Desert Survival 101 - Elements

[Pr0fane]

Not every day is the perfect day to wage war in Samaria. In this installment of Desert Survival 101 we will look at weather effects and how they affect your game. These rules are optional but can make for a very fun and entertaining game. This is a sneak peek at the world and weather effects that will be seen in a forthcoming Dark Age Games publication this summer.

Desert Survival 101 - Elements, ~18 Meg (http://www.dark-age.com/articles/brko121707.pdf)

[Jamie]

Although I am not sure on how well these will play, there was certainly enough teasing on unknown special abilities to make a gamer want to cry.

Is there a reason that you guys chose to disallow any benefits from the enviro filters special abilities? It seems odd that an ability that allows a unit to see through smoke could not get some kind of increased range even against large scale effects.

[DA_Grafter]

Weather effects will be published in its final form in our up-coming book. The reason why we are piece mealing these articles is for us to receive comments such as yours.

Not a bad idea, enviro filters are only availble to a handful of minis, if you talk nicely to BJ, you never know what he can adjust in the final version :)

[bj]

Is there a reason that you guys chose to disallow any benefits from the enviro filters special abilities? It seems odd that an ability that allows a unit to see through smoke could not get some kind of increased range even against large scale effects.

Enhanced optics can't increase range, they can only counter RA penalties in Cloud Effects. Enviro filters don't correspond to sight based effects, they correspond to CA penalties in Cloud Effects.

[Osiris]

I love these series of articles. The tactics that would require you to deal with the Elements let alone your opponent are blended nicely into the background of Samaria.

Though I must say that 'Quicksand' in the Swamp terrain is completely sadistic. I love it.

I do have to agree with the Enviro-Filters. It will give characters like Dedlock a bit of an edge in certain scenarios and in turn we may see more second stringers in the lime light. I look forward to this.

Keep up the great work,

Osiris

[bj]

The Cloud effects in Elements only apply to LoS, i.e. Enhanced optics is the only applicable SA that applies to this. Envirofilters only apply to CA attacks which are not affected by the various Elements affects, with the exception of Spores.

[bj]

Errata - (mumble grumble)

Swamp Gasses

[Jamie]

I think BJ said no Grafter. :cry:

[Jamie]

After having a close look at these Environmental Conditions I have a few questions and suggestions.

1) Shifting Winds- "All RA's are at -1 TN/ 10cm"- Although I know what you mean I think the words 'an additional' should be added for new player clarification.

2) Earthquake- "Any unit under the template...." I fear I know what the answer will be but I know I am going to hear the question asked at the table anyway, what happens if the template hits an ice wall?

3) Humid- "MAL TN's are decreased by 2" Again I know what this means but it might be a good idea to add an example for clarification for new players. EX: MAL 19 becomes MAL 17.

4) Salt Flats- Same problem as #3 above.

5) Crystal Shards- When are the templates to be placed? During terrain set up, just prior to deployment or after deployment? Do players roll off to see who sets the first template as normal?

6) Thunderstorms- again says any unit hit......but what if it hits an ice wall?

I know that an ice wall is not a unit. However, it has been stated that a template can indirectly hit an ice wall. I am not sure why these things were designed to be so impossible to deal with but I know they have been a source of great frustration for pretty much everybody who has faced one. If you make them immune to environmental effects that would logically affect them, I fear it will only add to the frustration.

Additionally now that I think about it what about the Shard templates. If they are bounced around by an earthquake what would happen? Or hit by a thunderstorm or a landslide, would that set them off?

If a unit with Kaboom gets KP by one of these effects would they need to roll?

Sorry for being a pain in your butt BJ but I just have a feeling these questions will come up so I thought I would go ahead and ask them.

[Jamie]

Is there a reason that you guys chose to disallow any benefits from the enviro filters special abilities? It seems odd that an ability that allows a unit to see through smoke could not get some kind of increased range even against large scale effects.

Enhanced optics can't increase range, they can only counter RA penalties in Cloud Effects. Enviro filters don't correspond to sight based effects, they correspond to CA penalties in Cloud Effects.

Although I admit I meant Enhanced Optics in the original question I remove it for being a stupid question anyway!! I should really read fully before asking. :D

[bj]

After having a close look at these Environmental Conditions I have a few questions and suggestions.

1) Shifting Winds- "All RA's are at -1 TN/ 10cm"- Although I know what you mean I think the words 'an additional' should be added for new player clarification.

Hmm missed that, thanks it will be changed accordingly,


2) Earthquake- "Any unit under the template...." I fear I know what the answer will be but I know I am going to hear the question asked at the table anyway, what happens if the template hits an ice wall?

Nothing, an ice Wall is considered terrain, but there will be new terrain rules in the future to bring those nigh-invulnerable walls down. :wink:


3) Humid- "MAL TN's are decreased by 2" Again I know what this means but it might be a good idea to add an example for clarification for new players. EX: MAL 19 becomes MAL 17.

Not a bad suggestion.


4) Salt Flats- Same problem as #3 above.

Same answer as #3 above.


5) Crystal Shards- When are the templates to be placed? During terrain set up, just prior to deployment or after deployment? Do players roll off to see who sets the first template as normal?

Before the game starts after terrain has been placed, before deployment. Yes, players roll off to see who sets the first template.



6) Thunderstorms- again says any unit hit......but what if it hits an ice wall?

Same answer as #2 above.


I know that an ice wall is not a unit. However, it has been stated that a template can indirectly hit an ice wall. I am not sure why these things were designed to be so impossible to deal with but I know they have been a source of great frustration for pretty much everybody who has faced one. If you make them immune to environmental effects that would logically affect them, I fear it will only add to the frustration.

but the EC's in question do not cause damage they cause a loss of AP and/or a KP check.


Additionally now that I think about it what about the Shard templates. If they are bounced around by an earthquake what would happen? Or hit by a thunderstorm or a landslide, would that set them off?

Nope, too much mechanics involved to cause quirky exceptions. Reality does tend to muck things up in the game. :wink:


If a unit with Kaboom gets KP by one of these effects would they need to roll?

Good question but no. Technically they haven't been hit by an attack per se, and KP does not force a Kaboom check in normal gameplay.


Sorry for being a pain in your butt BJ but I just have a feeling these questions will come up so I thought I would go ahead and ask them.

You're not being a pain at all, thanks! It only shows you care about the game, enjoy!

[Jamie]

Quote:
I know that an ice wall is not a unit. However, it has been stated that a template can indirectly hit an ice wall. I am not sure why these things were designed to be so impossible to deal with but I know they have been a source of great frustration for pretty much everybody who has faced one. If you make them immune to environmental effects that would logically affect them, I fear it will only add to the frustration.


but the EC's in question do not cause damage they cause a loss of AP and/or a KP check.

Sorry again thinking without fully reading. :(