Re: Rules comments

From: glorantha-board_at_rpglist.org <(glorantha-board_at_rpglist.org)>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 08:30:09 -0800


Hi Peter,

> That sounds good. As I read NG 7.4.5, ("all the attacking units must
> be adjacent to at least one defending unit") multihex battles can
> span non-contiguous hexes, which is a departure from DP ("all the
> attacking units must be adjacent to ALL of the defending units")

The change was intended as a clarification, but was based on a misunderstanding. But, there are problems with the DP rule as written as well, in that it needs some clarifications as well.  

> > Basically, I prefer the old DP versions of those
> > rules. I can elaborate if Dieux Nomades is the seen as the basis for
> > the new rules.
>
> For ranged magic, please do, as I don't recall any changes, only some
> clarifications to cover the spirits present in Nomad Gods, which do not
> have a range but otherwise use spirit magic like ranged magic. The two
> rules sets are supposed to be uniform.
>
> My quibble is with NG section 7.4.3: "Any stacks that magicians'
> spirits or agents were committed to attack must be attacked by them
> and at least one adjacent unit."
>
> This sounds to me like ranged spirit and physical magic is not
> allowed without support from close-combat units, i.e. you need a
> "spotter" to bring in the spiritual "artillery."

Dragon Pass 7.4.3: "...magicians' spirits and agents can take part in the attack, but they cannot be the only attacking units."

If they are not the only attacking units, that implies that there MUST be ground troops attacking as well, yes? In other words, _Dragon Pass_ does not allow attacks by spirit or physical magic without support from close-combat units. Maybe that should be changed, but that is how I read the rules now. Nowhere does it allow agents to be used without at least one attacking melee or Chaos magic unit as well.

> I'm guessing the intent was to leave the Dragon Pass rule untouched
> (NG 7.3.3 seems to indicate that) but emphasize that inactive units
> next to active units need to be attacked, and not just by magic, but
> it can be read differently.

How is this interpretation different from the actual rules? I don't see where the conflict is -- you agree that DP requires that magic be supported by ground troops, then say it doesn't. I don't understand the discrepency here.

Ah, unless it all goes back to the confusing Multi-Hex Battle rules in Dragon Pass, which imply something to me that they don't imply to other people. I don't want to get into those issues again right now, but I know they exist.

I would have to check the rules more carefully to be sure which of the following points is being made there (something I do not have time to do right now), but it is likely one of the following:

  1. Attempted clarification of the DP rule and/or removing a perceived loophole in the rules.
  2. "one adjacent unit" was referring to adjacent spirits. That is, magic CAN be the only form of attack in a battle, as long as at least one independent spirit is adjacent to the stack(s) being attacked.
  3. Um, there was a third possibility, but it has slipped my mind. :(

Stephen



The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

Powered by hypermail