tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post4366672177202798110..comments2024-03-27T19:02:58.368-04:00Comments on BARKING ALIEN: Initiate ThisAdam Dicksteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-85222762745321936562019-11-13T04:15:49.295-05:002019-11-13T04:15:49.295-05:00It's still on the sketch stage in my group. W...It's still on the sketch stage in my group. We play an BRP-based Cyberpunkish type setting, and I'd like to add more tactical depth to combat. One weakness with the current system is that it tends to devolve into people shooting directly at each other until one side is down. And hits are quite deadly and it's not really fun to die all the time. But it has to be balanced against having some actual risk. I've done a few things to try and make things more interesting: a) The opposition will use stun weapons, flashbangs, smoke grenades and other tactical goodies when appropriate and within their abilites. As an example, if they want to cross a contested street, they don't necessarily need to kill all the PCs to be able to do so, but they might pop a couple of smoke grenades and then advance under cover. b) The opposition have their own goals and motives and are not always fanatics. If they suffer losses, they will often try and withdraw, retreat to a more defensible position or even surrender. c) The opposition also have imperfect information on what is going on. I try and keep that in mind when planning their next moves. Our last session we had an interesting confrontation in a wooded area crisscrossed by roads, and at least I as a GM had a great time watching both PCs and NPCs try and execute battle plans based on engine and shot sounds from rough directions, which mostly failed and sometimes in hilarious ways.<br /><br />And I thought bringing suppressive fire into this would give everyone an additional tool in the toolbox, while keeping casualty levels down a bit. And eat into their precious ammo supply... :D And as a former infantryman I think most fire is suppressive fire anyways.<br /><br />So every character has an initiative of DEX + 1D10, 16 on average. And a movement score of 22 on average. I would like the rule be able to bring both of these down, so if you're under enough fire you will just keep your head down and lie still for the round. The basic premise of the rule is that you tally up incoming fire and assign it a value.<br /><br />My current idea is that incoming fire will steadily subtract from your initiative, until you have 0. Then you lose your actions for the round, but you can still attempt to crawl away if you're under cover. When initiative is 0 incoming fire will start to subtract from movement. When you're also out of movement you can just cower in place.<br /><br />How much to subtract? Maybe 1 per round impacting your hex, and 3 per round if they are rocket rounds (semi-common in the setting).<br /><br />Advantages is that it's fairly simple. Disadvantages include the need to track suppression level.<br /><br />Still leaves a lot of things to be determined, though. Shouldn't the intestinal fortitude (or blood drug level) of the person under fire count? And how are other kinds of ordnance handled, like mortar fire? And what are the odds of being hit anyways if you're not in perfect cover? That chance should probably be lower than with aimed fire otherwise it would feel a bit silly. And should the shooters have to roll for skill, slowing down the process even further?<br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.Harald Hansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059663546299624607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-19298679555963446472019-11-12T20:07:20.793-05:002019-11-12T20:07:20.793-05:00I like this. A lot. Can you expand on your idea?
...I like this. A lot. Can you expand on your idea?<br /><br />Are you saying I could spend my PC's Initiative to 'buy' Suppressing Fire, each purchase subtracting Initiative points from opponents? <br /><br />There is something great here but my mind hasn't fully wrapped itself around the idea. Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-53124368425610662452019-11-12T08:24:59.615-05:002019-11-12T08:24:59.615-05:00It might work with supressive fire as well. Putti...It might work with supressive fire as well. Putting supressive fire down on a hex will steadily eat into the initative of everyone there, and once it crosses zero they can do nothing else than keep their head down.Harald Hansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059663546299624607noreply@blogger.com