The following is from GameDoc's session summary posted in our private social media. Traveller has been super fun, and I have to say that Dr. Mondocane (if that is his real name!) has been one of my favorite characters of all time to play. This was a fun adventure with a great group and I (for one) am looking forward to his future Travels through space...
The crew descend to the lowest level of the facility and discover the command center, manned by a new version of the cyber-organic Essersy creatures, these with low-grade telekinetic abilities.
Sally May is seriously injured in the firefight, but the crew emerges victorious. Klaes is able to restore the manual flight controls for the Esseray transport so that the human prisoners can reruns to Tinath. The other sabotage the drone fighter craft being assembled at the facility before boarding the Kingfisher and departing the moon.
Inspirobot will analyze and select the best market strategy for your collapsing integrity.
So, just a while after I spoke about Blackstone Fortress and the market strategy, Games Workshop seems to have taken everything I said to heart.
Warhammer Quest: Cursed City was open for pre-order April 3 of this year. As of April 28, it is completely gone and is never coming back. It's not on the GW webstore, and all records of it ever existing have been expunged.
Recently it's been determined that Cursed City will not ever get a reprint. It wasn't ever mentioned that this was a limited release, and essentially if you don't have one you won't get one unless you pay scalper prices. Based on what we've come to expect from Warhammer Quest games, this is definitely a step up on the FOMO game as GW has shown us the don't care what anyone thinks about anything they do, or don't do, or how they do (or don't) do it.
No reprint? What? Why would they develop an entirely new game system only to be done after one print run? Again, this is a Warhammer Quest game and it came with certain expectations, such as support from the parent company. Expansions and you know - remaining in print long enough for people to buy it.
The pre-order itself was sold out in around 2 hours, so what bean-counter at GW was responsible for the decision to halt reprint manufacturing ALTOGETHER? Not a delay, simply no reprints. Cursed City is gone forever.
Is GW's capital down? Are there manufacturing issues? They haven't said anything about it, so one is left to assume that this is all on purpose and GW will be catering to the FOMO market from here on out. I don't blame them really.
With 3d printing getting better and better, as a company they are going to have to start offering something other than hastily written and janky rules and overpriced plastic. The answer, they seem to believe, is making the plastic even more limited. Probably so they can all scalp on the secondary market.
The FOMO Market Creation was something I only thought existed when I spoke about GW's practices, but it appears that it is not only very real, but that's what all of these will be targeted at from now on. It's official. Games Workshop games are only for scalpers and collector fanboys only.
...but mostly scalpers.
Fanboys will gawk at limited edition releases more and more as GW attempts to regain relevance. It's hard to watch, but instead of leading the pack of game companies as the renowned rules and model makers they were, GW has decided to become the ultra niche-market of the already niche-market.
I wasn't going to buy Cursed City anyway.
I hate anything Age of Sigmar related with an irrationality that could only be born of the oldest neckbeardia. It's just not gonna happen. Call me when the Old World drops. Maybe. Honestly we don't NEED GW anymore and other gamers are starting to figure that out, mostly due to their questionable practices and policies. Plus there's just better stuff out there.
...but I'm gonna scalp the hell out of the next boxed set, baby. Pre-order 10 of the next set and wait 3 weeks. Then double the price and stick it on Ebay. After 6 months and every 6 months thereafter, add the boxed set's price. Once it's gone too big and you need to lose the stock, break the remaining ones open and sell the components at a huge markup.
You can't lose with that strategy now that GW is a non-trusted entity. Invest! Buy! Sell!
The following is a secondary primer to 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons combat designed to give an overview and basic functions of non-lethal combat.
One thing to remember going forward is that attacking an armed opponent while unarmed is excessively dangerous. Doing so will allow the armed opponent to strike first with his weapon regardless of the initiative roll. If that wasn't enough, in addition the defender will be granted a +4 to attack and damage rolls.
Note that this is not an 'attack of opportunity' as it is in later editions. Rather, it simply allows the defender with a weapon to strike the unarmed attacker first, and with a hefty bonus. It is not a 'free' attack.
Non-Lethal Combat
Punching, Wrestling and Overbearing are the three main ways of engaging in unarmed non-lethal combat. Weapons can also be used, as we will see. Each of these methods has a different system of resolution.
Punching
A normal attack roll is made vs. the defenders normal armor class.
The score on the attack roll, if it is successful, is compared to the Punching chart to determine the type of attack that landed.
The amount of damage is given, along with a percentage to 'knock-out'.
Damage is treated differently. Record punching damage separately.
Barehanded punches cause 1 or 2 points of damage, with brass knuckles or metal gauntlets causing 1d3.
All punching damage is subject to Strength bonuses.
When a creature reaches 0 hp, they fall unconcious. Only 25% of punching damage is permanent, actual damage. The remaining 75% is temporary and heals 1 turn after the combat is finished.
It is best to have the lowest successful score you can get. If you hit AC 6 on a 12, for example, you will have better results on the 'Punching' chart with more damage and higher K.O. chances with a 12.
Wrestling
Wrestling is handled very similar to Punching, with the following changes.
A normal attack roll is made vs. the defenders normal armor class.
The score on the attack roll, if it is successful, is compared to the Wrestling chart to determine the type of hold you manage to land on your opponent.
A hold is broken by a throw or gouge result on the Wrestling chart, the assistance of another person or the successful use of a weapon.
Armed combatants involved in Wrestling are limited to using Small size weapons after the first round due to arm bars and head locks.
Damage is treated differently. Record wrestling damage separately.
All Wrestling moves inflict 1 point of damage plus Strength modifier. Certain moves can be maintained from round to round until broken.
Holds maintained for consecutive rounds do one extra point of damage per round they are maintained. For example, an arm lock maintained for 3 rounds would do a total of 6 damage (1 + 2 + 3) at base (plus Strength bonus each round).
When a creature reaches 0 hp, they fall unconcious. Only 25% of wrestling damage is permanent, actual damage. The remaining 75% is temporary and heals 1 turn after the combat is finished.
It is best to have the lowest successful score you can get. If you hit AC 5 on a 7, for example, you will have better results on the 'Wrestling' chart with more damage and higher K.O. chances with a 7.
Overbearing
Overbearing is where you dogpile something.
A normal attack roll is made.
For each category of size difference, the attack roll is modified by +4 (if the attacker is larger) or -4 (if the defender is larger).
For every leg beyond the second the defender possesses, the attacker suffers -2 to their attack roll.
Multiple attackers make 1 attack roll, with a +1 for each attacker beyond the first.
If the roll is successful, the target is pulled down.
The pin can be maintained from round to round with successful overbear attacks. In this case, the "prone" modifiers to combat are ignored for the dogpile.
Using Weapons in Non-Lethal Attacks
For when you have no other option or only barely care about how it turns out.
Can only be attempted with weapons with which a non-lethal beatdown could be effected. No warhammers, maces or arrows.
Damage is treated differently. Record non-lethal weapon damage separately.
When a creature reaches 0 hp, they fall unconcious. Only 50% of non-lethal weapon damage is permanent, actual damage. The remaining 50% is temporary and heals 1 turn after the combat is finished.
Additional Notes on Unarmed Combat
A creature's natural weapons are always 'usable'.
It is possible to specialize in Punching or Wrestling. Any character of any class can do so.
Single-Class Fighters can eventually specialize in both, but you may only start play with one specialization or the other.
A Weapon Proficiency slot can be spent by any player character to learn Martial Arts.
Martial Arts is functionally identical to punching but with higher damage and K.O. percentages.
Specializations in Unarmed techniques can be continued and improved upon.
It is possible to perform the following maneuvers (covered in the Overview):
Called Shot
Disarm
Grab
Hold Attack
Parry
Pin
Pull / Trip
Sap
Additional considerations may come into play due to whatever reasons. For bookkeeping purposes, simply note the amount of damage done by these attacks and figure it out at the end of the combat - there's no reason to break each attack into the temporary / permanent categories. Worry about it once the opponent is at 0 and then figure out if they are still alive.
