Battle FAQ - Revision history

Pink Moon Stick at 16:20, 26 August 2016

2016-08-26T16:20:06Z

Pink Moon Stick at 16:14, 26 August 2016

2016-08-26T16:14:41Z

Pink Moon Stick at 16:13, 26 August 2016

2016-08-26T16:13:24Z

Pink Moon Stick at 19:53, 21 August 2016

2016-08-21T19:53:52Z

Pink Moon Stick at 19:50, 21 August 2016

2016-08-21T19:50:56Z

Pink Moon Stick: Created page with "Here are some frequently asked questions by players in the middle of combat, along with some typically useful links like Battle Commands, Attack Flags and [[Abilities]..."

2016-08-21T19:49:16Z

Created page with "Here are some frequently asked questions by players in the middle of combat, along with some typically useful links like Battle Commands, Attack Flags and [[Abilities]..."

New page

Here are some frequently asked questions by players in the middle of combat, along with some typically useful links like [[Battle Commands]], [[Attack Flags]] and [[Abilities]]. If you have a question you don't see the answer to here, don't hesitate to ask the other players in the room for help, or ask the staff using the '''+ask''' channel!

__TOC__

==There's an attack coming at me! What reaction should I use?==
===Is it from an ally?===
* Use '''+accept''', it's required. (That was easy.)

===Check '''+sheet''': What reactions am I best at?===
* High '''Reflex''' means you're good at '''dodge'''.
* High '''Vitality''' means you're good at '''brace''' against Physical attacks (check '''+queue''').
* High '''Spirit''' means you're good at '''brace''' against Magical attacks (check '''+queue''').
* There are lots of '''[[Abilities|abilities]]''' that improve reactions.

===Check '''+status''': What buffs and debuffs do I have?===
* Stun, Stagger: Try not to use '''brace'''.
* Trap, Tangle: Try not to use '''dodge'''.
* Blind, Diversion, Cripple, Exhausted: Maybe don't use a huge, expensive attack next round, since it will do next damage and/or crit less often.
* Withstand: Consider using '''brace'''!
* Accelerate: Consider using '''dodge'''!
* Empower, Surge: Consider using a big, expensive attack next round, since it will do more damage and/or is more likely to crit!

===Do I have any '''reaction penalties'''?===
* If a '''reaction penalty''' is above zero, use a different reaction.

===Check '''+queue''': what flags does the incoming attack have?===
* Penetrating or Defense Breaking: Try not to use '''brace'''.
* Homing or Accurate: Try not to use '''dodge'''.
* Overpower, Defense Breaking or Accurate: Try not to use '''counter'''.
* Barrage: This attack's damage is very unpredictable! It could hit really hard, or really softly.
* Mana Attack or Energy Drain: This will hurt your '''Mana''', not your '''Fatigue'''!
* Vampiric: This will heal your opponent's '''Fatigue''' if it connects!
* Item Grab: If you're in an item contest and you're the current item holder, this could take your item away!
* Purify, Banish: If you're not a Power of Darkness, this won't hurt me very badly! If you are, it will hurt more!

===I want to use a '''counterattack'''! Which attack should I use?===
* Check '''+queue''' for the incoming attack's range, and match it, or use an attack with the Barrier flag.
* Don't use an attack with '''Psych''' -- you won't get the '''Morale''' benefit, but you will pay the '''Mana''' cost.
* Do use attacks with Overpower, Accurate, or Defense Breaking, they'll give you better odds.
* Do use attacks with Rush -- critical counterhits are more effective.

===Oh no, it's a '''Finishing Attack''' coming towards me! What are my options?===
* Defend against a finisher using the same criteria as any other attack.
* Note that if you counterattack, you can only counter with your own '''Finishing Attack'''. This will initiate a '''BEAMWAR''', and as the defender you'll be at a disadvantage -- try to do this only when you think you've spent less '''Mana''' than your opponent over the course of the fight, not just based on '''+pot''', since both sides of a '''BEAMWAR''' get the '''Mana''' that went into their '''Finishing Attack'''s refunded. (In other words, by the time you have make this decision, '''+pot''' will show your opponent with a lot less '''Mana''' than they'll actually have available for the '''BEAMWAR'''.)
* In a group fight or GMed scene, it's polite to check with the group/GM before initiating a '''BEAMWAR'''.
* Once the '''BEAMWAR''' has started, since you're the defender, bid immediately with '''+beamwar/bid #'''. Next round, you'll react to any other attacks coming your way (plus the outcome of the beamwar), then pose those reactions along with pouring yourself into the '''BEAMWAR''', and after that, bid again.

===I want to defend an ally from an attack coming towards them! What do I do?===
* First, handle your own incoming attacks; you have to take care of yourself first!
* Then, ask permission of both the ally and the attacker -- would they mind if you covered your ally?
* Once you have permission from both parties, '''+cover ally=attacker'''. Then take a look at the attack with '''+queue''' and decide how you're going to react, bearing in mind that using +cover means your reaction will be heavily penalized.

==Okay, now it's my turn, what should I do?==
* Your pose will need to narrate both the outcome of the reaction you just did, and your next action, so decide on your next move, make your pose, and execute the attack in the code with '''+attack target(s)=attack name''', in that order! (Leave a space between the names of multiple targets, if applicable.)
* If you need to review your opponent's pose in order to write your own, but it's been spammed out by other poses, '''+pot/last name'''!

===What attacks do I have?===
* Check '''+attacks''', and if you don't know what the flags do, refer to [[Attack Flags]].

===I want an attack I don't see listed!===
* You can make up '''Free Attacks''' on the fly to represent in-character improvisation or an attack unimportant or irregular enough for your character that it isn't permanently on your list as a Special. The rules are [[Free Attacks|here]].

===This attack is expensive! Should I use it?===
* Check your '''Mana''' with '''+status''', and think about whether or not you'll have enough '''Mana''' after you use the attack to still be able to use one of your '''Finishing Attack'''s later. (Of course, it's okay to go under that cost if you have more rounds between now and when you expect to use your Finisher, to get '''Mana''' back!)

===I don't want to use an attack action this turn!===
* Target yourself with a '''Power Level 0 Free Attack with no flags on it''', and '''+accept'''. Name it something appropriate to whatever non-combat action you're taking. You'll get a little '''Mana''' and a little '''Morale'''.
* If you're willing to run the risk of taking some damage, target your opponent with it instead; they might counterattack (representing them going after you while you try to do whatever it else it is you're doing this round) but you'll get the same amount of '''Mana''', and extra '''Morale''' (unless their reaction succeeds perfectly, in which case you'll get the same amount of '''Morale''' you would have gotten targeting yourself).

===Check '''+status'''. Do I have debuffs and want to get rid of them?===
* Target yourself with a '''Cleanse''' attack (or get a '''Cleanse''' from someone else), or target an opponent with a Bind Break attack.

===Check '''+pot'''. Does my opponent have debuffs?===
* Sounds like a good time to nail them with a big hit they may struggle to defend against.

===Am I '''Taunted'''?===
* Either try to get someone else to '''Cheer''' you, or be mindful of your '''Morale''' as it drops into the negatives.
* You don't want to get stuck near 0 '''Morale''', so avoid '''Psych''' attacks and consider using a non-offensive attack (such as a buff or a '''Cleanse''') at least during one of the '''Taunt's''' three rounds.
* If necessary, you can '''Quip''' yourself to get further into the negatives (narratively speaking, this involves sinking further into whatever emotional state the '''Taunt''' has induced), but be careful not to drop below -100 by accident, because that's a knockout!
* People who are '''Taunted''' may not be in the proper emotional state to '''Cheer''' anyone, so try to resist the urge unless it makes sense for the characters and emotions involved.

===Instead of going on the offense, I want to help my allies!===
* Buffs, '''Cheer'''s, '''Cleanse'''s and Reinforce attacks are usually welcome, but always ask first before applying them to an ally -- they may already have someone else signed up for the job, or want to wallow in their disadvantage for a story reason.

===I need more '''Mana'''!===
* Use a Power Level 0 attack, or get someone else to use a Reinforce attack on you.

===I need more '''Morale'''!===
* Either get someone else to '''Cheer''' you, or use a '''Psych''' attack (or both).

===I'm low on '''Fatigue'''!===
* Either use a cheap attack, conserving your '''Mana''' for a counterattack, or use a huge attack to try to end the fight ASAP!

===Check '''+status''': I can use my '''Finishing Attack'''! Should I?===
* Yes, if you just survived someone else's '''Finisher'''. Do it up. If no one is knocked out when the dust clears, consider using +check rather than continuing the fight with the combat system; that's '''+check <name1>=<name2>''' (or, in a group situation, multiple names on both sides).
* If you're in a one on one duel, there's a judgement call involved. Have you done much damage to your opponent's '''Fatigue'''? Have you stacked reaction-penalizing debuffs on them like Trap, Tangle, Stagger and Stun? If the answer to both of these questions is no, you might want to spend a round pursuing one or both of these goals first. If you think your opponent will probably be using their '''Finishing Attack''' on their next action (check '''+pot''' and look for ''Radiant''' or '''Transcendent'''), definitely pre-empt them. It's always better to go first.
* If you're with a large group, keep an eye on the '''Morale''' ratings listed in '''+pot'''. If most of your allies (who have yet to take their actions this round) are at '''Radiant''' or '''Transcendent''', it's '''Finisher''' time. If the scene is spotlighting a specific theme, you might want to communicate with those characters to see if they'd like to be the first or the last to use '''Finishers''' for storytelling reasons.

[[Category:Combat System]]

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ===Check '''+status'''.  Do I have debuffs and want to get rid of them?===
-* Target yourself with a '''Cleanse''' attack (or get a '''Cleanse''' from someone else), or target an opponent with a Bind Break attack.
+* Target yourself with a '''Cleanse''' attack (or get a '''Cleanse''' from someone else), or target an opponent with a '''Bind Break''' attack.
 ===Check '''+pot'''.  Does my opponent have debuffs?===
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 * Either try to get someone else to '''Cheer''' you, or be mindful of your '''Morale''' as it drops into the negatives.
 * You don't want to get stuck near 0 '''Morale''', so avoid '''Psych''' attacks and consider using a non-offensive attack (such as a buff or a '''Cleanse''') at least during one of the '''Taunt's''' three rounds.
-* If necessary, you can '''Quip''' yourself to get further into the negatives (narratively speaking, this involves sinking further into whatever emotional state the '''Taunt''' has induced), but be careful not to drop below -100 by accident, because that's a knockout!
+* If necessary, you can '''Quip''' yourself to get further into the negatives (narratively speaking, this involves sinking further into whatever emotional state the '''Taunt''' has induced), but be careful not to drop below -100 Morale by accident, because that's a knockout!
 * People who are '''Taunted''' may not be in the proper emotional state to '''Cheer''' anyone, so try to resist the urge unless it makes sense for the characters and emotions involved.
 ===Instead of going on the offense, I want to help my allies!===
-* Buffs, '''Cheer'''s, '''Cleanse'''s and Reinforce attacks are usually welcome, but always ask first before applying them to an ally -- they may already have someone else signed up for the job, or want to wallow in their disadvantage for a story reason.
+* Buffs, '''Cheers''', '''Cleanses''' and Reinforce attacks are usually welcome, but always ask first before applying them to an ally -- they may already have someone else signed up for the job, or want to wallow in their disadvantage for a story reason.
 ===I need more '''Mana'''!===
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 ===Check '''+status''': I can use my '''Finishing Attack'''! Should I?===
 * Yes, if you just survived someone else's '''Finisher'''.  Do it up.  If no one is knocked out when the dust clears, consider using +check rather than continuing the fight with the combat system; that's '''+check <name1>=<name2>''' (or, in a group situation, multiple names on both sides).
-* If you're in a one on one duel, there's a judgement call involved.  Have you done much damage to your opponent's Fatigue?  Have you stacked reaction-penalizing debuffs on them like Trap, Tangle, Stagger and Stun?  If the answer to both of these questions is no, you might want to spend a round pursuing one or both of these goals first.  If you think your opponent will probably be using their '''Finishing Attack''' on their next action (check '''+pot''' and look for ''Radiant''' or '''Transcendent'''), definitely pre-empt them.  It's always better to go first.
+* If you're in a one on one duel, there's a judgement call involved.  Have you done much damage to your opponent's Fatigue?  Have you stacked reaction-penalizing debuffs on them like Trap, Tangle, Stagger and Stun?  If the answer to both of these questions is no, you might want to spend a round pursuing one or both of these goals first.  If you think your opponent will probably be using their '''Finishing Attack''' on their next action (check '''+pot''' and look for '''Radiant''' or '''Transcendent'''), definitely pre-empt them.  It's always better to go first.
 * If you're with a large group, keep an eye on the '''Morale''' ratings listed in '''+pot'''.  If most of your allies (who have yet to take their actions this round) are at '''Radiant''' or '''Transcendent''', it's '''Finisher''' time.  If the scene is spotlighting a specific theme, you might want to communicate with those characters to see if they'd like to be the first or the last to use '''Finishers''' for storytelling reasons.
 [[Category:Combat System]]

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ===Oh no, it's a '''Finishing Attack''' coming towards me!  What are my options?===
 * Defend against a finisher using the same criteria as any other attack.
-* Note that if you counterattack, you can only counter with your own '''Finishing Attack'''.  This will initiate a '''BEAMWAR''', and as the defender you'll be at a disadvantage -- try to do this only when you think you've spent less '''Mana''' than your opponent over the course of the fight, not just based on '''+pot''', since both sides of a '''BEAMWAR''' get the '''Mana''' that went into their '''Finishing Attack'''s refunded.  (In other words, by the time you have make this decision, '''+pot''' will show your opponent with a lot less '''Mana''' than they'll actually have available for the '''BEAMWAR'''.)
+* Note that if you counterattack, you can only counter with your own '''Finishing Attack'''.  This will initiate a '''[[BEAMWAR]]''', and as the defender you'll be at a disadvantage -- try to do this only when you think you've spent less '''Mana''' than your opponent over the course of the fight, not just based on '''+pot''', since both sides of a '''BEAMWAR''' get the '''Mana''' that went into their '''Finishing Attack'''s refunded.  (In other words, by the time you have make this decision, '''+pot''' will show your opponent with a lot less '''Mana''' than they'll actually have available for the '''BEAMWAR'''.)
 * In a group fight or GMed scene, it's polite to check with the group/GM before initiating a '''BEAMWAR'''.
 * Once the '''BEAMWAR''' has started, since you're the defender, bid immediately with '''+beamwar/bid #'''.  Next round, you'll react to any other attacks coming your way (plus the outcome of the beamwar), then pose those reactions along with pouring yourself into the '''BEAMWAR''', and after that, bid again.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 * Vampiric: This will heal your opponent's '''Fatigue''' if it connects!
 * Item Grab: If you're in an item contest and you're the current item holder, this could take your item away!
-* Purify, Banish: If you're not a Power of Darkness, this won't hurt me very badly!  If you are, it will hurt more!
+* Purify, Banish: If you're not a Power of Darkness, this won't hurt you very badly!  If you are, it will hurt more!
 ===I want to use a '''counterattack'''!  Which attack should I use?===

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Your pose will need to narrate both the outcome of the reaction you just did, and your next action, so decide on your next move, make your pose, and execute the attack in the code with '''+attack target(s)=attack name''', in that order! (Leave a space between the names of multiple targets, if applicable.)
 * If you need to review your opponent's pose in order to write your own, but it's been spammed out by other poses, '''+pot/last name'''!
 ===What attacks do I have?===