Re: (TFT) First attacks in HTH

[Lloyd Weber <laweber3@yahoo.com>]

I think some good ideas are coming out of these HTH discussions. I'd start
with the Advanced Melee rules, and then add the following "house" rules:

1) A
figure that has moved half it's MA or less and has chosen, or switches to, the
Defend option, may change facing to meet an oncoming attack. (per John H.)
This would mean that an attacker with the intention of initiating HTH would
not be able to do so if condition (c) entering from the rear hex, was the only
condition that would have allowed them to initiate HTH. It also means that the
defender has a chance to roll a 6 and repel the attack with an automatic, free
hit.

2) The UC talent can influence the defender's die roll by one point per
level of UC knowledge (per Todd R., aka Aidan). For example, an defender with
UC 4 would be able to entirely avoid HTH combat against an untrained attacker.
Similarly, an attacker with UC 2 or higher would be able to initiate HTH
combat without fail (assuming one of the conditions, a, b, c or d is met)
against an untrained defender.

The above rules sound like good additions to
me. I am continuing work a computer version of Melee. Its amazing how detailed
such a "simple" system becomes when you are trying to put it into code!

As I
read the Advanced Melee HTH rules again (on pg. 15) I still need clarification
on one thing. Do the conditions to enter HTH, a - d, apply only to disengaged
attackers, or to engaged attackers also? Here are the first four paragraphs of
the rules, what do you think?

HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT
   A figure may move ONTO
an enemy figure's hex, initiating HTH combat, if (a) the enemy has his back to
the wall, or is lying down, prone or kneeling, or (b) the enemy has a lower
MA, or (c) the attacker comes in from the rear, or (d) the enemy agrees to HTH
combat. Initiating HTH combat is considered an attack.
   To initiate HTH
combat, a figure moves onto the enemy figure's hex. If the attacking figure is
disengaged, this is a regular move. If the attacking figure is engaged, he may
shift onto a figure engaging him to attempt HTH, even if he is engaged with
other figures as well. When you're surrounded by foes, sometimes the best
thing you can do is jump on one of them!
   If the attacker had a dagger or
main-gauche ready, he may use it in HTH. Otherwise, he drops his ready
weapon/shield in the hex he came from and attacks bare-handed.
   When a
figure is attacked HTH, it immediately (that is, still in the movement phase)
rolls one die to determine its defense against the HTH attack, as follows:
etc...etc...

Lloyd

----- Original Message ----
From: John J Hyland
<johnnyboytmm@juno.com>
To: tft@brainiac.com
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006
1:13:19 PM
Subject: Re: (TFT) First attacks in HTH

That is pretty much how we
did it too.  Entry into HTH is resolved(one 
die roll) immediately, either
during movement (when attacker starts dis-
engaged) or as the attackers action
(if he started engaged).  

If the attacker started engaged, entering HTH is
his attack, if he did 
not then he can attack in HTH the turn he enters, in
either case the 
defender gets his HTH roll, and gets his action that turn
(often to 
draw a dagger).

I've never had the run-around question come up in
relation to HTH, but 
it has come up with run-around melee attacks by
unarmored elves with 
the running talent whose opponents moved first and
foolishly moved into 
range.  As a result I've house-ruled that if you've only
moved 1/2 your 
MA, and after everyone else has moved find yourself with a bad
facing, 
you can change your facing as part of the defend option - it seems
like 
a pretty defensive maneuver to me.  I think for HTH I'd just say you
cannot run around another guy and enter HTH from behind.  Of course if 
you
are faster (higher MA) than the other guy you can always enter HTH 
without
getting behind him.

I like the UC treatment too.  Martial artists should be
advantaged in 
HTH combat.

As much as the one die roll random HTH mechanic
always seemed a 
little too random for me, I never came up with an alternative
that was 
both more satisfying and simple enough for me.  Though I think
Erol's 
suggestion might just do the trick for me

John

-- "Todd Roseberry"
-------------- wrote:----------------------

IIRC, we always played that an
attacker would move into the hex in 
order to 
initiate HTH. If the results of
the defender's roll leaves the 
combatants in 
HTH (no 5 or 6) then the
attacker would attack based on adjDX and the 
defender would also attack via
adjDX. The move initiates the HTH unless 
countered by the defender; combat
follows.
It sounds like most folks play it differently.

One thing we added to
the rules gave UC talents influence over the 
defender's die roll similar to
the way it is used in "pinning a foe". 
The 
difference between UC talents
allows the "winner" to modify the 
defenders 
die as they choose.
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