Attack Types

Attack types divide the widely various methods of killing off personas into a few basic groups. Attack types separate based on damage mechanism, frequency of attack, and range. An attack type can include weapons, alien attacks and misused robot peripherals.

Each persona deploys each attack type differently depending on their family and vocation. These personalized differences are in the Combat Table section.

*Non-powered thrusting and striking attacks. *

Type A attacks depend on the persona’s muscle power to inflict damage. The personas must be in adjacent hexes to be able to damage each other. Type A attacks get one attack roll per unit. Examples are clubs, fists, swords, pincers, claws and axes.

An anthro could use a weapon like a sword or an axe. An alien could use a natural attack like a bite or a talon slash. A robot could use a malfunctioning peripheral that operates as a club.

Aliens and robots can have multiple Type A attacks per unit. For example, an alien may have multiple tentacles with which to slap. Or a robot may have multiple pointy things with which to stab.

Non-powered projectile attacks.

Type B attacks depend on the persona’s muscle power to inflict damage. The personas may be several hexes apart and still be able to damage each other. Type B attacks get one attack roll per unit. Examples are arrows, bolts, rocks, quills and spit.

An anthro would use a weapon like a bow or a sling. An alien could have an evolved natural attack like spitting rocks or flinging quills. A robot could use a malfunctioning peripheral that flings metal shavings.

Aliens and robots can have multiple attacks per turn with their type B attacks. For example, an alien may be able to spit three times each turn. Or a robot may have multiple pointy things to fling at her targets.

Powered projectile attack.

Type C weapons do not require the muscle power of the persona. The attack supplies its energy to inflict damage. For example, the destructive forces may come from a battery or an explosive charge in a bullet. The personas can be many hexes apart and still be able to damage each other. Type C attacks are limited to once per combat unit. Examples are bullets, laser bolts, energy beams, and crossbow bolts.

An anthro could use a weapon like a gun or a lazer. An alien could have a naturally evolved attack like lazer eyes or gas projected bone chunks. A robot could be a combot with a baked-in gun or a construction robot misusing a nail gun.

Powered projectile attacks.

Type D and E attacks function the same as Type C attacks but have more than one attack roll per unit. These attack types do not require any physical strength from the persona to inflict damage or make multiple attack rolls. Combatants can be quite far apart and be able to damage each other. Type D and E attacks are usually artifact weapons found in the Guns section. It is also possible for an alien to have an evolved attack that functions like a Type D or E attack.

Powered fully automated projectile attacks.

These are powered attacks that are fully automated (F stands for fully automatic). Type F attacks function the same as Type C attacks but have more than one attack roll per unit. These attack types do not require any physical strength from the persona to inflict damage or make multiple attack rolls. Combatants can be quite far apart and be able to damage each other.

A machine gun that releases a hail of bullets with the pull of a trigger is the most iconic Type F attack. Type F attacks are usually artifact weapons found in the Guns section. It is also possible for an alien to have an evolved attack that functions like a Type F attack.

The player will make five attack rolls per unit when using a Type F weapon. Each burst uses 15 rounds of ammunition. Each attack roll represents a random number of ammo rounds (bullets, lazer bolts, etc.). For each successful attack roll anywhere from 0-3 rounds (1d4-1) damage the target. While extremely unlikely, it is possible to win five attack rolls and land zero rounds on the target.

A persona fires her medium-powered full auto lazer pistol at a target. A medium-powered full auto lazer pistol inflicts 2-20 (2d10) hit points of damage per lazer bolt. The player makes five attack rolls on the target. Three of the attack rolls damage the target, two of the attack rolls miss. The weapon discharges 15 rounds of ammunition regardless. The player will then roll 1d4-1 three times to see how many lazer bolts damage the target. If the player rolls 2, 0, 3 for how many bolts land on the target, she will roll 10d10 hit points of damage.

Only mercenaries with flotto skills can "spread" the attack rolls between different targets. In EXP, full auto weapons have the nickname of flotto weapons.

Area of Effect attack

An area of effect attack covers a predetermined area of combat with damage. Type AOE attacks are unique because the player does not attack a persona’s armour rating but makes an attack roll on a target hexagon. The attack roll is against a location and not a persona. For the explosive details of area of effect combat jump to Area of Effect.

The player targets a specific hex for the AOE weapon. She then makes an attack roll to see if she hits the desired target hex. The armour rating of a hexagon is 600. The player must win an attack roll versus AR 600 to have her persona’s area of effect weapon land where she wants. Every persona in the area of effect is damaged. There is no saving throw.