I'm going to be brazen enough to disagree with most of the other posters on this topic, at least partially. I think the statement of action presumes the outcome, which is not correct. I think how I would like to think I'd handle the situation would be something like:
Player: "OK, I'm going to ride him down."
Narrator: "Wait a minute, the original objective of the contest was
to see who would cross first. Riding him down means you cross first,
and you haven't won the argument. If you want you can switch to
something like your ride skill, and if you win that means you have
ridden him down, but the nature of the penalty if you lose will
change too."
Player: "OK, so I still want to try and ride him down"
Narrator: "So you are going to attempt to physically cross first.
What skill do you use?"
Player: "Can I use my sword attack and charge him?"
Narrator: "Sure, but given the short distance and narrow confines,
you don't get the augments for your horses `strong' rating, but you
still get it for its `large.' What is your bid? Player 2, what will
you defend with?"
Player 2: "I want to stand up to him, and tell him we'll both end up
in the river."
Narrator: "So, what skill are you using?"
Player 2: "Ummm, could that still be `swear like a trooper' or
maybe `brave?'"
Narrator: "I'll let you get an auto-augment from brave for your
swear if you want."
Player 2: "Great!"
*rolling of dice happens*
case 1) the bid was less than 33 AP and the cavalry officer wins à
trooper's turn
case 2) the bid was greater than 33 AP (desperation stakes) and the cavalry officer wins à cavalry officer wins, may choose to make a parting shot (trample the poor man? Knock him into the river?)
case 3) the bid was less than 8 AP **I wouldn't allow a bid this small for the stated action, suggesting to the player that if they want to bid that low, the action should be more like "I start riding my horse on to the bridge, sword out."** if it goes ahead, no matter what result à trooper's turn
case 4) the bid was greater than 8 AP, trooper wins à trooper wins the contest, may make a parting shot (shatter his ego? Spook his horse? Deflect him into the river?)
case 5) any bid with a tie à trooper's turn.
(other odd cases occur, with high multiple transfers, or both losing AP and ending negative, but they aren't likely)
If it goes on to the trooper's turn, he could choose to continue swearing (I'd give him a negative modifier, given circumstances), spook the horse (I'd let him use infantry soldier key word if he didn't have anything better, since he probably knows about defending against horses), attack the cavalry officer, or whatever. Given the circumstances, it would probably be wise to try and make the cavalry officer defend with his ride ability, not a combat skill, since it wouldn't get the same augments for the horse, but that is up to the players to figure out.
In short, you can change skills in the middle of the contest, but you can't state your new action to over ride the original aim of the contest.
--Bryan
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