Thanks for posting your speeches in the Game Thread - I do enjoy having my combat seasoned with some roleplaying.
In case you’d like to try this sort of thing again, here’s a rough guide to the base chance and modifiers for influencing opponents.
a) If the opponent is basically a Fighter (e.g. Empire Soldier) then party members not in the front line get a small penalty.
If the opponent is basically a Caster (e.g. evil Cleric) then party members who are not casters get a small penalty.
b) The base chance is usually your Charisma, though the Skill of Salesmanship can be used instead.
c) A good argument or insult (depending what you want the opponent to do) gets a bonus.
Dorric tries to influence a Soldier to surrender using Salesmanship.
He is 50% to convince (+20% for Skill; +10% for detailed description; -10% for not being in front line) = 60%
He needs 1-12 on a d20, but rolls a 13 = fail.
Johannes tries to influence a Soldier to surrender using Charisma.
He is 85% to convince (-10% for mentioning Empire Superiors who demand ‘no surrender’) = 75%
He needs 1-15 on a d20, and rolls a 2 = success.
John tries to influence a Soldier to surrender using Charisma.
He is 35% to convince (+5% for description; -10% for not being in front line) = 30%
He needs 1-6 on a d20, and rolls an 8 = fail.
Quentin tries to influence a Soldier to fight him (Quentin) using Charisma.
He is 40% to convince (+10% for detailed insult) = 50%
He needs 1-10 on a d20, and rolls a 19 = fail.
The Soldier fighting Johannes simply can’t get through the Plate Mail.
The Soldiers are 5% to hit.
They need 1 on a d20, but roll 14 = fail.
Johannes looks disappointed, but makes a decisive attack.
Johannes is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 1 = success, doing 6 damage.
Dale attacks the same Soldier and also succeeds.
He is 45% to hit.
He needs 1-9 on a d20, and rolls a 1 = success, doing 2 damage.
The pony outflanks the Soldier and again its hoof does 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 3 damage.
The Soldier falls.
The only Soldier still fighting hits the pony, killing it.
He is 55% to hit.
He needs 1-11 on a d20, and rolls a 10 = success, doing 3 damage.
As the pony falls dead, its final attack inflicts a wound.
The Monster is 55% to hit.
The pony needs 1-11 on a d20, and rolls a 10 = success, doing 2 damage.
Seeing there is only one Soldier still fighting, Dorric (no longer unnoticed) aims at the injured Soldier fighting the pony and his Sling Bullet thuds home.Dorric is 55% to hit = 55%.
He needs 1-11 on a d20, and rolls a 10 = success, doing 5 damage.
The remaining Soldier walks carefully over to Johannes, and lies down in surrender.
This causes the other Empire Soldier to rush over to kill the ‘deserter’ – but before he can do so, the party finish him off*.
(*I’m not going to bother rolling 6 characters and a pony versus one Soldier!)
as posted in the Game Thread, you have three topics to consider (you don’t have to reply - just use your roleplaying instincts!)
your characters have now done enough combat and roleplaying to gain a level.
Newbies, this is a Very Good Thing.
I’ll explain in more detail once you’ve had a chance to respond to the above. But it means more hit points and better abilities…
Let him go? I don’t see what else we can realistically do with him. I’m not inclined to antagonise the Empire more than we already have - I doubt they will like the bad press they are going to get from this.
Dale doesn’t think it was wise to demand his surrender-- it might have been better for everyone had he died honorably on the field of combat. However, now that we have accepted his surrender, he thinks we’re obligated to let him go freely. We’re probably not obligated to let him leave armed, however. We could confiscate his weapons.
I was hoping you might give Julius some advice based on careers your characters know (Carpenter, Hunter, Fisherman, Salesman, Herbalist + Historian), but fair enough.
