What are the fundamentals of combat?
POTBS treats swashbuckling combat exactly like it plays out, particularly dealing with balance and attacks. Each player engaged in a fight has a circle around them which represents their balance while fighting. If your balance circle is green you’re fully balanced and will better be able to dodge and parry attacks. If your circle is yellow, orange, or red you slowly become more and more unstable, opening yourself up to more attacks with an inability to block them. Since you have a better chance of hurting an enemy who is off-balance, you’ll have to switch between your offensive attacks and your preparatory attacks, which are meant to throw your enemy’s balance off. A good idea in combat, for example, would be to open up with some preparatory attacks to throw your opponent off, and then going in for some offensive flourishes after their circle changes color. However, your opponent will be trying to do the same to you, so you’ll have to try and keep your balance too.
