tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post8440035119462458351..comments2024-03-28T15:32:19.036-04:00Comments on Dungeon Fantastic: Melee Academy: What's the Tradeoff for NOT Using a Shield?Peter Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-9580820888334212202017-07-22T23:30:23.597-04:002017-07-22T23:30:23.597-04:00I never noticed the melee-only aspect, you only ta...I never noticed the melee-only aspect, you only take a -2 and the -2 to defend makes up for that... Can't you fly behind them? I doubt you need to roll Evade if you are highernthan they can reach. Which gives bonuses.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751723890701331638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-54836094287358578412013-04-12T09:55:36.424-04:002013-04-12T09:55:36.424-04:00I am currently playing a dwarf (Delvin) using a tw...I am currently playing a dwarf (Delvin) using a two-handed axe (my first GURPS character). I did it more as a character concept than from any thought of tactical advantage. We started with 75 point characters and I only had 40 points to play with after the dwarf template we are using (plus points from disadvantages). Delvin is good with his axe, given his points, but I had to make up for my lack of defense by getting very good armor. I am the meat shield...we have a wizard guy, a sneaky guy, and another guy with no discernible ability. We cannot let ourselves get surprised and there is not a lot of room for error in tactics or bad dice rolls. But I think I have learned more by the challenge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-29795934662050869952013-04-12T08:45:47.450-04:002013-04-12T08:45:47.450-04:00In my last online DF game, the gargoyle knight wou...In my last online DF game, the gargoyle knight would use Move and Attack to fly to someone's off-shield flank and throw an axe at them from 2-4 yards away. It gave him an easy way to close the distance without suffering the 9 cap on melee attacks. It's a startling effective tactic.Mark Langsdorfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301984145275679568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-66056265862900101122013-04-11T18:53:42.595-04:002013-04-11T18:53:42.595-04:00We've got a number of war stories where a thro...We've got a number of war stories where a thrown axe turned a fight. It's a really effective weapon, if you thrown it at the right time and at the right target. Borriz has done so effectively at least twice in my current DF game, including throwing one across a melee into the back of someone threatening a friend.<br /><br />A knife would have been a wasted action. An axe can be a fight-winner.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-11341178165215182162013-04-11T18:47:14.857-04:002013-04-11T18:47:14.857-04:00I seem to recall summarizing thrown weapon philoso...I seem to recall summarizing thrown weapon philosophy as "never throw knives when you can throw axes." Swing/Cut is just too attractive to pass up, while GURPS tends to mirror real life that knife throwing is the art of skillfully discarding an otherwise perfectly good weapon.Douglas Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292678529266123501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-60797986233043939492013-04-11T18:07:16.609-04:002013-04-11T18:07:16.609-04:00Movement in indeed critical, for any reach weapon....Movement in indeed critical, for any reach weapon. It's so critical that one knight in my game stays at Light encumbrance for that reason!<br /><br />Roll20 hangouts would be fun, but it's something I can't commit to regularly, and my available hours are very limited. Early to bed, early to rise, and work the hours in between. ;)Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-8577466866216495232013-04-11T18:05:09.316-04:002013-04-11T18:05:09.316-04:00A golf-bag like sheath is the way to go. And convi...A golf-bag like sheath is the way to go. And convince your GM to let you use Fast-Draw to get them out. :)Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-38713826429063990062013-04-11T16:08:12.539-04:002013-04-11T16:08:12.539-04:00I've definitely seen the assertions in your la...I've definitely seen the assertions in your last paragraph. The Throwing Axe is good enough to use as a primary melee weapon and a ranged weapon, so carrying two or three of those isn't uncommon if encumbrance allows. <br /><br />I'm not sure what the best course of action is for the spear thrower types. I think I'd like some clips on the inside of my large shield to hook my javelins to...Jason Packerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02240705069654358715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-41356884954398102542013-04-11T12:19:02.398-04:002013-04-11T12:19:02.398-04:00Movement is you defensive tool and players who use...Movement is you defensive tool and players who use 2h weapons should learn the value of mobility like aod:Id, ca:l, combined with grip or form mastery and extra effort feats. With the right practice and planed out Tactics a 2h weapon user can dance with range and strike opportunely think it's a good exercise to just play around with roll20 with another player to form optimal strategies, been wishing someone to take my offer for my own curiosity there is only so much you can think through by yourself. justin aquinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03191474595831304520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-75644152700792859922013-04-11T09:04:40.284-04:002013-04-11T09:04:40.284-04:00That's a good point. Your ranged options are a...That's a good point. Your ranged options are a bit more limited - thrown is probably the best choice, slings next, spells as well if you're a spellcaster (in fact, it's rare in my games for spellcasters to <i>not</i> have shields).<br /><br />The drop-and-draw method is a bit slow, though. Drop - free action. Draw - one turn. Ready to fire is multiple turns, how many depends on the weapon and accessories (such as a crossbow sling in DF), and re-readying from the ground is multiple turns (or some good rolling), during which you can't parry and won't want to retreat. A lanyard makes that better, but as a GM I'd hammer your skill hard for firing a missile weapon with a lanyarded two-handed weapon hanging from your wrist.<br /><br />I find that folks who expect to use missile weapons keep it out, and do this instead:<br />- fire missile weapon, then drop it (free action), then fast-draw new weapon (free action if it works).<br />- Ready shield (1-3 turns, 1 if it's buckler style).<br />- Attack.<br /><br />The "Ready shield" get skipped if they are a two-handed weapon user.<br />In my previous game we decided that the sequence was kind of ridiculous, so we didn't let you Fast-Draw at the end of the turn you fired and dropped. It make for a vulnerability window that made if tricky to try and use your missile weapons at point-blank. But strictly by the RAW, it's fine AFAIK, and it's a good tactic.<br /><br />Thrown weapon guys tend to err on the side of being able to throw a version of their primary weapon. So Axe/Mace dude carries a hatchet out, and can melee with it if necessary, and Spear dude carries a spear or javelin, and no one makes up Knife dude because throwing knives is largely a waste of time.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-90282057456377815002013-04-11T08:21:30.691-04:002013-04-11T08:21:30.691-04:00One thing that you don't cover, but that I hav...One thing that you don't cover, but that I have noticed in my games, is that using a shield limits your ranged weapon options. It takes too long to take off a shield, ready a two-handed ranged weapon, fire it at a target, and put the shield back on. People with shields end up using slings or thrown weapons.<br /><br />The guy with a two-handed weapon just drops it, draws his ranged weapon, fires it, drops the ranged weapon, and picks up his melee weapon again. Much simpler.<br /><br />It's a small point, but it does make a difference in play.Mark Langsdorfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00301984145275679568noreply@blogger.com