Dice and Math-- Need math people!

[eamon]

instead of rolling Nd6 you could roll 1d6, multiply by floor(sqrt(N)), and add (N-floor(sqrt(N)))avg(d6).

one die roll, almost the same std. dev. ;-).

 

[mvincent]

My question is how many dice do you need to maintain a fair randomization?

The recent writers for GURPS (math-heads) concluded that there was really no point in rolling more than 6d6.

 

[s-dub]

So how do yall handle maximized spells with this variant?

 

[Scribble]

so much math... head exploding...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

So how do yall handle maximized spells with this variant?

I am not sure. Maybe I would outright eliminate it and allow only Empower Spell? (But to me, the benefits of Maximize Spell were never really worth the +4 spell level.) Otherwise, you should probably drop its spell level adjustment by one or two points. (depending on how much range you actually retain.)

 

[Nail]

(But to me, the benefits of Maximize Spell were never really worth the +4 spell level.)

Me neither.

...so it's a good thing Maximize Spell is only +3 spell levels, eh?

 

[mvincent]

the benefits of Maximize Spell were never really worth

- Lesser metamagic rod of maximize: 14,000 gp
- Tiny balls of bat guano and sulfur: free
- 20' radius template from Steel Sqwire: $10
- Completing 3 encounters before anyone has had a chance to order pizza: priceless

 

[LonePaladin]

So how do y'all handle maximized spells with this variant?

Exactly the way the feat's normally handled, give the spell the maximum amount possible — a maximized 10th-level fireball still does 60 points. The way I'm handling the dice+mod variant, I'm allowing my players to decide which version they want to use at the time. If that archmage wants to roll and count thirty-eight six-siders when he casts disintegrate, more power to him. But I've made him aware that the whole point is to speed up combat, and every spell he has includes a note on how the dice work out.

He doesn't have Maximize Spell anyway, so he doesn't have to worry about it.