Mass Combat

[Rhishisikk]

Any word on how Mass Combat is coming along?

I've been re-watching old movies, and it seems like several cut-scenes, more like a montage (or dramatic conflict) than an extension of the existing combat engine. 

I'd actually prefer something like Companion DnD (heavy calculations done BEFORE the battle, combat is easy).  For that matter... I'd actually like the advantages calculated between both sides. 

[Example: The Maidens of the Sword gain +1 to attack with swords; they fight the Paranoid Monks, who have +1 defense.  These advantages cancel out.  In other words, a +7 attack SOUNDS fairly hefty, but if your opponents have +5 defense, it's the same as a +2 advantage.  Sorry if this example is unclear.]

[Crafty_Alex]

Mass Combat is not going to be included in Fantasy Craft - while it was in our initial drafts and plans, we decided to excise it when we moved to Mastercraft. It will be appearing in a later product along with a class to abuse that system

[Crafty_Pat]

Mass Combat is not going to be included in Fantasy Craft - while it was in our initial drafts and plans, we decided to excise it when we moved to Mastercraft. It will be appearing in a later product along with a class to abuse that system

And this product will be built for Mastercraft, not Fantasy Craft or any other Mastercraft IP. That way you can drop it - or any other individual Dramatic Conflict - into any game with ease.

This was one of the main reasons for the shift - we realized that without it we'd basically have to reprint huge swaths of text in every book with little more than the flavor changing. Also, since it would be in print, we wouldn't be able discount those pages, meaning folks would be paying for it over and over again.

Releasing the DramCons individually in PDF lets us address them one by one, lavishing some real attention on them outside the rigors of book production, which means we can present completely concepts and offer flavor for all our current books. You only have to pick up the ones you want and you can leave the rest. Everyone wins.

[gaghiel42]

At first I was sad to see this, as it was one of those perfect things to fit into the book that would go marvelously.  But, now with the pdf to print books (yay one of the things I've been hoping for is getting done!) I am not so worried.  being able to quick reference rules and stuff in book form is very nice, so one day it shall happen (I hope). 

Also, do you guys plan to do the card thing like you used to do with the predator/prey cards?  Or is the whole dramcom getting a reworking too?

[Bill Whitmore]

At first I was sad to see this, as it was one of those perfect things to fit into the book that would go marvelously.  But, now with the pdf to print books (yay one of the things I've been hoping for is getting done!) I am not so worried.  being able to quick reference rules and stuff in book form is very nice, so one day it shall happen (I hope). 

Also, do you guys plan to do the card thing like you used to do with the predator/prey cards?  Or is the whole dramcom getting a reworking too?

I rather liked the Dramatic Conflict cards.  It made for a handy prop that made Dramatic Conflicts easier to run.  I do hope they keep them.

Edit: Having said that, I do wish that one page of the Dramatic Conflict cards had not had General cards mixed in with Predator and/or Prey cards.  In order to have enough cards for both a Predator and a Prey deck, General cards needed to be printed twice, which meant we always had discarded extras of the Predator and Prey cards on the same pages.

[Crafty_Alex]

We do have cards planned for each DramCon - they were immensely helpful for sorting and running the events (I may have made the first full deck for 2.0 out there, and I love 'em) and the addition of a tactile element seems to really help play at the table.

[Crafty_Pat]

The new DramCon systems will both feature cards. The General/Predator/Prey criticism is well taken - I've run into the same issue myself - and we'll be striving to resolve that to the best of our ability.

[Bill Whitmore]

The new DramCon systems will both feature cards. The General/Predator/Prey criticism is well taken - I've run into the same issue myself - and we'll be striving to resolve that to the best of our ability.

Since these are planned for a PDF release where an extra page shouldn't matter too much, would it be possible to just put the General strategy cards on the sheets twice?  Then you could just print out all the card pages once and still get both General cards for the Predator and Prey decks.

[Crafty_Pat]

Since these are planned for a PDF release where an extra page shouldn't matter too much, would it be possible to just put the General strategy cards on the sheets twice?  Then you could just print out all the card pages once and still get both General cards for the Predator and Prey decks.

In PDF, my current plan is to group like cards together so you can print as many copies as you like of whatever you like without worrying about the rest. Using the current grouping as an example, General, Predator, and Prey would each exist on its own range of pages, allowing you to print the Generals twice and the others once each.

[Bill Whitmore]

Since these are planned for a PDF release where an extra page shouldn't matter too much, would it be possible to just put the General strategy cards on the sheets twice?  Then you could just print out all the card pages once and still get both General cards for the Predator and Prey decks.

In PDF, my current plan is to group like cards together so you can print as many copies as you like of whatever you like without worrying about the rest. Using the current grouping as an example, General, Predator, and Prey would each exist on its own range of pages, allowing you to print the Generals twice and the others once each.

That works for me.

[Mister Andersen]

Doing with cards allows the GC to run chases with each side drawing random strategies, so class abilities that let you choose specific strategies / force the opponent to abandon theirs suddenly look rather more interesting

[Desertpuma]

Never thought doign a randomly drawn strategy. ... Hmm... So you select all the possibles that the NPC qualifies for and then randomly draw his strategy. Seems like an interesting way to do it.

[Mister Andersen]

Both sides draw randomly unless they possess character options that allows them to choose

[Rhishisikk]

Okay, how about loosening up on the Predator and Pray groups?

Sample: After a failed intimidate roll to get a 'free' knife from some gangers, a PC jumps into his car and begins a Chase sequence as they try to follow in their aging four-door.  NOW the enemy agent team picks up this chase on the police radio, and set the chase in THEIR super-sportscar.  Does the PC manuever so the slower car prevents them from drawing a bead?  What about the reverse, so the gangers end up firing at the enemy agents?  And what about when the police join the chase?

Under the current rules, they team up to form a single predator group.  Why should the 'black team' agents suck dust just because there happens to be an unaligned jalopy chasing their target?

What about Manhunt and Infiltration, where different teams can get in each other's way? 

My point is that the Russian axiom 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' does NOT always apply.

Proposed mechanic:  Predators reduce lead individually, the Prey increases lead on EVERYONE.  Only success against the highest-rolling Predator can be used for Lead, other advantages are chosen by team based on the success AGAINST that team.

Proposed Mechanic:  The Prey chooses one tactic, with their result compared against all Predator rolls.

Considered rules for multiple Prey, but it's late and I need sleep.

[Desertpuma]

If you have a Prey being followed by a Predator-Prey being followed by a Predator, then the middle car if it is being chased also chooses a Prey tactic for the Predator following it. If however both cars are following one prey, then they can either each choose individual Predator moves or 1 Predator move is selected for all cars on the Predator side. The inverse can work as well for multiple Preys eluding a Predator.

This is all regardless what kind of Dram Conflict is being undertaken