3 PC Knights, 4 enemy archers

Knight 1 is charging at gallop and using Lance skill vs. an Archer which he is in range to hit this Combat Round. Knight 2 is approaching more cautiously, and player specifically said his shield is up... he won't get into melee range this round. Knight 3 (badly wounded from previous encounter) has Prudently chosen to take up position behind a boulder and use his bow.

In Declaration Phase, the NPC Archers decide to divide their 4 shots, 2 at the charging Knight 1, 2 at the cautiously approaching Knight 2, and none at the archer Knight 3.

What are the appropriate contests here?

Bandits shooting at the charging Knight 1, is it his Lance vs. their Bow? He's only charging one of them, does he have to split his Lance skill between them?

Bandits shooting at cantering Knight 2 with shield up, he's not getting an actual combat roll this round, are these contests? Bow vs what? His equipped weapon is a Lance.

No Bandits shooting at Knight 3, when he shoots is it his Bow Skill vs. their Bow skill (they are not shooting back at him specifically) or it is uncontested?


I'd very much welcome any insight, I'm new to running the game. I think if someone were to simply lay out what the rolls needed for this example combat round, it would be highly instructional.

KAP 5.1, p. 118, Ranged Combat:
"All ranged attacks are made as unopposed rolls. If the
target has a shield, he does not get an opposed roll, but
the shield acts as “cover,” imposing a –5 modifier to the
attacker’s skill."


So, in your example, this is how I would GM it:

1) The missile attacks come before Knight A closes to melee, so roll those first. Both Knights A and B would have their shields ready, so -5 to the archers' skills would apply (see above). The Bow attacks are unopposed, the Knights do not roll anything. (Yes, I know that is rough on Knight B, maybe something to point out to him that approaching cautiously only gives the archers more time to shoot at him.)

2) If Knight A is still on horseback and able to attack, he can roll unopposed Lance charge against ONE Archer. (I am making the attack unopposed since the archer is concentrating on shooting: making a combined Bow attack and Evade, both at -5, would be possible but foolish in extreme, since that would make the Lance charge +15 altogether vs. something like DEX 5 in Evade... so not worth it.)

3) The next round, Knight B would close in and get to attack (assuming he survives more arrows). Knight A would likely be turning his horse around this round, after having overshot the archers in his charge. If he would like to charge again, he would likely need to ride a bit farther away before turning, to have enough space to accelerate to a lance charge again. Frankly, he probably should just drop his lance and start slashing the archers with his sword (turning and rearming takes his round, maybe a horsemanship roll to turn in time to get his shield against the archers?).

Granted, I find KAP 5.1 round length too short (based on movement rate), resulting in machinegun effect for the archers. So I would probably allow even Knight A to decide if he wants to do a lance charge next round (long turn) or turn quickly and close to melee next round (short turn, but gets the shield vs. arrows).

Although Morien has the rules and you probably go that way I would have handled it a bit different.

Knight 1 can split his lance skill between the two archers. He gets a +5 vs the archer he is charging (height difference), but not the other. If he wins against the second archer he does not get hit, but if he has a partial he can use his shield. If he succeeds against the archer he is charging he scewers him, otherwise he must accept the hit of the archer and misses the archer who dodges away at the last moment. I would allow him to either move away further so he can charge again next round (if his lance survived), otherwise he may close to the next archer.

Knight 2 can either use his horsemanship or lance skill to avoid being hit just as knight 1. He does not do any damage if he succeeds. I would probably allow him to get the defensive bonus as well. He can close to one archer the next round.

Knight 3 gets an unopposed roll as all the archers are concentrating on the other knights, but I would probably give the archers some cover (as they are no fools).

The archers bows would not get a -5 penalty due to height difference as normal melee weapons would.
As always YPMV

I agree Morien has the right of it by RAW.

Personally I make all combat rolls opposed and treat a tie as a success for both combatants to get that sweet 'kill each other simultaneously' possibility.
The charging knight would use Lance +5 vs Bow
The advancing knight would use Horsemanship (Dex if afoot)
The bow-knight would roll Bow unopposed unless his target splits skill.