Snowball Wars - HTH (Hand To Hand?)

[zoneofcontrol]

Hello and thanks for a great game. I downloaded the original and the elf add-on just this afternoon. I've downloaded and read thru both sets. I have only printed out the ruleset to Snowball Wars and Elf Help. I'll do the figures and terrain later.

I have a question: Page 3 - "On-Guard" makes a reference to working for both Ranged and HTH Combat. I assume HTH is hand-to-hand/melee. How does this work?

[David Okum]

First off, thanks for buying the game! I'm glad people are excited about it.
The Hand to Hand rule is a bit of a hold-over from Katana Schoolgirls versus Zombie Furries which shares the base system. Basically, hand to hand combat occurs during the Game Turn on the player's turn. For HTH combat the figures must be in adjacent squares (including diagonally). It's a standard Ability plus 1d6 for the attacker and Ability plus 1d6 for the target. This is modified from time to time, but that's about it. Note that ranged attacks get a +1 bonus for short range attacks. HTH don't get a similar bonus.
The only real HTH attacks might be to take off a Zombie Snowman's hat or to be hit by a zombie snowman as well as the Snow Beast which grabs figures and carries them off the board.
HTH attacks are modified just like range attacks when it comes to Action Points. 1 AP lets you attack at a -2, 2 AP lets you attack at -1, 3 AP lets you attack normally, 5 AP lets you attack with a +1 for aiming. Attacks can be spread out over activation so say you rolled a 5 to activate you could have two attacks one at -1 and one regular, one attack at +1 or any other point variation.
I hope that helps and that you really enjoy the game.

[zoneofcontrol]

Thanks for the quick reply. I understand the procedure but now have a question or two about results of HTH combat:
#1 - I take it from your response that kids can only HTH attack a snowman (knock off hat) and not HTH attack rival snowball kids. Correct?

#2 - Is there a consequence for a kid's unsuccessful HTH attack on a snowman? Is it just considered a "miss"? Or, does the kid suffer a loss and turn into a snowman on the next turn? (Just as if the snowman had HTH attacked the kid.)

#3 - Is there a consequence for a snowman or snow beast who loses an HTH attack on a kid or elf? Is this just a "miss"? Or, does the snowman lose his hat or take a wound? Does the beast take a wound?

[David Okum]

Answers:
1. I didn't want to encourage Hand to hand attacks on other kids. Not in the spirit of the game. When the kid is hit and down by the snowball he or she runs home crying to mommy and that's it.

2. Snowmen don't have Counterattack. It's just a miss. A fumble (rolling a 1 when the target rolls a 6) means the target falls down. Sadly, snowmen are sure-footed and don't fall down.

3. No consequences for a snowman attacking and missing. Just a miss. Snowmen can't really fumble, they are diabolical that way.

[zoneofcontrol]

David, thanks for the clarifications. Good luck with the games and have a Merry Christmas!
Mike