Scripting Questions

[manveru]

Ahoy,

Sounds like a blast! Is there any chance that you or other playtesters might be willing to post some Exchanges up here for newbies like me to gander? BW seems to strike a very interesting and fairly open ended balance between quantitative and qualitative mechanics. I'm thinking that the more illustration that can be provided the better.

I've only had the game since this past weekend. But some things stand out to me as potential slipping ground for Narrators, such as adjudicating movement across Volleys.

Best,

Manveru

[luke]

Is there any chance that you or other playtesters might be willing to post some Exchanges up here for newbies like me to gander?

Well, I looked over what I have from last weekend and it is just too confused and chaotic to be any good for the purposes of example. (I am also missing one of the character's scripts.) But I will make sure I keep better records of our next play test and post the scripts for all to see.

As far as movement during the volley goes: Remember a character can and should act, move and speak. Movement takes the whole volley (about 1 second). Actions and speech happen as the character is moving. Thus, I may Jog and go into Defensive Stance and Counterstrike while shouting a warning, "Look out!". It is important not to get too rigid with BW movement. Sometimes characters will need to act at the end of their movement, sometimes at the head. That's okay, so long as the pay the movement obstacle penalties for their action.

more soon,
-abzu

[manveru]

Ok. But it's still confusing to me with regard to adjudicating the relationships and impact of scripted actions and movement. For example, if Character A and B both have a SPD of B3, Character A scripts an Avoid and a Dash for a given volley (trying to run away) and Character B (in striking range, within 2 paces, at the beginning of the Volley) scripts a Strike against Character A, would B's Strike against A be affected by:

1) Character A & B's movement that occured in the preceding Volley/Exchange.

Or

2) Character A & B's movement scripted for the current Volley

Or

3) Both 1 & 2.

Or

4) Depends ;-)

Best,

Manveru

[manveru]

Also, in the example above:

1) Would Character B be required to also script a Dash (or some other) move action in order to have a chance to strike A?

2) If B chooses to Dash in the opposite direction as A for this volley(perhaps he's getting off a final shot before fleeing), and A is still Avoiding and Dashing away, would B be able to Strike A in this Volley?

3) What if A and B start out the Volley out of striking range (let's say 4 paces), but their movement in that volley places them within 2 paces at the end of the volley. Would B be able to strike A in this volley?

4) Depends ;-)

I think I'm trying to determine how placement and movement are factored in during the resolution of a Volley.

Thanks,

Manveru

[luke]

Remember, everything happens at the same time.

Let me split your examples:

If two characters are squaring off and one Avoids while the other Strikes, then the Avoid is rolled against the Strike.

Avoiding always requires a retreating dash move, so in the process of getting out of the way the character is driven back a bit.

Now if two characters are squaring off in striking distance of each other and one scripts Assess, Dash (away) while the other scripts Strike and stand ground, THEN the first character moves away at his Jog PPV and the second character strikes him as he goes, but he gets an Obstacle modifier because his opponent is moving quickly. (Usually just a +1 Ob).

If two characters script Strike, Dash (away) and Strike, Dash (away) then they both Strike at the same time (as they are moving away from each other) and both suffer a penalty from their own movement and their opponent's movement (usually a +2 Ob, sometimes faster characters can give higher movement penalties to their opponents). If the GM was really mean, or saw a good reason to, he might also invoke the Lunging penalty on the characters as well.

Does this help?

[manveru]

Makes much more sense, thanks.

[mike_ravenwood]

If A stands groud and STRIKES while B AVOIDS (with the associated Dash movement) does the Dash Modifier apply for A.

Eg. A strikes and rolls 4 successes, B avoids and rolls 3. Is this a miss or a hit?

[luke]

It's a hit.

Since Avoid requires a Dash move, the +1 Ob movement penalty is ignored in favor of the potential extra successes of the character's Speed test.

Avoiding is a Versus Test (Strike versus Speed). The higher successes wins. In this case, the Striker hits.

However since the character is Jog/Dashing in the Volley, any other actions taken are at the Jog penalty of +1 Ob for the Jogger and at the 1/4 Speed Penalty for the attacker (Usually just a +1 Ob, too).

-abzu

[eruditus]

Can a player declare that she is striking AFTER her move? Can a Strike happen anywhere along one's movement? Or does it only happen at the point before the movement starts?

Another scenario -

A and B are eight paces from one another and both have 2/4/6 movements.

A Avoids and Dashes away while B Strike and Dashes - is B in range to make a melee shot? At what Ob?

Or
Same setup but A and B want to run toward one another and both script Strike-Dash. Do they have range to strike and at what Ob of they do.

[luke]

Can a Strike happen anywhere along one's movement?

Yes, a Strike (or any martial move, really) can happen anywhere along a move. Technically, actions happen "during" movement. You know, "somewhere along the line." Since that is a very strict and technical definition, i tend to allow players to choose where they act along their movements. Never had any real trouble with it. If a player likes to sprint and then strike a lot, impose an additional +1 Ob Lunging penalty to simulate overextension. Base Ob 6
Strikes ought to keep them in their place! Even a Dashing Lunge-Strike is difficult at Ob 3.


A and B are eight paces from one another and both have 2/4/6 movements.
A Avoids and Dashes away while B Strike and Dashes - is B in range to make a melee shot? At what Ob?

No Strike is possible. Two bodies moving at the same rate stay the same distance apart. In this case that is 8p and just about out of range for every weapon out there.


Same setup but A and B want to run toward one another and both script Strike-Dash. Do they have range to strike and at what Ob of they do.

Yes, they may strike. Both come into striking distance (which is 2p assuming swords or axes) well within this volley of movement. Strike Ob would be 3: Base 1, +1 Attacker Dashing, +1 for Target Dashing.

Remember, everying in the BW Script happens at the same time!

[eruditus]

Remember, everying in the BW Script happens at the same time!

okay, you keep saying this. now its time just for me to be contrary...

If this were true then the first scenario should have contact as well. If "Everything" happens at the same time and you may make your strike anywhere along the movement line then B's movement track is only 2p from A's movement track so B should be able to make a roll against A. Of course the problem here is that the "Everything happens at the same" time develops several paradoxical issues such as B existing anywhere along a 6 pace span in the same second as A is existing along his own 6 pace span all in the same second.

And don't give me that "its common sense" thing here :) Common sense has nothing to do with it. If all we needed were common sence then we almost wouldn't need rules (or 'this is a game' disclaimer for that matter). There are some pretty stupid GMs out there (although in defense I do recall a review referring to the game for "advanced gamers"). Common sense aside, wouldn't it be prudent to have a consistent framework? Saying that a strike CAN be made anywhere along your pace range hitting anything else that moved along its own pace range and coming within striking distance. Or saying that you have to declare when your action happens along your movement? Something that dilinates how it all works mechanically instead of intuitively. Gamer intuition often gets bogged down by the ability to manipulate rules.

Again, this is me being contrary :) I just think that if your going to have a set of rules that cover so many complex possibilities, it would be a grand idea to contemplate some of the mechanical holes :)

Then again I suppose its perfectly reasonable to claim "if your too stupid to adjudicate these rules effectivly without being overrun by power-geeking then you don't deserve to be a GM" :lol:

[obatron]

Ran our first session, lots of questions, I'll searched the forum but didn't find anything quite answering it...and I couldn't find it in the book, but I'm a little "fried" from all my player's questions...

If I script a Strike and a Walk on Volley 1, and the Orc scripts a Strike (no movement) does this mean I walk past him, or away or whatever?)

If you script walk in Volley 1, it sounds like you continue walking in Volley 2 and 3 unless you change speeds, or if you don't script the movement, do you stop?

Bob

[Kublai]

Ran our first session, lots of questions, I'll searched the forum but didn't find anything quite answering it...and I couldn't find it in the book, but I'm a little "fried" from all my player's questions...

Congratulations! The first time can be a little daunting for anyone as there are lots of new things to remember.


If I script a Strike and a Walk on Volley 1, and the Orc scripts a Strike (no movement) does this mean I walk past him, or away or whatever?)

Yes, you can move 1 pace away putting you at Lunge range, which will give you both a +1 Ob to strike each other. Or you can saw I walk a pace to his side with no effects to Obstacle.


If you script walk in Volley 1, it sounds like you continue walking in Volley 2 and 3 unless you change speeds, or if you don't script the movement, do you stop?

Movement does not continue across the volleys unless it is scripted. So, you would need to somehow indicate you are continuing your walk or you are stopping. I handle blank movements as not moving at all.[/quote]

[obatron]

Thanks!

So a person could script a conditional movement then? For example, standing just outside the hole in the wall in the farmhouse, I script, "I'm going to sprint through the hole in the wall in the farmhouse unless I see any humanoid figures. In which case I stop in the doorway."





Congratulations! The first time can be a little daunting for anyone as there are lots of new things to remember.

Yes, you can move 1 pace away putting you at Lunge range, which will give you both a +1 Ob to strike each other. Or you can saw I walk a pace to his side with no effects to Obstacle.


Movement does not continue across the volleys unless it is scripted. So, you would need to somehow indicate you are continuing your walk or you are stopping. I handle blank movements as not moving at all.

[luke]

No.

If a player scripts, "Sprint through the hole", and he announced that action, he may not forfeit or set any conditions. He committed to the action.

He may, on the other hand, script: V1 Assess, V2 Charge/Sprint, V3 Assess.

If on V1 he sees figures in the hole, then he may Forfiet his last action to change his second action to something like: "Hide from the scary people."

Once you have announced an action, you're committed to it.

-L

[eruditus]

Although, as its been discussed here, its really up to your GM to force your movement. In the strictest sense what your scripting is what your penalties will be for that type of movement. However, the actual distance is not compulsory as any game with abzu would flesh out :wink:

I have seen many situations where movement is scripted and the full amount of that movement is not taken. Its up to the GM to take the idea of momentum to its logical conclusion.