Alternative HP systems and other altered d20 mechanics

[LostSoul]

Dodging and parrying opposed attack rolls will be introduced into the game.

Now character can "actively" defend themselves with dodge and parry rolls, making combat that much more exciting.

I like this. I'd also suggest allowing the characters to "Take 10" on their active defense rolls... basically mirroring an Armour class.

• You can dodge or parry the same number of times per round that you can attack (with decreasing values). For example: if you can only attack once per round, then you can either parry once or dodge once that round. Not both.

I like this idea, and the ones I cut from the list. Here's some thoughts I had:

Give Small characters the +4 to Dodge and -4 to Parry as a Size bonus. Give Large characters the -4 to Dodge and +4 to Parry as a Size bonus. This keeps complex bookeeping out of it.

I'd also remove the "cannot parry 2 sizes larger". I just don't like to say, "you have NO chance what-so-ever". The -8 to Parry (or more) that you're suffering sounds good enough to me.

What about shields? My first thoughts are "an extra parry", but that might be too powerful. Then again, it might balance Two-Weapon Fighting (if that turns out to be too powerful). DR is another option.

Say you were fighting Sword-and-Shield style. You have two attacks; the other guy has two attacks. You are both parrying each other's attacks, neither one making any ground. You decide to kick the other guy, hoping he's spent his parries already. How would you handle this? Treat it like an extra attack like Two-Weapon Fighting? Would it draw an Attack of Opportunity in any case, or only if Parries are still left? What if you are already fighting Two-Weapon style? I'd probably rule it as an extra attack @ -5, drawing an Attack of Opportunity; if the Attack of Opportunity is greater than this extra attack, the defender hit, otherwise the attacker lands a blow successfully. If the defender has no AOOs left, the attack lands successfully. Hmm... that would be interesting... if you knew the guy had spent an AOO, you would want to lash out, hoping he doesn't have Combat Reflexes.

 

[Upper_Krust]

UK:

Hello mate!

Actually a solution to needing a 20 to hit, is that early on in fights you need the 20, but as the fight progresses and characters get tired, (enter stamina), they start lossing defensive effectiveness =)

As long as we could introduce it simply enough I think that would be a great idea!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello Isawa mate!

I have to completely disagree with you here.

"Quelle Surprise'!"

In any game I've played in, I find nothing more boring and frustrating than rolling over and over again to hit, missing almost every time. Missing every now and again, that's fine, but having a string of no-hitter rolls just makes me feel like my character's utterly useless.

I suppose thats a philosophical moot point. Obviously the 'less is more' approach will be great for building tension.

However, if you look at the mechanic I was proposing you will see that its inherantly flexible.

Firstly I really like the idea Grommilus mentioned about fatigue setting in making the characters more and more easy to hit as the fight progresses.

But if you want gung ho slice and dice right off the bat you simply have to lower the base number to hit from '20' to whatever you think?

I know Toj suggested '15'. Perhaps that might work better for you Isawa?

The "war of attrition" lets players feel like they're actually accomplishing something, if only a bit at a time. I'll take that over "miss-miss-miss-miss-miss-miss-yawn-miss-miss-miss-miss-miss-yawn-miss-miss-hit-kill" any day.

An interesting parallel is drawn with regards Americas favourite Sport (Basketball) and the rest of the worlds favourite sport (Football*)

*Soccer, if you must!

In Football, goals are precious, each could win or lose a game this tension lasts throughout the match.

In Basketball individual points/baskets are not really that important - a single act of skill/brilliance is will never win you the game until you approach the end of the final quarter...

...in fighting there is always the drama of the knockout punch - this is something that Basketball (or should I say 3rd Ed.) lacks.

But then, did anyone actually expect me to agree with UK?

"I'm a doctor Jim, not a sycophant!"