With apologies to LoC if I'm stepping on his toes...

Since it looks like shooting has started (or is about to start), let me summarize the very simple rules for combat.

Understanding How to Hit:
1. The Character has a Physical Score. That is their Base "To Hit" number. Skill Levels Add to that number. Hits are resolved by rolling 1d20 and scoring BELOW the character's modified "To Hit" number. Armor, Movement, Defensive Fire, Aiming, and Suppressive Fire all influence the character's "To Hit" number.

It doesn't matter if it's melee combat or ranged, all combat is based off of a character's Physical Score.

To Start Combat:
1. Everyone involved rolls 1d10 and adds their individual Initiative. Also add the Initiative Bonus for the Ranged Weapon if it's Ranged Combat, or the difference between the Initiative Bonus if it's Melee Combat (whichever combatant has the highest Initiative Weapon gets the difference as a Bonus). The Order of the Combat Turns will then follow the Initiative Order from Highest to Lowest.

During a Combat Turn, on the character's Initiative, they:
1. can move up to their movement rate (for us that's 60')
2. declare their type of attack, and their target
3. conduct any "special" ranged combat attacks (I don't think we have any yet)
4. calculate the character's adjusted "To Hit" number (LoC is gonna have to do that)
5. roll 1d20 and compare it to the "To Hit" number. Equal or Below is a Hit.
6. roll for damage if the attack hit.
7. repeat steps 1-6 all the way down the Initiative List.

Those are the basics.

Aiming - You can take a -1 to Damage (to -5) for a +1 To Hit (to +5)
Defensive - You can take a -1 To Hit for a -1 Armor

Armor is a negative number because it subtracts its value from the opponent's To Hit number.

There are others, but those are the big ones for now.

YIPES! Dives for cover!

seems I had the rules messed up royaly in my head..... chalk it up to reading them at four in the morning.

   I don't consider that stepping on toes at all, Malcolm.  Basically that's what I was going to go over with John and Nijad, since they are in a combat situation now.  I appreciate you taking the initiative (pun intended) and laying it out for them, in fact I may copy that into the rules section for future reference for players.  Not everyone is familiar with the LoC system yet, but its not difficult at all and it won't take you long to figure it out.  Thank you very much Malcolm, I appreciate the help.

   There ARE other modifiers to combat, most optional, but those are the basics.  Its important to remember that combat isn't one attack but the number of attacks you can make in six seconds.  It helps to think of it in those terms.

Right now the combatants are about ten feet apart so they are NOT in melee range yet.  A special ranged attack is a situation in which one combatant wants to enter into close/melee combat with someone when they are ten or more feet apart.  The person with a ranged weapon would get their attack BEFORE the person moving to engage in melee, EVEN if he had the initiative.  So for example, if one of the thugs had a knife and wanted to attack Rhic, and Rhic was smart enough to have a pistol handy, well he'd get to attack the thug first.  It doesn't occur too often, but it might in this combat, which is why I'm bringing it up:)

Well, it's all okay with me. I've gotten the books back out of the basement, but I haven't found the time to really re-read them yet because a couple of games opened up and I've been rushing to get in on some Pathfinder games. I wasn't really expecting people to knock over a pawn store, but I guess that's part of why I don't get people who rob convenience stores. Banks? I get that. But why rob places with no money?

Meh. I'm gonna hope they shoot Rhic and get all the violence out of their system. Murder's a heck of a rap.

well lucky for Rhic if anyone dies in a robery the surviving suspects get the rap for it.... hehe...well then they might want to know why he was carrying a .45 under his jacket....

That's what immediately came to my mind.

"Who brought a loaded gun in to shop at a pawn store? Another criminal slower on the draw to rob it, that's who."

Nah, just a good old boy on vacation... was planning on doing some hunting later.

This message was deleted by the player at 07:20, Sat 14 Jan 2012.

   Wow, I know what you mean Nijad.  I'm from Canada and we don't have people totting around guns like down here.  Still this is the States and I do know that here in Texas, it is different.  Folks do it daily down here, much to my deep dismay.  And i quite agree with you: guns, knives, and drinking are a bad combination.  Heck I'm not sure people act well enough to have guns on them when they're sober.

   By the way, don't believe everything Rhic says, the old yarn spinner.  Who the heck hunts with a 45?  Hmmm then again, I wouldn't believe everything I say either :-P

 Yeah, good ol boys and guns scare the hell out of me too...and I AM a redneck....

By the way it's not the gun ya need to worry about, it's the damn fool carying it. :P

   And the congregation all said: "AMEN."

<Politics>
Guns kill people in the exact same way that pens misspell words
</Politics>

That's all I'm sayin'

   And again I have to agree.  However, there IS one caveat I must add to that.  Guns may not kill of themselves, but I always tell folks who tout that old addage:

   Sure, they may not kill, but what else were they designed to do, after all?

   That is simply MY opinion though, and that's all I'm prepared to say on the subject:P

   I will say that everyone is doing brilliantly though, and I hope to be able to bring folks together soon.  Catalyst for that is already in place :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Sat 14 Jan 2012.

well not to kick of a debate ..
  A hammer, knife, or axe is also a weapon. just over the centuries it's lost it's weapon status since newer 'tools' have been developed. Guns just make it easier and safer for people to do what we did with stone axes and flint knives... sad to say humans are so prone to violence even useful tools become dangerous in our hands.

   And again I can see that point.  I love the history of ancient firearms and the antique ones do fascinate me, but I'd just never own anything that was meant to be a weapon.  I guess I don't trust myself not to use it on folks who pi$$ me off:P

then you should not carry a gun. part of being responsible with a gun is to insure you never injure anyone without a damn good reason...such as he's comoing at you wearing a hackey mask and swinging a machette.

Well I am English.  And live on this safe little island that has no relevance to any were else in world.
Just one of them little island countries like Iceland, Cyprus or Jamaica (joke)

As for gun.  In this country you only have one if need it.
That is:-
1) For sport and locked away in clubs.
2) If dealing with vermin - ie farmers.
Then they only have basic shot guns.

Only other people that have guns are few gangs in few cities.


In modem democracy there no other reason to have gun.
I sure one day America will grow up and realise Free basic health care and no guns is mature way to run country.

Hell you go to petrel pumps in this country.  You fill up with petrel you want and then you pay.
Few people do try get away with not paying but they catch you in end.

Ok so how many people have I upset???

not me, everyone has the right to their own views and each country has a roight to it's own laws/traditions.

Unfortunately guns are a really devisive issue. some poople want way to many and some people want none at all except in the hands of police and military.... so who ever has the most support wins the day....thats fair to me. Even if my side of the argument is on the "loosing" side.

Also don't carry a pen or pencil or any pointy thing because they are capable of doing serious bodily harm to people who upset other people.

And don't live or walk near any sizable rocks or other heavy things that can be used to bash people.

Oh, don't live near any bodies of water that are big enough to drown stupid idiots.


Point is... temptation is everywhere.

LOL, yeah sometimes the temptation to throttle someone is overpowering...

basically if ya trust yourself with something don't worry about it. If not avoid it. so far I've not strangled anyone, that matters :P

   Well, as Oscar Wilde once said: "I can resist anything, but temptation:-)"

I beg to differ.  very few things have been created for the express purpose of killing or harming.
A hammer is a tool for construction.  Although it can be used as a weapon, it was created for another purpose.
A knife is a tool for eating and food preparation. Although it can be used as a weapon, it was created for another purpose.
An axe is a tool for procuring wood and such resources.  Although it can be used as a weapon, it was created for another purpose.

However; a sword was made for war.  It's purpose is to kill and harm.
Guns, also.

In my humble opinion, there is a line (fine but definate) between a weapon, and a tool (or other improvised item) that is used as a weapon.

Also, I am an Australian.  And we are very much like Simon and the English.

And while we are quoting, I will contribute "When one has a hammer, everything looks like a nail".
As an Australian, where people are not allowed to simply carry a gun if the want to, I am of the belief that in SOME (not all, or maybe even many) cases, those who carry a weapon will revert to its use faster, rather than finding other solutions.

As a Security Officer, we are trained to use a variety of 'degrees of force' ... and research tends to prove the sentiments above ... so we carry as little as possible.

   Hey Luke, I'm Canadian, so I share Simon and your viewpoints:)  Btw, have you been keeping up with Simon's thread?  As an Aussie, you'd probably appreciate it:)  Heck if I'd known you were from Australia, I would have asked for some tips ;-)