Re: [BNW] Combat tips?

[The White Crow <whytcrow@io.com>]

>    But there was one problem; combat.  It's just not working smoothly for me.

Combat in this game can get pretty crazy, that's for sure.

>    This isn't a bad thing, but I have to recalibrate my images and ideas to
>fight; make the combats more focused, more simple.  To help, I'm looking for
>tips from more experiences GMs/players - what works, what doesn't, what speeds
>things up, what tone works best with the system.

Keep the dice rolls to a minimum.  If you find that something a char does 
keeps requiring a large amount of dice rolls, then you should change 
it.  That has been what has slowed us down.

Write down init.  Use index cards with the bad guys stats on them.  That 
way you have a handy place to mark off damage and stun and whatnot.

>     I'm also looking at the movement/scale system and wondering.  I never use
>miniatures and maps, because I don't like them; I like the freedom to change
>things to fit the flow of the scene, and I find the 'wargaming' feel of
>miniatures irritating or boring.

I never use miniatures.  I didn't when I was running DnD.  I don't 
now.  IME, they slow things down and absolutely prevent any fudge facter 
the GM has.  Ranges become absolutes and require calculations.  You have to 
stop and draw and/or setup the layout and the people.  And if you don't 
have figures that truly represent who/what is on the board, it becomes 
harder to keep up SOD.  I played in a Villians and Vigilantes game that 
used minis.  Drove me nuts trying to remember which die I was.

Jennifer