Stances

[Mike Holmes]

Good points, Richard, others. I do think that as an attitude that it wouldn't be too fatiguing.

But even as a mental state, I do think that it's exhausting over long periods. That is, in combat, the thing that leads to long term fatigue most readily (other than heavy exertion, of course), is waiting for an enemy to attack. When the CO says, "stay frosty" (or whatever movie aphorism you'd like to inject), there is a change in attitude that matters.

The point is that, though it's probably not fatiguing enough in game terms to note, it does mean that, unless a player announces that his character is in a stance, that he's not. Basically what I'm trying to prevent is the player who unrealisitcally says, "While I'm in Taveruun, I'm going to be in a defensive stance." It's just not something that you can do for hours at a time. Hence another reason why ambushes are effective.

If a character has been trying to watch for an ambush for several hours, likeon a patrol or something, then I probably will assign some extra fatigue.

Probably all obvious, but I think it makes for good color.

Mike

[Salamander]

Salamander, here goes.

There was this guy following me around the last coupel of towns (I was pretending to be some one else) we thought that he was trying to make contact, but was unsure of my companions. So I went to this bar alone where we had found out he was staying.  To try and find out some more information about him.

He was in the bar when I got there talking to a couple of chaps.  He seemed suprised to see my character.  When he had finished he beconed me to follow him to the other bar (which was through the corridor in question).  I followed a minute later (at this point i thought that he wanted to make contact in private and quietly, as some other people we had seen with him had tried to make contact and been assasinated while trying).

On entering the corridor I saw him in a door way off the corrdor to the right, being careful I had stated earlier that my character was being very wary but more from a perception point of view as I didn't trust his mates.  

Turns out he was a bounty hunter, I was a the prey ;-(  I got koshed and bundeled up.  Should have seen it comming I guess ;-)  (well my character did in a way he passed suprise but got hit on his full evasion)[/i]

The question was really based on me thinking what I could have done instead.  (being more suspicious, drawing my knife getting, in a stance would probably have helped, as would not have being stupid and staying out of the corridor ;-)

I wanted to know if stances were a state of readyness that you could use while moving or something that could only be entered if there was time at the begining of a fight ie duel.  I can see arguments for both.

I was also wondering how it worked in general, such as a large melee (as mentioned in the thread)  sometimes you just don't get time to be ready, I've forgotten the exact rule but would supprise cover this if you pass but only just you can't get into a stance if you get 3 successes you can?

Dan.

Wow, sounds like somebody has acquired some enemies... ;)

I don't think the stances were what needed to be discussed in regards to the background. From where I stood I saw that this bounty hunter was accompanied by more than a few friends. Hindsight being 20/20, I am sure that you would have had a few budies follow you down the hallway, or at least be right around the corner in case of trouble had you been really suspicious. But that ship has sailed...

I think that in that circumstance I would be really glad I know how to fight with a knife, let's face it, in a closed space like a hallway, you ain't gonna get a swing in with anything bigger than a blackjack and thrusting weapons such as rapiers are way too risky if you don't want to kill your friends. So I would have gone in with a neutral stance with a rondel or pogniard in hand and been ready to burn maneouvering CP to keep my opponents down to one at a time, which should be dirt cheap in such linear conditions. You wouldn't even have to kill them, just make them not want to follow for as long as it took you to get back out into public. Sorry about your character going down like a sack of potatoes too. Oh yeah, next time, maybe send a friend to find out about the guy following you! :)

[Dan Sellars]

Fortunatly my friends, who were following into the Inn a few miniutes later, managed to see me being bundelled out all trussed up.  As you said I should have waited for them in the first place.  

They managed to save me and I got away with just a bit of bruising and a lesson learned ;-)

Dan.

[Jake Norwood]

Hey. I'm not reading everything in the detail that I should due to lack of time (please forgive), so if this was allready covered...

I don't see any reason why you can't hold a stance "indefinitely," as there are a few defensive and offensive positions, and you can switch from one to the other to keep the blood flowing. Half an hour might require a will or EN check, but that's up to the Seneschal IMO.

The other thing to remember is that the issue of defensive/offensive stances is not just specific stances, but also one of attitude. Thus the afforementioned "vom tach" could be offensive, defensive, or neutral, largely based on the mindset of the fighter.

Ooh...Ideas for TFOB...

ANyway.

Jake