Chapter 3 - Chapter 5 - Non-Lethal Combat
Opposed Ability Checks
When two characters both are trying to do something at the same time the quick way to determine who 'wins' is an opposed ability check. Most often this is used during a Grab attempt using the Muscle score.
An Opposed Ability Check (OAC) is used when two or more characters are trying to determine who ends up with an object after a tug-of-war. It compares the OAC score of each competitor against every other participating in the tug-of-war. The winner of the comparison ends up with the object. This can also be used to test feats of strength, such as Arm Wrestling.
The OAC begins after it is determined who is grabbing the object. Each character rolls a d20. The result of the roll is SUBTRACTED from their Muscle or appropriate ability score. The difference is the character's OAC score. The character with the highest OAC score ends up with the object.
Procedure
- Determine the Muscle ability stat of the character
- Roll a d20
- SUBTRACT the d20 roll from the Muscle stat to determine the OAC score
- Compare the OAC scores. The higher OAC score wins.
NOTE:
- a d20 roll that is greater than the OAC ability stat is an automatic loss.
- a Natural 1 on the d20 roll is an auto win, regardless of the other character's OAC score.
- Any ties, including a Natural 1 roll, or both characters rolling OVER their OAC stat, is decided by another d20 roll.
Examples:
Player A Player B 1. Muscle score 18 10 2. d20 roll 10 6 ______ ____ 3. OAC score 8 4 4. WINNER 1. [[Muscle]] Score 18 10 2. d20 roll 16 7 ______ ______ 3. OAC score 2 3 4. WINNER 1. [[Balance]] Score 18 10 2. d20 roll 11 2 _____ ______ 3. OAC score 7 8 4. WINNER 1. [[Muscle]] Score 18 10 2. d20 roll 17 11 ______ ______ 3. OAC score 1 OVER 4. WINNER 1. [[Fitness]] Score 18 10 2. d20 roll 2 1 ______ ______ 3. OAC score 16 9, but rolled a Natural 1, auto wins 4. WINNER
Logically:
- - the higher STR score character has a better chance to have a larger OAC score than a lower STR score character. This benefits the higher STR score character.
- - The higher STR score character has less chance to roll over their STR score. This benefits the higher STR score character.
- - The lower STR character has less of a chance to roll lower than their STR score, again this benefits the higher STR character.
- - the lower STR character has a better chance of rolling OVER their STR stat score, which benefits the Higher STR score character.
- - Rolling a lower d20 roll is better; but a higher STR score character again has the advantage, as they have a better chance of having the higher OAC score despite a higher d20 roll.
