HOW TO: Turn-Based
Now with the intro out of the way, this is how turn-based combat works.
Turn-based is a very simple concept that has a huge potential, depending on your imagination, and unlike other styles, turn-based requires a bit of intelligence and skill.
Turn based is simply how it looks: you take turns exchanging attacks, blocks, dodges, counterattacks. Here's an example of an attack.
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With a wicked grin in his eyes, the warrior dashes forward from his crouched state and started running toward the motionless samurai. Still with that trademark grin, he grasped his sword's hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white. Stopping a meter before his opponent, he presses the ball of his left foot deep into the sand, pushing back hard and swinging wildly with his arms, sending the blade on a course for the samurai's neck.
Not too long, not too short. When fighting in turn based, you need to describe everything your doing so that you, and your opponent, know just what's going on, to avoid confusion. Putting in facts like "from the left", an indicator of speed, or a small indication of just how much force is behind an attack will help you gain an upper hand, and help your opponent narrow down ways to block or avoid.
One thing I must mention; when fighting, you MUST NEVER, EVER DECLARE YOU MADE AN ATTACK BEFORE YOUR OPPONENT HAS A CHANCE TO AVOID IT. This is called "auto-hitting" and here's an example:
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Grinning, he brought down his blade, watching it cut through his opponent's skin, blood rushing everywhere.
You are to NEVER, EVER do that. We will likely consider banning anyone, even on their first offense. That's how serious of a problem this is!
However, if the samurai's opponent did not block, counter, or dodge the attack properly if at all, then the attack would go through in this post. This on the other hand would not be auto-hitting.
Anyway, continuing on, here's an example of defense, and counterattack.
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The samurai's trained eyes followed his opponent's wild dash toward himself, and quickly unsheathed his sword and brought it up in a quick effort to block his opponent's attack. While he was successful in blocking, when their swords clashed, a small chip was made in the samurai's sword. Pressing a bit harder against his opponent, his blade snapped in half, but hopefully it would knock his opponent off balance. He regretted this, as the samurai's sword is his soul, but the time for mourning is after he won. Unsheathing his other sword, he came from the opposite side of his opponent's last attack, hopefully fast enough that he'd make a scratch across his opponent's torso
Notice that, while an attacker is not allowed to declare an attack successful, a defender is allowed to determine the effect of the opponent's attack. However, no character is perfect, and you can't just keep dodging everything without a logical explanation behind it. That's power playing, and is another thing you are not allowed to do! Swords wear and tear, bodies become stiff and tired, guns run out of ammo, etc.
One other issue of note are is a system of power-enhancing post called a "prep". A "prep" is just what it sounds.. no, not a popular post, but a preparation. Lets say you were goku, from everyone's favorite anime Dragon Ball Z, and you wanted to use his trusty Kamehameha.
Well, that's just too strong of an attack to just be able to use right off the bat. You would, in a post before the attack, prepare the attack. The prep could be anything from a chant to chargin your lazas. In goku's case:
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Goku brings back his arms in his traditional stance, and in his hands a bright glow emits. "Ka..me..ha..me...." he speaks, staring hotly at Vegeta.
After making that prep, and after your opponent's next turn.. lets say Vegeta started rushing towards Goku, but there was a huge distance between them:
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Vegeta rushed toward goku, intent to stop this powerful attack. However, a few meters close to Goku, and Goku smirked. "HA!" he yelled, thrusting his hands forward, shooting his trademark energy blast out from his hands, closing in quickly toward his opponent.
Well, that's about it, to be honest! Most the rest is on your shoulders. I hope this short lesson helps you learn how to fight with the best of the best!
