Emirikol First Blood

[subplotkudzu]

One thing we ran into during the first official set of duels in the Emirikol game was that duels to first blood in D&D - if you count any loss of HP as first blood - are based way too much on initiative. Therefore I'm recommending we use the nicely flexible concept of hit points to instead work with fractions of the character HP. 

First Blood is actually 'drawn' when the character has taken over 1/3rd (round up) of his HP total. Since Cyble has 10 HP she actually gets cut or bloodied once she's taken more than 4 points of damage. Deitrich, with 17 HP isn't actually cut until he's taken more than 6. This might not mean much now, where a single hit with a sword is enough to take a 12 HP character past their 4 point first blood, but it would have extended Hiram's fight with his 18 HP opponent past that first rapier touch.

Second Blood, or the desire to fight "until one is well blooded, disabled, or disarmed" is generally set at taking more than 2/3rds of your HP (round up). Cybele is well blooded once she's taken more than 7 HP of damage, Deitrich can hold out until he's at more than 12 points taken. This is the level of fighting Melas and his adversary were engaged in, which means his critical hit was needed to push the fellow up over the 2/3rd HP mark. 

Fighting to the death is often considered 'concluded' once once of the opponents is at 0 HP. Of course, the terms of the duel can stipulate that no healers be present at the match but can be called later, which gives you a pretty narrow window between 0 HP and being dead. Unless it is specifically stated in the terms of the duel that one of the duelists will not leave the field alive it is ungentlemanly to strike an opponent who's already down (and such a duel is technically illegal anyway). 

Does everyone agree that this makes sense? I'm looking for something that's workable and not complicated.

Comments

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

"Terms" he said.
The other Hawk frowned. "We have agreed - "
"State them aloud, please," said Aerich
The Hawk nodded. "Plain steel weapons, sword and dagger, to first blood, no healer present, but a healer may be summoned at once upon conclusion."

[that seems pretty formal, and is standard for an official, legal duel. But to illustrate other points let's continue]

Aeirch looked an inquiry at the Dzurlord, who seemed disgusted, but nodded.
The Lyorn stood between them so they were separated from him by five paces and from each other by ten. He raised his hand.
"As your chosen Imperial intermediary, in accordance with the laws of the Empire, I ask if yoou will not be reconciled." His tone of voice indicated a certain lack of interest in the answer.
"No."
"No."
"Very well," he said, and lowered his hand in a motion that was at once graceful and sudden.
Both Hawk and Dzur seemed to be startled but the Dzur recovered first. With a yell she sprang at her enemy, he blade visible only as a blur. The Hawklord barely had time to assume a defensive posture, and at once there was the ringing of steel on steel, which sent a thrill through Khaavren's heart.

[That looks like someone getting caught flat footed at the start of a combat to me, but it could also be the nature of the duel meaning that he *can't* be flat footed and thus is able to defend. Tazendra clearly charged her opponent, but in D&D mechanics she either then missed her attack or if she hit and didn't do enough HP for it to count as a visible wound.]

The Hawk stepped back, and swung his blade wildly and from so far away Khaavren could see it was a useless gesture. The Dzur smiled contemptuously and stepped in, and, to Khaavren's inexperienced by expert eye, she moved with a grace and fluidity that would have made her a worthy opponent of his own sword-master.

[I figure the PCs are 2nd-3rd level at the start of this, and her opponent is equally low level. Maybe even 1st... which means her initial attack was probably a miss.]

With her next step, she beat aside the Hawklord's sword and, with the same motion, gave him a good cut across his right shoulder and down to his chest. The soundd that came from his throat was more a sqeak than moan as he fell over backward, the point of her sword still lodged in hhs chest, breaking two hibs and nearly cutting open his lungs.

[Having learned her opponent's miserable armor class with her first attack Tazendra activates her Power Attack and executes a 2 handed swing with her Bastard Sword. That's d10, +3 for STR and another +2 for the power attack. he goes from 10 HP down to -3....]

The Hawklord's weapons fell from his hands as he lay on the ground, staring upward in horror as the Dzur pulled her sword free and raised it for the killing stroke.
"Lady!" called Aeirch, in a tone that was far sharper than Khaavren would have suspected possible from the quiet gentleman. It was used to good effect, too, as the Dzurlord stopped, looked at him, then sighed and nodded.
"Ah yes," she said, with a hint of contempt in her voice. "First blood."
- The Phoenix Guards, Chapter the First

and there's first blood at low levels.