D&D eXPerience: Core Mechanics (now compiled in 1st post!)

[CoryWhiteland]

Passive skills: Insight and Perception.

I noticed that the two skills listed as passive, Insight and Perception, are not given as standard skill bonuses, e.g. Clim +5. Rather they are listed as a defense-style target number. So the DM just knows your skill in these and rolls against them. Hah! I like it.

Note that Wisdom appears to be the key skill mod for both. Additionally, the halfling paladin appears to be trained in insight, with a score of 18 (10 + 3 for Wisdom + 5 for trained).

-CW

 

[UngeheuerLich]

wisdom sems t be quite important for everybody, int seems quite useless... i hope the impression is wrong.

 

[Kraydak]

In 3e: -4 to shoot into melee, probable -4 because your front line is providing the enemy with cover.

In 4e: penalties?! there are no penalties. (explicitly no -4 to shoot into melee, friendlies don't provide hostiles with cover)

I... have to object. The -8 net in 3e was there for a reason. Shooting through friendlies who are moving erratically *should* come at a severe penalty.

 

[Vayden]

In 3e: -4 to shoot into melee, probable -4 because your front line is providing the enemy with cover.

In 4e: penalties?! there are no penalties. (explicitly no -4 to shoot into melee, friendlies don't provide hostiles with cover)

I... have to object. The -8 net in 3e was there for a reason. Shooting through friendlies who are moving erratically *should* come at a severe penalty.

Needless realism, by my outlook. The number of cheesy things you had to do to make a ranger attacker effective was ridiculous.

 

[Toryx]

I assume 1/2 level adds to damage like in SW Saga. Has this been confirmed?

I haven't seen the text confirming that this isn't the case, but I doubt they're doing that. Adding half the level in Saga makes sense; the weapons are far more powerful than what you'd find in a fantasy game. It higher level powers increase damage die AND are modified by ability modifiers then adding half your level would get pretty obscene pretty quick.

So maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I at least hope they aren't going to add 1/2 level to damage.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Ability checks?

So, if two Str 10 people arm wrestle, the higher level one usually wins?

And the Str 8 10th level halfling rogue has even odds against the str 18 level 1 village thug? (In arm wrestling, that is) (If my math is right, both have a +4 modifier to Strength checks)

I can see it for the first two -- the first is classic D&D, the second is from SWSE, but the third is another random kick in the verisimilitude nuts. Standard 4e reveal pattern -- a bunch of good stuff followed by a "The FRACK?" moment.

Wasn't arm wrestling in 3.x not specifically mentioned to not use the opposed ability check rules - you just compare the base scores. This might still be true. Only if the base scores are equal, you might compare modifiers. (In which case I'm fine with the "more experienced" winning out automatically or statistically.) But honestly, Arm-Wrestling is not something coming up very often, and most other ability checks I can think of should be helped by experience. Strength seems to be the only thing were there might be an objective, straight-forward way to test the relative scores without ever taking into account experience. (Though what's with training? You can't go body building in D&D...)

 

[Kwalish Kid]

Wasn't arm wrestling in 3.x not specifically mentioned to not use the opposed ability check rules - you just compare the base scores. This might still be true. Only if the base scores are equal, you might compare modifiers. (In which case I'm fine with the "more experienced" winning out automatically or statistically.) But honestly, Arm-Wrestling is not something coming up very often, and most other ability checks I can think of should be helped by experience. Strength seems to be the only thing were there might be an objective, straight-forward way to test the relative scores without ever taking into account experience.

Some things just need different rules.

(Though what's with training? You can't go body building in D&D...)

Everybody gets ability score increases at certain levels, don't they?

 

[AZRogue]

A better example of an Ability Check (adding 1/2 character level) than the arm wrestling example:


An NPC at the bar stands up and is going to attack your party member who has his back turned. You shout out a warning and kick a nearby stool into the NPC's path to trip him up.

Make a Dex (or Str depending, DM's call) against the NPC's Reflex.


Example 2: The NPC has jumped onto a table. You try to overturn the table and knock him to the ground. Str vs. his Reflex.

Crappy examples, I know, but I haven't finished my coffee. Just saying, I don't know how often arm wrestling would come into play, but in the above examples I wouldn't have any problems thinking that experience would help the character resolve his actions.

 

[frankthedm]

In 3e: -4 to shoot into melee, probable -4 because your front line is providing the enemy with cover.

In 4e: penalties?! there are no penalties. (explicitly no -4 to shoot into melee, friendlies don't provide hostiles with cover)

I... have to object. The -8 net in 3e was there for a reason. Shooting through friendlies who are moving erratically *should* come at a severe penalty.

Agreed. And to make matters worse, cover is only -2 to hit. Talk about sending tactics and coordination to the back of the bus.

 

[TerraDave]

Ranged combat: much simpler. There is however: supperior cover, but I don't know the penalty. And the -2 comes in a lot. Weapon ranges also seem a little more restrictive (only the Wizard, and maybe a ranger with a longbow, but not, say, the warlock, can hang back and throw stuff all over the room).