Individual Combat
“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy’s cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.” – Miyamoto Musashi, a Book of Five Rings
Combat in Reign of Dragons is fast, dangerous, and narrative driven. Fights are resolved through initiative, positioning and opposed rolls until the conflict ends through defeat, surrender, retreat or death.
It is not meant to be exhaustive simulation. It is meant to create meaningful consequence.
Core Principles
- Most combat actions are resolved through opposed rolls using appropriate Skills.
- The same Skill may be used both offensively and defensively.
- Alternative Skills may be used if both parties agree and the narrative supports it.
- Combat continues in rounds, with actions taken in Initiative order.
Initiative
In many cases, who acts first is obvious from the narrative. If there is any dispute, Initiative is rolled.
Initiative Roll = d20 + Awareness
Highest result acts first – order descends
Ties are resolved by tied characters rolling d20 until one rolls higher. The winner acts first, but both retain the same initiative value.
Uncertain Terrain
Some environments make Combat more difficult…
Examples:
Muddy fields, Rocking ship decks and Uneven or unstable ground
Effect:
(-1) to Initiative & ALL Combat Rolls
If an ambush or prepared engagement gives one side a clear advantage, the penalty may apply ONLY to the disadvantaged side at Staff discretion.
Foresight in Skirmish Combat
In small group Combat, a single character may coordinate their allies.
One character may forgo their Initiative roll and instead use Awareness + Tactics as their Initiative result
The character also grants their Tactics score as a bonus to allied Initiative.
Only one character may do this per side. If multiple qualify, the highest Tactics score applies.
Rounds & Movement
Combat proceeds in narrative rounds…
Movement is descriptive, not measured…
Mounted characters move farther than those on foot.
Movement should be used to:
Gain cover
Control terrain
Create pressure or escape routes
Movement does not provide direct mechanical bonuses unless tied to a specific action, advantage, or terrain condition.
Combat Actions
On a character’s turn, they may take (1) Combat Action
Attack
- Roll an appropriate Offensive Skill
- Defender rolls an appropriate Defensive Skill
- Highest rolls succeeds
- The Attacker describes intent; defender describes outcome based on the rolls.
Defense
May choose to take no Offensive action
- Gain (+1) to Defensive rolls until next turn
- Common among noncombatants or the untrained
Ambush
Rely on deception and positioning
- Roll Stealth vs Awareness
- On success –
- Attacker gains (1) free round
- Defender may only take defensive actions and gains no defensive bonuses
- May attempt only (1) ambush per opponent per combat, successful or not
Ambushes may be set before combat or during combat if line of sight is broken.
Retreat
- Requires (3) successful rolls to escape
- Rolls do not need to be consecutive
- Escaping character rolls Tactics or Stealth
- Opponents roll Fighting, Marksmanship or Equestrian as appropriate
Counts as a Defensive action for all effects.
Defeat, Surrender & Consequences
Defeat
A character is defeated when:
- Health is reduced to (0)
- When you yield
If surrender is refused and Health reaches (0), the victor may kill the defeated character in a narratively appropriate way.
Surrender
This may be offered at any time.
- Opposing party may accept or refuse
- Accepted surrender results in capture or withdrawal
False surrender may be attempted…
- Roll is Stealth vs. Awareness
- If successful, it creates an Ambush opportunity
- Reputation consequences apply. Repeated use becomes harder
Refusing surrender regularly also carries narrative consequences.
Damage & Recovery
Most successful attacks deal (1) Health damage
Most characters have (2) to (5) Health, making combat fast and dangerous.
Healing
Recover (1) Health per real world week
With medical care such as Maester or Healer = (2) Health per week
Understand that Combat ends quickly, but it’s consequences do not.
Weapons, Armor and Warbeasts
Weapons
Quality affects Combat rolls
Improvised or Shoddy = (-1)
Standard Weapons = no modifier
Expert or Castle forged = (+1)
Valyrian Steel = (+2)
Please note, Valyrian Steel weapons are unique, historical artifacts and are not freely traded.
Armor
Affects Initiative, Retreat and Survivability
No Armor = No modifiers
Light Armor = (-1) Initiative / Retreat & (+1) Health
Medium Armor = (-2) Initiative / Retreat & (+2) Health
Heavy Armor = (-3) Initiative / Retreat & (+3) Health
Armor descriptions are flexible but must be listed on the Character Sheet
Warbeasts & Companions
Trained animal companions = (+1) to relevant rolls
Common war or hunting animals = (2) Health & (+2) Awareness, Fighting and Stealth
Rare companions such as Skinchanger bound animals follow their own rules.
Dragons
Are governed by Dragon Bonding & Warfare Rules
Their presence in combat is devastating and narratively significant
Final Notes
Combat is meant to be decisive, costly and story driven…
Recklessness should be lethal…
Staff may adjust outcomes based on narrative context…