I’ll be adjudicating the next round in about 7 hours*, so feel free to put in your intended actions by then…
*kitchen redecoration / Lions v Australia (and maybe Murray v Djokovich)
My thinking was that I have a better chance of missing and hitting one of the party if I am shooting at the other 4 and they are outnumbered, for the moment, anyway. The other two are unlikely to sustain any more injuries from the pony who is on its last legs. Hopefully being hit by a sniper distracts them further and hurts them a bit so that by the time they turn their attention to the rest of the party the party will have banged up soldiers to deal with rather than full strength ones.
That pony isn’t going to last long right now anyway.
But I am happy to attack the way that the party thinks is best. If you guys want me to focus on the front four I will do that.
Quentin’ll take another whack at the soldier in front of him.
I don’t think it matters much what the soldier you hit is doing. What matters is that he goes down. To that end, pick one who’s already been hit but didn’t go down. After all, they can still do full damage to any of us until they go down, at which point they can’t do anything.
Dale holds the line. He’ll strike whichever enemy’s in front of him.
Fair enough. Dorric will attack the soldier that appears to have the most damage for each of the three rounds.
The two Soldiers attacking Johannes continue to be foiled by his Armour and Protection.
The Soldiers are 5% to hit.
They need 1 on a d20, but roll 5 and 19 = two failures.
Johannes calmly thrusts back successfully.
Johannes is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 6 = success, doing 3 damage.
Dale’s opponent misses badly again.
The Soldier is 15% to hit.
He needs 1-3 on a d20, but rolls an 18 = miss.
Dale looks confident – and he does hit, felling the Soldier.
He is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls an 8 = success, doing 4 damage.
Dale’s pony kicks at the Soldier too. Although the hoof misses, the Soldier is already going down.
The Monster is 55% to hit.
The pony needs 1-11 on a d20, but rolls a 14 = miss.
Seeing this, Dorric aims at the Soldier injured by Johannes and again hits with a Sling Bullet. (The Soldiers have not realised where the missiles are coming from.)
Dorric is 55% to hit (+20% bonus for unseen attacker) = 75%.
He needs 1-15 on a d20, and rolls a 9 = success, doing 5 damage.
The Soldier nearest Quentin reluctantly attacks the Ranger. He cheers up considerably as he inflicts a nasty wound.
The Soldier is 30% to hit.
He needs 1-6 on a d20, and rolls a 1 = success, doing 9 damage.
Quentin laughs off the damage, and delivers a pretty useful wound in return.
He is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 4 = success, doing 8 damage.
Plixican tries to First Aid Quentin, but doesn’t manage it.
Plixican is 65% to First Aid.
He needs a 1-13 on a d20, but rolls a 19 = fail.
A short distance from the main combat, there are two Soldiers fighting a pony. They almost get in each other’s way and both miss.
They are 55% to hit.
They need 1-11 on a d20, but roll 15 + 16 = two fails.
The Monster is 55% to hit.
The pony needs 1-11 on a d20, but rolls an 18 = fail.
The two Soldiers attacking the Paladin only make half-hearted swings.
The Soldiers are 5% to hit.
They need 1 on a d20, but roll 6 and 16 = two failures.
Johannes is keeping an eye on Quentin, and his blow goes astray.
Johannes is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 14 = miss.
Dale turns to help Johannes (as does the ‘Armoured’ pony controlled by Plixican) but narrowly misses.
He is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, but rolls a 12 = miss.
The pony outflanks the Soldier and strikes with its hoof inflicting damage.
The Monster is 55% to hit (+10% bonus for flanking) = 65%.
The pony needs 1-13 on a d20, and rolls a 11 = success, doing 4 damage.
Dorric aims at the most injured Soldier and again hits with a Sling Bullet. The Soldier crumples to the ground.
Dorric is 55% to hit (+20% bonus for unseen attacker) = 75%.
He needs 1-15 on a d20, and rolls a 4 = success, doing 3 damage.
The Soldier facing Quentin snarls as he strikes again. He shouts “For the Empire!” as his blow lands.
The Soldier is 30% to hit.
He needs 1-6 on a d20, and rolls a 4 = success, doing 4 damage.
Quentin replies “Just a scratch!” and his superb swing slaughters the Soldier.
He is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 8 = success, doing 10 damage.
(N.B. First Aid can only be attempted once per character per combat, so Plixican can’t First Aid Quentin again.)
The two Soldiers fighting a pony start to argue with each other, and only manage to make poor attacks.
They are 55% to hit.
They need 1-11 on a d20, but roll 12 + 16 = two fails.
The pony dodges, but this means its attack in turn fails.
The Monster is 55% to hit.
The pony needs 1-11 on a d20, but rolls an 18 = fail.
Once we’ve taken the final one facing us down, Quentin should probably stay back whilst the others (and Applejack the Armoured Pony) rush over to take down the two remaining soldiers.
I think we should offer the last two soldiers the opportunity to yield if it is allowed.
My character would agree entirely with this. Let’s offer it.
You are allowed to do this (and it’s good roleplaying 
), but of course the Empire Soldiers may refuse (due to blind obedience from their upbringing…)
Ok, good then. I know Dorric thinks that the whole gladiatorial fight to the death thing is Barbaric and wouldn’t wait to hear what anyone else thought before offering the yield. Anyone mind if I just have him shout down between combat rounds?
Shout away, but they ain’t yielding. Off with their heads.
Teuton, I don’t know what everybody else is packing in terms of HP, but Quentin realistically ought to be two more solid hits away from dropping. If it’s a slaughter I suppose there’s no harm in him hanging back, though.
Oh yeah, Ill die of shock if they yield.
Speaking of which, glee, if there’s any way Quentin can make chicken noises at the soldiers or call them widdle babies when the offer to yield is made, he’ll make every effort to goad them into fighting on.
When they inevitably choose to not yield, Dorric will shoot a bullet at the soldier closest to the party and offer them the chance to yield again between every round of combat until they are all dead, he will continue to shoot at the soldier who is the closest threat to a party member for the rest of combat, or until I change my mind.
I agree that we should give them the chance to yield…AFTER we end the fool still standing in front of us. I also agree that Quentin should drop back while Johannes and Dale step forward to handle the single empire soldier. Johannes will make maximum use of his shield and armour to protect Quentin, while doing his best to cleave the soldier from breastbone to balls…
Of course it is barbaric by modern standards, but it fits well into medieval roleplaying!
(And after all, there were duels risking death for centuries afterward.)
I’m all for you roleplaying Dorric not liking such contests, but fighting (against bandits, slavers, wild animals, Monsters etc) is an important part of roleplaying.
(I’m sure you’re OK with that - just checking!)
Goading is fine in my game.
All you need is to speak the language of your opponent, or understand how to get your meaning across (e.g. v an animal.)
Oh sure. Dorric has a problem with the performance aspect, not the fight.