Year 487 Summer Campaign

[GM Craig]

[Overall size. The shaft is thicker, the spearhead broader, and they are longer and heavier. They're not much use from horseback.]

[Valka]

While the men set fire to the ship Valka happily retrieved the longspear that Arne's foe dropped, securing it to her horse. The woman couldn't wait to put it to use.

[GM Craig]

You proceed upriver for about half a mile when you encounter another ship. There do not appear to be any guards, and when you enter the area no one challenges you. The holds of these two ships are empty. You fire them without delay, and linger only to make sure they are fully involved before leaving.

You make your way another half mile upriver, and find a populated camp. The smoke you had been seeing comes from a number of small campfires. Here the river forms a small bay, and there are a dozen ships here, hauled up on the sandy beach. From your vantage point, you can clearly see 10 Saxon spearmen. Unlike the others, these warriors appear alerted, and are standing in guard positions around the camp with their spears ready. They are clearly expecting trouble. There is no obvious commander.

Opponent	Weapon	Armour	Major Wound (HP)	Glory
10x Spearmen	Great Spear 10 (5d6)	Leather (4)	16 (24)	10

[Actions?]

It is very likely they'll be able to form a shield wall before you could charge them, unless you try and sneak in closer. Sneaking would be difficult to pull off, and would also remove the possibility of a charge.

[Arne]

Arne blew out his breath.  "Ten butted spears and locked shields against a charge would be hard for us to crack, Sir Cedwyn.  Unless we hit them from both sides.  Say you, Sir Rodric and Artaigne came at them from one direction.  They'd plant their spears and lock shields to face you.  Then Valka and I could come at them from the rear.  It would take them a while to turn around with those heavy damned spears of theirs.  Break their formation, and they are meat for the taking.  But for this to work, their attention would have to be away from Valka and I until we got close enough."

[Artaigne]

"They lack discipline and are likely to lose heart at the sight of true warriors bearing down on them on horse.  I think that a charge of five horse abreast would be more fearsome than a charge of three only."  "Not that your plan doesn't have merit, friend Arne, but I would be loath to see our numbers thinned by a lucky strike on either front.  I think our best course of action is to attack their morale first and the their persons."

[Cedwyn]

[Cedwyn Battle Roll: 1 vs. 13. Success, but meh]

Cedwyn nodded to Rodric, "Sir Rodric has the right of it. We must charge as a unit. Only together can we break them. Were we slightly more, we couldst split our charge but nay. We must go together."

[ooc: we set? Charge as a group?]

[GM Craig]

I need attack rolls from everyone. You have a spear, you are +15 to your effective skill rolls (+5 for Cedwyn's battle roll, +5 for being mounted against someone on foot, and +5 for a charge). If you are fighting with a sword, you are at +10 effective skill.

Any numbers above twenty get added to the actual roll, and any result 20+ is a critical.

Those of you with spears use your horse's damage stat. Anyone else uses their own damage stat.

If you have a sword instead of a spear, you can attack two opponents. Allocate your modified skill roll against each opponent, and make separate rolls. For example, if you have an effective 25, you can split it so you use 13 against one opponent, and 12 against the other, and determine success or fail separately, and use your personal damage stat.

Any questions, let me know.

[Geoffrey]

I thought you split your skill then added the modifiers to both rolls when attacking multiple opponents.

[Cedwyn]

"Sir Artaigne, may I borrow your spear for my charge?" Cedwyn inquired of his temporary vassal.

[assuming that's still cool Ben]

Cedwyn lined Peredur up for the charge, placing himself at the center and his massive horse. He nodded to each wing and issued the charge.

"For God and King Uther!" He bellowed, urging the others on.

[Spear Roll: 9 versus effective skill of 30. I think that makes my roll an effective 19 versus 20. So success but no crit. Dmg=26]

[GM Craig]

I thought you split your skill then added the modifiers to both rolls when attacking multiple opponents.

Any +5 mounted bonus is added after dividing the base Combat Skill.

You are correct, my mistake.

And further to another question:

When lance charging, I assume you cannot split your attacks between multiple opponents. Correct?

Answer: Correct.

No splitting attacks when engaging in a lance charge.

Reference: http://www.gspendragon.com/questionsanswers.html

[Geoffrey]

Cedwyn had aligned them so perfectly Rodric decided to take full advantage of the opportunity.  Instead of his spear, he drew his sword and readied his shield.  As they thundered along the ground he picked his targets and swung his sword twice.

[OOC: Sword skill is 19, splitting into two attacks at 10 and 9, modified skill rolls 20 and 19.

Attack roll 1 result 19 vs skill 20, success!  Damage 23.
Attack roll 2 result 16 vs skill 19, success!  Damage 20.

Damn, I should have rolled vs the 19 the first time...]

[Artaigne]

Handing over his spear at Cedwyn's request, Artaigne loosed his sword and made ready to ride down some Saxon dogs.  He decided to try for two targets and press his luck.  He was still confident in his abilities with the sword despite what his most recent actions had shown. 


ooc: Sword skill is 17 splitting into two attacks at 8 and 9 with modified rolls of 18 and 19

Attacks: 4 vs 18 success, damage 18
18 vs 19 success, damage 25

Man I feel ya Ken, mine were backwards too.

[Arne]

Arne swung his sword over his head and let out a blood-freezing war-cry as he thundered toward the Saxon line.  Picking two of the enemy that weren't already being attacked, he aimed a wicked backhand cut at the one on his left, then brought his sword up and over to slash at the spearman on his right.


2 sword attacks: 

Base 8+10 = 18 needed to hit1st Saxon (roll of 4  = success)   Damage (5d6) = 19 pts.
Base 7+10 = 17 needed to hit 2nd Saxon (roll of 19 = failure)

[Valka]

A company front and unified charge- Valka smiled at her comrades and grinned wickedly at the Saxons. Though she loathed fighting on horseback this moment was well worth it. With the highest pitch of the group the woman screamed her own warcry in her native tongue before barreling down upon the dogs, her spear and shield ready to accept their flesh and bones.

1d20 +10 <= 20
6 + 10 = 16 ... success
4d6
1 + 1 + 5 + 4 = 11

[GM Craig]

The line is tight as you start a slow trot, building speed slowly in a straight line until your horses stretch out and thunder over the shore of the river. The Saxons scramble to set up a spear line, but they cannot get their lines straight - many look afraid as the line of knights thunder down on them, led by the mighty form of Peredur.

You clash against the Saxons before they can stabilize their line, and rip through them. Several fall to the sand, unconscious. Others carry significant wounds, and are effectively incapacitated.

Character	Roll	Opponent Roll	Opponent	Result
Arne (26)	4/20 (success)	7/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (9/24) major wound	(19-4) 15 damage
Arne (26)	19/20 (fail)	11/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (24)	-
Artaigne (29)	4/18 (success)	9/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (14/24)	(18-4) 14 damage
Artaigne (29)	18/29 (success)	4/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (3/24) unconscious	(25-4) 21 damage
Cedwyn (29)	19/20 (success)	1/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (2/24) unconscious	(26-4) 22 damage
Cedwyn (29)	19/20 (success)	5/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (24)	-
Rodric (28)	19/20 (success)	19/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (5/24) unconscious	(23-4) 19 damage
Rodric (28)	16/19 (success)	1/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (8/24) major wound	(20-4) 16 damage
Valka (28)	16/20 Success	12/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (17/24)	(11-4) 7 damage
Valka (28)	16/20 Success	5/0 (fail)	Saxon Spearman (24)	-

Cedwyn manages to keep his spear, but as you come to a halt, the Saxons rally somewhat. As you were outnumbered, you are now in melee with the Saxons. As you are not charging, you can attack multiple opponents, regardless of your weapon.

[Actions?]