This thread is about simplifying the BESM Tri-Stat combat mechanic to try to reduce the number of rolls (and hence posts) necessary to resolve each round of combat, making the system more PbP-friendly.

Well one trick I have seen used is the GM does all initiative rolls and Defense rolls so the players only do the attack rolls. Initiative and defense are reflex actions with no strategy unlike attack. But the catch is that any players want to roll for themselves and don't like other people rolling for them.

In BESM 3rd attackers WIN ties and deal damage. Also if the attacker beats a defense roll by a certain number they deal double damage. But defender beats an attack roll by a certain amount it does not use up one of their defense actions. So static defense numbers tend not to work well.

Since I don't have the 3rd ed, my modifications will have to be for 2nd ed, and since the mechanic is inverted in 3rd ed, I'm not sure that whatever I devise will be transferable - at least, not without some additional work.

At present, I'm thinking of removing the Initiative roll altogether (depending what may come out of Arkrim's Initiative thread), and making a static defence reduce damage. Currently, I believe the damage is an all or nothing thing, where if the defender succeeds, they avoid all damage, and if they fail, they receive the listed damage in its entirety.

I strongly suspect I may be designing myself toward a 3rd ed style roll over system. I might have to invest after all. :(

Is the Chargen essentially the same in 2nd and 3rd, or are there major changes there, too?

 Major Changes in that it is an effect System. The typical game gives you 300 Character Points. CP can be higher or lower depending on the settings 'power level.' It costs 10 CP for each level in Stats Body, Mind, Soul. You then buy attributes like weapon for attacks, various powers like super speed, bonus health, damage multiplier, wealth for money, companion for npc allies, etc. It is an effects based system so you buy the attribute you want then explain how it works and fits your character concept.

 This system lets you make anything you want so it is universal and has no 'source books' like in second edition. The draw back is because the game is so versatile the GM has to literally explain each campaign in great detail and what attributes and concepts are allowed and what are not. To speed this up Alexei Yaruk-Mundhenk suggested using various campaign/setting specific templates. That way players get an idea what is good and what is not and got a starting point to work from.

I’m trying to get my head around the Besm 2nd ed rules, so I can make some changes.

I’m not understanding the rules on fighting with two weapons.

It says:

      A character with a one-handed weapon in each hand may use both at once against the same target or attack two different targets (even if he or she does not have Extra Attacks) but at a severe penalty. A character with the Gun Bunny Ability, Two Guns (page 38), reduces the penalty for using two ranged weapons, while one with the Kensei Ability Two Weapons suffers a reduced penalty when using two melee weapons.

      If a character making a ranged two-weapon attack has the Gun Bunny Ability, Two Gun (page 38), or a character making a melee attack has the Kensei Ability, Two Weapons (page 47), the penalty is reduced to the value noted in parentheses below.

      A two-weapon attack is made at a +4 (+1) dice roll penalty if all attacks are aimed at the same target, or a +6 (+3) penalty if aimed at different targets. If a character has Extra Attacks, this option can only be used with one of the character’s attacks but not all.

So, does this mean that an attacker using two weapons against a single opponent gets:
a single attack roll at +4 (and two lots of damage)
or
two attack rolls each at +4
or
one attack roll with no mods and a second at +4?

How does this relate to the Extra Attacks rule (underlined above)?

Thanks.

Ico, your guess is as good as mine. Unfortunately, there is no longer a good website for fielding questions like this. The old Guardians of the Order website had a discussion board with an excellent community several years back. Then George R. R. Martin was asked about the long delayed Song of Fire and Ice RPG at a convention, and he let the wolf out of the bag that GotO was going under and had killed the project. Immediately, the president posted a message on the main website formally announcing the folding of the company and simultaneously removed the discussion board. I don't know of anyone who even has a backup of those forums.

Meh, well, I'll just do the GM thing - make a decision and issue a ruling. :)

Thanks.

Project abandoned. It didn't work out. :(