Whats the point in Lightsaber damage mods..

[atgxtg]

Whill, even allowing for your two cases, Vader's cybernetics and Qui-Gons Mortal Wound (I think he lasted more than 12 rounds, Lucas must use the STR roll instead of 2D), there are all the other battles.

To me, it looks like lightsabers only get to do full damage when they are used against a target who cannot block the attack. If the opponent can block (has a lightsaber or electrostaff) then the hits seem to be mitigated somewhat.

If run "by the book" Luke probably would have defeated Vader at Bespin with that "glancing hit".

Lightsaber Combat, is, IMO one of the letdowns of the RPG. Lightsaber duels, rather than being epic fights, going back and forth, moving around the terrain, with a lot of flashy swordplay, as in the films, are short, deadly, and not very interesting. Most are over in a round of two. He who hits first, wins.





.

[ZzaphodD]

The problem is that we have a blade that fluff-wise cuts through anything, so if you hit just the earlobe only the earlobe is lost. Rules-wise it always hits full body hits though...

The same can be said for heavy blasters and other ranged weapons.

Its the drawback of a 'simple' system.

I can recommend Phoenix Command for a realistic damage system for firearms (can be modified for energy weapons). If you buy a certain supplement you can even see where in the body the bullet stops (if it doesnt go straight through)....
However, its a game played in two second rounds that has the speed of a one legged snail and as much fun.

Anyone coming up with a 'simple' system for damage modifications, please let me know. One idea is to make the 'wild die' in damage instead of modifying the damage roll (which means little when damage is 10D) instead put a 'cap' on damage. Ie, if the wild die is a 1, then maximum damage is 'stunned', if a 2 maximum wound level is 'wounded'. This represents a glancing blow and a hit to a non vital area..

[Ankhanu]

[ZzaphodD]

[Ankhanu]

Play a few more games
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[jmanski]

Well, there are countless punches, kicks, and other brawling attacks during lightsaber fights. I know these are generally considered "brawling attacks", but I see them as low damage lightsaber hits.

Why would you brawl against someone weilding a lightsaber when their parry can cut off your limb?
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Blasted rules. Why can't they just be perfect?

[atgxtg]

[Ankhanu]

[Raven Redstar]

In my games I've been trying to make lightsaber dueling a little more interesting, by adding in special maneuvers, this also equates to both player Jedi, and NPCs having to be a little more balanced than just a high lightsaber skill, with high control and sense. In my games, I allow my players to make a lightsaber roll, to successfully perform a brawling attack. Now, regardless of how high the lightsaber roll is, what it effectively does is allows the attacker to keep his opponent's lightsaber busy, while he moves in for a kick, elbow, headbutt, punch, ect... I adopted the system with some minor tweaks from the Lightsabers.pdf. I'm not sure if anyone else has it. But, I turned the various lightsaber forms into (A) Lightsaber skills, each 1D the form is raised, a new technique is learned, and each 1D the standard lightsaber skill is progressed, a basic technique is learned. I don't have a hard copy of it, but I can see about posting it in a separate forum.

I personally got tired of lightsaber contests equating to a bucket of dice contest. With this, hopefully even a less skilled fighter can use his surroundings, and some clever ideas to overcome a superior foe. That's the theory of course. I haven't however had much of a chance to play test it.

[atgxtg]

[Raven Redstar]

I don't know if it will make lightsaber fights more complex. But, I do think that it will give the players, and NPCs a fighting chance at forming their own "style" of fighting. Not everyone is of the opinion that I'm going to hack my opponent down, and instead of discouraging players from trying to come up with their own cinematic ideas on how they're going to attack by penalizing them with multiple action penalties, and perhaps loss of limbs. This makes it more like an actual fight.

I've done my best to try and make Jedi games interesting with flavor in duels, the only problem is, some players don't like having outcomes thrown their way that were never intended, simply by liberty of the GM's authority. I'm hoping that this system, which could also be applied to standard melee combat, could make for much more interesting, knock down, drag out fights. Hopefully which are more realistic and cinematic.

[ZzaphodD]

[Ankhanu]

[ZzaphodD]

[atgxtg]