Pro-Tip Thursday!! Let's Talk Combat!

Greetings Survivors!!!  

Today’s Pro-Tip Thursday is dealing with one core thing we engage in every trade… COMBAT! 

Yes, the ability to beat on our friends with padded sticks while running around in the woods in costume brings great joy to a lot of our hearts! 

But combat in our game is not just whacking away at each trying to hit the person with all our might.  We engage in Contact-Safe Combat. (See page 150 in book).  So, our combat method is Lightest Touch Combat. Which means you only hit a person hard enough to register the blow. 

We have the following legal striking areas: 

  • Chest

  • Back

  • Side

  • Legs

  • Shoulders 

Strikes to the head, Neck, groin, hands and Feet are not legal and are not allowed. 

On Page 151 of the rule book are more detailed rules on combat so make sure you read that page.  Some highlights I want to hit are: 

  • All swings must be 90 degrees

  • Attacks must not exceed 3 swings in a row without a break between flurries 

  • With the lightest touch system if you touch a weapon to block then it's blocked. 

  • You cannot hit the same place twice in a row.


One of the better changes of 3.0 in my opinion is that anyone can use any form of basic weapon.  You don't have to spend XP on learning how to use a standard sword, or a pistol or a bow. If your buddy throws you a rifle to use while he is fighting. You can use the rifle.  You use the basic ability of that weapon only, but you can use it.  

Another thing about our game is we offer the ability to be a NON-COMBAT Character.  Now a player can choose to be a Non-Combat Character at any time, or a player can have their combat privileges suspended because they are not following the rules of combat.  

Non-Combat Characters will be wearing an orange head band to signify they are non-combat. At night they will wear orange glow to show everyone around them they are non-combat.   

But just because you are non-combat it does not mean you cannot be attacked. On page 150 of the book, it describes how to engage in combat with a Non-Combat Character. 


To sum it up.  An attacker must approach within melee striking range or reasonable missile range. Then they start calling damage (or Skills).  The call automatically lands. (Note: they cannot rapid fire off the calls. It must be a reasonable pace) The Non-Combat Character can use skill calls to defend. They cannot carry weapons in their hand, but if they have a phys rep on their belt they can use defensive weapon skills that are dependent on having a weapon in their hand.  

So, this is the basic overview of Combat in DR.  Next week I will discuss specific combat skills and calls during combat.  

Till next week Survivors!!! 


See you in the waste!!!!