Editing Opend20: Combat (section)

==Combat Score==


Base Combat Bonus no longer exists in OpenD20, replaced with the Combat Score.  This is derived from the synergy from all the 'combat family' of skills.  Every five ranks in a combat skill gives a +1 bonus to the Combat Score.  This means that if characters specialises in combat, their abilities will grow exponentially, which puts them much more on par with spell-casters, and improves game balance.

Characters hardly ever use ''just'' their Combat Score, however, because they must have spent some points in skills in order to ''get'' a Combat Score (although a wizard might have a very low combat score by only purchasing ranks in Defense).  See the [[Opend20:_Attributes_and_Skill_Families|Skills Section]] for more information.

Let's say ''Rungkor'' is fighting with his bastard sword.  He has 5 ranks in Weapon<Bastard Sword>, 3 ranks in Manoeuvre(Trip) and a Combat Score of 3, for an overall score of 8 when fighting with his sword, and 6 when trying to unbalance an opponenet.

Because of the new 'exponential' growth possible with the Combat Score, there are no longer multiple attacks per round.  Instead, if characters have enough initiative ranks (see below), their players can choose to split their combat score - so ''Rungkor'' might choose to make two attacks at +4 each, or one attack of +6 and one of +2.  It's all up to the player, although some exceptions are noted with regard to individual [[Opend20:_Attributes_and_Skill_Families|skills]].

The Combat Score can also be 'invested' into defense.  This functions almost as if every character had the 'combat expertise' feat.  For every 2 Combat Points invested, characters receive a +1 bonus to defense for that round.

Finally, the Combat Score can be spent on improving initiative ranks (but only for the round in which the points are spent). For every five Combat Points, characters get +1 to their initiative rank.  This allows OpenD20 to simulate the varied pace of combat without re-rolling initiative every round.