RQG: Session 20, Session 15 of Chapter 2 Behind Enemy Lines, War

This is my VLOG on my Runequest: Roleplaying in Glorantha campaign. Session review with some GM musings and issue discussion.
Live play at: • RQG Liveplay: Session ...
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[@reverance_pavane]

In reality one of the big advantages of skeleton warriors would be having absolutely no fear over their own mortality. Which is a tremendous advantage in real world melee combat, as one of the major aspect of shield work in a foot duel (as opposed to formation or cavalry) is to prevent the attacker from having convenient lines of attack that don't expose them to your weapon. This is why bucklers and light wicker shields are still very effective, since they really aren't used, when used properly, to actually physically block the blows. This is the same advantage a real world berserker (or a total amateur that doesn't know the danger that they are putting themselves in) has over an expert. The fear of being wounded (in a real battle, rather than HEMA or SCA) has a profound effect on combat (although it is mitigated somewhat in FRPG with magical healing), and encourages one to be on the defensive. And they would be somewhat implacable and untiring. Even leaving aside the morale implications of most people literally facing death directly. [Of course Humakti face Death on a regular basis, so this later bit has no effect on them.]
Then there is the invulnerablity to critical hits, blood loss, and the like. Skeletons don't need to be a push-over.
RQ:G and 13A having the big advantage that you can have multiple levels/HD of skeletons baked into the game. Or in other games, actually make them skeleton warriors with adding fighter levels/abilities (potentially augmented for their undead nature).

[@Bryon1187]

Great insight and thanks for the perspective. I completely agree that the fear of pain or death is a great advantage in combat. I've found with my players, even though we have lost 3 characters thus far with this group, fight with no fear. 😁

[@davidbrennan660]

I have Skeletons fighting more mechanically together as automats… they are “single minded “and will not stop, I like it they lose form if no longer on ground, standing in a river is still ground as per the Movie.

[@rqstaffan]

That sounds like a character one of my buddies had in Griffin Mountain - we ended up calling it "Perfect Victim". He had "Wear no armour on Chest" and "Use no Shield" geases as well.

[@Bryon1187]

😆😆😆

[@rqstaffan]

We have a "how deep do you sleep" house rule that's worked quite well for us. Anyone waking up gets a CON roll. You want to roll high (bad sleep). CONx5 is the baseline - you wake up and can start reacting. For each multiplier below that, you add a round, so a CONx1 roll is 4 rounds lost before you can react. MGF type things may of course occur for crits...

[@Bryon1187]

Excellent, thanks!!

[@davidbrennan660]

I use Half % Listen rolls to wake up before unpleasantness and Con Rolls x5 to 1 to stay awake getting more difficult in line with fatigue ( not in a run screaming from the table RQIII style but more common sense GM ruling that is agreed on)

[@davidbrennan660]

I have Impaling weapon attacks on a Skeleton just traps the Weapon in the body of the skeleton if you hit the chest and Abdomen….. you could attempt to knock back or pull off balance if you are holding the weapon I guess… An Ax or Sword can smash bones using Slashing attacks… no incapacitated rolls needed of course…. I use the Armour on Skeletons as AP including the points of the Bone… Human sized 1 and more of big beastie skeletons, so limb protected by old dried out Cuirboulli Armour.., protecting 2 points due to condition add the bone 1 pt total value 3 point.. I have the damage can shatter the bone like a bell ringing… damage done minus armour vs point of the bone on the resistance table….so a big old Giant Skeleton with big old bones of many Armour Points is tougher.