[Discussion] Combat automation with generic use.

So it occured to me today, with all the new toys happening on Roll20 for the api and new sheetworkers and so forth... There seems to be a lack of combat automation?  The last time I ever saw any effort towards such a thing was by Alex L. And 4th edition d&d As well as HERO. I was wondering why there has never been much support or effort towards such things? Such as just basic attack vs defense, is value higher? Do damage, if not do not. Is this because of the sheer work it requires or its interaction with character sheets isn't favourable?  Ideally a system agnostic script would be nice but this seems a few steps away currently.

It's partially because there are so many different systems out there with different methods of task/attack resolution. Just look at 5e with attack vs ac, save vs dc, damage dealt, resisted, immune, etc. It's a very big task.

Yes, system agnostic combat automation is basically impossible. Consider, for example, any version of D&D compared to Fate, and then compare those to Nobilis.

Not to mention it starts becoming more like a video game.  ;-P Don't get me wrong, I love to leverage the API to help me with my games.