Re: AP's and switching in combat

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2000 11:37:21 -0800

> in re: switching skills in combat for munchkin reasons, I've snipped
> Andrew's post, as I basically think it's good and I have nothing to add.
>
> But what about changing skills for good and valid reasons? Even when
> you switch the player bidding, this may happen, and not just for
> ruleslawyering. I'm still not real sure of when you get to reset AP's
> and when not (and why).

You may swao skills at any time during an extended contest (even every exchange if you have something like "Vorpal Sword 18w" and "Unbreakable Shield 18w"). The AP are based on the ability you *start* the contest with, and (usually) don't change due to changing abilities.

> I started writing the example, then I stumbled on a gap in my knowledge
> (not terribly uncommon, I'm afraid).
> Dark Troll is ticked at Oscar and declares an attack with Maul 18w2.
> Oscar fortuitously knows Dark Trollish Scathing Rebuke at 15w, so
> decides with Narrator's ok to use it as a defense. I think that would
> be reasonable.

(As an aside, I wouldn't give Oscar the opportunity to defend with Rebuke, especially not when the troll started the contest, *and* has a mastery extra. I'd suggest he try his scampering off for defense, or face a -20ish improv. penalty.

> So the troll starts at 58 ap, Oscar 35, yes? Troll bids, dice rolled,

Correct

> results applied (say they both lose 5 for some reason). New AP totals
> are 52 and 30.

53, but who's counting? :-)

> If Oscar wants to pursue this, MUST he use Scathing Rebuke for his
> attack? What if he wanted to use Pencil Stab 19? In the next
> exchange, would he attack with the 19 skill, and how many AP? Does he
> get to start with 30 ap since his starting AP amount was that? What if
> DT defends with Impervious Skin 8w3? Is he stuck with the AP total
> from his attack skill, or does he get to reset? Sorry if this is a
> stupid question, but I just tried to sit down and run a combat, and
> didn't get far.

Oscar may now use *any* ability to attack the troll. He still has his 30 AP. The Dark troll still has 53 AP, even if he is now using his Impervious Skin ability.

As long as this contest is going, the AP totals will not reset. If someone joins the contest already in progress he will have his own AP total based on the skill he uses as his first action, while Oscar and the troll will retain their current totals. The AP represent how well the participants are doing in the battle, not how well they can hit their opponents.

Roderick