[MUD-Dev] Re: after the plague: mud report

[Adam Wiggins]

On Sat, 8 Aug 1998, quzah wrote:
> From: S. Patrick Gallaty <choke at sirius.com>
> >Well, someone here referred me to "After the Plague" at atp.deltav.hu port
> 3000,

That was me.  Glad you had a chance to check it out.

> [snip]
> >The most interesting thing there is their 'party' system, where players
> >(and monsters) can put themselves into 'front' and 'back' ranks so that
> >fighters defend and mages/archers/thieves can throw spells and knives and
> >whatnot from the back rank.  I've escorted people who were in danger
> >of being pkilled and bodyguarded them by being in the front rank in their
> >'party.'
> >It's an excellent mechanic, and I am surprised I haven't seen it elsewhere
> >before.
> 
> A note on that aspect, or rather a question. It sounds rather interesting,
> but I was wondering if they had a 'direction of travel' or rather, 'group
> facing' for the party? The reason I ask, is if there is front and back rank
> it would seem logical for me to hide in the brush, and wait until they walk
> past, then shoot the mage in the back with an arrow, or drop from a tree so
> that I'm behind the mage, thus reversing the facing of the group when they
> turn around, resulting in the mages and archers being in the front, and the
> warriors being in the back.
> If such is allowed, or rather, a fact of life, as it should be for realisms
> sake, it would be very interesting to see in action.

Although it is cool, ATP can't exactly take credit for being the first on
this one.  Ebon Mists has had such a system since its inception (~2 years
ago?), along with plenty of other combat-oriented Dikus and LPs.
Generally - yes, whoever's up front gets to take the first blows, unless
there's a sneak attack of some sort.  Generally, any action which requires
you be within reach of your target only works in the front rows.  Thus you
can shuffle a hurt fighter to the back row, but they won't be able to
inflict any damage from there unless they have a polearm or a bow.  By the
same token mages can cast spells, but many of the lower level ones which
require contact (burning hands, shocking grasp, chill touch, etc..) won't
be possible from back there.  It is, of course, a great place for
cleric-types.

Adam