Codex Martialis

This sounds really interesting, where would you point me to learn more about this style of combat rules?

 

I think there's talk of dice comparisons to be included in some future update. Perhaps a dice-pool per round can be implemented in that time so it would support this type of game mechanic.

A work-around to use the current system with this rule system... one way would be...

This could be implemented now by creating an Ability (Ability Tab in "Edit Creature")
Could Name it: "Dice Pool (d20)"
Amount: 4 / 4 Per Init
Effect: inert

Then simply have the player use that ability each time they move, attack, make an attack of opportunity, etc. If the player wants to use two of their dice pool to attack, have them select it twice (you approve that action twice), then have them roll a d20 on the "Core Dice" window, and have them make an attack. Simply add the amount shown on the "Game Log" window to their roll (that only the DM, you, can see) and determine if it hit or miss like normal after adding the additional d20 roll.

If you want a visual representation of this procedure please let me know.

 

Ah yes, for some reason when I was responding I was thinking "action dice" which adds to the roll. Anyway, the "drop the lowest" or "take the highest" out of multiple d20's for a single attack is much easier to implement!

I would still make the associated ability in the ability tab. Then, if the player wants to use an additional die from their pool to make two attack roll attempts for a single attack and pick the highest, or whichever they want I would simply have the player use the ability, then make the first attack followed by another attack. You as DM can see they used two dice from their die pool and made two attack attempts. You can then tell the player what they rolled and which one they want to keep. Click "X" to close the attack attempt the player wishes to negate, and proceed with the player's chosen attack by selecting hit/miss/critical and approve associated damage (remember you can increase or decrease the damage you apply to the creature - just in case of special triggers occur on that attack).

Regarding contested rolls directly supported in d20Pro... yes, this would be something the d20Pro team must implement for direct support for any game that uses contested roll rules. Until then, there's always the manual way

 

This would be a good feature request; post here.

Though, how I would implement this rule in d20Pro today is as follows...

• Under "Edit Creature" > "Attack" > Add duplicates of our attack such as "Longsword (vs Heavy Armor)" and "Longsword (vs No Armor)" and "Longsword (vs Light Armor)" and etc, can name it to suit the damage resistance vs a particular armor type.
• Under "Damage" for each attack automatically calculate the damage reduction in the attack. So, if the DR = 2, and a Longsword does 1D10 normal damage... change the rolled damage to 1D8. If there's an attack vs a particular armor that has DR = 4, simply modify the rolled damage from 1D10 to 1D6. If there's an attack vs a particular armor that has DR = 6, then modify the rolled damage from 1D10 to 1D4. This also works if you have an odd number for DR, such as DR = 3. You can just as easily change the rolled damage from 1D10 to 1D7. - This method has one flaw, it assumes each attack will be more damaging than the damage resistance. However, it does account for the proper max damage.
• Another option would be to simply change the ending modifier to the appropriate DR for that armor type. This method also has a flaw... it does not account for any roll less than then 1 damage. Thus, if the "natural" displayed value is less than the DR simply click on this damage (to make the highlight disappear) before approving damage.

The best way to implement this is the same way you would for applying a "Flanking Bonus" aka "Combat Advantage". Simply have your players enter their appropriate bonus when they make their attack option. Have them say "Since I'm attacking at close grapple range, I'm gaining a +6 bonus to this dagger attack" then they will place a +6 attack bonus on their attack. This does have another advantage, it makes your players really good understanding all the rules.

The best way to implement this is to create an additional damage roll for each weapon's attack. So, in my "Longsword (vs <armor type>)" attack I will have two damage rolls. First, the normal 1D10 damage minus the appropriate DR. And secondly, the critical damage roll of 1D10 as the second damage roll. Perhaps a better way to illustrate this would be a dagger... Thus, the first normal 1D4 damage minus the appropriate DR. And secondly, the critical damage roll of 1D6 as the second damage roll.

Since this rule-set is using a different critical system, if the player critically hits an opponent always choose the "normal hit" option when approving the attack. You will apply the damage on the "Resolve Damage" Action Window. The first damage roll is the normal damage, the second damage roll is if the attack scored a critical hit. For a normal hit simply de-select the second damage roll, make sure the damage is accurate then approve. For a critical hit make sure both damage rolls are highlighted and the damage is accurate then approve. If damage is not accurate, when on a 1D4 - 2 roll, it displays a "natural 1" or "natural 2" just de-select that damage before applying. If the hit was a critical and the normal damage was less than the DR, simply update the critical damage roll to the correct damage before applying.

For a visual representation of this see my post inside this thread and modify it slightly with the information posted above: Making Abilities, and having them work inside d20 pro.

 

Opps, forgot to respond to one thing...

True, those contested rolls are mainly done using the Core Dice or the player's skill window. However, since Pathfinder simplified grapple as a grapple attack vs CMD. You can certainly create an attack "Grapple Attack" and have it vs the opponent's CMD. To do this, activate "Custom Defense" inside "Options" > "Judge". Place "CMD" in Custom 1, place "CMD (Flat Footed)" in Custom 2, and place "SR" in Custom 3. Then you can select "CMD" or "CMD (Flat Footed)" when doing the "Grapple Attack" option.

But you are right, the rolls that are contested (like perception) are not handled through d20Pro's combat system. It's handled by simply having the player roll the dice in their Core Dice Window (or player's skill window - when using a skill) and seeing the outcome based on your DM roll.


On a side note... when does your group normally play? Because I'm interested to see these combat rules in action

 

Attacks vs Different Armor Types and Applying Damage Reduction (DR)

I think having over 50 armor types coupled with multiple weapon types and style of attack to contend with will slow gameplay down unless everyone you are playing with has the rules mastered. Pathfinder separates the armor types into three categories: Light Armor, Medium Armor, and Heavy Armor. And, assumes the character will attack the opponent in the best method possible to take full advantage of the weapon. Pathfinder rule-set likes to simplify a lot of game mechanics. Keeping up with the simplification factor regarding damage reduction based on different armor I came up with what I think would be an appropriate adaptation using some of the rules in each combat system.

• Simplified Application of DR Rules Based on Classification of Armor (Light, Medium, Heavy)
• • Light Armor - DR 1/- ( If made of Adamantine use DR 3/- )
  • If Creature uses Light Armor as per Core Rulebook, place appropriate static DR for all attacks in the "Edit Character".
  • Continue to use "<Weapon Type> (vs Light Armor)" and use the best attack type (slash, chop, pierce) as the baseline for rolled damage and critical damage based on weapon type.
• • Medium Armor - DR 2/- ( If made of Adamantine use DR 4/- )
  • If Creature uses Medium Armor as per Core Rulebook, place appropriate static DR for all attacks in the "Edit Character".
  • Continue to use "<Weapon Type> (vs Medium Armor)" and use the best attack type (slash, chop, pierce) as the baseline for rolled damage and critical damage based on weapon type.
• • Heavy Armor - DR 3/- ( If made of Adamantine use DR 5/- )
  • If Creature uses Heavy Armor as per Core Rulebook, place appropriate static DR for all attacks in the "Edit Character".
  • Continue to use "<Weapon Type> (vs Heavy Armor)" and use the best attack type (slash, chop, pierce) as the baseline for rolled damage and critical damage based on weapon type.

Note: At this time the DR information inside the "Edit Character" is info only IF you select any damage types (piercing, bludgeoning, etc). d20Pro will not reduce damage taken automatically if you select DR types other than "-" (no type), it is up to the DM to change damage manually or deselect the damage if no damage should be dealt to the opponent. This information will be displayed when resolving damage. On the other hand, IF you use "<number>/-" d20Pro will automatically update the correct damage that should be applied for that attack. This is the reason my recommendation is to use DR 1/- or DR 2/- and etc.

This could work. Just remember that d20Pro combat system does not allow for damage to below "1" for each attack, even if the negative penalty to damage far exceeds the natural attack with any bonuses. For example: if the damage roll was 5 and the bonus damage was 3 (total of 8 damage before penalty) and you apply a -15,000,000,000 penalty for the damage... the result will display in the "Resolve Damage" Window "natural 1" and therefore "1 damage".

The "natural" number is after the penalty assigned to the damage (even though that is "modified" damage, not the "natural roll" the system correctly reduced the rolled number by 2). You can confirm this by rolling damage 1,000 times like I did, each attack will never say "natural 5" or "natural 6" since "natural" really should read "modified" or "adjusted". Remember, d20Pro forces at least 1 damage to be displayed for approval with each attack unless the opponent has DR #/- then d20Pro modifies the damage automatically for DM approval.

Yes.

Pathfinder is an excellent rulebook, and Paizo has an awesome online presence. You can easily post a question on Paizo's messageboard and get an answer from one of the game developers if no one else responds correctly to your post, or post a question directly to a game developer.

I've also used many Virtual Table Top products, and by far my preference is with d20Pro. It may take a couple sessions for you and your players to get used to the interface, but once that happens d20Pro will make your DM-life much easier. When I started the first session online with d20Pro I gave a d20Pro tutorial so the players could understand the interface. After which, I ran my players through a mock-combat session so everyone would feel comfortable moving, making attacks, using skills, using the game tools, using the game log, looking at their character sheet, assigning hot-keys for their most used skills, and etc. After which, I started the adventure and soon after a combat session! Imagine that! Anyway, even with every player new to d20Pro, the combat went as fast as a combat would at a real table. After a couple sessions the combat seems much quicker than at a live table (since no need to draw on the map for walls, easy placement of opponents, automatically handing HP for all creatures, no need to have players add up on their fingers their attack rolls and bonuses to see if they hit a specific AC, and etc).

Anyway, I think it'll be a good integration with Pathfinder Rules and a streamlined version of Codex Martialis Rules using d20Pro. And after a couple sessions you'll notice combat speed up to a point where you'll look back and think how complicated things would be if you were to run a game without d20Pro. At least that's how I view it.

 

DR from a variety of weapon attacks types would be the best way to go. And, it's would be a great feature to be added in an upcoming release.

DR/something : and the "something" bypasses DR. That makes sense, that's what the core rule book uses. Yay for posting at 2am.

Another option is to create multiple damages for each attack (just like doing the custom critical based on type of weapon), so if they use the weapon as a chop you can assign it one type of damage and damage roll, if the weapon is used to stab it uses another type of damage and damage roll, and if the weapon is used to slash it uses another type of damage and damage roll. Then you can select which one to apply based on what the player stated. You could also use the lowest attack bonus, and simply have the player add in the additional attack bonus based on the type of attack they are using. Then simply reduce the damage by the appropriate amount before applying damage. I think this may be a good way to incorporate the codex martialis while contested rolls are developed for a future release.

Fantasy Grounds II does have it's advantages, there are lots of video tutorials so people can understand how it functions. There's also purchasable content where people can buy add-ons such as adventures that run exactly as the module layout is presented. And, the most important feature that FGII has that d20Pro could improve on is the "Combat Tracker" which gives all needed stats for each character in one easy place that also functions as the initiative which can be modified based on holding or other actions that changes initiative. Each character sheet can be completely filled out for each character and depending on what actions each character does most often they can assign hotkeys for their top rolls (create a custom name for each hotkey). Simply drag the action type weather it be Stealth Skill Check, Attack Roll, or Damage and drop it in the hotkey slot for quick access. And drag an attack or damage onto the opponent. Same applies for effects such as slowed, paralyzed, stunned, etc.

Now, d20Pro you can also play with a similar play style as in-person gaming. Simply use the Core Dice Window for all your rolls, and use a real character sheet to manually add up bonuses (or create custom dice with preprogrammed bonuses - the icon in the Core Dice Window that looks like a bag). Alternatively, you can create custom skills listing with the appropriate bonuses for attacks and damage and use a custom skills listing (players can view full list through "View Creature" and select "Skills" tab - same way the DM can "Edit Creature" and select "Skills" tab... then roll the die to the right of the name of the skill with bonus.) If the DM states that attack hits, the player can then roll appropriate damage from the Core Dice Window. The DM will then apply damage by clicking on the opponent, pressing "d" for damage, and enter the appropriate damage and press "enter" or click the green check mark. If an opponent heals , you can click on the creature, press "h" for healing, enter the appropriate healing amount or select "heal to max" and press "enter" or click the green check mark. The core features of d20Pro is the Map (preloaded, or create your own as the adventure takes place using the draw tools) and the automated combat functions.

In addition there's more free content on d20Pro than there is on Fantasy Grounds II, especially when d20Pro community members have posted an entire creature list from a published bestiary. Perhaps d20Pro should publish their own (or contract-out some work, hint hint ) for users to submit their own tutorial videos. But I digress... While FGII allows you to create your own game rules, it is still up to the DM to apply those rules to the game. Most is used as reference material to be used in-game from what I've been able to see. Personally, I gave each VTT 2 hours of use before making a purchasing decision based on what was most useful for me on several aspects of the game from the interface, ease in use, ease in entering maps and creatures, ease in manipulating data, and support for the game systems I use. FGII has more support for 4e whereas d20Pro has I think equal support for Pathfinder, 3.X. and 4e.