"What rules would you recommend for lightsaber duelling?" Topic

Like the title says, which system works well for duelling with lightsabers or any type of sword, for that matter?

In terms of complexity, I'd like rules that are mostly quick and easy but have a few maneuvers to simulate swashbuckling swordplay.

I've considered using the card game En Garde for this. Parry riposte!

I like Ronin's dueling system. it doesn't have maneuvers, which would be really cool, but it has a fun mechanic where you secretly allocate a number of tokens based on the characters skill level to either attack or defense, then you each use them to gain the initiative, enhance attack rolls, or enhance defense rolls. its nice because it gives an element of decision making and strategy to what is normally just a dice off in most games.

Flashing Steel (Ganesha Games) isn't hyper-detailed, but does let you have maneuvers, you could probably use A Fistful of Kungfu too, by Osprey, and convert the modern weapons into SW weapons, would let you have force powers too by thinking of Chi as the Force.

Star Wars Epic Duels.

Out of print but available at a hefty price on eBay.

But excellent.

John T

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I'll check them out.

"Rules? There ain't no rules in a light sabre fight!"

There was a set in White Dwarf – around issue 6 (?) – that were pretty good as I recall.

I might pick some RPG rules instead. Riddle of Steel if you can find it, Burning Wheel or an oldie like GURPS.

Runequest or BRP RPG rules?

Try Eureka's rules on three musketeers
It is a fun romp

There's a free spin-off of Runequest called OpenQuest or something like that. Well worth a glance.

Savage Worlds Deluxe

Covers a very wide range of stuff.

I thought about doing GURPS or HERO, but in my experience, HERO combat takes a long time to play out. I haven't played a lot of GURPS.

I tried AD&D treating swords of sharpness as lightsabers, but the fight ended too quickly with a high roll.

I was looking at the duelling rules from the Castle Falkenstein rpg. I may see how well it works.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll look out for those products next time I visit my FLGS. I just downloaded Eureka's Three Musketeers rules. I'll playtest it soon.

I find GURPS to be a good detailed hand to hand combat system. Our group has played Star Wars campaigns with it.

If I go with GURPS, should I include maneuvers from GURPS Martial Arts?

We use Frostgrave for Star Wars and the spells can be used to simulate the Force.

Amputation rules…

Martial arts is wonderful for GURPS. You don't have to use everything, but it has a ton of cool bits.

The regular GURPS combat rules will do a decent job on their own too, I'd start there.

Wiffle ball bats, no aiming for the fingers.

So, kneecaps, noses, and ears are okay?

I've been playing with a modified version of the duelling rules from Castle Falkenstein. The system itself uses playing cards to simulate attacks, defenses, and rests. However, I noticed when two swordsmen are equally matched, the duel can go on for a long time. I modified it for solo play and to make the duel go a bit faster.

Another system I can use is this one I came up with. You and your opponent roll 2d20, 1 for attack, 1 for defense. Compare your attack roll with your opponent's defense roll (and vice versa) and reference the chart.

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I originally came up with this system for a quick and dirty combat resolution, both for battles and for duels. I have been using it to determine crew casualties in my space combat game.

The main problem is that there is a chance of an instant kill when used as is. And yes, double kills are possible.

Tkdguy – You can always change the insta-kill to a "badly hurt but makes a heroic escape" result for a BIG HERO while letting the regular grunts get dismembered as the rules indicate.

That way, it can be adjusted to heroics without having to tweak the rules.

I like that idea, Weasel. Thanks!

One other thing are you talking about minis or live action Light Saber dueling?

I ask this because a friend of mine gave me for my Birthday a very nice Light Saber from Ultra Sabers.

Miniatures, definitely. Ultra Sabers and the other companies make great stuff, but I can't afford them.

"And one for all!" They're free.

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GURPS is extremely detailed.
Long time since I played, but the step back +3 was rather too good.

"I thought about doing GURPS or HERO, but in my experience, HERO combat takes a long time to play out. I haven't played a lot of GURPS."

GURPS is much more complicated.
You do get all the detail you can shake a stick at.
Whether that is much fun or not, depends on your tastes.
Something like en guarde sounds like more fun to me.

I found HERO to be more detailed and convoluted but that probably depends mostly on what people played first :-)

I'm playing around with a few rules, modifying them for both lightsaber duels and for a Highlander game.

Then combine the two into one game of scottish Jedi :-)

I've actually thought about doing that.

My attack chart is pretty basic. You and your opponent roll 2d20: one for attack; one for defense. Compare your attack to your opponent's defense, and vice versa. Subtract the lower number from the higher number.

If the difference is 0, the result is a Kill.
If the difference is 1, the result is a Severe Injury.
If the difference is 2-3, the result is a Moderate Injury.
If the difference is 4-6, the result is a Light Injury.
If the difference is 7+, the result is a No Injury.

I've been modifying my chart to make things a little more cinematic and avoid a double kill result.

Two attacks with the same result cancel each other out. If Player A and Player B both get a "Light Injury" result, their attacks nullify each other.

An attack with a more severe result can cancel an opposing attack with a less severe result but will itself be decreased. So if Player A gets a "Severe Injury" result on Player B, and Player B gets a "Moderate Injury" result on Player A, then Player A's result will cancel out B's result. However, Player A's result is decreased to "Light Injury."

Damage is cumulative. If a character takes a Light Injury in one round and a Moderate Injury the next round, he is now Severely Injured.

I may also use this for a Highlander game. Immortals can heal damage over time. In this case, an immortal can heal one point of severity per round, as long as he takes no damage. So an immortal with a Light Injury will be fully healed if he takes no damage the following round. A Severely Injured immortal needs three consecutive rounds to fully heal, but he will be partially healed if he can avoid taking damage for a round or two.

Here's my AAR as promised. It's also my first attempt at making a comic book. It needs refinement, but I'm still experimenting.

While there are lightsabers involved, the setting is my sicence fantasy campaign rather than the Star Wars universe.

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