Simulated combat

Simulated, Abstract or Representational combat is a mechanic used in some larps, in which the participants resolve combat by abstract methods rather than hitting one another with weapons. It is typically contrasted with live-combat.

Use of simulated combat is often seen as a defining characteristic of theatre-style games.

Mechanics

There are a wide variety of mechanical approaches used for simulating combat. Some examples:

• Combat can be restricted to certain characters (for example by using ability cards), or be something anyone can engage in.
• Items and skills may provide bonuses.
• Combat can be self-adjudicating or GM-adjudicated.
• It may use hit points, or a single test to resolve victory and defeat.
• It may be deterministic - A always beats B - or use random resolution using a card draw, finger-flings, paper-scissors-rock, bidding, flipping a coin, or even dice.
• Ties may be resolved in favour of the attacker or defender, to encourage or discourage combat.
• Information about characters' relative combat abilities may be open, or kept secret to create uncertainty.

Specific examples

• The Freeform Book uses single-use assassination cards, with the defender rolling a saving throw on 3d6 to survive. Some later Australian freeforms use single-use "bullet cards", countered by "dodge cards".
• Rules to Live By uses skills and dice, like a tabletop rpg.
• Mind's Eye Theatre uses paper-scissors-rock or a card draw, with skills providing retests or bonuses.
• Kickarse uses a single paper-scissors-rock test to determine victory and defeat.
• In Time Travel Review Board, anyone starting a fight is immediately dragged away and shot by the NPC guards.

See also

• Combat bubble
• Combat number