Combat Multiplier

Circumstances in combat give you an edge on your enemies. Startroid represents the combination of power and circumstance as the Combat Multiplier (CM), a number you keep track of during combat of central importance to much of the rules set thus far. Simply put, it is a means of increasing the effectiveness of your attacks. Many powers say “attack with CM+” and list a number. Each turn, you must keep track of circumstances that grant you a combat multiplier and then use it to calculate damage against your target.

Total CM = base CM + bonus CM

Each round, you begin with base CM 1. This means that for any target in your line of sight, you may choose to apply your basic damage to it. If you use a power that gives you bonus CM+1, you would double that damage. If you have a power that gives you bonus CM+2, you would triple it, and so on.

A few rules and powers refer to “base CM” or that list CM as a raw number or variable modify the starting point for counting your multiplier. If an attack would have two different base CM values, use the highest.

Many rules and powers list “at CM+1” or “-1 to CM.” These refer to the bonus and are additive with one another. Bonus CM is capped at the value of your leader’s Intelligence. If you cannot communicate with your leader, it is capped at 2. Various maneuvers in combat can afford you a bonus to CM, just by how you position yourself relative to your enemy. Certain conditions also modify the CM (for example if you're helpless, attacks against you get CM+1).

Combat Multiplier

Every attack gets multiplied by a number called the Combat Multiplier that represents a combination of powers and circumstances.

• Starts at 1: On your turn before you attack and whenever it isn't your turn, your CM starts at 1.
• Bonuses from Maneuvers: If you attack a helpless enemy, or if you accomplish a maneuver, you add to your CM.
• Bonuses from Powers: Many powers list a CM bonus. This applies to the use of the power.
• Penalties: Some powers or effects might lower your CM, or you might use it for other things.
• Leader's Intelligence: Your CM bonus cannot exceed your leader's Intelligence score. If you can't communicate with your leader or if your leader’s Intelligence is less than 2, the maximum is 2 instead.

For example, Nyarlathotep the Shakuran Sniper uses a power called Snipe against a nearby zergling. He doesn't have any bonuses from maneuvers or special circumstances, so the power simply raises his multiplier to 2. He rolls 11 damage on 9+1d4 and doubles it to 22. Even without powers to help you deal more damage, you can use the terrain of the battlefield and the coordinated tactics of your unit to gain an edge on your enemies using maneuvers.