Thought experiment: Another simple way to resolve combat

[stefanj]

I recently "rediscovered" my copy of STARLORD, a simple space combat game that was published and distributed by Flying Buffalo in the 70s and perhaps early 80s.

Players explore the galaxy, claim systems (which have planets which produce resources, and sometimes industry which can be used to make spaceships and troops), built their fleets, and battle each other.

The combat system is fairly abstract and simple, like T&T. Ships have an attack and defense factor. You total up each side's totals, and compare them:

* EACH side takes damage equal to HALF of the lower total.

* The side with the LOWER total takes damage equal to the difference between the two.

It struck me that something like this could be used for T&T.

Example:

A party is in combat with some orcs.

The player's combat total is 32.

The orc's total is 45.

Each side divides up 16 damage points.

The players divide up an additional 13 points of damage.

This reduces the need for spite damage, because the winner always takes SOME damage. (The problem of doubled armor making warriors unhittable remains.)

Combats will move along quicker.

[d4caltrops]

I've never played a diceless RPG (so I have, if not no idea, very little idea of what I am talking about), but that seems like an idea heading in the diceless direction.

Randomness is just too much fun - I love spite in T&T because it's so satisfying to make a lucky 6 count.

If T&T's combat felt too slow, I think that I'd be inclined to tweak it to push it faster with the dice, maybe something like making doubles matter (another point of spite?), or having (1,2) pairs matter (an extra point taken from a fumble during the swing?).

[ProfGremlin]

I'm seeing a quick escalation to poker hands and/or Yahtzee combos...

Example:
All players must roll equal numbers of black and red dice.
A roll including two-1's and three-6's will be considered a 'Marvelous Monster Munch'. Double those dice only and apply to the total HPT.
Rolling a full sequence of 1,2,3,4,5,6 is a 'Black Jack'. Double them and apply fully to the opponent of your choice.

Yeah, it's silly but, hey, why not have fun with it?

[stefanj]

I could see the fun in that. Maybe incorporating special dice.

Counter to this, is the desire some might have to making T&T combat more tactical, with choices about movement and moves being more important. But that's what stunting is about I guess.

Note: My notion uptopic still assumes the standard die-rolling. And spite damage still could be part of it.

[Aramis of Erak]

Provided you're keeping the rolled potentials, I can see this being reasonable, but the balance is going to be way off from standard T&T.