Re: Bison vs Impala

From: Kevin Rose <vladt_at_interaccess.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 23:49:54 -0600 (CST)


Simon said:
>
> Impala are superlative jumpers and have the ability to turn on a penny(or
> dime), surely this mobility would give them the advantage over the Bison. In my
> campaign the players were Bison men and were attacked by Impala riders, the
> Impala used their bows to aggrevate the Bison riders into following them, they
> then left via a route, which while easily passable to the Impalas, resulted in
> the death of several good bison mounts.

If you have superior endurance you can pursue someone relentlessly and run them into the ground without having to pursue very closely. Tracking will allow you to do this. The usual way I've seen this mentioned is human hunters running down deer, over a period of hours to days. Wolves do something similar. The pursuer has to be close enough to be a threat, but this could be 10 minutes or a mile or so. The target can't really rest his animals, as your foe is somewhere right behind him.

If the pursuers are able to keep close contact, visual or by tracking, and have greater endurance, he is not going to get away unless he travels through impassable terrain, as happened above. The possiblity that he will head for impassable terrain or do something clever may cause the rash to press the chase, with possible results that your players had.

Of course, he can always lead the pursuers into an ambush. Bison are difficult to kill for impalas, but 600 impala riders can wax 100 bision riders if the bison riders can't manuver effectively. For example, in a steep sided gully with impalas on both long sides.

It is hard to get your foes in this sort of ideal position, as they are not stupid. Not impossible, as Praxian's seem to not use flying allies, which makes a lot of things work similar to earth (Unlike Pent, where they use falcons and eagles. Lots of clever tactics don't work against foes with aerial observation). But getting your foe to walk into your ambush is always harder that it looks. It's terribly embarrasing when the 100 bison riders show up BEHIND you and push your 300 impalas into the gully instead.

Kevin


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