Mano a Mano:Stance and Position

Stance, Posture, and Position Modifiers

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 flanking 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.

On the Ground

While a character is crouching, crawling, sitting, or lying on the ground, they move more slowly (half movement, -1 to all hand to hand combat rolls except for grappling) but they are harder to hit with missile weapons (+2 to avoid a missile weapon, even without cover, unless the attack comes from above.)

Aiming while Standing

When a character aims a missile weapon they have a +2 to hit.

Aiming on the Ground

When a character aims from a sitting or prone position they have a +2 to hit plus the penalties for being on the ground: they move more slowly (half movement, -1 to all hand to hand combat rolls except for grappling) but they are harder to hit with missile weapons (+2 to avoid a missile weapon, even without cover, unless the attack comes from above.)

Aimed Attack and Flanking Attack

These attacks have a +1 modifier to their success roll.

Evasion and Defense

Evasion and Defense give a character a +2 passive defense bonus until the end of the character's next turn. This bonus helps them to avoid any attack which they don't counter and which is not a counter to their attack.

Clinch

When a character is grappling and standing up, but does not have the dominant position, they have a -1 to all combat rolls.

Ground Fighting

When a character is grappling on the ground, and does not have the dominant position, they have a -1 to all combat rolls against characters they are grappling with, a +1 against other characters missile weapon attacks, and -2 to combat rolls involving other characters.

Dominant Position (Standing)

+1 modifier to combat rolls against the character in the inferior position. -1 to all other combat rolls.

Dominant Position (on the Ground)

+1 modifier to combat rolls against the character in the inferior position. -1 to combat rolls involving other characters you are grappling with simultaneously, +1 against other characters missile weapon attacks, and -2 to most other combat rolls.

                 STANDING         ON THE GROUND

DEFAULT          no modifiers     +2 defense vs. missiles
                                  -1 hand to hand

AIMING           +2 to hit        +2 to hit
                                  +2 defense vs. missiles
                                  -1 hand to hand

AIMED/FLANKING   +1 to hit        n/a

EVADE/DEFEND     +2 defense       n/a

GRAPPLING        -1 to all rolls  -1 vs. other grapplers
                                  -2 vs. non-grapplers
                                  +1 defense vs. missiles

DOMINANT         +1 vs. inferior  +1 vs. inferior
                 -1 vs. others    -1 vs. other grapplers
                                  -2 vs. non-grapplers
                                  +1 defense vs. missiles