Topic: Melee Scuffle

[JohnK]

Has anyone used melee scuffle before?
Seems a rather powerful skill.
I m thinking of using it (if I finally permit its use) as a combat maneuver with normal cost.

[yammahoper]

It is a powerful skill, especially if you only require 20% activity.  I doubled the activity to 40%, which worked well enough in RMSS.  The result is primary attack at -40 and a secondary melee scuffle.  Note that any parry should also be deducted from melee scuffle skill.

I stopped using melee scuffle.  I now allow instead a player to make a normal attack and substitute unbalance crits.  Useful to gain advantage or attempts to capture foes.

[JohnK]

I doubled the activity to 40%, which worked well enough in RMSS

20% would permit a primary attack at -40 and two secondary attacks with melee scuffle, in one round! Too powerful combination. But even with the 40% activity I am skeptical. It s still problematic (practically two attacks in around)

I m also thinking of using it as the subdual attack skill in the Combat maneuvers, but with Unbalancing criticals instead of Subdual. Not too powerful but useful.

The thought behind this is to permit the warrior to break the defense line of enemies or... even to pass through the line and attack an opponent behind it (not using pole arm) at the same round! The last one normaly demanding two rounds of action.

[jdale]

Where is this skill listed? I don't see it and you've piqued my curiosity.

[yammahoper]

Where is this skill listed? I don't see it and you've piqued my curiosity.

RM2 Arms Companion.

[markc]

I did not think it was an RMSS/FRP skill. But then I thought that maybe there was a language barrier and the skill was in RMSS/FRP.


 I will leave the topic here unless someone wants me to move it to the RM2/C section as it seems to be played out at the moment.
MDC

[JohnK]

Although I 'm using RMSS, I thought that melee scuffle (from the Arms Companion) may be introduced to the game in a way that balance may be maintained and at the same time give a fighter the opportunity to break the enemy line with an appropriate attack.

The idea behind my question is to give the fighter in my campaign more advantage in battle based on some skill besides his quite high OB. The thief in the campaign we 're currently playing, seems equally deadly with the fighter since he has almost the same OB (but with only one weapon though).

[OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol]

I personally use melee scuffle (but in RM2...) but I don't see much of a problem with it. First, because it's a skill on which one have to spend DP; second, because I only allow it when one has a "large" item in hands (e.g., a shield in addition to a one-handed weapon, a polearm or a two-handed weapon), making it not much different from developing TWC and getting a second attack; at last, because the defender gets a RR. So, sure, if used with your normal melee attack, you get an additional one, but only to inflict unbalancing criticals (which isn't that much, really) and your opponent even gets a RR (so developing TWC would be better); or you can use it with weapon brawling (and gets two melee scuffle attacks), but, not only do you have to develop yet another skill (weapon brawling itself), even your main attack (the weapon brawling) wouldn't inflict as much damage as normally; and using it alone (getting four melee scuffle attacks) isn't really all that helpful... except to push someone back, somewhat equivalent to a bull rush or tripping maneuver (as a note since someone lamented it didn't exist in RMU).
At last, I personally think the more combat maneuver options are available, the better... not to mention I also play with the tumbling attack maneuver, which I find is waaaaaay more powerful (though it has its own drawbacks). Or the feinting maneuver.

[yammahoper]

Weapon Styles in the MAC allow for multiple attacks.  Additional unarmed attack, shield bashes, additional strikes; plenty of options to keep things interesting and give fighters a little oomph in melee.  The defensive options are particularly nice.  And melee scuffle or weapon brawl is easily added as well to a style.

[Marrethiel]

Although I 'm using RMSS, I thought that melee scuffle (from the Arms Companion) may be introduced to the game in a way that balance may be maintained and at the same time give a fighter the opportunity to break the enemy line with an appropriate attack.

The idea behind my question is to give the fighter in my campaign more advantage in battle based on some skill besides his quite high OB. The thief in the campaign we 're currently playing, seems equally deadly with the fighter since he has almost the same OB (but with only one weapon though).

MS is a completely broken skill IMO. I would just use the Moving Manoeuvre rules to break an enemy line.
eg
Fighter: I want to use Brawn to bash down the front line.
GM: No probs, make a Very Hard MM, the guy in front has two ranks behind him so only makes a Medium MM.

Fighter: I want to use Athletics to clamber on top of them.
GM: okay, you can Make a Hard MM but if he beats you in his Medium MM you can't parry his attack.

MM's are a great part of RM, use them!