>From: "A. K. Berner" <open_micro_at_...>
>Reply-To: HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com
>To: <HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: RE: Digest Number 286
>Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 06:41:26 -0500
>
>Bruce wrote:
>
>And that's not the only time healers have got in there and mixed it in the
>HW
>games and demos I've run:
>
> >* Desperately dodging the blows of an enraged Uroxi, who she is trying to
>talk
> >down from wreaking ill-advised havoc on the Asbornsons. No-one wants a
>feud,
> >after all...
>
>I consider dodging to be a combat related skill. Not something that George
>Clooney would excel at in ER.
>
>
Not only do some healers have that as a skill, anyone could take that.
> >* Facing down angry warriors from the dastardly Black Oak clan who are
>intent
> >on killing one of the clan's young warriors. "If you want him, you'll
>have
>to
> >go through me!"
>
>Bit of an empty threat if she cannot do anything to stop them. But it does
>show how she probably wishes she could.
>
I think the intent was to force them to injure/kill the healer if they
wanted to get to the warriors. Hardly honorable or socialy acceptable.
>
>* Shaming the fyrd into standing firm and keeping the shield wall solid
>against
>the enemy by picking up a discarded shield and joining the line herself.
>
>Yes, RP is obviously a very important part of RPGs. Using a shield well is
>also not as easy as it may seem e.g. see The Deed of Paksenarrion by Moon
>for details.
>
If the purpose was to shame the others into holding the wall, the action is
more symbolic than useful.
>
> >Just because your character can't swing an axe or whatever at someone, it
> >doesn't mean they can't do the action-adventure bit if that's what you're
> >after.
>
>The point is, why not be able to do both? It is not either/or. Even D&D has
>reasonable combat capabilities for clerics and they are still often seen as
>the most boring class to play. Heroes should be extraordinary people with a
>wide range of skills. Self-defense and the ability to use force when needed
>are just too useful in many situations. Combat need not be central to RPGs
>but they seem to always be a part of them in reality.
There is nothing stopping a healer or other ernaldan from taking combat skill, as far as I can see. Maybe the character was a tomboy, or a vengeful widow, or just decided that learning to fight would be a useful skill. Of course, their magic will not generally back it up, but neither does the majority of Orlanth subcults. A healer or steadwife probably has almost as much need for combat skills as a farmer, after all.
On a related note, in TR they mention that in times of great need, even the women join the fyrd. Dosen't that indicate that women should recieve at least occaisional combat lessons? Or do they just act as warm bodies?
Christian
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