Alright, that should make things interesting.
Still a bit confusing now, but I think it shouldn't be too hard to do once you've done it a couple of times.

Last edited by Yora (5/05/2014 12:11 pm)

Asuming a magician and a bear start a fight. Magician wants to move half distance and then cast a spell (acting in phase #2). The bear wants to move half distance and attack (acting in phase #1).
If the magician wins initative, does the bear get to attack him anyway? It seems so.

If a character only moves, does he get to act in both phases?

Last edited by Yora (5/05/2014 12:12 pm)

Yora wrote:

Asuming a magician and a bear start a fight. Magician wants to move half distance and then cast a spell (acting in phase #2). The bear wants to move half distance and attack (acting in phase #1).
If the magician wins initative, does the bear get to attack him anyway? It seems so.

Yes, but it would be a foolish move by the player, I think! Best to stay stationary. In this type of cicrumstance, I would tell the player that the bear is moving in for the kill. I would give the player a quick chance to change his or her mind.

If a character only moves, does he get to act in both phases?

I'm not sure what you mean by "act" in this case. If you mean just move, sure, that would be a full movement, using his regular MV.
 

I am beginning work on a printable sheet that will hopefully help you and your players easily adopt the AS&SH turn sequence.

Ghul wrote:

Also, one of the things I intend to do with the next printing of the game is display some combat examples, so folks can see the sequence at work.

That's an excellent idea, Ghul.

I also had trouble wrapping my brain around the combat sequence. I started using a small dry-erase board divided horizontally into phases, much as displayed in the combat section of the book. I ask the players what they intend and jot those down in the appropriate area. Its been really helpful in keeping track of actions and the (slightly) more complicated combat round.

Ghul, how do you handle a character who wants to change his action, due to changed circumstances or inability? I generally simply make them take the last action in the round, just wanted to hear your technique.

I only ask the players to say what action they want to take, they are free to pick their target when they get their turn. Moving to a different place, attacking a different enemy, and so on.
They can't chose to cast a different spell or drink a different potion, as all action happens simultaneously and start at the same time. The only change that can be made is to skip acting at all.
Not quite sure if that should waste a started spell, yet.

Maezar wrote:

Ghul, will you please shed some light on this passage from the rules, perhaps with an example or two?"If a melee combatant is entitled to multiple attacks, these may be made together; i.e., if a fighter with two attacks has won initiative against the monster he faces, he may make both attacks before the monster."

Maybe with special attention to whether you think said fighter can make an attack, do something else, and then make her other attack. Or whether they can be directed at different targets. And how two-weapon fighting interacts. And how many licks, Tootsie Pop, etc.

Seems quite obvious to me. If you have two attacks per round and only attack but don't move, you can make both attacks in phase 1. Even with more than one attack, you don't have to split them between phase 1 and phase 2.

Good to point that out Maezar, I had been wondering about this last time we played and the fighter got his two attacks against 1 HD creatures.

I feel it's spelled out well enough on page 212 in the "melee and movement" section, but if it's not so obvious to fine fellows such as yourselves, that tells me I have to do a better job to convey it, because you are seasoned gamers, and it should be made clear enough for amateur gamers to get a grip on it.

Melee and Movement: Melee may occur before, during, and after movement; it is the most flexible form of combat. A melee combatant may move ½ and make his attack(s) on phase one, or move full and make his attack(s) on phase two. Alternatively, a melee combatant may make his attack(s) on phase one and move ½ on phase two, if his opponent is slain or otherwise incapacitated; otherwise, his opponent may make an automatic attack at +2 “to hit” (see COMBAT, attack modifiers). Furthermore, if a melee combatant is allowed 2 attacks in the round, he may move ½ and make an attack on phase one, then move ½ and make a second attack on phase two. Again, this assumes the first opponent is slain or incapacitated; otherwise the initial opponent may make an automatic attack at +2 “to hit”.