A few comments: first, let's be honest, a lance isn't any more inherently damaging than a pike or (light lance) a long spear. The employment of the weapon is what makes it ferocious.<div><br></div><div>- I give people moving into combat a +damage equal to their current straightline moverate, to a max of the damage of the weapon. I.e. a 1d3 knife (up to 3 points) can't benefit as much as a d8 sword (up to 8). Of course, if you get this bonus, you have the 'charging' restriction, ie only 1 combat action. This makes being charged by anything particularly nasty. Two charging opponents (as long as their vectors are opposite) both add both their bonuses. (charging at someone at right angles, you get yours and none of his, etc. it's rough and quick-calculated)</div>
<div>- the other benefit is tactical - i give long spears and pikes 2- and 3-hex 'reach' (we use a battlemat). This means, at best, non-pike-armed foot are going to have to take the impact and effect of the charge, before getting to reply. That's HUGE. (Further, only a moron would charge an unarmored horse into ready foot; the aside from having to 'take' the first blow, that footman is not going to have an easy go against an angry, barded warhorse)</div>
<div>- the other consequence of reach is the enpassant attack: your initiative, you move (3) to your spot. From at least 6 hexes away (you can't touch me), I go 'gallop gallop' past you, but always staying at least one hex away, and poking you as I pass. As I hit you, I veer away, ending up 5+ hexes away - even if you get initiative, you cannot reach me to close with me, I just ride back out of reach and line up the next pass. Short of longspears of your own or pikes, you can't harm me if I'm careful.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Personally, I think that's plenty without editing the damage of the Lance?<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 10:19 AM, Brian Houle <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:houle.brian@gmail.com">houle.brian@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 10:35 AM, Trevor Ellis <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:trevor.ellis@pobox.com" target="_blank">trevor.ellis@pobox.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-GB" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div><p class="MsoNormal">In our group we would like for a charging horseman to be really frightening – but under RQ2/RQ3 rules it really is not. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just adding the horse’s damage bonus (say 2d60 is not really enough). </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">lance 1D10 + 2d6 damage bonus gives an average 12.5 points and maximum (excl specials) of 22 points. If the guy on the ground has a medium shield + 5 pts Armour + 3pts protection then 12.5 pts damage has no effect and 22 points is just a flesh wound. He can then hit back at the almost totally unprotected house with a very good chance of bringing it down.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Even a lightly armoured bowman with a high Dex, has little to fear – his multiple shots will probably bring the horse down long before its gets to him and, with a good dodge, can get out of the way at the last moment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Some of our thoughts are </p><p><span>a)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Add greater damage bonus to account for the weigh of horse flesh coming at you at speed (say 2D6+6).</p>
<p><span>b)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Against a changing horse either dodge and no attack, or parry and attack.</p><p><span>c)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Allow the animal to have a knockback in addition to the weapon damage – thus even with a 90% parry one is likely to be knocked back and unable to attack that round.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts?</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Runequest mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Runequest@rpgreview.net" target="_blank">Runequest@rpgreview.net</a><br>
<a href="http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/runequest_rpgreview.net" target="_blank">http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/runequest_rpgreview.net</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
Runequest mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Runequest@rpgreview.net">Runequest@rpgreview.net</a><br>
<a href="http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/runequest_rpgreview.net" target="_blank">http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/runequest_rpgreview.net</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>