D&D General Replacing 1d20 with 3d6 is nearly pointless

[jasper]

Wrong a d20 has 30 points. d6 has 24 points. So d20 is better.

 

[dave2008]

Please look at AnyDice then click on "at least" and "graph". The "eliminated extremes" is almost entirely an artifact of the change in standard distributions. After doubling modifiers and distance from 10 of DCs, 3d6 has larger extremes than d20 does (without crit/miss), and all of that occurs in the extreme 5% probabilities.

Try 2d10 instead of (2*3d6)-11

 

[NotAYakk]

Try 2d10 instead of (2*3d6)-11

2d10*3 - 33 vs 1d20 * 2 - 21

AnyDice

AnyDice is an advanced dice probability calculator, available online. It is created with roleplaying games in mind.

anydice.com

Again, select "graph" and "at least" from the menu there to see how they overlap.

 

[NotAYakk]

Crits are the only reason to go with a dice pool system IMO. There is no "other than the crits." Crits are everything in this discussion IMO, everything else is just gravy.

In my opinion, fun things like "runs" and "doubles" and other derived results are the only reason to go with a dice pool system. Getting more interesting information out of the roll, and not just adding numbers up.

This will slow down play, so you might want to ensure that the impact of the roll is also larger.

 

[Umbran]

What if you don't want to change bonuses?

Then, hopefully, you are realizing that 90% of the rolls will be 14 or under, and that as the game goes on, this has consequences. Combats with critters with higher ACs (and against party members with good ACs) are going to turn unto a bit of a festival of Whiffs! in 5e, because bounded accuracy means the bonuses availalbe to the PCs are already limited.

The game stats we have (hit points, AC, and such) were set with assumptions about the probabilities of the die mechanic. You are apt to find that changing the mechanic leads you to have to change those other stats to get an entertaining dynamic in play - having the PCs and Monsters whiffing away at each other for round after round may be rather less fun than you think.

How much work do you want to have to do to "limit extremes", when the extreme only gets a player an extra die of damage anyway? Wouldn't it be better to just say, "I don't use crits"?

 

[dave2008]

2d10*3 - 33 vs 1d20 * 2 - 21

I'm not a stats guy, why would you multiple and then subtract?

 

[dave2008]

Then, hopefully, you are realizing that 90% of the rolls will be 14 or under, and that as the game goes on, this has consequences. Combats with critters with higher ACs (and against party members with good ACs) are going to turn unto a bit of a festival of Whiffs! in 5e, because bounded accuracy means the bonuses availalbe to the PCs are already limited.

The game stats we have (hit points, AC, and such) were set with assumptions about the probabilities of the die mechanic. You are apt to find that changing the mechanic leads you to have to change those other stats to get an entertaining dynamic in play - having the PCs and Monsters whiffing away at each other for round after round may be rather less fun than you think.

How much work do you want to have to do to "limit extremes", when the extreme only gets a player an extra die of damage anyway? Wouldn't it be better to just say, "I don't use crits"?

Ugh, I need to get out of this conversation - I'm not a dice pool guy! I use 1d20 and I am happy with it, like most people I think. I just made one comment about why someone might want a dice pool.

 

[dave2008]

In my opinion, fun things like "runs" and "doubles" and other derived results are the only reason to go with a dice pool system. Getting more interesting information out of the roll, and not just adding numbers up.

How are "runs" and "doubles" relevant to D&D?
I also want to clarify - I'm not a dice pool guy! I roll 1d20 like most everyone!

 

[dave2008]

How much work do you want to have to do to "limit extremes", when the extreme only gets a player an extra die of damage anyway? Wouldn't it be better to just say, "I don't use crits"?

That is the rub isn't it. I was thinking about dice pools because my group explored a houserule for making crits much more deadly. However, they happen too often on a 1d20 and my group didn't like how deadly the game became. I've thought about going to a dice pool (2d10) to reduce the chance of crits. but more recently I am thinking of going back to confirming crits. My group probably won't go for it either way, the deadly crits left a bad taste.

 

[Umbran]

Ugh, I need to get out of this conversation - I'm not a dice pool guy! I use 1d20 and I am happy with it, like most people I think. I just made one comment about why someone might want a dice pool.

You did ask a question. You didn't expect folks to answer it?