Just had some confusion that caught a bug in the current rules.
As written, Knockdown gives advantage 1 to melee and area attacks against the target and disadvantage 1 for ranged attacks. This is flavorful and easy to remember, but doesn't work when the prone unit is part of a multi-target attack.
For example: you aim an Area (Cube) attack and catch 2 enemies in a 10' Cube, one is prone, the other isn't; what dice do you roll? How can you have advantage against 1 of them but not the other when you're making a single roll?
Suggested fix: characters afflicted by Knockdown get +1 to Guard versus Ranged attacks and -1 Guard versus Melee attacks (similar to how Invisible is worded for the same reason). Area could also be added, but simplicity and cutting down on word count I think it makes sense that Area attacks would be unaffected. This also removes the problem with effects that target Resolve gaining advantage because the target is prone.
@istabosz at @brianfeister's request.
Just had some confusion that caught a bug in the current rules.
As written, Knockdown gives advantage 1 to melee and area attacks against the target and disadvantage 1 for ranged attacks. This is flavorful and easy to remember, but doesn't work when the prone unit is part of a multi-target attack.
For example: you aim an Area (Cube) attack and catch 2 enemies in a 10' Cube, one is prone, the other isn't; what dice do you roll? How can you have advantage against 1 of them but not the other when you're making a single roll?
Suggested fix: characters afflicted by Knockdown get +1 to Guard versus Ranged attacks and -1 Guard versus Melee attacks (similar to how Invisible is worded for the same reason). Area could also be added, but simplicity and cutting down on word count I think it makes sense that Area attacks would be unaffected. This also removes the problem with effects that target Resolve gaining advantage because the target is prone.
@istabosz at @brianfeister's request.