Combined Actions in Combat

[Brandon]

I'd like to solicit everyone's opinion on combined fire.

So I understand how combined actions work, with one character commanding a group of other characters to perform a task, and how there is 1D for every three people combining, etc. One of the attackers gets to add the dice bonus to either accuracy or damage, or can split the bonus up on both. Kind of like speed drawing.

So say there are four people combining fire on one target. One is commanding and shooting. The commander successfully makes a command roll (-1D) and the character with the highest blaster gets to add +1D to either the blaster damage or blaster skill (choosing damage).

The other three people engaged in the combined fire, do they still have to make their blaster rolls against the target, or are those actions substituted by the die bonus to the highest shooter?

So the poor target has a chance of being hit four times, and will take damage 3 times at 5D and once at 6D, assuming all four shots hit?

The example printed in the WEG rules is unclear as to whether one person rolls for the entire group, or everyone still takes their actions...

[Ray]

With combined actions, one person rolls with the bonuses derived from the group of them.

In the example you give, three guys are shooting at the target, herding him towards the best angle of shot the third has available by denying him any other cover. They aren't really trying to hit him (Although they won't cry if they do), but are trying to get a better shot lined up for their buddy.

Another example would be a group of people fixing a Freighter. One guy will command the group, and the best guy will point out what needs to be done, do the hardest tasks (Or the least messy, depending on his personality), and the rest will do what else needs to be done, focusing on that.

It gets done faster, and leaves a less tendency for the "Did I tighten the Reverse Negative Coupling to the right torque?" problems that arise from doing too many things... Even when you take your time.

[Volo Enrunk]

yeah the combined action bonuses add to the highest persons skill and he rolls. but the bonus for 4 people would be +2d not 1d... unless your using R&E. which i think gets the bonuses up to high. there is a table on the charts and tables link just take out the command table and the number of people is the left margin and the bonus dice are on the right margin i mean 4 people shooting getting +2d doesn't sound bad but that battalion of stormtroopers can shoot at that ship over there if there commander is good enough. if you add 1d for every group of 4 that would get really really high where on the normal table its not that bad you just have to decide how leathal you want it.
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Sabbac anyone?

[Crell Damar]

[garhkal]

The only comment i have to add is that Revised and expanded allowed you to get the bonus from combining, in combat, to both the damage and the too hit roll...
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