Friends in Melee? Options

[Bigity]

I know this is kind of off-topic, but I thought here is a good story to refute the whole "Friends in Melee" bonus.

42 Midgits vs 1 Lion


EDIT: Yes, it's fake. But still funny. Apparently some guy faked it to win an arguement with a friend about who would win a fight between a lion and 40 midgits.

[Aku]

is it wrong that i'm chuckling?

Seriously, they prolly weren't acting together, and just randomly throwing themselves at it. no benifit for them

[Herald of Verjig...]

Well, lets do some math.

Midgets: B: 4, S: 3, Reach: -1, 3M (estimates)
Lion: B: 8, S: 8, Reach: 1, (Str+2)S, Whirling (even big cats can spin when they want to)

It did take a whole 12 minutes, which can also be counted as 240 combat turns, so it's clear that the lion wasn't getting anywhere close to a kill a round.

[Bigity]

lol

[toturi]

Herald, you forgot to factor in the SUT and Battletac that the midgets have. :D

[Jrayjoker]

And the innate ability "terrifying roar" that acted as a stupifying effect on all 42 dwarfs.

[Edward]

This is a classic case of the pack attack.
Using SR rules and assuming the midgets are untrained and unarmed (bod 2, str 2 CP 2)

The midgets will be attacking 6 at a time however the max friends in melee bonus is +/-4.

First round the midgets may not be in position so we could loose some.

Second round we have
6 midgets each with 4 dice target 5
1 lion countering each with 7 dice target 8 (this is preferable use of reach)

this gives the midgets a probable win with 1-2 net successes. But may win occasionally

Of cause the lion has maybe 8 body and is soaking 2M stun so he will only rarely take damage. If this hapons early in the fight the penaltys may tip the balance in favour of the migets

It will be a long and protracted fight with an uncertain final victor although many migets will be downed

If the midgets are trained to basic competency (skill 4 CP still 2) then it changes to this

Midgets 6 dice target 2
Lion 7 dice target 7

The midgets now have a probable 4 net successes the lion is soaking 2D with 8 body, he will take an average of a light wound from each attack, and die soon.

This is an issue with the friends in melee rules.

Edward

[Ol' Scratch]

Actually, if the midgets are defaulting and the lion is using his Reaction, and assuming (for whatever reason) that the lion has Whirling, the target numbers will be Midgets TN 4 with 3 dice (plus up to +3 CP), Lion TN 3 (with its total +2 Reach advantage) and 6 dice (plus up to +6 CP). The midgets are doing 3M Stun damage while the lion is doing 10S Physical damage.

So no, the midgets wouldn't stand a chance under those rules. They're out target numbered, out damaged, and out diced. And every time one of them attacks, the lion gets to attack right back with a minimum number of dice equal to theirs even if they're using their full Combat Pool.

[Edward]

You’re assuming the lion has whirling.

How the hell dose a critter get a mauver.

Edward

[Ol' Scratch]

I was going on the Herald's stats and the entry for Tiger's in Critters for everything else. And even without Whirling, the midgets don't stand much of a chance (though it does account for why it took so many Combat Turns above). Without it would be TN 4, 3+3 dice, and 3M Stun damage versus TN 6, 6+6 dice, and 10S damage, with the lion getting almost unlimited counterattacks in addition to his own attacks with his superior Initiative and Reactino scores.

[Crimson Jack]

[Smiley]

I'd give the lion multistrike, too. They're pretty big and one good swipe could definitely hit more than one midget.

I wish I could see something like that.

[scoundrel]

It's worth noting that the midgets who supposedly took on that lion are trained combatants in a nationally recognized fighting league, not simple civilians who paid for a few months of instruction at the local McDojo. :P

[Crimson Jack]

Yes, but still midgets.

[scoundrel]

Don't be ragging on the midgets...+1 body and +2 strength go a long way in compensating for their shortage of vertical dimensions.

[Crimson Jack]

Right. I'll assume that's a joke. :P

[scoundrel]

I never make jokes.

[Arethusa]

Uh, guys, it's clearly a fake.

[Crimson Jack]

[shrug]

Who cares. Its fun to think about.

[/shrug]

[nezumi]

Now what if they were midget PIRATES. Arrr....

[Reign Maker]

Midgets are sneaky and evil...they might use foreign objects... you know throw a chair in the ring, have some razors in their wrist bands... never trust a midget. I have seen midget wrestling!!!!

[Shockwave_IIc]

LOL oh my.

Gotta be fake mind. Jesus, the lion is named (Panthera Leo), can anyone say thundercats?

[Mister Juan]

Please! Stop! It hurts! :D

Somehow, I can't believe we (the human race as a whole) have came to this.
If we now have whole leagues of midgets fighting lions, when are is the "Running Man" reality tv show coming out?

[Arethusa]

Guys, it is a fake. It is a very obvious fake. The BBC never posted such a story because one was never written because it never happened. In fact, it's a fairly old fake. This was making rounds a month ago. Plenty of these have been done before. You guys didn't fall for the CNN and BBC zombie scares, did you?

[Reign Maker]

The Evil Pirate Midgets just want you to think it is a fake..trying to save face at losing to a lion!! They got to you already, thats to bad.