Scripting a Joust

[Paka]

How would one go about it?

I am just not even sure where to start.

One could just do it as a vs. lance test linked with a horsemanship roll.

Obstacle to unseat is the opponents Riding skill?

Thoughts?

[Mickeroo]

I would just go by the book, specifically page 241-248.

I admit, I haven't read it all, because no one plans on using a horse too much in my game, but it looks like they have all the rules for mounted combat.

[Paka]

Maybe the first two exhcnages are spent charging and the third is where the horses cross.

Traditional Choices:

Strike: But you are putting your shield down and relying on just your horsemanship.

Block: but you are turtling up and letting your lance waver away from your opponent.

Counterstrike: You put some in your block and some in your strike.

Thoughts?

[Paka]

I would just go by the book, specifically page 241-248.

I admit, I haven't read it all, because no one plans on using a horse too much in my game, but it looks like they have all the rules for mounted combat.

Shit, I think that's a part I haven't read yet.

Thanks.

Duh.

[Viper]

Yeah, the rules for lance-to lance combat are on page 246. The only thing I would do differently for a joust is this: since tournament jousters used blunted lances that were not designed to pierce armor or do serious damage, I would disregard the strike damage from the blow, and simply use the push mechanic as described. If a combatant is unhorsed, however, I'd do the throw damage as normal.

[luke]

Yeah, the rules for lance-to lance combat are on page 246. The only thing I would do differently for a joust is this: since tournament jousters used blunted lances that were not designed to pierce armor or do serious damage, I would disregard the strike damage from the blow, and simply use the push mechanic as described. If a combatant is unhorsed, however, I'd do the throw damage as normal.

people died in Jousts all the time. For tournament lances use Power 2, VA 1 weapons.

-L

[Kublai]

We tried to hold a joust during the 555 party. It was not exactly a success. Using the positioning rules in the book didn't capture the feel really.

Basically, whoever won the positioning test BLASTED the other off his horse every time. Even with the +1 Ob for Closing and a +1 Ob for cover from the knight's shield, it was easy to get 4 or 5 successes over when you are charging on horseback in aggressive stance with stirrups and a lance! Most ND to resist the charge was only Power 4, which meant two successes on average, which meant the knight went flying! Weeeeeeeeee!

I used throwing rules for damage when the knight ate turf.

We tried a variation using no positioning rules and simply went Block and Strike versus Block and Strike. That had more even results.

[Thor Olavsrud]

We tried a variation using no positioning rules and simply went Block and Strike versus Block and Strike. That had more even results.

I'm pretty sure we were doing it wrong. You roll for closing. Both of you divide your dice into attack and defense (assuming you have a shield and Shield Training). Whoever won the positioning test gets to roll his attack first. Other guy rolls his defense. If he is killed or knocked to the ground, he doesn't get his attack. If he stays on his horse, he does.

[luke]

this is prolly my fault, but you guys weren't doing it right at all.

You wanted to do a tilt or joust, which is not what is described in the book. A tilt is a carefully constructed game. Both riders are timed to hit each other at the same time with relatively the same force. There's no danger of the horses colliding as there is a barrier between them.

In a situation like this, you should consider every positioning test a tie. Both riders Strike simultaneously. You may not strike against your opponent's mounth. Each pass is scored based on the location of the blow, the force of the blow and whether or not your opponent was unseated or unhorsed.

The rules in the book describe actual lance combat in the field. You know, out maneuvering your opponent and then charging him from the flank. It was terribly effective.

-L

[Kublai]

Ah! I had an inkling such was your intent.

So basically, Thor and I were doing it correctly there for a little bit. Simultaneous Block and Strikes.

I gave 1 point for tagging the opponent's body.
I gave 2 points for a tag to the head of your opponent.
I gave 3 points for dismounting your opponent.

Points are not cumulative. Should you hit your opponent in the head and topple him from his horse, that's still only 3 pts.

Damage is still taken as per a throw, plus any punctured armor caused with Abzu's tilting lance damage as described above.

I totally should've disqualified Raemos for striking the body of his opponent's horse. Although it was his Instinct, it was in very bad form, eh, wot!

[Yagathai]

That was me, actually.