Prysus wrote:Danger wrote:I'm not sure where Kevin has verified this, but by RAW, this is a melee combat option only. Where is this official ruling you are referring to?
Greetings and Salutations. While not in a book, Kevin did address the topic itself. It can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=88950&start=265
He actually double posted, so I just linked to the second one for simplicity. Granted, there were 8 pages of debate, Kevin answered on page 6, then it continued to rage on because that wasn't good enough. Go figure.
All right, that's all for now. I basically only posted to show the post where Kevin addressed Ranged Simultaneous Attacks.
Thanks for the link. My apologies for my delayed response. I can see why the debate ranged on afterwards, as the way Kevin answered the question had a more casual tone, rather than one providing an official ruling.
Gamer X: "Hey Kevin, can you use Simultaneous Strike during Ranged Combat?"
Kevin: "I guess so. It's kinda up to the GM though."
Keving waffles a little on his answer, providing no solid "Yes" or "No" and defaults to the standard Palladium answer of "It's up to the GM." He does provide a nice example where this maneuver could be used. i.e. The Gunslinger High-Noon Showdown.
The main point is that even from Kevin's answer, it's clear that Simultaneous Strike wasn't intended to be used in Ranged Combat.
That said, even from Kevin's example, the only time this could be used is during a Target Acquisition move. For example:
GM (To the Glitterboy Player): "It's your action, what do you do?"
Glitterboy: "I shoot Samas 1."
GM (To Samas 1 Player): "You see the Glitterboy turn and level his boomgun in your direction. It looks like he's about to fire. What do you do?"
Samas 1: "I swing around, point my railgun at him, and fire!"
Once the players have targeted one another, i.e. are pointing their guns at one another or are no longer 'drawing' on one another, Simultaneous Strike can no longer be used. There is no way to know when either combatant is going to pull the trigger again. Now, if the Glitterboy swings around to shoot Samas 2, then that Samas can respond with Simultaneous Strike.
Lastly, and most importantly: Please. Please allow for unlimited ranged Simultaneous Strikes. Use this rule. I'm begging you. No, really. I really, really want this rule in place during this scenario. It would be my mantra, my battlecry during the combat. I would dance around the table singing Simultaneous Strike songs.
For some strangely surprising reason or another, you seem to think this gives some kind of advantage to the Samas? You are sorely mistaken. It is quite the opposite. You see, this rule eliminates any advantage the Samas' superior numbers and maneuverability might have once had over the Glitterboy. Moreover, it almost guarantees the Glitterboy victory. Or have you forgotten that Simultaneous Strike negates the use of Dodge by both combatants? Buh-bye +5 to dodge for the Samas. Hello, Death by Boomgun. Hell, that'll be my character name. I'll even give up my 8 attacks per round, and settle for 7 just to make it even sweeter.
GM to Glitterboy Player: "What's your character's name?"
Glitterboy: "Major DeathByBoomgun, of the Free Quebec Military. Reporting for duty."
Now it's down to straight dice roll vs dice roll, and damage vs damage. I think we know who wins that contest.