From:	Robert Link <link@*****.PHYSICS.FSU.EDU>
Subject:	re: Combat Pool redux-ndant
Date:	Sun, 11 Apr 93 13:17:06 EDT

> Monte Box says that the only difference between resisting an attack entirely
> wit Combat Pool and resisting with some CP and Body is that in the former
> case the hit misses entirely.
> The only reason a clean miss or a glancing blow matters is if some
> knockdown/knockback rules are used, which I have yet to see used in our game,
> as does just about anyone else here.
> So once again: What difference does it make? If you're not using
> knockdown rules and you're not using the "dodge vs skill, resist vs power"
> variant that a couple of people have mentioned, I see no effective difference
> in resisting an attack with Combat Pool entirely or with CP+ Body.

The real difference is that if someone shoots you with a gun that does a
good base damage (say D, for instance), and only gets a few successes on the
firearms test (say 4, for instance), then if you can get four successes on
the combat pool dice, then you're home free. If you only get three combat
pool successes, then you have to roll 5 body successes in order to avoid taking
damage.
In the case of someone with only a few firearms successes, it takes far fewer
total successes to avoid damage if you can do it using only combat pool.


-rpl
"No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince.
What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What is a
claim of power for ones who defy death? Call your damnable
hunt. We shall see whom I drag screaming to hell with me."