Action/Hero Points

[MarauderX]

I havent played with hero points directly, but I have played in systems that use similar mechanics.

Plus with npc's, how do you choose how many to give them? If they do get them then how many npc's should? If they all do then point for point the npc's will have thousands more than the pc's.. if only a few get them then it will be only hundreds.. In that, if your party has 4 pc's and they get some every now and then randomly then over the course of their carears for each point the pc's spend bad guys will likely spend at least 10.

NPCs IMC get 0 luck (hero, etc.) points. Zip. Nada. They are also typically lower in ability points and other things, as it just becomes another score to keep track of from the DM perspective.
I call mine luck points for a reason; when your luck runs out in a tight spot, so be it. Others around the table might be able to help you out, or unwilling to, it's their choice. All in all it's about the PCs collectively saving each other's @$$ to live and fight another day, and players don't feel as bad if they miss their save vs. disintegration 3 times in a row instead of an all or nothing roll. Eh, each to his own.

 

[Scion]

NPC's are only a secondary problem, the ways to handle it abound.

The main problem are disperities in pc's and the punishment for useing a limited resource forever ago. Newly created characters have how many again? how many is fair?

I still think that the best option is just to make them replenishable.

A somewhat reasonable, though difficult, comparison is if each level characters got X HP. These hp do not regenerate and no spells can bring them back. Once they are gone you are out of luck, sorry. A 20th level character that got hit every day has a mere fraction of another who was hit almost never. These characters are supposed to be roughly the same, but they are not. Not even close. It just seems like the same thing to me. And really, I dont like it

 

[DrSpunj]

Exactly, Scion. We're definitely on the same wavelength.

I'm right there with the both of you. Here's what we're doing IMC:
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Hero Points: At the beginning of every session each PC will receive a number of Hero Points equal to their ChaMod (minimum 1). Any Hero Points not used at the end of the session disappear. Hero Points may also be given out directly by the DM for some magnificent act though this will be pretty rare. Hero Points may be used to do any of the following:
· Reroll a die roll: One Hero Point allows you to reroll any die roll you just made and take the better of the two results. If both results are below one-half die size, treat your roll as one-half die size. You may only reroll once.

· Force a Critical: One Hero Point may be used to turn a naturally rolled threat into a critical hit.

· Overcome injury: If the PC is disabled, one Hero Point can be used to allow them to take a strenuous action for one round without their condition worsening to dying. The PC is still only allowed a Standard Action, and their condition doesn’t improve, they’re just able to overcome the pain and injury for a few moments.

· Escape Death: If the PC is healthy or disabled and takes enough damage to kill them outright, one Hero Point may be used to avert death. Instead they are dying and their current hp is set to
(–ConMod – 1). They are NOT stabilized and this does not protect them from any further damage.

· Stabilize: One Hero Point allows you automatically stabilize and prevent further bleeding. It does not protect the PC from any further damage.

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I'll readily admit I stole/modified these from M&M and several House Rules threads on the topic from many months ago. The Hero Points themselves are represented each session by me handing out glass stones of various colors (I've always called the Pente pieces). Whenever the players want to use one, they return the stone to me.

Mostly the PCs have used them to Force Criticals or allow a reroll on a missed save, but once the PC used one to escape death. Overall they've let me know they were happy to have them, though not one of the PCs has gets more than 1 each session as they still used Charisma as their dump stat. The NPC Bard (Erky Timbers!) with them gets 3 each session, which allows me (or them, whoever's controlling him that evening) a bit more freedom push the boundaries of reality.

I really like them because, along with higher PC ability scores, it allows me to not hold back with my baddies, at all! The guy that used his to escape death? He saves his until the last 10 minutes or so of the session as insurance against such an unfortunate occurence happening again. Others have spent it forcing their first critical of the evening, or rerolling a relatively minor bad roll, and really wished they'd saved it for later. They're still each figuring out what they want to use it for.

Incidentally, all Luck effects tend to net you a bonus Hero Point per session, like the Luck of Heroes feat from FRCS, and the Luckblade, etc.

When I DM, I give myself a pool of action dice equal to 1 action die for each PC in the game that any of my NPCs can draw from and I give major 'named' NPCs 1 or two of their own. The type of die varies depending on which NPC is using up the action die--unnamed 'mooks' usually get nothing better than a d6 and the major campaign villain will get a d12.

I like the first part of that statement. I'll have to think about that. Right now "major" (i.e. recurring) enemies get villain points just like the heroes do. The heroes have far better ability scores while major enemies I usually stat up with the elite array, so things aren't even to begin with. Getting a Villain point or three just makes it a bit easier for me to have them successfully escape to plague them some other time.

Thanks.

DrSpunj