Call of Cthuthu math
- Thread starter skulrik
- Start date
Qlippoth
Explorer
http://www.udallas.edu/mathdept/faculty/wmwhite/games/cthulhu.html
Bear in mind that when the author first wrote this article, his analysis didn't account for the "Death from Massive Damage" rule. He planned on re-running his numbers within "a few days" (this was in April 2002), but the article hasn't been updated yet. I'm hoping he gets a chance to do so--I'd love to see how the numbers work out.
Bear in mind that when the author first wrote this article, his analysis didn't account for the "Death from Massive Damage" rule. He planned on re-running his numbers within "a few days" (this was in April 2002), but the article hasn't been updated yet. I'm hoping he gets a chance to do so--I'd love to see how the numbers work out.
And I think that when comparing BRP version it lacks critical and special successes
(though I'm not sure if they are part of the current system anymore -
I'm stuck with CoC 3rd edition, harcover GW edition from late 80's).
If I remember correctly critical was maximum damage, goes through any armor -
occurs on 5% of your skill (e.g. you have 50% handgun attack => critical is 01-03 on d100).
Special success was also called impaling and occured on 20% of your skill
(e.g. you have 50% handgun attack => special is 01-10 on d100).
Effect is, double damage.
But in all fairness, I think it's quite comprehensive comparisation and at least points
the differences in the game system, if not the actual hard scientific analysis.
Cheers,
FB
(though I'm not sure if they are part of the current system anymore -
I'm stuck with CoC 3rd edition, harcover GW edition from late 80's).
If I remember correctly critical was maximum damage, goes through any armor -
occurs on 5% of your skill (e.g. you have 50% handgun attack => critical is 01-03 on d100).
Special success was also called impaling and occured on 20% of your skill
(e.g. you have 50% handgun attack => special is 01-10 on d100).
Effect is, double damage.
But in all fairness, I think it's quite comprehensive comparisation and at least points
the differences in the game system, if not the actual hard scientific analysis.
Cheers,
FB
DonAdam
Explorer
I'll ask Walker next time I see him (should be tomorrow night at our D&D game) if he ever intends on finishing the mathematical analysis.
He's been busy with other comp. sci./math research.
Also, I made the mistake of asking him a question about how he would convert 1st edition level advancement into 3rd edition (we like to play the old modules, so it's important) and he got to work on that instead.
Actually, I should just send him the link to this thread...
He's been busy with other comp. sci./math research.
Also, I made the mistake of asking him a question about how he would convert 1st edition level advancement into 3rd edition (we like to play the old modules, so it's important) and he got to work on that instead.
Actually, I should just send him the link to this thread...
Last edited:
WalkerWhite
First Post
Updating The Article
I am the professor that wrote that analysis. I have been meaning to update it, but as DonAdam said, I have been busy with real research. While this stuff is fun, I cannot get tenure on it, and my real research takes precedence. When I wrote the article, I was in a research lull (this is a manic depressive business), and things have been in high gear since May. That has been fortunate for me, but unforunate for you all.
I do plan to get to it, but massive damage really complicates things. The current analyses are exact, using laws of probability. Massive damage ruins a lot of independence assumptions that were necessary to get those exact results. I thought about it for a month and I came to the conclusion that I would have to do Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate massive damage. This means to that I do not get exact answers, but I have a high probability that a certain number of decimal places are correct (For 10^(2n ) simulations you get n decimal places of accuracy). So I have to totally rewrite the programs I used to compute the values. When real research calms down, I should get to it.
Also as DonAdam pointed out, he did make the mistake of asking about converting experience (though I noted the problem with d20 experience the first day I opened the Player's Handbook). That has been an interesting exercise in nonlinear curve fitting and actually involves some differential equations (3rd edition assumes a constant number of encounters per level; 1st is sublinear up to name level and constant after that). Hence what little spare time should have been spent on Cthulhu has been spent on that.
I am the professor that wrote that analysis. I have been meaning to update it, but as DonAdam said, I have been busy with real research. While this stuff is fun, I cannot get tenure on it, and my real research takes precedence. When I wrote the article, I was in a research lull (this is a manic depressive business), and things have been in high gear since May. That has been fortunate for me, but unforunate for you all.
I do plan to get to it, but massive damage really complicates things. The current analyses are exact, using laws of probability. Massive damage ruins a lot of independence assumptions that were necessary to get those exact results. I thought about it for a month and I came to the conclusion that I would have to do Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate massive damage. This means to that I do not get exact answers, but I have a high probability that a certain number of decimal places are correct (For 10^(2n ) simulations you get n decimal places of accuracy). So I have to totally rewrite the programs I used to compute the values. When real research calms down, I should get to it.
Also as DonAdam pointed out, he did make the mistake of asking about converting experience (though I noted the problem with d20 experience the first day I opened the Player's Handbook). That has been an interesting exercise in nonlinear curve fitting and actually involves some differential equations (3rd edition assumes a constant number of encounters per level; 1st is sublinear up to name level and constant after that). Hence what little spare time should have been spent on Cthulhu has been spent on that.
