On Thu, 30 Nov 2000, Gareth Martin wrote:
>
> I have just spent last night looking for rules for surprise and ambushes
> woihtout success. Are the y missing or am I just stoopid?
>
Definately not stupid - most of us have sat with the rule book going "I'm
sure it was in here somewhere..."
> The issue here is, what happens when one side starts a contest that the
> other side does not even know they are in?
>
Can't think of any rules off the top of my head. However, there are two
obvious options.
- The ambushers start a contest of their ambush/close combat/ranged
combat (as they choose) ability against the opponents avoid ambush/spot
hidden/acute hearing, and you then switch to appropriate target numbers
after the first round. This will tend to reduce the number of APs the
ambushees have, as their avoid ambush skill is likely to be below their
combat skill.
- Run a simple contest of ambush vs. avoid ambush/spot hidden/acute
hearing/whatever. If the ambushers win the ambushees get a penalty to
their initial combat skill - maybe -3 for a marginal, -5 for a minor and
-8 for a major victory. Under this I'd be tempted to allow a complete
victory mean the loser is defeated before they can take any other
action.
I think I prefer the second option. Its outcomes should tend to reflect
the skill of the ambusher.
Cheers,
Graham
--
Graham Robinson The Stable Yard - Internet Solutions
gjr_at_... http://www.thestableyard.net