Recent content by TBeholder

I used the generic term because it would require an explanation for those who did not look into it. Also, depends on the game (“Zealous Hatred” in BC and apparently “additional damage” in WHFRP). In some of these games, though not OW (not even in Beta, because it was changed earlier in BC)...

d100 Warhammer RP series from FFG have armor work like this. Armor Points often vary per location; also, armor has limitations (in the later games, all), and often extra stuff built in and/or special properties. Total damage soak is AP value of armor (minus the weapon’s Penetration) + Toughness...

It’s not necessary, but desirable. If you want everyone to be on the same page, a picture cannot be really replaced with text. Also, it’s good for defining the style/mood. Obviously, this applies only to the illustrations that actually fit the material. Better nothing than a Random Pic From...

They could just become legitimate prospectors. At very least, the presence of asteroid mining indicates that local asteroids contain some valuable minerals and when the moon gets hit by meteorites, their content stays down there, even if at a low average density. If due to most of them being...

What exactly is the alternative? Roll completely random characters with random motivations, half of which obviously should not have any interest in the given adventure? “My character… huh… I guess he just sits here and smokes weed”. What would be the point of this? Basic premises are not...

There’s a good analysis of “three clue rule” and pitfalls on The Alexandrian blog. That’s just weird. The Alexandrian also identifies this among the root causes of railroad problems and offers more flexible variations of a structured adventure (on the page linked above, see links under...

Anyway, random-out-of-nowhere stuff is likely to look silly more often than not. Random stuff shaped by otherwise observable details that can be randomly generated (and put together by GM) can look natural. Try to look in sandboxes. Those are made of random tables. Specifically for SF, in Stars...

In other words, many things matter. Thus there are niches. Adaptation is everything. Armor co-evolves with weapons and tactics. All three have enough of external dependencies to ensure the balance doesn’t stay still indefinitely. Armor can reduce mobility and endurance, but those are important...

“Objective”? IDK. Why would he? And yes, that’s just one dude, Itchy Bacca. Is it? I suppose, it's possible. Likewise, it seems possible to check every linked web page for mentions of, for example, color pink. But, uh, what would be the point (in either case)? To have “elephant in the room”...

“Not D&D specific”? It comes from flimsy attempts at historical research by Samuel Rush Meyrick who pulled “facts” out of painting techniques and whatnot. The “ring mail” is not a thing that existed, because it simply does not make sense. The rest is his extra-fancy terminology for real things...

That's one half of the rotten orange, yes. And that's the half of an apple, indeed… but it's also rotten: Welcome to ⅩⅩⅠ century, Rip Van Winkle! Star Wars is not a "rockstar of the licences" anymore. After what was done with it in the last decade or so, "monkey paw" would be a more apt...

Many good points. And yes, the Hammer Horror Cleric was an atavism long before it mutated into "CoDzilla". Also: You mentioned it, but maybe it needs to be said more explicitly: D&D started as a character-level extension of a wargame. Which left tracks all over the place… and caused more...

Or a diversion, or setting more things on fire as the target runs around. Again, it also can provide distraction, and in a more subtle way if set up just right. If someone "snaps out", they are not automatically disentangled from the fight, especially if the victim has allies. Also, depending...

And then there was an attempt to make warriors' abilities to work like magic too. Which became infamous under the nickname of "weaboo fightan magic". This could be "justified" the same way. But let's face it, the strongest real reason was d20 being so laughably broken that this looked like the...

So, as Toughness Bonus in d100 (Warhammer RP) and as Stamina in Star Frontiers? This can work, of course, but doesn't seem to add anything new or greatly improve, to be worth of extra complication. Also, note that Toughness Bonus in d100 is offset by Strength Bonus. As in, for average humans...