Melee Attack Modifiers
Melee Attack Modifiers
When attacking in melee combat, figure your effective skill by:
- Taking your base skill with the weapon or unarmed attack you are using. (In some situations, another skill – e.g., Free Fall, Riding, or Environment Suit – will limit this skill.)
- Applying the relevant conditional modifiers below. Modifiers are cumulative, but combined visibility penalties cannot exceed -10 (-6, if used to blindness). If any modifier marked with an asterisk (*) applies, adjusted skill after all modifiers cannot exceed 9.
A roll of this number, or less, is a hit.
Attacker's Maneuver
All-Out Attack (Determined): +4
Move and Attack: -4*
Attacker's Posture
Crawling or lying down: -4 (if crawling, can only make reach "C" attacks)
Crouching, kneeling, or sitting: -2
Attacker's Situation
Affliction (coughing, retching, etc.): see Afflictions.
Bad footing: -2 or more (GM's option)
Grappled: -4
Holding a large shield: -2
Major distraction (e.g., all clothes on fire): -3 or more (GM's option)
Minor distraction (e.g., part of clothes on fire): -2
Mounted, and mount attacked on its last turn: -2
Mounted, and mount's velocity relative to target is 7+: -1
Shock: -HP of injury received last turn (maximum -4)
ST below that required for weapon: -1 per point of deficit
Wearing a shield in close combat: -DB of shield
Other Actions by Attacker
Deceptive Attack: -2 per -1 penalty to foe's defense
Dual-Weapon Attack: -4/-8 with primary/off hand (-4/-4 w. Ambidexterity)
Evaluate: +1 per turn (maximum +3)
Off-hand attack: -4 (no penalty w. Ambidexterity)
Rapid Strike: -6 on both attacks (-3 w. Trained By A Master or Weapon Master)
Striking into close combat: -2
Wild Swing: -5*
Target (choose one)
Hit location: 0 for torso, -2 for arm or leg, -3 for groin, -4 for hand or foot, -5 for face, -7 for skull; impaling and piercing attacks can target vitals at -3 or eyes at -9
Hit location, through chink in armor: -8 for torso, -10 anywhere else (e.g., eyeslits)
Weapon, to damage: -5 to hit a reach "C" weapon (e.g., knife) or pistol; -4 to hit a reach 1 weapon (e.g., broadsword); -3 to hit a reach 2+ weapon (e.g., spear) or rifle
Weapon, to disarm: as above, plus an extra -2 if not using a fencing weapon
Visibility
Cannot see anything: -10 (-6, if used to blindness)*
Cannot see foe: -6, or -4 if you know his location to within 1 yard*
Partial darkness, fog, smoke, etc.: -1 to -9 (GM's option)