Making Seize by Force more swashbuckling. I’ve been running star wars world and have noticed that when two force users enter into a seize by force exchange, lots of damage happens to both very quickly. This doesn’t feel to me like a good match to the nature of lightsaber duels in the star wars movies.
(I’ll use the AW names for moves rather than those from the star wars world hack just for broader reach).
What thoughts have other people had about this? Should I simply encourage more detail from the players and look for go aggro and acting under fire, or would it be fair to modify the seize move — perhaps having a complete success allow the winner to escape return harm altogether? Any other suggestions?
How are two force users SbFing? You have two PCs fighting? In that case, make use of Interfere and Act Under Pressure to draw out the fight realistically. If they’re just fighting, they’re just dealing harm, not using moves. They have to be trying to avoid harm to trigger the moves — draw out that narration during play to make your fights more like Duels.
If you mean when a PC and an NPC fight? Never ever use SbF on behalf ofthe NPC. The GM never rolls dice and never uses the basic moves.
I had a PC and NPC both with lightsabers dueling to cut each other down. The PC is trying to seize the NPCs life — or at least his capacity to fight, so SfB seems reasonable.
Okay, so I’m seeing that I could encourage the PC to describe more detail about how he’s fighting. I can also go into more detail for the NPC to set an example.
If I wanted to make this an extended dramatic duel, what would that look like? What kind of descriptions on my part and on the PCs part would trigger different moves?
Check out aw dark ages they changed the mechanic for that move that sounds perfect for the system
Okay, yeah, PC on NPC and they have a good chance of hurting each other? SbF is totally appropriate.
The best thing to do, probably, is to re-establish the scene following the exchange of harm. They’ve been dancing and slicing at each other? How badly did the fight go for the NPC? How well did it go? Are they going to back off and put distance between themselves and the PC? Are they going to press the attack and push in and break the PC’s guard? Those new details will provoke rolls other than SbF. Always re-evaluate and re-establish the scene, terrain, and positioning of the characters after every use of SbF. SbF is an entire exchange of harm, so it’s likely there is a break in the violence and the fighters are maneuvering or preparing themselves to renew the fight. Use that window of opportunity.
If the NPC has backed off and the PC wants to charge in? They’ll probably just take harm automatically unless they can evade it by Acting Under Fire. Similarly, if the NPC is pushing in through the PC’s guard, then the PC will need to find a way to give themselves room to maneuver — maybe thats Act Under Fire, maybe its trying to Force Push the NPC away.
I think Sieze by Force (or any other “exchange harm” move) is the wrong starting point for lightsaber duels. Lightsaber duels (like Jedi-on-Jedi or the equivalent) are all about the back-n-forth, not the exchange of harm. If any harm is done with the actual lightsaber, it usually ends the fight. Harm done during the duels is incidental: kicking, force-throwing things at people, etc.
Maybe something like…
When you duel with lightsabers, roll +FORCE (or whatever). On a 7+, pick 1 (limited by your current position):
– From any position: break off and reposition yourself (tell us how and where you go)
– From an equal or superior position: drive them back, cut them off, draw them in, or maneuver around them _(tell us which and where you end up)_
– From a superior position: flee the scene (tell us how and where to), inclict incidental harm (1 harm), or create an opportunity to strike them down.
On a 7-9, your opponent will also pick 1:
– They land a passing blow (1 harm)
– There’s collateral damage that endangers you or your allies
– They launch a surprise attack; defend yourself before your maneuver succeeds.
When you strike someone down with your Jedi weapon, choose your goal and roll +FORCE.
– Slay them
– Maim them
– Put them at your mercy.
On a 10+, you achieve your goal just like that. On a 7-9, your victim chooses which one happens or you achieve their goal only after they get in one last action.
These need work, especially if you’re going to make this work PC vs. PC. But I’d definitely go this direction rather than something like SbF.
The hack in question ( i dunno if you’ve seen it ) uses Vitality and Wounds to represent losing momentum; only Wounds harm is an actual injury. So, the back and forth of Star Wars is already modeled to some degree.
Ah, that does change things a bit. The AD:DA single combat move might work then.
I still think a custom-made move (or set of moves) for lightsaber dueling is the right way to go. Lightsaber fights are so clearly something distinct and awesome in the movies, it seems like a crime to make them use the standard set of moves that you’d use for fisticuffs and blaster fights.
When two lightsaber users duel, they’re competing for position and mental superiority. They’re fighting for the privilege to seize by force. Now ask yourself, how do they earn that privilege?
By being the better force user.
Alan Barclay: I’d say that’s definitely part of it. On the other hand, maybe the Force is just the conduit for something else. I think there’s some interesting space here. What happens when you use the Force and their lightsaber dueling as avenues for moves like Read a Sitch, Read a Person (“telling the truth” doesn’t have to be verbal–it could also apply to someone’s fighting style! Are they trying to mislead you through their actions?), Open Your Brain, and the classic Act Under Fire? Oh! And sprinkle some Go Aggro in there for duelists who have a forceful (pun unintended) presence.