Pulp alley for three musketeers?

[M.P.]

Dear fellow LAFers what changes to the Pulp Alley would you suggest for three musketeers gaming?

Regards,
         Tom

[theoldschool]

I use Pulp Alley for Three Musketeers. The only change I make is that black powder weapons only fire once per turn. Apart from that I use the rules straight. Works great.

[NickNascati]

Don't all weapons only fire once per turn in PA?  Maybe i missed something. 

[theoldschool]

A character can shoot when activated, but can also react to shooting by returning fire. Can also react by shooting if the enemy moves more than 3 inches. There is a penalty of -1D for multiple combats i.e. Each prior use of a combat skill in the Turn. So although a character only shoots once during its activation, he/she can fire multiple times during the turn.

[d phipps]

A character can shoot when activated, but can also react to shooting by returning fire. Can also react by shooting if the enemy moves more than 3 inches. There is a penalty of -1D for multiple combats i.e. Each prior use of a combat skill in the Turn. So although a character only shoots once during its activation, he/she can fire multiple times during the turn.

Ayup, when someone shoots at you you can shoot back immediately. My favorite part is when both characters go down. 

Dear fellow LAFers what changes to the Pulp Alley would you suggest for three musketeers gaming?

We're seeing more folks using Pulp Alley for Musketeers, Pirates, and even French & Indian Wars.

Like Pat suggested, the only thing that might benefit from a little adjusting is Shooting. And I've seen three ideas for this...

1. One Shot Per Turn --- As Pat wrote, simply limit each character to 1 shot per turn. This kind of assume that the character is picking up guns and/or reloading in addition to their normal activation.

2. Action to Reload --- This version also limits characters to one shot per turn, but requires a character to spend an action reloading before they can reload... or spend an action looting a loaded gun.

3. Limit Shoot Dice --- By limiting the Shoot dice to something like 1d for Followers and Allies, and 3d for Sidekicks and Leaders, you're also limiting the number of times they can shoot in a turn -- just in a different way. In addition, this version suggests that higher level characters are more likely to carry more than one firearm and/or pick up other firearms and/or hurl random knives, bottles, and cookware at an enemy. 


I suggest trying it a couple different ways and seeing what gives you the right "feel" for your games. And please let us know how it goes! 



HAVE FUN

[NickNascati]

Well damn, that is something I've been doing ALL wrong. I figured one shot and done.

[Peter@BattleScape]

Guys
The one of the things we play is "brace of pistols".  As some will know it was not uncommon at the time to carry multiple single shot pistols to "save time" reloading, so we require the players to name the figures using a brace AND to pay for them.  This allows them the "option" of returning fire OR not requiring the need to reload.  Once they have fired the brace THEN they must STAND STILL and RELOAD or have no more shots in the game.
Seems to work for us.  Cannons in the ships are only allowed to fire and then reload IF they have a gun crew, and that takes 2 turns to acheive.  We do play that anyone can fire a cannon if it is already loaded.

Pete

[theoldschool]

Guys
The one of the things we play is "brace of pistols".  As some will know it was not uncommon at the time to carry multiple single shot pistols to "save time" reloading, so we require the players to name the figures using a brace AND to pay for them.  This allows them the "option" of returning fire OR not requiring the need to reload.  Once they have fired the brace THEN they must STAND STILL and RELOAD or have no more shots in the game.
Pete

I play the same.

Edit: Forgot to add that I count a Brace of Pistols as a Level 3 Ability to limit the use to Leaders and Sidekicks.

[Prof. Dinglebat. Phd.]

Well damn, that is something I've been doing ALL wrong. I figured one shot and done.

Give your character a high enough level in shooting and throw in the two birds with one stone rule, and one shot per turn is all you'll need. 

[M.P.]

Thanks guys . From what I read Pulp Alley is now my favourite game.