Combat Movement

Combat movement starts when the referee or players decide so. The hex map rolls out, the minis throw down, and personas' lives are on the line. Once the referee decides that combat is underway, combat movement is the first step. Combat movement also activates when a persona needs to get somewhere fast, and their life is on the line.

The unit of distance used in combat movement is the hex. Hex is short for the word hexagon. The hexagon is a six-sided polygon of great beauty. The scale of EXP’s hexagon is 2 meters. In EXP, hexes are a unit of measure. Distances, the size of robots, aliens, and spaceships are in hexes.

Tactical combat movement requires a hexagon surface and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_model(gaming)[tokens,window=_blank] to keep track of movement.

Each turn of combat in EXP is called a unit. This time measurement is 2 seconds long. For more details about time in EXP, jump to Combat Time.

Each persona has a movement rate. Robots, aliens, anthros, and vehicles all have movement rates. The movement rate is a velocity measure. The movement rate is the same as miles per hour or kilometres per hour. For tactical combat, the movement rate is in hexes per unit.

Movement adjustments are endless. Only the most basic ones are covered here. The more tactical and the more faux realism desired, the more movement adjustments the players use.

Movement rate represents the furthest a persona can move in one unit during combat. During combat, players can move and make an attack roll without penalty. So an anthro that moves five h/u per unit could move five hexes straight ahead and make an attack roll. As soon as the persona deviates from this most simplistic move attack combination, there are penalties. The player pays for these penalties in hexes.

For example, changing direction can cost one hex in movement. So an anthro that moves five h/u per unit could move four hexes, change direction and make an attack roll. The more dramatic the direction change, the more hexes per unit are absorbed.

For example, catching an ammo pack costs two hexes of movement. So an anthro that moves five h/u per unit could move three hexes, catch the ammo pack, and make an attack roll.

These movement penalties are cumulative. So an anthro that moves five h/u per unit could move two hexes, catch the ammo pack, change direction and make an attack roll. She may be getting a lot done, but she is not getting as far as before.

The movement cost for waist-deep water is four hexes per unit. So changing direction, catching a watermelon, and firing her pistol in waist-deep water is not possible. She needs seven hexes per unit when she only has five hexes per unit to spend. Now the player must decide which is most important: the watermelon, changing direction, or moving.

Changing direction is the most straightforward and easily understood of all the movement adjustments. There is no movement penalty for moving forward on stable terrain. There is one hex cost per facet of change in direction.

A persona’s movement rate represents what she can accomplish per unit of combat. If a player chooses, she can have her persona ditch combat and run away. Running away is also called a rapid tactical withdrawal. A running persona cannot make attack rolls or carry out actions. They can only run. The movement benefit is +50%. This benefit is in hexes of distance only. Running does not allow for attack rolls or actions.

For example, an anthro persona with a move of 6 h/u is carrying a watermelon. If the player decides on a rapid tactical withdrawal, the persona may drop the watermelon and move at 9 h/u. Running does not guarantee the safety of a persona in any way.

Robots move at maximum efficiency and cannot increase movement rate by running. Only aliens and anthros have the flight response that allows them to make a rapid tactical withdrawal.

A persona’s movement rate represents what she can accomplish per unit of combat. If a player chooses, she can have her persona ditch combat and run away. Bolting cannot be mistaken for a tactical withdrawal. Bolting represents a mindless panicked straight-line run. A bolting persona cannot make attack rolls or carry out actions. They can only run. The movement benefit is +100%. This benefit is in hexes of distance only. Bolting does not allow for attack rolls or actions.

For example, an anthro persona with a move of 6 h/u sees a heavy combot eviscerate the rest of her expedition (in one unit). The player decides her persona should run screaming from the combat area. The persona would drop her weapon, her backpack, tear off her armour, and run in a straight line screaming. Her movement rate bolting would be 14 h/u. Double for routing and +2 for panicked screaming.

Robots move at maximum efficiency and cannot increase movement rate by running. Only aliens and anthros have the flight response that allows them to make a rapid tactical withdrawal. Bolting does not guarantee the safety of a persona in any way.

This guide refers to hills on a hex map and not climbing up walls. Personas moving uphill suffer a one hex cost per hex rise in the terrain. If a persona climbed two hexes in altitude over two hexes of distance, she would face a two hex cost. If the persona’s move is decreased to zero by the rise in the terrain, she may stop and make an attack roll or start to climb. Usually, the referee will assign the hex cost penalty to a specific hill on the hex mat. However, those who enjoy arithmetic can use the calculation below.

This guide refers to hills on a hex map and not jumping off cliffs. Personas can move down hills safely as long as they move slower than their movement rate. If a persona wants a speed boost, she may add the rise she travels through to her movement rate. The hex distance bonus and does not add any attacks or actions. There is also a chance that the persona will faceplant due to the added speed.

Acceleration is a change in velocity and can represent speeding up or slowing down. There are no rules in tactical combat for acceleration. Very fast vehicles and robots may have some limitations speeding up. There are no getting up to speed limitations on personas in combat.

A persona that is running or bolting may crash into something. Or a robot or vehicle making too tight a turn may risk uncontrolled contact with the terrain. These considerations are left entirely up to the referee and players. Remember to err on what makes for the best story. If the debate becomes heated, this would be an excellent opportunity to use Sphincter Dice.

Carrying too much junk slows you down in combat.

The surface of the land also influences movement in combat. A persona can move faster over solid ground than through a knee-deep swamp. The terrain surfaces covered here variations on typical environments. Combat movement covers the mundane terrains. For exotic terrains like zero gravity or exatmo, jump to Exotic Terrain.

Some actions take less than a unit but still require attention from the persona. These actions result in minor movement rate adjustments. The table is included here for convenience.

The only action that is guaranteed to fit into the combat unit is an attack. Some things require too much attention for a persona to keep moving. The persona can complete some actions within a unit. Other actions require too much attention to either move or attack.

A persona can crawl along the ground to improve concealment or cover. Crawling involves keeping one’s body unnaturally close to the ground and compromises movement rate. Crawling personas move at 1/4 of their regular movement rate. So a persona who normally can move eight h/u can crawl at two h/u. Crawling also impedes the actions a person can undertake.

Crawling gives the persona an AR bonus of +125 to powered and none powered missile weapons. So attack types B and C are penalized but Type A attacks get an attack bonus of +125.

Robots cannot alter their locomotion type to gain a crawling AR bonus. Only medium-sized or smaller organic personas can use this bonus.

A persona can crouch while moving to improve concealment or cover. Crouching involves lowering one’s body closer to the ground and compromises movement rate. Crouching personas move at 1/2 their regular movement rate. So a persona who normally can move six h/u can crouch at three h/u. Crouching also impedes the actions a person can undertake.

Crouching gives the persona an AR bonus of +60 vs powered and none powered missile weapons. So attack types B and C are penalized but Type A attacks get an attack bonus of +125.

Robots cannot alter their locomotion type to gain any AR bonus. Only medium-sized or smaller organic personas can use this bonus.

Rolling allows the persona to stay undercover and move a bit faster. Rolling personas can move at 1/3 their movement rate (rounded down). A rolling persona with a seven h/u move can roll at two h/u.

Rolling gives the persona an AR bonus of +125 to powered and non-powered missile weapons. So attack types B and C are penalized but Type A attacks get an attack bonus of +125.

While rolling, a persona cannot make attack rolls or performance rolls. The persona can only make roll rolls.

Robots cannot alter their locomotion type to gain any AR bonus. Only medium-sized or smaller organic personas can use this bonus.

Once during combat, a persona can make a barrel roll if they scream barrel roll. The barrel roll does not impair the persona in any way during the unit. A barrel offers no bonus to the persona in any way. Anthros, alien tool users and robots can perform a barrel roll once during a combat session.

A dive is a headfirst horizontal torpedo jump that can propel the persona beyond her movement allowance. Upon finishing her unit’s movement, a persona can dive an additional one hex for every six points of PSTR. Diving can launch her through windows, into doorways, across tables, off cliffs, etc. Diving renders a persona inactive for the next unit.

A jump is a brief, self-propelled aerial excursion governed mainly by gravity after the point of liftoff. A jump brings a persona to a complete stop at its end. No attribute roll is needed to jump successfully. However, repeated jumping to subvert movement rates should be discouraged.

Jumping here is for jumping during tactical combat. Under non-combat circumstances getting around barriers and over obstacles is entirely different.

Horizontal jumps have no hite and are just for distance. Vertical jumps get personas over impasses. A failed vertical jump leaves the persona crumpled at the base of the barrier.

Robots do not jump. Flora and fauna may jump over natural obstructions in their habitat.