9-160: Argyle’s Lodge, Combat Turn 1
I’m going to borrow some old Classic Traveller terminology here, which contended that most combats had two sides and these could usually be defined as the Native and the Intruder.
In this case the party is the Intruder side and the opposition is the Native.
| Metagame | Narrative |
| Pre-combat The Native side achieves Partial Surprise [B393] on the Intruder side. | As per 9-159. |
| As a result of being Partially Surprised, members of the Intruder Side must make IQ checks to recover and act. Dicard succeeds on his IQ check. Oliver succeeds on his IQ with a 6. Chris succeeds on his IQ check. | As per 9-159. |
| As a result of having Partial Surprise the Native side acts first, irrespective of Speed scores. Native#1 on the Native side attacks and hits Dicard with a Strong All Out Attack [B324]. As he made his IQ roll, Dicard can use his Active Defence as normal, however he fails to Dodge and is hit for 13 Damage, but his Arctic Gear has a Passive Defense of PD 1 for 12. Dicard succeeds on his HT roll to avoid falling unconscious for falling below 0 HP [B327]. Thirteen damage is a Major Wound for Dicard, but he succeeds on his second HT roll to avoid being Stunned or Knocked Out. [B327] Having been injured, Dicard is Shocked and will be at -4 for most actions on his next turn (only). [B327] | As per 9-159. There’s a loud angry noise and something black and white, the same colour as the arctic suits, slams into Dicard’s shoulder and head, knocking him back into the Common Room with a surprised grunt where he staggers but remains on his feet. |
| Having made his IQ Roll to avoid being Mentally Stunned as a result of being Partially Surprised, Oliver can act. Oliver drops what he’s holding (a free action). [B364] Oliver Readies his electrolaser pistol (using his action this round). [B325] Oliver calls out a warning to Chris (a free action). [B363] | Oliver assesses the threat as some kind of animal, possibly an ‘Alpcow’ that was mentioned during their last visit here. He draws his pistol and shouts, “CHRIS, HOSTILE CRITTER!” |
| Chris’ speed is higher than Oliver’s so he would usually take his turn before him, however, it’s logical that he go afterwards given the situation. Chris’ shotgun was already Ready. Chris takes a Move action and uses his full first turn movement to cross the distance from where he was to the Common Room doorway. [B325] | Oliver hears Chris come up quickly behind him. Oliver is currently standing in the doorway and likely blocking Chris’ path. Note, as part of Oliver’s Ready action, he can take a Step and move 1m in any direction, which I’ll allow this turn if he wishes. |
| Dicard is up and not stunned (surprising after that much damage), as he had his electrolaser ready he will fire it and take a step backwards. Dicard is at -4 from shock, +1 for the opponent’s size and there is no Range modifier. Because of his angle the presumed Alpcow (Native#1) has no cover bonus from the doorway. Dicard’s un-aimed Attack roll is successful. Because it took an All Out Attack, the Alpcow cannot take an Active Defense and the attack hits. Dicard’s electrolaser does 3 Damage from the ionising laser, which may be reduced if the Aplcow has any Passive Defense. The Alpcow succeeds on its HT check and shrugs off the electrolaser’s linked Affliction attack. | There’s an electric crack noise from Dicard’s pistol and a flash of blue-white light leaps from its muzzle, striking his attacker and a smell of singed hair fills the room. However, the Alpcow shrugs off the electrolaser’s stun effect. |
| End of Turn 1 | |
| The Alpcow follows up its attack on Dicard, moving after him and succeeds in striking him with a claw using a Determined All Out Attack Action. Dicard fails again to Dodge the attack and it hits him for 9-1=8 Damage, for a total of -10HP. As he is at -10HP Dicard must make, and succeeds on, a HT roll to avoid Death. [B327] That is a second Major Wound for Dicard, and this time he fails his HT stun check and is Physically Stunned. [B327] | The Alpcow follows Dicard into the Common Room, revealing itself to be a large, bulky creature covered in mostly white fur streaked with black patches and lines. It has four legs, beady black eyes and a long snout over a mouth that is open and showing a row of yellow teeth. It rears up on its hind legs to swat again at Dicard with a muscled limb, tearing open the front of his coat in a spray of blood and fabric with its long claws. Dicard is still somehow on his feet, but obviously disoriented. |
| Oliver’s turn. | What would he like to do? Happy to take questions on combat rules and actions. |
Oliver would like to take that free movement to get out of the doorway, into the room.
For now I think I understand the rules, Oliver will take an unaimed shot at the alpcow rolling 10 vs his ElectroLazerPistol skill of 11.