Basics of combat: A combat round is 15 seconds and is broken down by the number of attacks/actions the combatants hsve. Each combatant starts with 1 attack which is modified by skills like HTH and boxing if you have ANY HTH you start with 2 attacks plus those gained from skills. For melee combat, each combatant rolls initiative which is a D20 + any modifiers the character may have. starting with the highest initiative the combatants state their attack/action then rolls appropriately. An attack roll is a D20 plus Strike bonuses appropriate for that attack, a physical attack with no weapons just adds your strike bonus (which is derived from your PP bonus if any and skills like HTH), if using a weapon you have a WP skill for you add any appropriate bonuses. To hit you must roll a 5 or higher with bonuses. (natural 1 is a critical failure and always misses no matter how much you have in bonuses). A natural 20 is a critical hit and does double damage. Now the Defender declares any defensive action. Parry, Dodge, Entangle, Simultaneous attack . A Parry is a free action if you have a HTH skill (if no HTH then counts as 1 attack/action) and adds bonuses from PP and skills (including WP if using appropriate one). The defender rolls a D20 plus bonuses and must score Equal to or Higher than the Attack roll. A natural 20 always succeeds and if the attack was a natural 20 also defender does parry. A success means the defender knocks the attack away missing them completely, no damage is taken. If fail the attacker succeeds in the attack. A dodge is similar to Parry but counts as one of your attacks The combatants moves away from the attack, sidestepping, rolling out of way, etc... Again your dodge is based on PP bonus, Spd bonus and skills. Entangle means the character actually pins or snares an opponent's weapons or arm. This is done instead of parrying or dodging and takes up one attack per melee. An entangle is successful if the defender rolls above the attacker's strike roll. It takes one attack and a roll to entangle to keep an opponent's arm or weapon entangled every melee round. In order to get free, the entangled opponent must roll a dodge against the entangle roll. Simultaneous Attack: Instead of defending with a parry, dodge or entangle, a character can choose to do a simultaneous attack. In this case, the character does not defend ("go ahead, hit me, I can take it!") and simply attack in response. The advantage of simultaneous attack is that neither opponent can parry, dodge or entangle. In all probability both will take damage. Exception: An opponent with paired weapons can engage in simultaneous attack (with one weapon) AND parry (with the other), OR both the paired weapons can be used to strike with NO parry. If the attack succeeds and is a blunt attack (fists, kicks, clubs, etc) the defender has the option to roll with the punch. This counts as an attack and is a D20 plus any bonuses from skills, and if rolls equal to or higher than the attack roll you will take half damage. This can also be used to reduce the damage from falls with the number to beat being 14. If the attack succeeds the Attacker rolls damage. Damage is based on what weapon/hand was used and add your PS bonus if any. The defender applies the damage to their SDC, if all SDC is used apply remaining damage to Hit Points. Now the next combatant in initiative does their action if they have any attacks left and continues until allo attacks are used. Now some animals have a Natural AR rating, any attacks made below that number just bounce off doing no damage. You can also obtain armor to wear which provides an AR rating, again any successful hit that falls below the AR rating hit the armor. Unlike natural armor artificial armor has SDC and any hits to the armor reduces that SDC. When all SDC of armor is gone the damage goes to the combatant and the armor is destroyed. There is ranged combat as well but are there any questions?
