How do you use multiple equipment?

[Blackthorn]

I've limited the heroes in my game to two large weapons and the crossbow is a two handed weapon in my opinion. A crossbow/shield combo makes no sense when the hero can choose a helmet and body armor instead. I have allowed heroes to change weapons during a quest, but I'm thinking of making them expend an action going forward.

I have other issues with the crossbow, but I will start another thread about this topic.

[sadkitchen]

Just found this, so I figured I'd put in my .

I play the unlimited equipment and no penalty to change your equipment rules, but the heroes must keep their equipment the same from their action until the start of their next turn. Thus if you wanted to cleave that goblin with a battle axe you will not be using your shield when Zargon's turn comes around. Most of the time it didn't matter though as my heroes never changed their weapons much.

We argued constantly (rules vs. common sense) about the crossbow/shield rule and came up with the following compromise.
1.) You can fire the crossbow every turn when no shield is equipped.
2.) You can fire the crossbow every other turn when their is a shield equipped as it would be hard to crank and reload with a metal covered board strapped to an arm.

Side note: I completely removed the no adjacent attacks rules as it is just dumb. A crossbow bolt goes through a goblin that you can spit on easier than one that is farther than you can throw a stone.

-SadKitchen

[Ethica]

My rule is you can carry-
1 main weapon (broadsword, battleaxe, spear, staff)
1 backup weapon (shortsword, handaxe, bow, dagger)
a shield if you dont carry a battleaxe
a helmet
a suit of armour
limitless other equipment and gold.

Change weapons whernever and as often as you like.

Strictly no use of the crossbow adjacently because that would make the broadsword obselete which doesn't make sense. How could a crossbow be used as effectively as a broadsword in close quarters?

[Big Bene]

As for the crossbow:
I think I've already mentioned it in another thread, but in real history, crossbows could be, and regulary were, used with a shield. Crossbowmen would carry a shield, and, when aiming, set the shield on the ground, kneel behind it and support the crossbow on it. These shields were actually small pavises, in the size of a one-man-shield, but with a support rod so they could stand upright.

Aiming is the point here. You don't fire a ranged weapon off from the run. Even if you decide not to take the time for a careful aim, you have to stand for at least a second or so to train the weapon on your target. That's why it's impossible to shoot while attacked with a meele weapon (i.e. with a monster on an adjactant square). Actually, some people used to fire bows from horseback or chariots, but that's a skill on it's own and has to be expecially trained. Aiming a bow while running on foot is simply impossible (Legolas is fictional).

[Daedalus]

Nice pic, Big Bene. That's one big shield/small pavise. I think it might slow down a Hero. What do you think? Maybe a Hero should reroll his highest movement die to represent this. I'd even cost it higher than a standard Shield--maybe 200 gold coins. Art like that don't come cheap!

Is an attack or move restriction for the Crossbow what you are aiming at ? (Sorry.)

[Goblin-King]

But I think we can all agree the shield you buy in HQ is in fact NOT a pavise. It's more like a heater, which to the best of my knowledge was not used with crossbows. No point - just arguing

[knightkrawler]

I have limitations on types of equipment,
1 heavy weapon or 2 medium weighted weapons (shields and ranged weapons belong to one of these groups as well)
+3 light weapons (dagger, sling, shortsword)
+1 Artifact weapon
+1 Armor or Artifact Armor

Changing weapons costs typically 3 movement points. Simple solution, that.

[Blackthorn]

Changing weapons costs typically 3 movement points. Simple solution, that.

What do you mean by movement points?

[knightkrawler]

Movement points are comprised of this in my houserules:

a set number, dependent from the hero's class:
any number from 3 through 6
+ the roll of a d6
= movement points from 4 through 9 for slower heroes (e.g. a Dwarf Warrior) up to 7 through 12 points for more agile heroes (e.g. an Elf Ranger)

These movement points can be used to ... well, move,
but may also be used for more "difficult" actions like reloading a crossbow (3 p.), changing the main weapon (2 p.) opening doors (2 p.), jumping over pits and identified trap-triggering spaces (2 p.)
and so on and so on...

Maybe I'll even use this to let the heroes search for treasure in corridors (half the movement points can be used including a search)...

[Blackthorn]

I like that. It's a good way to accommodate certain types of actions without the hero having to lose a turn.