Handy Haversack wrote:

Hi, all,

I know I read this, but for some reason at the table on Saturday I went completely blank. When a character has more than one attack in a round, they come at the same time, no? And against the same opponent?

So, e.g., a fighter-type with two melee attacks in one round would take them both on his side's turn (i.e., winning or losing intiative)

--in Phase I in a regular toe-to-toe fight or after a half-distance move or charge
--in Phase II after a full-distance move or charge

Right? And the same applies to monsters with attack routines or to multiple arrows, for example?

And am I right that all Phase I actions happen (first for the side that won init., then the side that lost) and then all Phase II actions happen (same deal).

Yes? No? Shut up, Handy?

Handy,

My non-official opinion:  The split phase is great for very detailed resolution of combat.  Strictly speaking you would do as you state with; phase one, all go, then phase two, finish round.  As a GM I don't feel a need for that level of granularity and allow the players to complete their phases during their turn.

I really like the flexibility the multi-phase system (even if not split) adds to combat for melee, missile, and magic.

Melee Fighters can use attacks as they see fit during the round.  They can attack, move and attack, attack and move (iff opponant is killed) and attack again if they have attacks left.

Missile Fighters can do the same with some limitations.  They can fire, fire and move, or move and fire.  If they move thay fire at one lower level of rate of fire (2/1 becomes 3/2).

Sorcerers can cast, or move and cast.  Casting ends their move.  They are considered casting for the entire turn so if they are hit they lose (or may lose) the spell. 

I never really thought about monsters as I usually have them attack with all attacks or move and attack with all attacks, against multiple opponants if they are in melee reach.  I generally don't split attacks with movement or have had a need to.

Morgan




 

I wouldn't allow monsters (in most cases) to split their attacks against multiple foes. A bear for examle, is going to claw / claw one opponent, whether that opponent survives the first claw or not. But a giant squid lurking under the hull of a ship, sending up its tentacles to grab sailors -- that's different. For the most part, though, I view it as a monster's multi-attack routine, which is not the same as a fighter's 2/1.

Oh, and to the original question, I simply have the player take these attacks at the same time. During an early draft of the game, I tried splitting up the multiple attacks over the course of the round, but the granularity proved to be more of a burden than it was worth.