Trying to wrap my head around this.

FAQ says that :
- default difficulty for Melee / Ranged actions is easy (1d) <P>
- any action with "vs. Target Defence" is easy <P> , + per point of target's Defence
- all else is Simple (0d)

So, considering that, here are a few Ranged actions :

1)

Ranged Strike ; Ranged Action ; Ballistic Skill (Ag) vs. Target Defence

Base difficulty is <P> (because it's Ranged action / vs Target Defence)
Add equal to target's Defence (because it's vs Target Defence)
No inherent difficulty

Total : <P> + /Defence

Correct ?

2)

Bullseye ; Ranged Action ; Ballistic Skill (Ag) vs. Target Defence ; <P><P>

Base difficulty is <P> (because it's Ranged action / vs Target Defence)
Add equal to target's Defence (because it's vs Target Defence)
Inherent difficulty of <P><P>

Total : <P><P><P> + /Defence

Correct ?

3)

Knockback Shot ; Ranged Action ; Ballistic Skill (Ag) vs. Target Resilience (To) ; <P>

Base difficulty is based on attacker's Ag compared to defender's To (this one is an Opposed Test, so we do not add <P> for it being a Ranged action, right ?)
No from Defence as it's not vs. Target Defence
Inherent difficulty of <P>

Total : anything from base opposed difficulty + <P>

Correct ?

4)

Covering Fire ; Ranged Action ; Ballistic Skill (Ag) ; <P>

Base difficulty is <P> (because it's Ranged action )
No from Defence as it's not vs. Target Defence
Inherent difficulty of <P>

Total : <P><P>

Correct ?

You are totally correct.

Yes, those looks correct, barring GM alteration of difficulty for unusual circumstances.

dvang said:

Well, yes, of course.

Thanks guys.

4)

Covering Fire ; Ranged Action ; Ballistic Skill (Ag) ; <P>

Base difficulty is <P> (because it's Ranged action )
No from Defence as it's not vs. Target Defence
Inherent difficulty of <P>

Total : <P><P>

Correct ?

I agree with all of them but number four has me scracthing my head. Is the ruling on this last scenario confirmed? The way I read the rule It should be:

"<P> "

I read " If the action is a Melee Attack or Ranged Attack ( or otherwise opposed by the target's defence)" (Pg. 76) to mean, since "otherwise" can be defined as " in other respects" or the like, that the key word or term to generate the base Easy difficulty level is " vs target's defence". ( and not merely melee/or ranged attack)

If the logic used in #3, to treat a ranged action as an opposed check, why wouldn't the same logic be to treat this action as an unopposed check? The rule states for unopposed checks that the card itself sets the difficulty level. In this case, the level is based on the difficulty of the task.( which is on the card).

Every time I feel I have the game figured out something crops up. . .anyways let me know if I'm wrong or if the ruling for #4 is official ( or if you guys just interpreting the rulebook) so I can correct my mistake.

One thing I forgot to add is that the rule in question states a "ranged attack" not action, covering fire is not a Ranged attack. The player is not aiming or shooting at a specific object just shooting at a general area.

Blustar said:

In my opinion, the icon (pistol) in the top-left corner of this action card define precisely that it's a ranged attack.

Cheers

Armoks said:

Armoks is correct. Covering Fire is a Ranged Attack, because it has the Ranged symbol (p 49 core rules).

Armoks said:

By this rationale then, every card with the Sword icon is a melee attack. Which then means the base difficulty for EVERY card would be <P>, plus any inherent difficulty modifier.

This can't be correct, can it?

Sausageman said:

Yes, every card with the Sword icon is a melee attack. However:

The FAQ says: "An action that is listed as “vs. Target Defence” is not an opposed check – it is based on the Easy (1d) default difficulty, similar to how Melee Attack and Ranged Attack actions are resolved. In addition to this default difficulty, the dice pool may be modified by the target’s Defence rating, as well as by the action’s difficulty modifier.

The dice pool for a check may be further influenced by the action’s difficulty modifier. An action that is opposed by a target’s characteristic uses the opposed check difficulty rules rather than the default challenge levels noted above."

That said, while playing a Basic Melee Attack action you don't throw 2 purple dice into the pool. In this case, only one challenge die is added.

Cheers!

This thread has me more confused than before it was made...

I had the idea that:

"Skill" vs. "Target Defence" was 1 Challenge dice as default, then the actions difficulty (written in the left corner) and then whatever Misfortune/Challenge dice opponents defences would require.

"Skill" vs. "Attribute/Skill" was a standard opposed check, so with "Weapon skill" vs. "Resilience" with 4 str and 4 tou, would be 2 Challenge dice (and then some misfortune depending on targets training in resilience). Added to this came any reactions and/or other defences.

This meaning that vs. "Target defence" would almost always be easier (or same difficulty) as vs. "Skill", unless you had double your opponents attribute.

Finally if the action has no "... vs. target defence or skill" the default difficulty would be zero, and then you'd add action card difficulty (left corner) and any defences the target could muster.

But it is quite confusing to say the least, and one thing my players (and me) have a very hard time understanding.

Because if "Melee, ranged, spell" icons always means 1 purple dice as default, then why put "vs. target defence" in the other ones?

I am still hoping for someone to really clarify this...

Nvm... finally understood the faq...

Melee has 1 Challenge dice default, no matter if it's vs. Target Def or not, same for Ranged attack.

Spells is zero Challenge dice default, unless it's vs. Targets Defence, then it's 1 Challenge dice.