Combat Rules (144)

Combat Turn Sequence (144)

1. Roll initiative (Reaction + Intuition, successes add to total)
2. First initiative pass
3. Do what you want to. No delaying actions. Don't act? Don't do anything.
4. Resolve next character, etc, in decreasing initiative order.
5. Repeat 2-4 for all characters that get another initiative pass, until no one has more initiative passes.
6. New combat turn.

Standard Edge rules apply. Wound modifiers affect initiative. Exceptions are annoying.

Actions (146)

Characters get 1 action per initiative pass. The only "free" action is speak/text (146) . This has repercussions... Aiming takes a whole initiative pass. Single Shot weapons still get one shot, Semi Auto still get two, and automatics can fire all the way up to their max mode (BF, FA, Suppressing fire)

Movement (148)

Movement is done in Theater Of The Mind. We don't keep track of exact positioning. Use common sense.

If someone is attempting to run to get into position, do a running test with net hits needed by GM fiat.

If there is a foot chase, handle as an opposed extended test with threshold 6, or GM fiat. Give dwarves -2 vs. other metahumans. Give Trolls +2 vs. other metahumans. Life is unfair.

Resolving Combat (149)

1. Declare attack
2. Apply situational modifiers to both attacker and defender. Remember, all modifiers are +/- 2 for simplicity. Stack as needed.
3. Make the opposed test.
   • Melee: (Skill + Agility) vs. (Skill+ Reaction) Skill can be weapon, unarmed, or dodge, depending. Add Dodge if on full defense)
   • Ranged: (Skill + Agility) vs. (Reaction) Add Dodge if on full defense)
4. Add net hits to DV.
5. Damage resistance test
   • Attribute + Armor (if applicable). Hits reduce DV. Houserule, you always take at least 1 stun damage from attacks. You can't soak everything.
6. Apply damage

Misc Combat Considerations

Range modifiers are simplified to -2 for medium, -4 for long, -6 for extreme, in keeping with the +/-2 rule.

Laser sights still grant +1. They still have problems with smoke, rain, etc. I don't like that this is an exception to the +/-2 rule, but... smartguns should be better than laser sights.

Using two weapons still splits your dice pool.

All the various penalties or bonuses should keep to the +/-2 rule, stacking if needed. This should mirror the spirit of the original rules, if not the letter, but is easier to remember.

You can only attack one target per initiative pass.

Recoil is as per standard rules, but can be greatly simplified as "Every extra bullet past the first gives -1 to attack." Since you only get one attack per initiative pass anyway, it doesn't really matter. Just state how many bullets you want to shoot, up to 10.

Treat all bursts as Wide bursts(153, each additional bullet is -1 die for defender and -1 die for attacker due to recoil).

Suppressive Fire(154) rules are kept. (20 bullets. Agility + Skill. Record net hits. Anyone in the area not under cover rolls Reaction + Edge with threshold of net hits. Fail and they take standard DV of weapon.)

Shotguns fire slugs and there's no need for choke rules.

Called shots can be done with a -2 modifier, or per GM fiat.

A character can still go Full Defense(160). They don't get to attack, but get to use their Dodge skill added to their defense rolls. They cannot use Gymnastics. Backflips don't magically make bullets miss.

Wound modifiers (163) still exist. For every 3 points of damage, a character has -1 to their actions.

Knockdown rules (161) are still in effect. If you take more damage than your Body, you are knocked down. Ammo types that cause knockdown (gel, stick n shock) give you a -2 on your body for this check.

Encumbrance (161): If one is wearing armor higher than Body + Strength, they are encumbered and take -2 to all actions, or more per GM fiat.

Subdual/wrestling (161) is treated as an extended opposed test. Whoever has more net hits, succeeds in grappling the other.

A character still goes unconscious if either physical or stun tracks fill up. (163)

Dead Man's Trigger (163) always works. Why not?

Ambushing rules are by GM fiat. Grant +2 die bonuses to initiative.

Surprise (165) tests are no longer A Thing. If you don't know about the other person because you failed to perceive them, they get a free action. Roll initiative after that.

Reach (158) is a modifier to the NPC’s dice pool only.

Special Damage(163)

Special damage types (acid, cold, electricity, etc) are resisted with full armor. Exceptions are annoying.

• Acid effects are by GM fiat. Suggested to do DV for 2 more turns, destroy armor.
• Cold effects are by GM fiat. Suggest? It really hasn't come up, honestly.
• Electricity damage forces a knockdown test at -2, gives -2 dice due to disorientation until the character can rest. GM fiat otherwise.
• Falling damage is 1DV per meter or GM fiat.
• Fire damage is by GM fiat. Suggest catching fire if sensible, X damage per turn until put out.

Barriers (166)

Barrier structure and armor ratings (166) are combined into "Structure" ratings. Just use the armor rating given in the book. Close enough. Rules for shooting through barriers and destroying barriers remain the same.

Vehicle Combat (167)

Vehicle Combat has always been a bit of a mess. Preserve the separation between tactical and chase combat (167), but redo the chase combat rules.

Chase Combat is now an extended opposed test. This is basically what it was anyway.

• Modifiers are applied for differences in speed and handling, per GM fiat. Use rule of +/-2.
• Net hits are accumulated.
• Threshold is 6, or GM fiat.
  • Example: Alice is chasing Bob, Bob is trying to lose Alice. Bob’s car is faster (+2) and handles better(+2). They roll their appropriate vehicle skill+reaction, Bob obviously gets far more hits. They continue until Bob gets 6 net hits, then he gets away.
  • If Alice has other cars helping her, add bonuses as per Teamwork tests.
  • If Bob stops trying to get away and starts to try to crash Alice, start a new extended opposed test, with appropriate modifiers. Bob is no longer trying to get away, so that test is abandoned.
  • If Alice is trying to get away and Bob is trying to crash Alice, then it's a race to meet the threshold, with neither reducing net hits from the other.
  • Use common sense and GM fiat.
  • Passengers can take normal actions and initiative passes (shooting out a window, etc) each chase combat turn.
  • Drivers/Pilots with multiple initiative passes may use them each chase combat turn, either to increase their net hits or to fire vehicle weapons.

Damage to occupants from Ramming/Crashing is now 12S for anyone buckled in, 12P for anyone not buckled in. This is not realistic. It is, however, much simpler. Adjust the DV down (6ish) or up (18ish) for significantly slower/faster speeds or larger/smaller vehicles.

Damage to vehicles from Ramming/Crashing is now 12P.

Targeting (171) is quietly ignored.

Explosions

Scatter is by GM fiat.

Explosion damage reduction with distance is by GM fiat.

Grenades go off at the end of the combat turn. That's not realistic. It is simpler.

House Rules

Uh. Just about everything in the combat section is a house rule, but attempts to keep the spirit of the normal rules. Just simpler. So we're not labeling the entire thing a houserule, though the argument could be made.

Still, we have some things that are just not in the spirit of the original rules.

• you always take at least 1 stun damage from attacks. You can't soak everything. This also makes large groups more dangerous.
• To speed combat up further, dice from steps 3 and 6 of Resolving Combat (149) can be combined into one roll. This is recommended for NPCs who will likely drop out of combat in one hit anyway (Guards/grunts don't get paid enough to die for a cause).