Combat description generator

[igenlode]

Judging by the Russian composition on the back of the page, I was busy programming a more literary form of dice-roll combat description in the first year of my A-levels! I'm not sure it ever got beyond the flowchart stage (although I have lists of reserved line number allocations for 'good failure', 'poor success' etc), but I clearly had great fun devising varied snippets of text that could fit into such outcomes as if ytot high then if (ytot-tot negative and rr high) print "but" good failure otherwise print "but" poor failure. (rr appears to be the opponent's attack roll and ytot your attack roll -- sadly I can't work out what the vital tot to which it is relative refers to!)

Your opponent:

Good success

• aims a skilful blow
• seized by a paroxysm of fury, stabs at you wildly
• attacks furiously
• launches a ferocious attack
• attacks with incredible skill
• rains savage blows on you
• makes an almost unbeatable attack
• sends a mighty blow hurtling towards you
• seems determined to wound you
• tries to get past your guard with a swift attack

Standard success

• makes another attack
• aims a blow at your head
• strikes swiftly at you
• strikes out at you
• recoils and strikes again
• aims for your legs
• attacks swiftly
• rallies and attacks grimly
• launches a new assault
• continues to attack
• lunges for your knee

Poor success

• strikes out wildly
• resists grimly
• aims clumsy blows at you
• makes a clumsy attack
• fumbles and almost misses you altogether
• attacks clumsily
• strikes weakly at you
• launches a half-hearted blow
• attacks you carelessly
• strikes at you half-heartedly
• miscalculates this attack
• aims an inept thrust towards you
• lunges at you impetuously
• attacks without precaution

Player:

Good success

• you skilfully ward off the blow and
• parrying the attack, you lunge at the legs and
• you give a powerful blow from the body and
• you deliver an attack to the head and
• you lightly dodge the attack, to
• you successfully
• as you dodge, you
• you effortlessly
• skill enables you to
• with a sharp riposte, you
• you parry skilfully and in return

Poor success

• the attack fails and you
• despite a clumsy parry, you somehow manage to
• you just about manage to ward off the attack and
• with an effort, you
• missing your footing, you just manage to
• without much skill, you somehow
• as you counterattack gracelessly, you
• aiming for the head, you hit the body but wound your opponent and

Good failure

• your best efforts are not enough, and you
• you cannot escape the blow, and
• your parry fails and you
• despite a fierce resistance, you
• you strike out in response but
• the blow connects and you
• you try to turn the blow, but
• your guard fails and unfortunately
• you dodge skilfully without success
• the attack is successful despite your resistance and you

Poor failure

• you counter-attack carelessly, and
• fumbling your weapon, you fail to respond adequately, and
• you lose your self-command and
• your training deserts you and you
• you slip, feel pain flood through you, and know that you
• panicking, you make a mess of your parry and
• your return blow fails as you miss your footing, and you