I'd love to run a Classic Fantasy/Mythras game here but I don't see how to do the combat system without dragging combat out forever. Has anyone done so, thought about how to do so or come to the same conclusion?

Combat is pretty amazing in a face-to-face environment but the nature of PbP would seem to drain all that out. Remedies?
This message was last updated by a moderator, as it was the wrong forum, at 18:29, Sun 23 Apr 2017.

Have people post five or six for each round with their statement of intent. Use the rolls in order as you need. Post a round summary/resolution at the end of each round describing what happened. And, most important, set a 24 hour time limit on posting combat action for each round.

I'm not a RQ6 user, but in one of my campaigns I'm using a standardized format for posting combat actions.  It looks something like this:


=========================================================================
       Turn No.: {Which turn in this Combat Encounter is it?}
      Combatant: {Name of Character}
     Initiative: {Dice rolled per RPoL Roller}
=========================================================================
1st      Action: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
1st      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
1st Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable.  Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
1st Task  Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================
2nd     Action*: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
2nd      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
2nd Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable.  Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
2nd Task  Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================
3rd    Action**: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
3rd      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
3rd Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable.  Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
3rd Task  Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================


As can be seen, this makes it clear what information is required to conduct combat in my system.  Players copy, paste, then edit in their info for the turn.  I take these, along with any descriptive info about the action, and place them in order of initiative and resolve the results, posting back the outcomes.

(Second and Third actions are only optional for characters whose Initiative throws are high enough.  Initiative proceeds from high to low, counting down the segments in a given combat round.)

Something similar, in which your players might post the minimum essential info needed to conduct combat in a readily recognizable format, might save time for you.

Nice. Thank you. I have a similar thing that I try to use that is pretty common in T2K games where people can post likely actions and such. But RQ has the "Effect" mechanics that can change depending on the # of Effects and such. I suppose just stick with posting what Effect they would like to go for...

(Do you mind rmailing me the text of that outline? I can't see the coding.)

In reply to Kilgs (msg # 4):

Sure.  Let me pull that up in edit mode for a bit...

Here ya go:


<b><Mono>
=========================================================================
Turn No.: {Which turn in this Combat Encounter is it?}
Combatant: {Name of Character}
Initiative: {Dice rolled per RPoL Roller}
=========================================================================
1st      Action: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
1st      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
1st Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
1st  Task Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================
2nd     Action*: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
2nd      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
2nd Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
2nd  Task Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================
3rd    Action**: {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
3rd      Target: {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
3rd Weapon/Ammo: {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
3rd  Task Throw: {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
=========================================================================
</Mono></b>

*Initiative = 10 or 11: Optional Second Action takes place two segments after the first at a Task Throw penalty -2 in addition to any other applicable DMs.

**Initiative = 12+: Optional Third Action takes place two segments after the second at a Task Throw penalty -4 in addition to any other applicable DMs.


As you can see, it's nothing fancy, just a template the player cuts to fit (removing actions not taken) then edits to declare their action(s) for the particular combat round.  I tend to use Bold Monotype for tables, templates, and such, not being an HTML wonk (yet).  I'm sure something more sophisticated could be put together by some of the more advanced coders here.

You'll probably have to tweak spacings some as the code tags seem to have mangled things a bit.

If the Effects mechanic has a well-structured behavior it should be simple to adapt this concept to serve in your present sphere of interest.

Good Hunting,
D

Much obliged!

You could also cheat and do Ez tables


|!3 |
|!2> Turn No.:          | {Which turn in this Combat Encounter is it?}
|!2> Combatant:         | {Name of Character}
|!2> Initiative:        | {Dice rolled per RPoL Roller}
|!3 |
|! 1st |!> Action:      | {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
|! 1st |!> Target:      | {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
|! 1st |!> Weapon/Ammo: | {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
|! 1st |!> Task Throw:  | {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
|!3 |
|! 2nd |!> Action*:     | {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
|! 2nd |!> Target:      | {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
|! 2nd |!> Weapon/Ammo: | {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
|! 2nd |!> Task Throw:  | {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
|!3 |
|! 3rd |!> Action**:    | {Prepare, Attack, Called Shot (-2), Defend, Evade, HOLD}
|! 3rd |!> Target:      | {Who are ye whackin' this time?}
|! 3rd |!> Weapon/Ammo: | {if applicable. Specify HTH for hand-to-hand.}
|! 3rd |!> Task Throw:  | {2d6 + DMs as directed.}
|!3 |

Thank you, swordchucks.  I took the liberty of clipping your code and will put it in front of my players for review.

The reason I used plain-text is that it is easily readable by a human being, and since it was going to be sliced and diced rather often (depending on how many actions a character might or might not take), I kept it simple, but your version definitely looks neater in a message.

Thanks Again,
D

Before easy tables, there was no contest on plain text vs. table readability (and it went to plain text).  With them, if you keep it fairly simple, they aren't too far off each other.

In reply to swordchucks (msg # 9):

I put it to work tonight in a playtest I'm doing with one of my new players while we wait for some old events to be wrapped up.  It worked quite well.  Thanks Again.