Re: [HoE] Ambush Ethics

["Steve Crow" <crow_steve@hotmail.com>]

>I've got hypothetical situation that I've been pondering, and need you
>guys' input.  Say that the posse is fighting a group of bad guys who are
>smart enough to have good knowledge of tatics.  They manage to set up a
>fairly well-done ambush.  The posse missing clues and/or Cognition rolls,

What kind of TNs did they miss for the Cognition checks?  Theoretically, the 
rules only say that you have to make a TN of 5 to avoid surprise.  You can, 
of course, modify that TN taking into account preceeding Stealth and 
Cognition and Search rolls and all (John Goff does in Boise Horror, Chapter 
3).

Sounds like tinkering with the TN of the Cognition rolls you required would 
be your best bet.

>walks right into it.  The bad guys get the drop on the heros, letting
>flying with big nasty ranged weapons (snipers, rockets, etc) from cover.
>The dice, and common sense dictate that the heros are smeared like a fine
>red jelly- all without getting a good look at the enmey or a chance to
>fight back.  Realistic, yes, but hardly fair.  How do I do realistic ambush
>type situations that show the bad guys' prowess but aren't unfair to the
>players?
>

You may not be able to.  *shrug* I always take the "theatrical" view of such 
things.  If you were watching a movie with the posse as the good guys, how 
interesting would it be to watch the on-screen heroes get smeared to a fine 
red jelly without a chance to put up a fight?  :)

You might have to forego "realism" to some degree in this case...

>-Evil Marshal Mayfield


---

Steve Crow

"Worm Can Opener Extraordinare"

Check out my website at:  http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com