Combat Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Combat Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Incrementum
02-16-07, 04:16 PM Is it just me or are the rules for combat really confusing? Not too long ago my friends and I decided that we needed a good weekend game where we could gather up and have a good time. We came upon D&D. I'm the only one with the core rulebooks, and no one in the group really fits the role of Dungeon Master besides myself. But now that I'm reading some of the rules for combat, it scares me a little to know that I'm going to be DM'ing. Things like Attack of Opportunity, surprise attacks, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are confusing my brittle mind.

I was planning on using A Dark and Stormy Knight (a free 1st level adventure) for our first campaign tonight, but now I'm a little freaked out that I don't know enough. Could someone please better explain some of these rules or put them in bits and pieces so I can make this session well worth our time?

Maybe we could exchange instant messagers? I need all the help I can get.

Thanks!
tarkin
02-16-07, 04:36 PM As a general rule, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are pretty complex and you should not be trying them until you have mastered the regular combat.

AoO is fairly simple, once you understand it.

There are certain things you DON'T do in combat. Those are the AoO things.

Things like pulling out a book and reading it. Surprise surprise, when you do that, someone can come up and hit you an extra time.

The movement rules are really just "if you are threatened, you can't move more than 5ft without taking an AoO and do anything else." (If all your doing is moving, you use the Withdrawal)
Vegepygmy
02-16-07, 04:38 PM I suggest you download the FAQ and read the section on combat: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a

If you still have questions after that, feel free to post them here.
Merestil Haye
02-16-07, 04:40 PM First worry is the characters of the other players. Do you have them generated yet? If not that's likely to take a little time.

Interaction with NPCs should be fun for both you and the PCs. Try to keep a little aloof from the NPCs though - they are not "your" characters. You have to keep their aims in mind, but your primary responsibility is to be a fair arbiter of the events, setting the scene and resolving the action.

When running the adventure, keep things simple. Try not to worry about the advanced combat rules. Conccentrate on the core mechanics in combat - armour class, attack rolls and modifiers, damage rolls, initiative and surprise, basic flanking.

Things like grappling, tripping etc are not easy for the first time player. If they do come up, stop the game, open the PHB and find the passage about grappling (or whatever) and read it.

For spells, whenever a character casts the spell, open the PHB and read the spell first.

If you want immediate help, PM me with your IM (I only have MSN open nomally so that for preference) and I'll get in contact.

Have fun - that's what the game's for.
Ruslanchik
02-16-07, 04:47 PM Just keep it simple. Since everyone is new to the game, just wacking and casting spells at the bad guys should be novel and interesting enough.

At level one no one will have multiple attacks, so everyone can move a distance up to their speed and make an attack each round. (This includes the baddies. It's much more fun when the orcs don't just stand around and get killed.) If someone casts a spell, read the description and make sure you understand it before you do anything. Keep the books handy and open. Have a computer nearby with internet open to http://www.d20srd.org/ and use the search feature to quickly solve any problems. And don't be too picky about AoO to begin with. If a baddie or one of your PC's does something stupid, then allow them. If they don't, don't worry about it.

Don't worry, though. Once you start using the rules they will make sense.

Finally, you are the DM. If you feel like something could/should happen or couldn't/shouldn't happen then trust your gut. A chair can be set up facing a corner for impudent players.
Incrementum
02-16-07, 04:58 PM Thanks for all the help so far. I will use those links, and I will avoid using some the complex rules until I feel that I'm ready.

And no, the characters have not been made yet -- but we have all played once before with my brother DM'ing. It was mainly role-playing, and combat wasn't even done with a battle pad (which I have from the Dungeon Master's Guide). Since we're doing a new campaign my friends and I have decided that it would be best to make new characters and stick with the basic classes.

I'll post more specific questions later on. Right now I've gotta do a few things for my work.
Ruslanchik
02-16-07, 05:05 PM Making characters will take awhile, especially with only on set of books. If you are clear on how to calculate saves, initiative, spells per day, AC, and the other stuff you will save a lot of time.
mvincent
02-16-07, 05:27 PM I'm the only one with the core rulebooksDirect your players to www.d20srd.org
(and use it yourself, especially while at work if possible ; )

no one in the group really fits the role of Dungeon Master besides myself.Look online and in games stores for listings of other games you can attend or DM's you could invite over for a game or two. It's much easier after you've had a game or two with experienced players.

Attack of Opportunity, surprise attacks, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are confusing my brittle mind.The easiest solution is to ignore them until you've had a little bit of experience. Chances are, one of your players will learn the rules on each and describe them to the group later.

Almost all groups get things wrong, and there are groups that have been around for decades that still refuse to touch the grapple rules. Consider it part of the game and play through.
Kursk
02-16-07, 05:34 PM Is it just me or are the rules for combat really confusing?

Yes, they a bit confusing. 3rd Ed out of all Editions was designed by a committee. It takes a bit to get used to but start by using only the basic combat scenarios.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Incrementum 02-16-07, 04:16 PM	Is it just me or are the rules for combat really confusing? Not too long ago my friends and I decided that we needed a good weekend game where we could gather up and have a good time. We came upon D&D. I'm the only one with the core rulebooks, and no one in the group really fits the role of Dungeon Master besides myself. But now that I'm reading some of the rules for combat, it scares me a little to know that I'm going to be DM'ing. Things like Attack of Opportunity, surprise attacks, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are confusing my brittle mind. I was planning on using A Dark and Stormy Knight (a free 1st level adventure) for our first campaign tonight, but now I'm a little freaked out that I don't know enough. Could someone please better explain some of these rules or put them in bits and pieces so I can make this session well worth our time? Maybe we could exchange instant messagers? I need all the help I can get. Thanks!
tarkin 02-16-07, 04:36 PM	As a general rule, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are pretty complex and you should not be trying them until you have mastered the regular combat. AoO is fairly simple, once you understand it. There are certain things you DON'T do in combat. Those are the AoO things. Things like pulling out a book and reading it. Surprise surprise, when you do that, someone can come up and hit you an extra time. The movement rules are really just "if you are threatened, you can't move more than 5ft without taking an AoO and do anything else." (If all your doing is moving, you use the Withdrawal)
Vegepygmy 02-16-07, 04:38 PM	I suggest you download the FAQ and read the section on combat: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a If you still have questions after that, feel free to post them here.
Merestil Haye 02-16-07, 04:40 PM	First worry is the characters of the other players. Do you have them generated yet? If not that's likely to take a little time. Interaction with NPCs should be fun for both you and the PCs. Try to keep a little aloof from the NPCs though - they are not "your" characters. You have to keep their aims in mind, but your primary responsibility is to be a fair arbiter of the events, setting the scene and resolving the action. When running the adventure, keep things simple. Try not to worry about the advanced combat rules. Conccentrate on the core mechanics in combat - armour class, attack rolls and modifiers, damage rolls, initiative and surprise, basic flanking. Things like grappling, tripping etc are not easy for the first time player. If they do come up, stop the game, open the PHB and find the passage about grappling (or whatever) and read it. For spells, whenever a character casts the spell, open the PHB and read the spell first. If you want immediate help, PM me with your IM (I only have MSN open nomally so that for preference) and I'll get in contact. Have fun - that's what the game's for.
Ruslanchik 02-16-07, 04:47 PM	Just keep it simple. Since everyone is new to the game, just wacking and casting spells at the bad guys should be novel and interesting enough. At level one no one will have multiple attacks, so everyone can move a distance up to their speed and make an attack each round. (This includes the baddies. It's much more fun when the orcs don't just stand around and get killed.) If someone casts a spell, read the description and make sure you understand it before you do anything. Keep the books handy and open. Have a computer nearby with internet open to http://www.d20srd.org/ and use the search feature to quickly solve any problems. And don't be too picky about AoO to begin with. If a baddie or one of your PC's does something stupid, then allow them. If they don't, don't worry about it. Don't worry, though. Once you start using the rules they will make sense. Finally, you are the DM. If you feel like something could/should happen or couldn't/shouldn't happen then trust your gut. A chair can be set up facing a corner for impudent players.
Incrementum 02-16-07, 04:58 PM	Thanks for all the help so far. I will use those links, and I will avoid using some the complex rules until I feel that I'm ready. And no, the characters have not been made yet -- but we have all played once before with my brother DM'ing. It was mainly role-playing, and combat wasn't even done with a battle pad (which I have from the Dungeon Master's Guide). Since we're doing a new campaign my friends and I have decided that it would be best to make new characters and stick with the basic classes. I'll post more specific questions later on. Right now I've gotta do a few things for my work.
Ruslanchik 02-16-07, 05:05 PM	Making characters will take awhile, especially with only on set of books. If you are clear on how to calculate saves, initiative, spells per day, AC, and the other stuff you will save a lot of time.
mvincent 02-16-07, 05:27 PM	I'm the only one with the core rulebooksDirect your players to www.d20srd.org (and use it yourself, especially while at work if possible ; ) no one in the group really fits the role of Dungeon Master besides myself.Look online and in games stores for listings of other games you can attend or DM's you could invite over for a game or two. It's much easier after you've had a game or two with experienced players. Attack of Opportunity, surprise attacks, stun/paralyze skills, and grapple/unarmed combat are confusing my brittle mind.The easiest solution is to ignore them until you've had a little bit of experience. Chances are, one of your players will learn the rules on each and describe them to the group later. Almost all groups get things wrong, and there are groups that have been around for decades that still refuse to touch the grapple rules. Consider it part of the game and play through.
Kursk 02-16-07, 05:34 PM	Is it just me or are the rules for combat really confusing? Yes, they a bit confusing. 3rd Ed out of all Editions was designed by a committee. It takes a bit to get used to but start by using only the basic combat scenarios.