Re: Re: Setting Spears

From: Henrix <henrix_at_...>
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 16:41:55 +0200


Ah, Jonas, I think I will have to continue butting heads with you in this matter.

On Sun, 02 Jul 2000, Jonas Schiött wrote:
> >Under the HW rules it is definitely _not_ necessary for it to be two
> >exchanges.
>
> Not necessary, no. But it is the standard, by-the-numbers way of
> resolving combat.

Here is the crux of the matter, the poodle's kernel, so to speak. The reason I and others have accused you of reading RQ into HW.

Where, in HW, do you find anything to support this, that the actor in an exchange is the only one allowed to make a blow? The only thing I can find is that "The actor controls the first exchange" (p.128). This does not, in my eyes, in any way preclude a pre-emptive strike, or a riposte, from the other contestant. In fact (on p. 138) it is stated that the "winner of an exchange may convert 7AP....into a penalty", indicating that not only the actor may wound the opponent.

I understand the alternating between who is the actor in an extended contest as a mere game mechanic. I do not want to be hindered from describing ripostes and preemptive strikes by such an abstract notion. True, it is only the actor, according to Robertson, who gets an edge _or_ handicap from the weapons and armour involved, but still! If the actor loses 15 AP in a bloody combat he gets hurt.

If the actor charges with his horse against the opponent who has set his spear and loses big time, why not let that be the effect of the spear? Why call it an exception? An exception from what? Why not recommend people to use all the flexibility in the system?

Sorry about this exclamation, list, but I really cannot see why preconceptions from other games should influence how anyone plays HW. RQ was a good game, Pendragon is a good game, but none of them are HW. Jonas is of course free to play HW any way he likes, as is anyone else. I do not, actually, think the difference is that great between our playing styles ;-)

Vivant Belli Heroici!

-- 
Henrix

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