Re: (TFT) Too simple / not as simple or elegant... Survey

["Charles Gadda" <cgadda@earthlink.net>]

> Are you suggesting that if a dragon uses his right front claw to
> sweep, that he can't sweep into his left front hex?   Why couldnt
> the dragon use BOTH claws?  The combat round is long enough
> for it to do so.

Canonically speaking, a dragon may make only *one* claw attack - see ITL.
That said your point is somewhat valid - I don't think TFT does dragons too
well - and what you say makes sense, though I would insist on DX penalties
for more than one claw attack, in addition to any penalties for "sweeps".
Keep in mind that (assuming he is not flying) he is *standing* on his legs,
so the situation is somewhat different from a bipedal humanoid wielding a
great sword. Also note that a dragon's claw probably would not count as an
edged weapon (but I am aware of your stand on this, as expressed below)

> TFT makes no such distinction for multi-hex creatures - take a
> giant and his large number of front hexes.  Sure, your typical
> TFT giant performing a sweeping blow would be almost comical
> as the DX adjustment makes it practically impossible for him to
> hit a target.  But there's nothing that says that he CANT do it.

Ah, but give that giant some magical DX aids from magic weapons, etc.... and
he becomes the PC Ginzu-matic (TM)

> > So a 14 hex dragon cannot "sweep" his entire side... I have to
> > concede that I had not considered the possibility of multihex
> > creatures, especially ones of great ST.
>
> Again, the length of a combat round is a consideration.  I suppose
> it might be possible for a dragon to sweep along its entire side
> using a front leg and then a back one.

See above on that - the round is not *that* long...


> > Part of my thought in having the "progressive" to hit penalty was
> > to reflect hitting multiple creatures and losing some momentum.
> > In the case of a giant with some sort of giant sized sword, I could
> > visualise something more along the lines of Sauron in the opening
> > sequences of Fellowship of the Ring. I'll have to think on this some
> > more.
>
> This was exactly my point - momentum reduction.  Considering all
> attacks a graze simply doesn't cut it for me.  And what about blunt
> weapons, like a club or a hammer?  TFT says that in order to make
> a sweeping blow, the attacker must be using a two-handed cutting
> weapon.  But I dont think that this tracks either.  A figure with a two
> handed club or hammer should be allowed to make a sweeping
> blow, but stop as soon as someone is hit.  This would give him an
> opportunity to attack everyone in his front hexes, albeit at a DX
> minus.


Your point is perfectly valid. I would probably stick with cutting weapons
only just to keep this can of worms from opening too much more....

A suggestion: one could say that non-cutting weapons used for this purpose
incur an additional -2 DX penalty on top of the existing one (whether
canonical or my variant), while creatures with a ST of say 30+ get a +2 DX
bonus - thus, a giant with a club or a dragon using his claws will most
likely "wash", but a giant with a big sword.... now that's just viscious...
=====
Post to the entire list by writing to tft@brainiac.com.
Unsubscribe by mailing to majordomo@brainiac.com with the message body
"unsubscribe tft"