ATTN MONGOOSE MATT: Can you answer me a few questions?

[KDLadage]

{Questions and Answers are all listed below in MONGOOSE_MATT's post}

 

[KDLadage]

Idea for variation on B5 Hit POints (that I think I will develop for my own games)

REVISION

OK... Here is how it will work, I think...

1. The baseline hit points for the character is equal to 5 + CON mod (minimum 1 hit point).
   I originally had this set to 8 + Con Mod; however, since I have added a step, 5 + Con mod seemed right.
   
2. Add any racial modifiers.
   Narn, for example, get +2 Hit Points
   
3. Once you have chosen a class, add the hit points per level bonus to this amount.
   This would be your class hit points for first level. Classes add 1, 2 or 3 hit points per level.
   
4. Add Hit Points per level as normal.
   From this point, add hit points as you normally would.

Now, this way, CON affects Hit Points; Hit Points follow the same progression the game has now; and nothing is thrown out of whack.

Examples

• Human Soldier-3 with CON 14: 5 base + 2 con + (3 x 3) soldier = 16 Hit Points
• Narn Soldier-5 with CON 6: 5 base - 2 con + 2 race + (3 x 5) soldier = 20 Hit Points

 

[Razuur]

Interesting thoughts.

When we made characters, I just allowed all the PCs add their CON bonus to their Hit points.

I think since people were so freaked out at the low amount of hit poitns they must have raised their CONS higher than normal, because they all went scurrying back to their char sheets.

It wan't really an issue for us as we just house ruled that. I heard another variant of this ont he mongoose boards were everyone started with their CON in HPs and then added the level HPs on as they accured. Thus they never got the class levels initial HP, only the supplemental level score (even at first level)

BTW, aren't those ultimate character sheets beautiful for B5?

Razuur

 

[Mongoose_Matt]

Hi there,

1. We had a choice - fill up pages with material already in the PHB, or fill them with cool new B5 material. Most people playing B5 will already know the d20 System inside out so the flicking between the books will be at a minimum.

2. Adding Con does not work - remember that a good Con affects your ability to stabilise from crippling wounds, so it is by no means redundant. However, given the low hit points of the game, adding Con modifiers every level would blow any balance and put too much weight on the ability score (everyone would have a decent Con score). We tried it at first level only but, to be honest, that is a wishy-washy halfway of doing things and was not satisfactory. As it stands, Con is important but not overly so and the differences in hit point totals (matched with the weapons in the game) are minimal between most characters, which is exactly what we wanted to reflect.

3. The first batch of races are the 'core' selections for players. Think of the others as NPCs or 'monsters'. However, we left the opportunity for players to have a go at them, much in the same way as the Expert, Aristocrat, etc classes in the DMG are presented.

4. This was partially to break up the S&P chapter from being one long block of text. Also, many items described there would not sit well in the main rules chapters and so the decision was made to keep them all in that chapter. We did, however, consider it.

5. Spacecraft are not a prime focus of B5 (though they are pretty funky) and so they were not given their own chapter. Oh, and I would not _anyone_ 'buy' something like a Hyperion. Ever.

6. The award is for each character.

7. That is exactly why it is toned down - to stop it having an undue effect whereby all 1st level characters take it.

Hope that helps!

 

[KDLadage]

Originally posted by Mongoose_Matt
Hi there,

Hello to you too. And thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions. I know that my review of this game was not exactly "glowing;" but this does not mean that I do not enjoy the book. I think it is a wonderful game. I want to make it clear that I am not trying to be overly critical of the game (be that in my review, my questions, or my comments below). I am simply trying to understand the reasoning being used, provide some feedback and do my part (as best I can) to try and ensure that this is the best game it can be.

Now... onto the answers you gave...

Q: Why did you decide to not repeat SRD material? Forcing someone to refer to a 320 page book for the scattered 40-odd pages they need to reference seems, well, odd. My understanding of the d20 license indicates that the only things you could not include is stat generation and XP charts... aside from that, however, I feel it should have been in the book. After all, this book is titled as an RPG, not so much as a setting.
A: We had a choice - fill up pages with material already in the PHB, or fill them with cool new B5 material. Most people playing B5 will already know the d20 System inside out so the flicking between the books will be at a minimum.

OK... this is a fair argument. I can accept it (for the most part) if you were to designate this book as a "setting book." As it is designated as a "role playing game," I have some convern here. Consider that there could easilly be a lot of B5 fans out there that might want to play, that do not (in fact) have Dungeons adn Dragons and may not want to get it. Also, as you have pointed out in the book itself, you are looking at 40 pages (at the most) of material being involved. But, for now lets just say: point conceeded.

Q: I understand the desire to keep hit points low, and I have no trouble with this. But the choice to have no CON (or even a racial) modifier to hit points seems rather odd (1). Any reason why you did not want CON to influence hit points, even if this were a first level thing only?
A: Adding Con does not work - remember that a good Con affects your ability to stabilise from crippling wounds, so it is by no means redundant. However, given the low hit points of the game, adding Con modifiers every level would blow any balance and put too much weight on the ability score (everyone would have a decent Con score). We tried it at first level only but, to be honest, that is a wishy-washy halfway of doing things and was not satisfactory. As it stands, Con is important but not overly so and the differences in hit point totals (matched with the weapons in the game) are minimal between most characters, which is exactly what we wanted to reflect.

I fully agree that CON mods every level would turn the game into a something else entirely... I would not want to see a CON mod every level involced in this game at all...

A CON mod at first level might have worked well... or use the alternate rule I have above. Or you could go with the HP = CON at first level route and add either 1HP per level, 1HP per 2 levels, or 1HP per 3 levels for the class mods to keep HP low. All are valid choices (including the one you have decided to go with!)

I guess it just feels wrong to have CON not involved in the HP calculation. I will check out the effect of the stabalization roll and see how that works...

Q: Races are scattered all though the book. There are a few in the races section of character creation, and then a plethora all through the book. Why not keep them all together?
A: The first batch of races are the 'core' selections for players. Think of the others as NPCs or 'monsters'. However, we left the opportunity for players to have a go at them, much in the same way as the Expert, Aristocrat, etc classes in the DMG are presented.

Fair enough. I guess when I saw the races at teh start, it was a bit jarring to find others that were seemingly randomly scattered about. Perhaps (in future printings) the racial descriptions for the core races can be placed in the empire descriptions for them as well? At least then there is a consistant method of handling this and it does not feel so out of place.

Q: Same for equipment. In the SIGNS AND PORTENTS chapter, you have a lot of equipment and ships that might have been better placed elsewhere -- such as in the base chapter for that stuff...
A: This was partially to break up the S&P chapter from being one long block of text. Also, many items described there would not sit well in the main rules chapters and so the decision was made to keep them all in that chapter. We did, however, consider it.

OK... specialized, more exotic stuff... sure. Break up the text -- sure. I can see that, I suppose.

Q: Why mix star ships and equipment? Seems an odd combination, especially when prices are not given for most all of the military craft.
A: Spacecraft are not a prime focus of B5 (though they are pretty funky) and so they were not given their own chapter. Oh, and I would not _anyone_ 'buy' something like a Hyperion. Ever.

Agreed on the not letting anyone buy a Hyperion. But, as you say, the Starships are not the main focus of B5... so... it would seem that the pages dedicated that that material could have been removed and re-allocated to including the rest of the OGL d20 rules. Then, publish a book on the Starships of Babylon 5.

Q: In the XP awards, it states that about 1000 XP should be awarded each session. Is this for each player, or for the group?
A: The award is for each character.

Wow... that seems a little high! But I will test it out and see how it works...

Q: In a game such as this with low HP, why was the Toughness Feat nerfed?
A: That is exactly why it is toned down - to stop it having an undue effect whereby all 1st level characters take it.

I figured that was the reasoning, but it seems odd that the one HP difference would have the desired effect.

Hope that helps!

Yes it does. Thank you very much.