Cubicle 7 Explore The Flow Of Combat In AoS: Soulbound

February 18, 2020 by brennon

Cubicle 7 has been talking more about the way combat works in Age Of Sigmar: Soulbound. It certainly seems like it's fast, dynamic and packed with choice for the discerning sword savant.

The way that tests are handled was explored in previous blog posts from Cubicle 7 which you can find HERE and HERE. The focus of their latest piece though is on the traits that you use for combat and how that comes together to produce a simple but effective system. These options break down into...

Melee is how effective you are in hand-to-hand combat. It is derived from your Body and your Weapon Skill. When making a Melee Attack, you make a Body (Weapon Skill) Test.
Accuracy represents your marksmanship and ability to pick out a target. It is derived from your Mind and your Ballistic Skill. When making a Ranged Attack, you make a Body (Ballistic Skill) Test.
Defence is how hard you are to hit, and how adept you are at avoiding danger. Defence is derived from your Body and your Reflexes Skill.

Your traits are then measured against your opponent using what they call The Ladder. Using this system you determine the difficulty of your attack. If you're equal on The Ladder, which goes from Poor through to Extraordinary, with both traits being Good then you'll hit on a four. If you were one step above, it would be a three to hit and if you end up one step below then it's a five to hit. The system seems pretty simple and echoes the Strength and Toughness tables of Warhammer past.

This does seem like an interesting way of tweaking a combat system so that there is a chance that everyone can hit their foe but if you're an exemplary warrior then you are going to have the upper hand at most times.

When it comes to damage, the success of your strikes add to the damage your opponent takes but armour then soaks some of this too to balance things out. Also, there are lots of moves and options you can make in combat beyond just striking at a foe and it should mean that your players start to think outside the box and don't just become Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.

Are you still getting good vides from Age Of Sigmar: Soulbound?