With the attack thwarted, the player then has the opportunity to initiate a counter-attack or to withdraw and ready his next action, be it a defense or otherwise. It is important to regulate the number of actions a player takes in one turn, though no real limit is imposed for this purpose. Players are expected to generally agree on what is acceptable either before hand, or as they are going along, but it has to be understood that too many actions spoil the event. This particularly applies if the players are spending less time describing or portraying the actions, making it interesting reading, and more time simply churning out actions in a bid to win their battles.

A good post only covers one to about three actions, making use of adequate description to make what is happening crystal-clear. The less confusion the better, as players can spend less time pondering over what is happening and more time considering what to do next. When a player totally misunderstands what is happening in the game, a message or so to the opponent should straighten out the ordeal, and so avoid cluttering the flow of the match� Should a player post without asking and get it wrong, having misinterpreted the actions, they are generally allowed a second attempt to get it right.

Druss_the_Axeman feels the clash of their weaponry and rebounds slightly, Snaga held rigidly within the lock of Conan�s blade on the floor. He had expected this however, as having seen from the man�s crouched position and his hold upon his weapon that he intended a retort. When the barbarian spins Druss is already in action, dropping low as the boot floats over his skullcap-protected brow, thundering a first in close quarters to his belly, ramming it forward to knock him off balance and free his Axe.
There comes a point when a player has to admit that an attack was successful, being logically unavoidable and soundly executed. This need not result in instant death or loss of the battle, but rather in a swift change of ploy to maintain a running fight. Assuming a player has the means with which to recover swiftly, he can employ them to his heart�s content, yet should be aware that his character has taken some minor damage from the events that have unfolded. Punches can be rolled with, but if they hammer into a character when they are unready they can be devastating� not all damage comes from edged weaponry. It is important to pinpoint the degree of damage, and to make a judgement as to whether the character can proceed beyond that point with it as hindrance.

Many people seem to take their strikes very well, but do not carry onward with the results as part of their character; all damage is accumulative unless countered by some healing action. Therefore, whereas an ill-timed knee-blow might only leave a bruise on a character�s cheek, enough of such will weakened and split the skull, causing brain hemorrhage. Mere cuts of a razor blade down the arm should not stream blood too strongly, but with enough of them criss-crossing a body, loss of blood will be a major problem. Each character will have differing factors to take into consideration, such as their threshold of pain and capacity to absorb the damage rendered upon them, and so should think very carefully over their actions during play.

Conan_the_Barbarian was surprised by the sudden crunch of the old man�s fist against his back, having expected his sole to render him unconscious� after all, he reflects as he tumbles forward, the old an infirm are weak compared to the freshness of youth. Ramming his elbow off of the floor, he bites down hard on his tongue, turning over with the remaining momentum and clambering to his feet with graceless gestures, facing the man with a bloody roar of utter rage as his sword sweeps to rest by his side once more.
One of the more important features of role-play in general is that it is done within the present tense, as opposed to the past, which does have a reason other than the preference of the player. Every action taken is in real-time, in that it happens as the player is describing it, building upon the scene already present� this means that there is a constant need to refer to events which have already passed by. If the actions are written in the past tense, when speaking of events prior to the present, it can be very difficult and confusing to make sense of it all. Again, for clarity, it is best advised that players keep to the present tense in detailing the motions of their character.

Writing in the present tense is much more important in a TB combat scenario, especially when dealing with the more complex ideas behind the flow of the match. For example, a player may wish to collect a particular item during one of his turns, then perform an action with it, later referring back to the action. Smashing a bottle then later taking note of the broken glass on the floor can be troublesome to accomplish without a clear distinction between past, present and the future.

Druss_the_Axeman laughs heartily as the youth sprawls across the floor, raising his foot to rest on one of the tavern�s overturned chairs, Snaga set between his feet with the points of the blade gripping the flagstones beneath. �You�re no match for me, boy. Keeping this up is only going to embarrass you further in front of all these lovely young lasses. Now how about you pay for the drink you stole from me, and I repay by not cutting your head off?�

In reference to the first few points made, the player should always take time out during the lull of fighting to play their character. Fighting is worthless if it fails to enrich and enhance the plot of characters, to both settle disputes and further the game environment. It is also rather dry to plough through lines of text concerned only with the direction and frequency of attacks, resulting in others players becoming bored and less likely to interact or role-play themselves. The resource to spot chances to relax from heated combat is vital, for it separates the combat into multiple sections that are easier to digest.
Conan_the_Barbarian foams at the mouth with rage, his words biting into the rafters above with sharp, heavy syllables. �My ale you bastard, the barkeep gave it when I walked up to be served!� he roars, spitting in the direction of Druss as he hefts his blade once more.

Druss_the_Axeman �Perhaps you should have asked the man, rather than hit him between the eyes when he tried to tell you? Or do your young harlot companions demand that you thump everything that gets in your way?� he replies calmly, shifting his grip on his axe to spin the blade�s flat towards Conan.

Conan_the_Barbarian shouts at the top of his voice as he charges to the ancient, a sweeping arch of silver shining in the lantern light with glittering dark intent. Merely footsteps away, he sends his sword straight overhead to crash down with sheer power across all defenses, bent on cleaving the liar�s skull in twain.
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