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Originally Posted by buzz
Mikeythorn, this review was a joy to read. Even though I thought there could have been more info about mechanics (I wanted to know more about combat and such), you did a very good job of presenting the feel of the game and its overall goals. Kudos!
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Thanks for the kind words Buzz and Bob (and to you too MysteryOfOse while I am at it).
Most rolls are based on a d20 roll versus a particular skill or attribute. A roll under the target is a success, a roll over is a fail and rolling the target exactly is a critical.
Combat is based on an opposed resolution mechanic where both players roll theirs d20s simultaneously. If both players roll under their skill (ie succeed) then the one who rolled highest strikes the other. If both fail then both miss. If one criticals (ie rolls his or her skill exactly) then that players succeeds and does double damage. Swords are the most common weapons, but there are a range of others available and these have different effects - a flail reduces the effect of chainmail for example while a man on foot using a halberd negates the bonus a mounted opponent usually receives.
If a player is fighting multiple opponents he or she can choose to split the skill between opponents. Ie split a skill of 15 into a skill of 10 against one opponent and 5 against another.
Modifiers for wearing armour and for height mean that armoured men on horseback have a huge advantage over those without armour and/or on foot. Knights - as appropriate to the setting - are the tanks of the game.
Mass combat is much more complex and I don't think I have enough time to explain it! Leaders use a "battle" skill to gain a tactical advantage and this, the conditions of the field of combat and the current state of the battle impacts on rolls made by unit commanders and all this filters down to individual knights (rolls at the unit commander and individual level are only made if the unit involves PCs and then only for the PCs themselves). For PCs battles can be absolutely lethal, but they can also result in huge amounts of Glory (and booty). There are also a number of other aspects - for example PCs may become seperated from their units (big trouble!) and may have a chance to fight through bodyguards to reach an enemy hero or leader.