaction segment. MU must specify the spell that is being cast at this time. 2) MU and Fighter make reaction roll of 10 sided dice, subtracting dexterity adjustments. Lower number goes first. 3) If Fighter goes first, he attacks. Fighter either hits or misses: a) Fighter hits: Fighter scores damage against MU, plus MU's spell attempt is broken. Spell is lost. Go on to next round. b) Fighter misses: Magic user begins casting spell in his initiative round. Add spell casting time to initiative round number to determine segment in which the spell will take effect. If result is greater than 10, spell takes effect next round in segment (result-10). (Notice that if the spell doesn't take effect until next round, Fighter may get a chance to attack MU next round while casting is still going on.) 4) If MU goes first, he casts his spell. Add casting time to MU reaction segment to determine segment that spell takes effect. If this is before Fighter's reaction, then Fighter must make a saving throw in whatever segment the spell takes effect, possibly negating his attack if he fails. If the segment of effect is after Fighter's reaction, then Fighter may attack MU while the casting is going on. Outcome here is basically the same as in 3) above -- if Fighter hits, damage is scored on MU and the spell is broken. If fighter misses, spell casting continues, possibly into the next round. This sounds complicated, and can get confusing, particularly with some spells that take several segments to cast. I some cases, a fighter can get two attacks against a MU attempting to cast a single spell. Note that this gives considerable advantage to MU if the spell is cast from a rod, staff, wand, or some spell storing device (ring, ioun stone, etc), since such spells only require 1 segment to cast. David Bryant Bell Labs Columbus, OH (614) 860-4516 (cbosg!djb)
kechkayl@pur-ee.UUCP (10/14/83)
#R:ihuxe:-37900:ecn-ee:14500003:000:1171 ecn-ee!kechkayl Oct 13 09:06:00 1983 I like using a dexterity system. A character can act only as fast as his dexterity will permit. Therefore, a person with 18 dexterity will always go before a person with a 10 dexterity. This seems to me to be logical and consistent with the AD&D definition of dexterity. Of course, there are always modifications due to the situation, so if the 18 dex person has just been hit in the head with a 30 lb. boulder, they will act considerably slower than they normally would. Thus, when a m-u is casting a spell, he begins at the beginning of the round. If the fighter has a high enough dexterity so that he can act before the segment in which the spell is due to go off, fine. Otherwise, the m-u dimension doors away, or lightning bolts the poor fighter. The table I usually use is: Segment Dexes which may act that segment. 1 18-25 2 17 3 16-15 4 14 5 13-12 6 11-10 7 9 8 8-7 9 6-5 10 4-3 Of course, you can modify this however you wish. Thus, if the m-u was casting dimension door, which is a 1 segment spell, he would get it off before most fighters could touch him. If you think about it, that is how it probably should be. Thomas Ruschak