All characters have an Offense Value (OV) and a Defense Value (DV). These may, of course, be modified by equipment, conditions, etc.
To initiate an attack, one player (henceforth known at the "Beater") goes up to another player (henceforth known as the "victim") and makes an unambiguous statement indicating that an attack is about to take place (ex. "I'm about to cave your skull in, sucker!"). At this time the "victim" may choose to reveal one item or condition that adds to his/her DV. The "beater" then gets an opportunity to reveal one item or condition that adds to his/her DV. This back and forth revelation of items/conditions continues until both players in turn decline to reveal any new items/conditions to modify their scores. At this point both players must reveal the backs of their character tags with their combat information. When this happens the combat is considered finalized with one of three results.
If anyone gets popped, then both the beater and the victim must go immediately to Achmed's Kwik Klinik so that the combat can be finalized. There the popped person must turn over all equipment to the person who popped him/her. (Naturally, conditions and abilities are not looted by the winner, unless they are attached to an item that can be stolen.) If both players were popped, then all their equipment is looted by random street people and turned over to a GM.
Popped characters are then out of the game for 15 minutes (note that GMs will have temporary characters for popped players to use while they are popped, so you don't have to just sit around for 15 minutes – rather you can run around terrorizing everyone else for 15 minutes and then come get your character back).
Note that in this game people just don't die when you pop them unless you play a "dead, Dead, DEAD" condition once they are popped.
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Two or more characters can sometimes gang up in combat when attacking, if one of them has this listed among his or her abilities. Use the beaters' combined OV to determined whether the victim is popped. The victim can pop any beater(s) of his choice whose total OV score(s) are no higher than his DV.
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A Character may be Immune to traits, to abilities, or even to specific cards. A Character who is Immune to a trait (e.g., Astral) is not affected by effects of that type. A card’s effect has that card’s traits, e.g., the special effect of a Psychic Character is a Psychic effect. The Character’s OV, DV, and non-related Gear do not have the Character’s traits, e.g., a Character who is Immune: Astral is not affected by an Astral Character’s special abilities but can be attacked by that Character normally (i.e., physically). A Character who is Immune to an ability (e.g., Control) cannot be affected by that ability, regardless of traits. A Character who is Immune to a Whammy or Condition (e.g., Blackmail) cannot be directly affected by that Whammy or Condition, but may be indirectly affected by a Whammy to which s/he is Immune.
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A Surprising Character is not popped or otherwise affected when it attacks, even if its OV is equal to or lower than the victim’s DV. The victim cannot use optional effects that affect combat, but automatic effects (such as from Weapons and Armour) still count. If the victim has multiple Weapons or Armours, the attacking player decides which one Weapon and one Armour apply. The victim cannot use gear (e.g., Astral Doorway to escape) in response to being attacked.
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Copyright Information: Over The Edge role-playing game created by Jonathan Tweet, © John Nephew, 1992, 1997. On The Edge card game © Trident, Inc., 1994. This Web site, the LARP game system, and all original material © Sophie Lagacé, Edmund Metheny, and Jenifer Ramsey, 2003-2004.
These rules are based on those of the card game "On The Edge", published by Atlas Games.