Introduction

This sample combat was orignally posted at the following adress: http://eljay.homeunix.net/~eljay/GURPS/G4_SampleCombat.html. It was duplicated here for allowing people to add comments and options. In the process, it was slightly altered (formatting, etc.).

For other examples of Gurps combat, see the Sample Combat page.

Credits

It was originally set up by Luther, commented by Kromm on the Steve Jackson Games Forums, and greatly expanded, formatted, and hosted by Eljay451. Be sure to check this out before anything else.

GURPS 4e - A sample melee combat

The scene: three combatants, Albert, Buck and Cyrano, are fighting. All have ST 10 (thr 1d-2, sw 1d), DX 10, IQ 10, and HT 10. All have HP 10, FP 10, BS 5.0, BM 5. None have any encumbrance. Their leather jackets and leather pants give 1 DR (torso, arms, legs, groin). Dodge is 8, Parry 9, and Block N/A (no one has a cloak or shield).

Albert is wielding an axe (sw+2 cut; 0U; ST 11), and has a base Axe/Mace skill of 12. Note: Albert lacks the ST to properly wield this weapon. Buck is wielding a baton (sw cr; 0; ST 6), and has a base Shortsword skill of 12. Cyrano is wielding a cutlass (sw cut or thr imp; 0; ST 8), and has a base Shortsword skill of 12.

Sequence order: Albert, Buck, Cyrano.

Albert Turn #1

"Wait" - pre-emptive Attack if Buck attacks

status	A: HP 10
	B: HP 10
	C: HP 10

Buck Turn #1

"Attack Albert"

Albert interrupts (from his wait)

Albert's attack against Buck...

Albert rolls 8 _(3d) against Axe/Mace effective skill (12 - 1 for under ST =) 11 (success by 3). Albert's axe is unbalanced, and may not be used to Parry until his next turn since he used it to attack. Buck rolls 12 _(3d) against Dodge effective skill 8 (fail by 4). Albert rolls hit location: 9 _(3d) is the torso (Buck has 1 DR on his torso). Albert rolls swing damage: (1 _(1d) for ST sw + 2 for weapon - 1 for Buck's DR) x 1.5 cutting = 3. Buck takes 3 damage. Buck is suffering from shock (- 3), immediately, from now to the end of his next turn (end of Buck Turn #2).

Buck's attack against Albert...

Buck rolls 9 _(3d) against Shortsword effective skill (12 - 3 for shock =) 9 (success, on the button). Albert cannot Parry, since his axe is unbalanced and cannot be used to parry when used to attack until Albert's next turn. Albert rolls 16 _(3d) against Dodge effective skill 8 (fail by 8). Buck rolls hit location: 17 neck (Albert has no DR on his neck, and crushing damage to the neck is at x1.5). Buck rolls swing damage: (4 _(1d) for ST sw) x 1.5 neck crushing = 6 (major wound!). Albert takes 6 damage. Albert is suffering from shock (- 4, the maximum), immediately, from now to the end of his next turn (end of Albert Turn #2). Albert rolls 12 _(3d) against HT 10, to avoid major wound's stun and knockdown (fail by 2). Albert is physically stunned (- 4 to active defense, must "Do Nothing" until recover from stun (roll v HT) is made). Albert is knocked to the ground, prone or supine (Albert's choice, he chooses prone). Albert drops his axe.

status	A: HP 4, prone, stun, shock (- 4), no axe
	B: HP 7, shock (- 3)
	C: HP 10

Cyrano Turn #1

"Attack Buck" (move 4, slam)

Cyrano rolls 9 _(3d) against DX (since he doesn't have Brawling or Sumo Wrestling) 10 (success by 1). Buck rolls 10 _(3d) against Dodge effective skill 8 (fail by 2). Buck's shock (- 3) does not apply against active defense. Cryano rolls slam crushing damage: 5 _(1d) - 2 = 3. Buck takes (3 - 1 DR torso) = 2 damage. Buck is suffering from shock (- 4, the maximum), due to this 2 damage and his previous 3 damage. Buck rolls slam crushing damage: 4 _(1d) - 2 = 2. Cyrano takes (2 - 1 DR torso) = 1 damage. Cyrano is suffering from shock (- 1).

Buck "lost" the slam contest...

Buck rolls 5 _(3d) against DX (10 - 4 shock) = 6 to avoid falling down (success by 1). Notice that the shock effect from the damage is applied first, before the "fall down" roll!

status	A: HP 4, prone, stun, shock (- 4), no axe
	B: HP 5, shock (- 4)
	C: HP HP 9, shock (- 1)

Albert Turn #2

"Do Nothing"

Albert rolls 3 _(3d) against HT 10 to recover from physical stun (critical success). Albert still suffers from the - 4 stun effects until the start of his next turn (Albert Turn #3). Albert is done with his turn. Albert's shock (- 4) wears off.

status	A: HP 4, prone, stun (recovering), no axe
	B: HP 5, shock (- 4)
	C: HP 9, shock (- 1)

Buck Turn #2

"Attack Albert"

Buck rolls 8 _(3d) against Shortsword effective skill (12 - 4 shock =) 8 (success, on the button). Albert rolls 15 _(3d) against Dodge effective skill (8 - 3 prone - 4 stun =) 1 (fail by 14). Albert needed a miracle critical. Buck rolls hit location: 9 _(3d) is the torso (Albert has 1 DR on his torso). Buck rolls swing damage: (2d for ST sw - 1 for Albert's DR) x 1.0 crush = 1. Albert takes 1 damage. Albert is at shock (- 1). Albert is at Less than 1/3 your HP left from optimum HP (called reeling -- half-Move and half-Dodge, rounded up). Buck could do a step action, but opts not to. Buck could do a free action, but opts not to. Buck is done with his turn. Buck's shock wears off.

status	A: HP 3, prone, stun (recovering), shock (- 1), reeling, no axe
	B: HP 5
	C: HP 9, shock (- 1)

Cyrano Turn #2

"Attack Buck"

Cyrano rolls 16 _(3d) against Shortsword effective skill (12 - 1 shock =) 11 (fail by 5). Cyrano is done with his turn. Cyrano's shock (- 1) wears off.

status	A: HP 3, prone, stun (recovering), shock (- 1), reeling, no axe
	B: HP 5
	C: HP 9

Albert Turn #3

"Change position: prone --> kneel"

Albert is no longer suffering from stun effects at the start of this turn, since he made his recovery roll on his last turn. Albert's shock (- 1) wears off.

status	A: HP 3, kneel, reeling, no axe
	B: HP 5
	C: HP 9

Buck Turn #3

"Concentrate: cast fireball spell"

(Did I mention that Buck has Magery 3 and Fireball 20 spell?).

(fight continues...)