This example will look at another part of the combat set up in Example 3, so be sure to read and be familiar with that, as this will assume familiarity for the sake of brevity (chart of bonuses – remember that they are doubled because this system uses a 20-sided die, and the Disengaged bonus is -4 Off / +4 Def). This example will show how one group fighting another might play out, following Durga’s companions fighting the villain’s henchmen. The companions include Arjuna (archer), Tipu (brash warrior who favors a large two-handed sword), and Shah (more cautious warrior who prefers a shield and short sword). They take on four henchmen armed with scimitars.
(Note: For those visually inclined, I’ve linked a few images of approximate locations of combatants. The heroes are in white circles labeled with their initials, henchmen in black circles labeled A-D.)
Tipu (defense 15) charges into the middle of the henchmen (defense 13) swinging his sword in wide arcs around his body, hoping to cut in half anyone foolish enough to stay within his longer reach (Disengaged, Overwhelming Offense). Knowing his typical strategy, Arjuna (defense 14) plans to simply stay out of melee and shoot at henchmen who manage to stay outside of Tipu’s reach but are pushed out to the side (Direct). Shah (defense 17) wants to cover Durga’s run up the stairs by interposing himself and his shield between Durga and the henchmen (Engaged, Cover and Move, Movement). Henchman A plans to run in and attack the archer, while B and C want to get close to Tipu and give him a quick death before he gets that sword moving (Engaged, Overwhelming Offense). Henchman D knows that Durga has a personal vendetta against his boss, so he heads straight for her (Engaged, Direct).
They all roll (poorly) – Tipu gets 11, Arjuna gets 9, Shah gets 13, Henchman A gets 7, B gets 6, C gets 5, and D gets 11. Tipu swings his sword and advances, preventing henchmen A, B, and C from closing the distance. The tactics chosen bring Tipu’s offensive total to 19, which is more than enough to cut all of them. Tipu’s defense is lowered by 4 (-8 for tactics, +4 for being Disengaged) to 11, so he stays safe. Arjuna is able to get a clear shot at Henchman A, and thanks to the henchman’s choice of tactics lowering his defense by 4, an arrow strikes home. Shah is able to slam his shield into Henchman D, preventing him from reaching Durga, who runs up the stairs to battle the villain.
At this point, only Shah and Henchman D are engaged, so they select goals and tactics and roll again. Shah plans to shove his shield into D’s sword arm and stab his torso (Engaged, Beat Weapon Aside). Henchman D intends to feint high to draw the shield high, then strike low to get around it (Engaged, Indirect). They roll – Shah gets 16 and D gets 14. The tactics lower Shah’s defense to 13; though he shoves his shield into his enemy’s sword arm, D is able to slide his sword below the shield and strike true. None of that stops Shah from thrusting into his belly, though.
Meanwhile Tipu plans to keep his tactics the same, because they’re working well (Disengaged, Overwhelming). Henchmen A, B, and C very cautiously try to close the distance between swings (Engaged, Defensive). They roll – Tipu gets 24, A gets 24, B gets 20, and C gets 13. Tipu is able to maintain his distance (defense 19), but Henchmen A and B both slip in and cut him, forcing him to step back. All the henchmen are sliced by Tipu’s sword, and A goes down. Poor Arjuna doesn’t have a clear shot anywhere.
Back to Shah and Henchman D, Shah expects the same tactics from D, and so decides to just attack right away (Engaged, Direct). Henchman D decides to repeat his tactic since it circumvented the shield last time. They roll – Shah gets 9 and D gets 19. Tactics brings Shah’s total to 13, just enough to strike home, but he isn’t able to deflect D’s strike, and both are bleeding heavily.
The GM decides that everyone in the fight can roll again. Tipu keeps up his swings, but wants to try to knock the swords out of their hands (Disengaged, Overwhelming, Disarm). Henchmen B and C don’t want to die, so don’t have much choice but to try again (Engaged, Defensive). Arjuna heads for the stairs, to hopefully get a better angle to get a shot (Direct). Shah decides that since his defense isn’t working well, he needs to make space to make his attacks (Disengaged, Combination). Henchman D is bleeding heavily, and wants space as well, deciding to just slash at Shah’s weapon arm (Disengaged, Target Extremities). They roll – Tipu gets 16, Henchmen B gets 12, C gets 22, Arjuna gets 17, Shah gets 20, and Henchman D gets 13. B is disarmed, but C gets inside Tipu’s reach who is not able to push him out, dropping his total to 12 against C, so C is safe, but Tipu is cut. As Henchman B goes to retrieve his weapon, Arjuna has a clear shot from the new vantage, and despite the increased distance, B falls with an arrow in his back. Shah steps back and slashes Henchman D twice (tactics and Disengaged brings his total to 18), while D fails to hit Shah’s arm.
Now Tipu and Henchman C are engaged, and Tipu’s wants to smash him in the face with the cross of his sword and shove him back (Disengaged, Direct, Damage and Movement). C doesn’t want Tipu to use that sword again, so plans to rush him into a wall (Engaged, Overwhelming, Movement). They roll – Tipu gets 19 and C gets 20. Henchman C is smashed in the face with Tipu’s sword, but manages to put him against a wall.
Shah hangs back and takes a moment to study his opponent (Disengaged, Direct, Analyze). Henchman D feels that he’s fading fast, and stays away to take stock of the rest of the fight (Disengaged, Defensive). Arjuna sees that Tipu is in trouble, but can’t help, so yells to Shah to help and starts firing at Henchman D (Combination). They roll – Shah gets 17, D gets 21, and Arjuna gets 19. Shah hears Arjuna’s shout and turns to see Tipu struggling, deciding to abandon Henchman D. D notices two of his fellow henchmen dead with arrows, wonders briefly where the archer is, then hears Arjuna’s shout as he looks up. Arjuna’s arrows strike home, and Henchman D falls.
Tipu angrily drops his sword and intends to grab the last henchman’s arms and drive his head into the henchman’s face until its a bloody pulp (Grappling, Overwhelming Offense). The henchman wants to slash Tipu multiple times now that he has him against the wall (Engaged, Combination). They roll – Tipu gets 24 and the henchman gets 21. Tipu grabs him, but is slashed several times before repeatedly headbutting him in the face and screaming. They struggle for a bit, giving Shah plenty of time to stab the henchman and end his ability to struggle.
Large Polyhedron Collider 