I'm really interested in getting into RuneQuest. Does anybody have any advice for using/tracking/explaining strike ranks? Thanks.
Quote from: Cave Bear;1146881I'm really interested in getting into RuneQuest. Does anybody have any advice for using/tracking/explaining strike ranks? Thanks.
Sure, it's simple. Strike Ranks are simply initiative for Runequest, and determines, who gets to attack first or last in any given combat round. There are ten strike ranks every melee round. Think of them as consecutive phases or turns within a melee round. Your SIZ, your DEX, and the length of the weapon is used to determine the order of attacks in a given combat round. You count strike ranks up from zero, with one being the fastest,the person who strikes first, and ten being the slowest. If there is a tie, both blows are considered simultaneous.
Quote from: GameDaddy;1146889Sure, it's simple. Strike Ranks are simply initiative for Runequest, and determines, who gets to attack first or last in any given combat round. There are ten strike ranks every melee round. Think of them as consecutive phases or turns within a melee round. Your SIZ, your DEX, and the length of the weapon is used to determine the order of attacks in a given combat round. You count strike ranks up from zero, with one being the fastest,the person who strikes first, and ten being the slowest. If there is a tie, both blows are considered simultaneous.
The person who is larger, faster, and has the longest weapon usually gets first attack opportunity, and this is true in real life.
LindyBeige, Sword Vs. Spear
[video=youtube;afqhBODc_8U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afqhBODc_8U[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UybEdUDdxM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UybEdUDdxM)
It's pretty straightforward. Basically it's what GameDaddy said, though it is technically possible to have a Strike Rank =0 which would be faster than a 1.
Spells and missile attacks also have strike ranks which tells you whether those attacks occur before or after a melee attack. Drawing and firing an additional arrow takes additional strike ranks so it is possible for a character to fire more than one arrow in a single round. Once you and the players get used to it, it's an easy system to use and takes no more time than does fussing with initiatives. And it allows the GM to prepare a standard set of spells and other actions for a party of NPCs and to know ahead of time what SR the various actions occur on.
Quote from: Bren;1147024And it allows the GM to prepare a standard set of spells and other actions for a party of NPCs and to know ahead of time what SR the various actions occur on.
This sounds like a real time saver.
As a long time Runequest player, my advice is to ignore the part of the rule about characters getting multiple attacks if their Strike Rank is below a certain numbers. Just use it for determining who goes first and if a character might be able to interrupt another character's action.
Interestingly, the Strike Rank system is very similar to a system in Judge's Guild's Ready Ref Sheets for D&D.
(https://i.imgur.com/wrFiRl3.png)