What does "Set" mean to you?

[Rasyr]

I just realized that I do not have a decent description of what "Set"  means in the list of Actions on page 121

So, What does it mean to you? Is it only against charging foes?

Can you Set against melee attacks?

opinions wanted!

[Dimirag]

To me "Set" is against an incoming physical force, you stand your ground and brace yourself for the impact

I would rule you can set with any piercing weapon or a shield but the specific outcome would depend on what you are using and what kind of attack you are receiving

[Rasyr]

Ok, so I adding/changing the following

On page 121, the listing for Set under Half Actions will now read

Set vs. Charge (see p. 125)

Then on page 125, under Charge, there is a section for this, that reads as follows:

Set vs Charge

• Set weapon gains +2 in attack against Charge
• Set weapon attacks only requires Half Action, with no penalty, regardless of weapon Qualities or attributes
• Longer weapon strikes first, regardless of Initiative

This will allow two-handed weapons or even weapons with the Heavy Quality to be used against a charge. And still allow them to be set and attack as a Half Action with no penalty (so that teh Set/Attack combination requires a Full Action for the round).

It also messes with initiative, in that the longer of the two weapons always strikes first in a Charge situation.

[Fidoric]

I think it should be limited to long piercing weapons like polearms.
As Dimirag said, set against an attack means you are ready to receive it, usually with your weapon set into the ground to use ten enemy’s momentum against himself. You can set a polearm against a cavalry charge for example or a spear against a charging boar.
In my mind it is not a quick attack and should require time to anticipate the incoming attack and prepare for it. So I would suggest to make it a full action, including the preparation and the attack. Then you get the +2 and the bonus from the enemy’s charge but you cannot parry as your weapon is basically stuck.
That way you get a big bonus to attack (and to initiative or auto initiative for longer weapon) but if you miss…

[Rasyr]

I think it should be limited to long piercing weapons like polearms.
As Dimirag said, set against an attack means you are ready to receive it, usually with your weapon set into the ground to use ten enemy’s momentum against himself. You can set a polearm against a cavalry charge for example or a spear against a charging boar.
In my mind it is not a quick attack and should require time to anticipate the incoming attack and prepare for it. So I would suggest to make it a full action, including the preparation and the attack. Then you get the +2 and the bonus from the enemy’s charge but you cannot parry as your weapon is basically stuck.
That way you get a big bonus to attack (and to initiative or auto initiative for longer weapon) but if you miss…

But what if the charger is a barbarian with a battle axe?

And yes, it is already a Full Action (two Half Actions, actually, one for the Set, the second Half Action for the attack)

This is likely a topic that could be expanded a good bit.

I might go ahead and add a bullet piont that says "Only Spears and Lances can be set against Mounted Attacks, and they do not allow for Parrying."

[Fidoric]

But what if the charger is a barbarian with a battle axe?

So long as there is a charging opponent and a dug-in defender so to speak, it should work.

[Dimirag]

But what if the charger is a barbarian with a battle axe?

I would allow any weapon to be used, with the obvious caveat that the longer weapon strikes first (which already is incorporated), so if your opponent is charging with a battle-axe and you wave a 2H sword you are good to go.

And yes, it is already a Full Action (two Half Actions, actually, one for the Set, the second Half Action for the attack)

This may need clarification, personally I don't se a Set as an attack, you are letting the opponent to attack themselves, so it should be resolved in another way, maybe base weapon damage + bonus based on movement speed

1/2 action should be a kind of "Hold/Wait" action and the other 1/2 would be setting the weapon
Maybe you can Ready & Set as a full action or just Set as a 1/2 action with some penalties/drawbacks
Ready & Set is the classic move use in action movies, where the warriors hold until the enemy is at the correct distance
Set alone is more horror movie where the victim use a "Weapon" on the last second against the monster/bad guy

I know this my be to involved for FX but I like having options

[Rasyr]

Ok, I have updated it to

Set vs Charge

• Set requires a Full Action (combined prepare & attack).[/i].
• Set weapon gains +2 in attack against Charge
• Set weapon attacks have no penalty, regardless of weapon Qualities or attributes.
• Longer weapon strikes first, regardless of Initiative.
• Only Spears & Lances may be set against Mounted attacks.

[Fidoric]

My only concern is that this move seems better used with a weapon you can set in the ground with is as far as I can tell a polearm: pole is set in the ground, business end is aiming at the incoming foe with minute changes still possible. Long enough swords or battle axes with a head spike could be braced against a wall for example but would be hard to maneuver.

[Rasyr]

My only concern is that this move seems better used with a weapon you can set in the ground with is as far as I can tell a polearm: pole is set in the ground, business end is aiming at the incoming foe with minute changes still possible. Long enough swords or battle axes with a head spike could be braced against a wall for example but would be hard to maneuver.

I don't think we will come up with better rules unless we expand how it works a lot more than currently. For the core rules, I want to keep things relatively simple and this does that.

I can, later on, give additional options or more detail in an add-on product (or issue of Express Additions).

[Dimirag]

Maybe adding a damage penalty unless you use a weapon that can be "set" on the ground (as other weapons get "pushed" backwards.

[Rasyr]

Maybe adding a damage penalty unless you use a weapon that can be "set" on the ground (as other weapons get "pushed" backwards.

Another item to keep in mind. I am limited on the space I can devote to this, otherwise it can mess up page numbering and other layout issues.

Now, having said that...

We could change it to be:

Set vs Charge

• Set requires a Full Action (combined prepare & attack).[/i].
• Set weapon gains +4 AB (and -2 DR if not braced).
• Longer weapon strikes first, regardless of Initiative.
• Only Polearms may be set against Mounted attacks.

[Fidoric]

Seems good to me.

[Meerling]

I'm way late to weigh in on this topic, but for me to "set" a weapon against a charge, infantry or cavalry, etc, it needs to be touching the ground as well as pointing at the approaching enemy. So spears and other polearms are the obvious selection.
But if you aren't trying to do a real world simulator, not something I'd suggest with fantasy, I think I'd allow Tower Shields to be used as well. Obviously that's not something you can attack with, but it would be useful for helping to break charges, especially if in a shield wall or phalanx.
Smaller shields just can't be slammed to the ground and still be in the way of the attackers, and there are plenty of examples of real shields of that size having spikes on the bottom to help 'set' them.
I haven't read enough of the combat rules to figure out more than that yet, so take my comments with a grain or three of salt

[Rasyr]

What I actually ended up going with was:

Set vs Charge

(FX, p125)

• Set requires a Full Action (combined prepare & attack).
• Set weapon gains +4 AB (and -2 DR if not braced
  against hard, unmoving surface, such as the ground)
• Longer weapon strikes first, regardless of Initiative.
• Only Polearms may be set against Mounted attacks

So that  this allows one to Set different weapons

I'm way late to weigh in on this topic, but for me to "set" a weapon against a charge, infantry or cavalry, etc, it needs to be touching the ground as well as pointing at the approaching enemy. So spears and other polearms are the obvious selection.

Always happy to tlak about things. 
Yes, those are the obvious selection, and that is also implied as well  with the second and the last bullet points, but being set is not limited to just polearms.

But if you aren't trying to do a real world simulator, not something I'd suggest with fantasy, I think I'd allow Tower Shields to be used as well. Obviously that's not something you can attack with, but it would be useful for helping to break charges, especially if in a shield wall or phalanx.

Historically speaking, such shields were often used in conjuction with spears, although usually in larger formations.  With the formation creating a turtle formation or a hedgehog formation  (if they had  spears) against such mounted charge.

Smaller shields just can't be slammed to the ground and still be in the way of the attackers, and there are plenty of examples of real shields of that size having spikes on the bottom to help 'set' them.
I haven't read enough of the combat rules to figure out more than that yet, so take my comments with a grain or three of salt

No worries... I tried to make the Set vs. Charge rules both flexible and at least a little grounded, but also to allow it in other situations, such as an enemy closing on the  character

For example, a character with a longsword versus a barbarian with a  handaxe charging himon foot.
The longsword wielder can set against that charge (gets  +4 AB, -2 DR, and  attacks first since his weapon is larger).

This is  a valid  usage of the Set rules and works  well in that situation and fits with the generalized Set concept that is usually thought of as being spear versus mounted rider, and that works with these rules as well. 

Thank you for your comments! I  really do enjoy reading what folks think  about  the rules and  how  they are finding (liking or not) certain rules.  Especially since  feedback is what is needed to be able to improve the rules  down  the road...