trampling as described in Dragonmech vs the SRD version

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modus666
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trampling as described in Dragonmech vs the SRD version

Post by modus666 »

The trample maneuver described in the DragonMech main book seems to imply that the mech has to stop moving, and make a concerted effort to trample a specific target within its reach, ie.. stop... stomp....

Trampling in the d20 srd reads as thus:

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Trample
As a full-round action, a creature with this special attack can move up to twice its speed and literally run over any opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. The creature merely has to move over the opponents in its path; any creature whose space is completely covered by the trampling creature’s space is subject to the trample attack. If a target’s space is larger than 5 feet, it is only considered trampled if the trampling creature moves over all the squares it occupies. If the trampling creature moves over only some of a target’s space, the target can make an attack of opportunity against the trampling creature at a -4 penalty. A trampling creature that accidentally ends its movement in an illegal space returns to the last legal position it occupied, or the closest legal position, if there’s a legal position that’s closer.

A trample attack deals bludgeoning damage (the creature’s slam damage + 1½ times its Str modifier). The creature’s descriptive text gives the exact amount.

Trampled opponents can attempt attacks of opportunity, but these take a -4 penalty. If they do not make attacks of opportunity, trampled opponents can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage.

The save DC against a creature’s trample attack is 10 + ½ creature’s HD + creature’s Str modifier (the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). A trampling creature can only deal trampling damage to each target once per round, no matter how many times its movement takes it over a target creature.
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is there some reason for the discrepancy in mechanics when mechs are trampling something as opposed to a normal creature with the ability to trample? i can't see how a big-footed mech would have to slow down its movement to trample a horde of smaller creatures...
walrusjester
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Post by walrusjester »

Joseph Goodman is the guy who wrote the original rules for mech trampling, so I'm going to defer to him. Can you shed some light on this, Joseph?
DragonMech line developer, freelance writer, tall guy named Matt.
goodmangames
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Post by goodmangames »

I always pictured the mechs of Dragonmech as being big and clunky, not particular coordinated or agile... my image is that if a mech tried to move while trampling, it would knock itself off balance and collapse. You could still use the normal trampling rules, though. Perhaps a particularly well built mech could follow the standard trampling rules -- or a certain piloting feat might make it possible in any mech?
Joseph Goodman
Goodman Games
www.goodman-games.com
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