Goalsystem Delves Design Log 12: Dynamic Battles

A lot of battles in the dungeon fantasy genre resolve down into a group of adventurers dog-piling on a single creature, and that's Ok.  But we wanted to give players and GMs some options that create a more dynamic melee experience, so we've instituted the Knockback rules from Supersystem, modified for the genre. In most cases only Large category (or bigger) creatures, or those with the Hideous Strength power, can do Knockback.  And they can always choose not to do it should they just want to pummel a target in place.

We've found it to be helpful for clearing multiple adventurers away from a larger creature beset by them on all sides.

Some new to this implementation of the Goalsystem mechanics is the Drive-Back maneuver:

Drive-Back
An attacking character or creature using this maneuver spends its Attack action and makes a Class or prime trait check versus the Class or prime trait of the target model.  If the attacker wins he drives his foe back 1” for each goal he beats his foe by. The models remain in base contact and move the distance in a direction designated by the attacker. Any of the attacker’s allies in base contact gain free strikes on the driven back model.  The attacker and his target remain in base contact after the drive-back is resolved.  Drive-backs can result in targets being driven off of precipices or other high objects. A model driven back in such a manner gets to make a TN4 Class or prime trait check to save itself, and is left hanging from the edge as per the falling rules. Drive-backs do no damage to the target. A smaller model trying to drive-back a larger foe subtracts 1” from his final total.

Successful use of this maneuver in the right terrain can really shift the fortunes of a battle!


Thanks for visiting!


--Scott