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CRMcNeill
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 Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 4:58 pm Post subject: Blaster Bolt Scatter on Lightsaber Parry |
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So, suppose a Jedi character is parrying blaster bolts, but isn’t trying to redirect them at a specific target. Obviously, the blaster bolts don’t just vanish into thin air, but there’s nothing in the RAW regarding where they do go, and I don’t recall ever seeing a house rule to that effect, either. My first thought would be to use the Grenade Scatter Chart to randomize effects (maybe with an additional D6 roll to determine vertical dispersion). Might also be worth considering the character having to account for innocent bystanders in a particular direction and having to take steps to avoid deflecting bolts in that direction.
Just my initial thoughts. Discuss.
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Mamatried
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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IMO the grenade scatter would cover this, as to any stray bolts hitting innocent people being in any such case random, I would use the wild dice 1s to dermine this, with a single roll 1 not doing much, but if this is done over several turns and each or the majority has 1s to the wild dice i would add in this with a narrative and IMO a reduced balster bolt effect, yes it will hit on the 1 but with a reduced effect and a reduction that could amount to 0 damage.
IMO star Wars RPG is first and formeost narrative with the RAW as a "loose" guide to resolve the most important issues when they appear |
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garhkal
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| Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2024 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Mamatried wrote: | IMO the grenade scatter would cover this, as to any stray bolts hitting innocent people being in any such case random, I would use the wild dice 1s to dermine this, with a single roll 1 not doing much, but if this is done over several turns and each or the majority has 1s to the wild dice i would add in this with a narrative and IMO a reduced balster bolt effect, yes it will hit on the 1 but with a reduced effect and a reduction that could amount to 0 damage.
IMO star Wars RPG is first and formeost narrative with the RAW as a "loose" guide to resolve the most important issues when they appear |
That's how i've seen it used, IF the DM cares to bother with it.
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cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| garhkal wrote: |
That's how i've seen it used, IF the DM cares to bother with it. |
Right. One of the critiques with the D6 System that has considerable merit is that the combat is too clunky. Adding yet another roll to see what happens after a successful deflection isn't helping.
However, if there was something environmental that made where the bolt goes more significant, this might be a way to do it. For example, if you're in the middle of the Tatooine desert and there's nothing for miles to hit, then there's a good chance this is pointless. However, if you're in a lab full of potentially hazardous, flammable, or delicate materials, it may add some tension to the scene.
Actually, I might also use it if there was a special environment and someone rolled a 1 on the Wild Die.
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garhkal
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2024 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| cheshire wrote: | | garhkal wrote: |
That's how i've seen it used, IF the DM cares to bother with it. |
Right. One of the critiques with the D6 System that has considerable merit is that the combat is too clunky. Adding yet another roll to see what happens after a successful deflection isn't helping.
However, if there was something environmental that made where the bolt goes more significant, this might be a way to do it. For example, if you're in the middle of the Tatooine desert and there's nothing for miles to hit, then there's a good chance this is pointless. However, if you're in a lab full of potentially hazardous, flammable, or delicate materials, it may add some tension to the scene.
Actually, I might also use it if there was a special environment and someone rolled a 1 on the Wild Die. |
OR in a multi-story bar with lots of civilians around, it can matter!
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CRMcNeill
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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Exactly. It doesn't need to be an issue until circumstances require it, but when it does, having a framework for it is helpful.
I don't think just having it happen on a '1' really represents it well, though. I'd like to see it set up as a requirement for a Jedi to be more aware of their surroundings, and have a higher Difficulty in order to not deflect the shots into the "danger arcs", be they filled with high explosives or innocent civilians. Then on either a '1' or a failed roll (failed by less than the Difficulty modifier, that is), do you have to worry about bolt scatter.
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garhkal
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| Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 1:29 am Post subject: |
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| CRMcNeill wrote: | Exactly. It doesn't need to be an issue until circumstances require it, but when it does, having a framework for it is helpful.
I don't think just having it happen on a '1' really represents it well, though. I'd like to see it set up as a requirement for a Jedi to be more aware of their surroundings, and have a higher Difficulty in order to not deflect the shots into the "danger arcs", be they filled with high explosives or innocent civilians. Then on either a '1' or a failed roll (failed by less than the Difficulty modifier, that is), do you have to worry about bolt scatter. |
That makes me wonder, if a random lightsaber bolt being deflected By a force user DID strike someone, killing them, would the jedi who did the deflection get a dsp?
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Ziz
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| Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| In one of the Miniatures Battles books, there's a Vectored-Effect Weapon Deviation Template - maybe use something like that to determine where the deflected bolt goes? |
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FVBonura
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| Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Much like the ricocheting Blaster Bolt in the trash compactor, I would rule and assign a Survival Difficulty based on the number of bolts deflected in the given combat round, and force a Reaction Survival Roll to all in a 180 degree sweep of the reflected bolt. Failure indicates someone was hit. If multiple individuals fail the roll, the lowest roll or if a Critical Failure (Fumble) is rolled the target is hit by the reflected bolt.
Note: This Reaction Roll would impart a Multi-action Penalty based on the actions of those in the 180 degree area of effect.
Note: FYI this is an incidence where Laser/Blaster weapons behave like plasma weapons in the RPG.
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CRMcNeill
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| Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| garhkal wrote: | | That makes me wonder, if a random lightsaber bolt being deflected By a force user DID strike someone, killing them, would the jedi who did the deflection get a dsp? |
DSPs hinge on both intent and emotional “fuel” used to achieve an effect. An accidental deflection into an innocent bystander lacks both. Granted, it’s a grey area, and if there were a mechanism for a character to be temporarily more vulnerable to the Dark Side, it would certainly play well here. However, if the player knew the potential danger of hitting innocent bystanders and displayed any sort of indifference to the potential of injuring or killing one of them, I would absolutely hit them with a DSP.
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CRMcNeill
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| Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| FVBonura wrote: | Much like the ricocheting Blaster Bolt in the trash compactor, I would rule and assign a Survival Difficulty based on the number of bolts deflected in the given combat round, and force a Reaction Survival Roll to all in a 180 degree sweep of the reflected bolt. Failure indicates someone was hit. If multiple individuals fail the roll, the lowest roll or if a Critical Failure (Fumble) is rolled the target is hit by the reflected bolt.
Note: This Reaction Roll would impart a Multi-action Penalty based on the actions of those in the 180 degree area of effect.
Note: FYI this is an incidence where Laser/Blaster weapons behave like plasma weapons in the RPG. |
I think this mechanism works well for the random aspect of a magnetically sealed room, but less so for a situation where the deflecting character has control over which direction the blaster bolts go. And I’m iffy on using Survival to counter attacks when Dodge exists. Yes, the skill description says it can be used to react to danger, but read in context, it’s referring more to hazardous environmental conditions, not combat.
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FVBonura
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| Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2024 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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To clarify "deflecting" and "redirecting" are two different animals. A Jedi who is just trying to not die, is different from a Jedi who is turning his own opponent's energy against him. Both of these defensive actions are at different difficulty levels.
Deflecting is no different than the blaster bolt ricocheting in the trash compactor. No skill was directing its course so it can be construed as random projectile. This is why I rule on a Survival not a Dodge roll.
Redirecting is a deliberate compound action with its increased Difficulty and Multi-Action Penalty. This would require a Dodge Roll on a specific opponent the Jedi declared as such. I would require either the Player to declare a redirect or deflect action prior to rolling the Lightsaber Skill on their turn in the combat round.
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garhkal
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| Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 1:40 am Post subject: |
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| CRMcNeill wrote: | | garhkal wrote: | | That makes me wonder, if a random lightsaber bolt being deflected By a force user DID strike someone, killing them, would the jedi who did the deflection get a dsp? |
DSPs hinge on both intent and emotional “fuel” used to achieve an effect. An accidental deflection into an innocent bystander lacks both. Granted, it’s a grey area, and if there were a mechanism for a character to be temporarily more vulnerable to the Dark Side, it would certainly play well here. However, if the player knew the potential danger of hitting innocent bystanders and displayed any sort of indifference to the potential of injuring or killing one of them, I would absolutely hit them with a DSP. |
True, but deflecting the bolt randomly IS imo showing indifference..
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CRMcNeill
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| Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Right, but circumstances matter. If the character understood the danger and tried to avoid hitting bystanders, but fails a roll and hits a bystander anyway, then I probably wouldn’t give them a DSP. If they knew the danger and didn’t take action to avoid it, then I probably would.
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CRMcNeill
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| Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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@FVBonura I agree for the most part, and I have my own issues with Dodge as presented in the RAW. I just don’t think Survival is a better choice. YMMV.
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