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 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. Standing up is a quick action. Instant Stand is a powerful action which includes standing up and gives the character a +2 defense bonus if they make an agility + acrobatics vs. 0 difficulty roll. (If a character's agility + acrobatics is greater than 5 success is automatic.) If the roll fails the character stands without the defense bonus.

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.) Evasion, powerful, strategic, cautious and outreaching attacks cannot be done from the ground. Dropping to the ground is a quick action.

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.)

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.

Evasion and Special Attacks

evasion and cautious and outreaching attacks give a defense bonus until the end of the character's next turn, and strategic attacks have an attack bonus. None of these can be done on the ground. (See Action/Actions and Action/Attacking.)

			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
	Grappling		-1 to all rolls		-1 vs. other grapplers -2 vs. non-grapplers +1 defense vs. missiles
	Dominant		+1 vs. inferior -1 vs. others		+1 vs. inferior -1 vs. other grapplers -2 vs. non-grapplers +1 defense vs. missiles
	Strategic Attack		+1 to hit		n/a
	Cautious Attack		+1 defense		n/a
	Outreaching Attack		+2 defense		n/a
	Evasion		+2 defense		n/a