Mano a Mano:Stance and Position

Stance and Position

To simplify keeping track of success roll modifiers, there are only 10 different actions and positions to be aware of. A character can only be in one of these positions at a time. For example, a character cannot do a strategic attack while aiming or grappling.

Standing

This is the position where characters are ready to do most actions, but they are also fully exposed to missile weapon attacks such as thrown weapons, slings, bows and guns. While standing a character can move at normal speed and have no special modifiers from this position. When a character does the instant stand action, he has a defense bonus until his next turn.

On the Ground

While a character is crouching, crawling, sitting, or lying on the ground, they move more slowly (half movement, -5 to all striking attack rolls and defense against striking) but they are harder to hit with missile weapons (+5 defense against missile weapon attacks, even without cover, unless the attack comes from above.) Powerful, strategic and cautious attacks cannot be done from the ground.

Aiming while Standing

When a character aims a missile weapon they have a +5 to hit.

Aiming on the Ground

When a character aims from a sitting or prone position they have a +5 to hit plus the penalties for being on the ground: they move more slowly (half movement, -5 to defense against striking) but they are harder to hit with missile weapons (+5 to avoid a missile weapon, even without cover, unless the attack comes from above.)

Clinch

When a character is grappling and standing up, but does not have the dominant position, they have a -5 to all attack rolls and -5 defense against all attacks.

Ground Fighting

When a character is grappling on the ground, and does not have the dominant position, they have a +5 defense against missile weapon attacks, -5 to defense against other attacks, and -5 to all attack rolls.

Dominant Position (Standing)

When a character in a clinch (grappling while standing) has the dominant position, he has a +5 bonus to attack rolls and defense against the character in the inferior position, and -5 to all other combat rolls.

Dominant Position (on the Ground)

When a character has the dominant position while grappling on the ground, he has a +5 modifier to attack rolls and defense against the character in the inferior position, +5 against missile weapon attacks, and -5 to other attack rolls and defense against other attacks.

Resting, Instant Stand and Special Attacks

The rest action, cautious attacks and instant stand give a defense bonus until the end of the character's next turn, and strategic attacks have an attack bonus. Cautious attacks cannot be done on the ground. (See Action/Actions and Action/Attacking.)

			Standing		On the Ground
	Default		no modifiers		+5 defense vs. missiles -5 striking attack and defense
	Aiming		+5 to hit		+5 to hit +5 defense vs. missiles -5 striking defense
	Grappling		-5 to all rolls		-5 attack -5 hand to hand defense
	Dominant		+5 vs. inferior -5 vs. others		+5 vs. inferior -5 attack vs. others -5 hand to hand defense vs. others
	Strategic		+5 to hit		n/a
	Cautious		+5 defense		n/a
	Resting		+5 defense		+5 defense