So, about this Combat-RP thing... (Looking for Info)

[Rimewynd]

So, I've seen mention of it about the place. And I've some people do it, and I've been forcably dragged into it once (on the public servers, I'm still sorting out my patching issues to get online here. :P) and I wanted to ask before I had the chance to get involved with it on this server, so that I don't have to break the RP in half for a long explanation.

Basically, I just want to understand this thing.

I know it's some form of non-combat-engine-based method of engaging in combat with other players. I swear I read somewhere on the CotHWiki that it's cross-level, so a level 3 and a level 73 have a reasonably equal playing field. And I'm pretty sure it involves rolling digital dice of some kind.

I've read the wiki's article on the proper approach to it (not controlling the other person's character, etc,) but I still have no idea how you actually go about *doing* it should the need arise. Could someone please explain the actual mechanics behind this system, if this system is the method by which "true" character death occurs; and how the whole mess gets started up in the first place. I'd really appreciate it. ^_^

[Maulbane]

On CotH we use two major systems; Rolls and TrustRP. The former is the mainstream kind, accessible by all and pretty much fool-proof, but the other is hard to work properly, and, as the name suggests, you need to trust the people you're RPing with to use it.

Roll fighting is, basically, that. You make an emote, say "/me wants to stab #name in the face", then use the command "/roll". This will randomly generate a number between 1-100. The defender would then do the same thing, rolling.

The person with the highest roll wins. If the attacker wins, the defender would make an emote like "/me groans in pain after being stabbed in the face", but if the defender won he/she would say "/me blocks with his shield". Each fighter has a set amount of HP, and every roll an attacker wins against them knocks away a single HP. When you lose all your HP you either fall unconscious or die, depending on what's been determined.

There is also the "Crit" system. If the rolls have a difference of 50 (Say someone rolls 20 and someone else rolls 96) two points of damage are done because of the large difference between rolls. However, rolls can become more specialised and complicated with modifiers (Adding +10 to your rolls if you're tough, et cetera)

TrustRP is much rarer, and it's basically a stream of emotes. The parties involved can trust each-other to be realistic and die if they have to die. One person makes an emote and the other person reacts to that emote accordingly, and it's generally much more fluent than rolls if done correctly.

[shademourne]

Well! I Can do my best.

Combat RP Systems

Combat-RP has two seperate systems we like to use on Coth.

Your first,
Rolling.

Roll fighting is a way to make it to where both players in the battle have equal chances to win, no matter their race/class/profession. Both players normally discuss a health in party pre-battle, to have a set limit intent of damaging the player until he/she has been killed, retreats, or is incapacitated. The way we use it is as simple as partying up, and then emoting your attack such as..

Zander brings his claymore over his head swiftly, and with a grunt, attempts to bring it down on the head of <Insert enemy here>.

Now, I, being Zander, roll for my attack by simply typing /roll in your chatbox, used like an emote.

That should produce a message such as..

You roll, 27.

Then my opponent, being <insert enemy here>, also uses the command, as a defence to my attack. He/she also types /roll in the chatbox.

<insert enemy here> rolls 84.

Because his roll was higher than mine, <insert enemy here> either blocked, dodged, or parried my attack, but try to do it in a realistic way.

<Insert enemy here> rolls out of the way of the claymore just in time, landing on a knee several steps away.

The fight will continue such as this until someone takes damage.

Zander thrusts his claymore foward, attempting to impale the enemy.
You roll, 96.
<Insert enemy here> rolls 88.

/cheer, it seems my attack has made it through, this time, using this as a system we expect both players to know and respect as the general rules, expect you to take damage, this, would normally be counted as 1 damage, since the rolls were so close together. This damage is deducted off of your health. You emote taking the hit accordingly.

<Insert enemy here> tries to back up in time, but the sword penetrates the leather armor easily, making a gash several inches deep in his chest, he yells in pain and stagger back a step.

This process continues this way until someone is killed/retreated/incapacitated.

This is the system we use mostly, to avoid conflict, the TrustRP system, often causes it unless you are playing with people you feel you can trust, and both players will not powergame.

The second system,
TrustRP.

TrustRP is a system we noramlly use for fighting, it is much cleaner, and relies heavily on each players knowledge of the race, class, and power of the person they are fighting. Both players simply emote their attacks, without using the roll system, if you believe by what I like to use, facts that your character is going to take damage, you should take it, or, possibly, discuss it with the person atytacking you to see what they think. Example.

Zander brings his mace down at the Taurens shoulder, hoping to strike.

This is a perfectly normal attack, right? Well, the problem was, The Tauren is ICly not near-enough to Zander for a mace attack, how can we save this faux-pax for both players?

<Insert enemy here> was far enough away to dodge the attack, using the Paladin's attack as a chance to strike, the Tauren brings his own mace at the Human's now probably exposed back.

Well, <Insert enemy here> is right, I would be off-balance after a strong attack hoping to injure a tauren, his attack would most likely strike, and I have to take this into account.

Zander is hit across the back by the mace, he stumbles forward and lands heavily, his knee digging into the mud, armor cracked and streaked where the blow hit, he groans, and after a moment is able to stagger to his feet.

Factual evidence is the best way to RP, and it gets rid of alot of confusing the /roll system uses, but make sure to only use TrustRP with people you trust OOCly and ICly to use it correctly, Fighting is very fun RP, atleast for me, so I hope this little mini-guide will help you out!

[Boomshine]

I've been role playing for a while now and have always used what you call the TrustRP method. It is by far more enjoyable and prevents the situation from getting bogged down, however it needs role players who are considerate towards the other people involved as it can be the cause of a lot of disputes. A variation I have seen, but absolutely hate, is what they, the people who use it, call "attempts" RP. It came about in other communities I played in mostly because of emphasis and fear of powergaming rules. In a fight or confrontational situation players explicitly "attempt" their actions that affect other players to which the others reply.

* Boomshine attempts to hold down PlayerX.
* Boomshine attempts to kick in the door.

I find it clumpsy and believe it lacks any room for real storytelling and expression but it is probably easier for someone who either doesn't speak English particularly well or someone who isn't quite up to speed with role play.

[Nostra]

How exactly would `attempt´ role-play be easier for someone who doesn't speak/write English that well? And how does it inhibit your storytelling?

I rarely see any other method since `attempt´ role-play leaves room for all players to pitch in and decide the fate of what will happen, one player gives the direction of his own character while the other player shows his character's reaction to that. Obviously you don't have to use the word "attempt" to give room for other players to write up their part, and I'm sure we all understand that. Here's an example:

Shar'dal grunted as the axe blade bit into the leather protecting his left shoulder, with gritted teeth he swung one of his own blades to deflect the Orc's weapon while at the same time rising from his crouched down position, using the momentum to thrust the dagger in his right hand towards the slit of exposed skin between the Orc's helm and chest plate.

Here I emoted out a reaction to another player's actions as well as giving him something to react to too, without mentioning anything of what exactly would happen except that the axe was prevented room doing much damage, how the Orc reacts to that and the attack is up to the other player.

Personally I've given up on roll fighting, it takes too much time and often leads to tedious arguments that I rather just avoid, now I only do trust fighting and rely on both the other player's ability to act maturely and realistically with his character as well as the fact that if he at any time would act unfairly, be it by godmoding, powergaming, metagaming, taking to bad OOC drama or any other such offense I can easily just disengage, stop role-playing with that person and screen shot the events to PM a GM. That way it can be dealt with by a third part that is resolved to deal with the situation in a fair way.

[Boomshine]

I rarely see any other method since `attempt´ role-play leaves room for all players to pitch in and decide the fate of what will happen, one player gives the direction of his own character while the other player shows his character's reaction to that. Obviously you don't have to use the word "attempt" to give room for other players to write up their part, and I'm sure we all understand that. Here's an example:

Shar'dal grunted as the axe blade bit into the leather protecting his left shoulder, with gritted teeth he swung one of his own blades to deflect the Orc's weapon while at the same time rising from his crouched down position, using the momentum to thrust the dagger in his right hand towards the slit of exposed skin between the Orc's helm and chest plate.

That's my point. With this attempts method they literally write:

* Boomshine attempts to hit Nostra.
* Boomshine attempts to restrain Nostra.

In doing that there is very little expression or imagination but it is very clear what is happening and there is no danger of powergaming. What you described is how I have always chosen to do it but it definitely isn't the same thing. Believe me, I was often chastised for not conforming to the attempts way.

[Nostra]

What I described is the attempt method, matey, just not using the actual word `attempts´ and with more descriptive words, still the same thing though.

[Nexi]

So, I've seen mention of it about the place. And I've some people do it, and I've been forcably dragged into it once (on the public servers, I'm still sorting out my patching issues to get online here. :P) and I wanted to ask before I had the chance to get involved with it on this server, so that I don't have to break the RP in half for a long explanation.

Basically, I just want to understand this thing.

I know it's some form of non-combat-engine-based method of engaging in combat with other players. I swear I read somewhere on the CotHWiki that it's cross-level, so a level 3 and a level 73 have a reasonably equal playing field. And I'm pretty sure it involves rolling digital dice of some kind.

I've read the wiki's article on the proper approach to it (not controlling the other person's character, etc,) but I still have no idea how you actually go about *doing* it should the need arise. Could someone please explain the actual mechanics behind this system, if this system is the method by which "true" character death occurs; and how the whole mess gets started up in the first place. I'd really appreciate it. ^_^

It should also be noted that some players here, such as myself, like to negotiate roll modifiers depending on your individual character. For instance, I really like giving heavy-armor users a plus to their HP, while giving light and unarmored users a bonus to their defensive rolls. We always agree on these things -before- the first die is cast, and they aren't always used. It's something everyone involved should agree on, since everyone involved should enjoy the battle.

[Rimewynd]

Wow, mass reply! Thanks everyone.

I've got a much better handle on it now, thanks to you guys (your guys'?) involvement. So, really, just two questions remain for me:

What is the baseline starting HP? (or is this agreed upon at the time?)

and

What's a reasonable average amount for a bonus/detraction? (Like, say, if the base HP is 100, 120 could be someone in heavy armor)

If all these things are simply mulled over and discussed at the time, before combat, then just lemme know. Either way, with your guys help, I feel like I could actually participate in combat-RP, should the need arise.

[Renown0]

Baseline starting HP: Anywhere from 4-6. 3 for spars, and 10 for "holycrapthat'salong" fights.

Bonuses/Detractions: That's something that's always decided between the participants. It's often not even bothered with because so many people really hate it when their opponent gets even five point bonuses on their rolls. I would be glad to do some experiment-like fights with you to help you decide what bonuses/detractions you feel comfortable with, though.

Really, though. Even in cases such as an unarmed gnome with no training versus an orc with full plate armor and an axe bigger than the gnome with fighting experience in all three wars, the gnome seems to say this a lot: "Hey! That's not fair that you get a +10 bonus to your defense!" Even on this server, it happens to me 10-20% of the time. ._.