The City Of Judas: Questions – Powered by the Apocalypse G+ Archives

About the combat system (again)

How do you deal with damage regarding to the fiction?

For example, in one of my previous adventure (the second session actually), my characters were facing a huge Roc bird. So during one of the assaults, one of them ended up being pounded to the ground by the monster beatting up his shield. In terms of pure mechanical damage, I think he got only like 1 health point less (so he was still in positive at the time), so hence my question : do you think that in this case particularily, we can assume that even if the damages weren’t enough he could receive the Unstable condition nonethelss to respect the fiction? The Roc was really massive and I described how he could rip apart sheeps and cows like butter so hitting very hard somebody even with a shield at his arm would be enough to save his life for sure but maybe not enough to let him get away with just a fleshwound? I was thinking of giving him the condition but only temporarily as his arm will get numb for having blocked such powerful blows, meaning it will be gone either after the fight or as soon as natural healing will begin.

I ask this because quite recently I came accross an article for DW entitled injuries are not just hit points gone (or something like that) describing the kind of situation as above. So I know COJ is not DW but was wondering if any of you had to deal with the same kind of situation?

As somehow new to the Apocalypse World system in general, I just would like to have your different views here about…

As somehow new to the Apocalypse World system in general, I just would like to have your different views here about how you deal with the Perception move.

For instance, during and investigative mission I asked my PC to have a Perception check because they were watching over their client. One of the PCs got like 3 holds/questions and started to ask me things like : what’s hidden here, what might be the escape route, and so forth. Only matter was that I didn’t plan anything really dangerous at this point so I had to play along because I didn’t want to rob the player of one of his hold. What do you think?

During such a kind of watchful mission, would you maybe have your PCs to roll for Perception only once and assume this check will cover, say a day of watch or maybe like a special event only?

I have a question about some moves…

First, the We Got Gold move from the Leader : it is stated : “Take -1 Spirit for each hold you get”. So is it only when the player gets a 7-9 or even if it’s a 10+? So isn’t it a bit much if the player loses 2 or even 3 spirit points at once?

Second, concerning the Horseman. i noticed than nearly all of his moves are rolled +steel. Now the player gets to choose between a horse that gives him +1steel or another one who gives him +1edge. Aren’t you afraid that the players will choose the +1steel horse as most of their horseman moves will be rolled with this stat? Maybe would it be more balanced if at least one move could be rolled +edge? I just say that because i know that this is something players will tend to look at even if don’t like to optimize their character. But it certainly seems to work fine the way it is!

Third, concerning the Hunter. Do you think a player who has the Grand falconner move could add +2Brains to tracking/hunting tests if he chose the smart dogs from the Master of Hounds move? To me I’d say why not, even if the falcon is going to be way much faster than the dogs but they could help too. On the other hand maybe is it a bit overpowered mechanic-wise?Again just said that cause I know my players and this is totally the kind of question some of them might ask.

Thanks! 🙂

I’ve got another question (very prolific night tonight!) about armor :

What do you think should be the maximum amount of protection a character should have? As I understand at character creation, one can choose 1pt of armor that he could add to another even to a third point if he’s for example a Veteran or a Leader to a total of 3.

So to your mind is it like a very heavy armor? If so can the character still get a shield to a total of 4 and what would be the drawbacks to be a living human tank?

Or is he limited to a cap of 3?

Just a question about combat against more than one character.

Here I mean one character (like a PC for example) against 2 or maybe 3 ennemies. How do you handle it generally? I don’t think they should be classified as a gang (as long as they don’t exceed more than 3 to 1) so I don’t think you should call for a Face Death move for it.

Here’s what I thought about the matter :

I think that the player opposing 2 to 3 ennemies should maybe automatically at least take damage one time unless he chose the option of Outmaneuver during his Engage in Battle test or i don’t know maybe face Danger+steel if the player still want to be offensive? So if he didn’t manage to do so, maybe should he take the damage a second time? Or maybe suffered a +1harm ap?

I know that it seems a bit too hardcore perhaps but I really want the fights in COJ (at least the way I envision it) to be deadly and something the PCs should consider with caution.

What do you think?

Some questions&answers about the Raider

Some questions&answers about the Raider

Grégory Doizi I totally understand that this could cause some confusion.

Does the Raider PC make a move for his gang in battle AND another one for himself using the regular moves? […]

When the Raider takes advantage of his own gang, and acts as a leader within its ranks, than it usually makes sense that the Raider will roll the move for the Gang and consider the single character as part of the gang action.

In other words: roll just once for example for Engage in Battle, and the Raider is acting within the ranks of the gang. See also pages 123 and 124 (especially 124 the section CHARACTERS’ GANG VS. NPCS’ GANG).

the Player asked me what are his stats relevant in combat […]

The Raider’s stats become relevant in the case he wants to act indipendently.

Now, the advantage to act indipendently is clear: roll with the Raider’s Steel (which might be a higher stat), attack the enemies from two fronts, or even do something else entirely (“while my gang keeps the enemy busy, I help the noble we’re escorting to get back on his horse and run away…”).

If we stick to battle, I usually treat things like this: for everything there’s a price.

If the Raider stays with the gang, they roll together to Engage in Battle, but the Raider is of course always in position to give orders, to get help from his companions, to direct the gang tactics. And the Raider is not outnumbered because he’s part of the gang.

If the Raider moves ‘out of the ranks’, then it depends: does he engage the same enemy? OK, but he’s outnumbered; he’s not part of the gang anymore, just a single guy fighting among a bunch of enemies and friends…

Does he want to give orders when things are getting hard for the gang? OK, but how does he do it if he stepped aside and picked targets with his bow, instead?

in our group there were a raider and a veteran and they were fighting a small gang

That sounds bad for the poor gang of NPCs 🙂

is the other character considered to be part of the gang? and if so how about his own moves

He is considered part of the gang only if he ‘gives up’ acting indipendently and stays within ranks.

If the Veteran wants to move out of the ranks and do something else (attack the enemy gang from the flank, pick them from afar with a crossbow, steal something while the enemy gang is busy with the Raider’s gang…), then he’s not in the gang anymore (and does not enjoy the protection of numbers…)

If not part of the gang or doesn’t want to be part of it, does he have to fight the gang using the Face Death move as if he were alone?

Oh, yes, absolutely. Unless he takes the Last Stand move, and then he has an option to fight a gang on equal ground.

Now, the above are important principles, but a bit of flexibility might be in order, in certain cases.

Take in consideration how many characters do you have, and how’s the situation on the battlefield, and the fiction you guys enjoy the most. What is this fight about?

If you need to overcome the enemy by brute force, then I’d stick more to the tactical side, if your Players enjoy that.

But if the fight is about getting some other NPC safely out of trouble, for example, than for sure the focus is more on threats directed to the NPC.

For example: Raider+Gang engage together the enemy, while the Veteran and the NPC run away.

On a 7-9 of the Raider, instead of hitting the gang, I let the NPC gang take the blow but say that a couple of them sneak past the Raider’s gang and are about to chase the Veteran. Raider, what do you do?