Dice mechanics essay - Thoughts on impacts on RPGs

[aia_2]

Hi all, i have recently found this essay:

https://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/systemdesign/torben_rpg_dice.html

It is really interesting to see how much a mere mechanics can influence the fun of a "pretend to be" game!

I have an overall comment on the work here: the approach "keep-it-simple", which is often invoked in our hobby, is not necessarily applied to dice mechanics... firstly because dice rolls need to follow the target the author is aiming and secondly because the "simple" in dice rolling is a concept which doesn't fit in the same way as a rule is made up.

What is your point?

 

[aramis erak]

It's a good article.

I recall reading it before.

He makes a few almost trivial factual omissions... Silhouette isn't exactly keep highest die; multiple 6's count 5+(number of 6's), for example. so ⚅⚅⚅=8, and ⚃⚃⚃⚄ = 5, as does ⚄⚄⚄⚄ = 5
LUG's engine does similar, but not just 6's... ⚃⚃⚃⚄= 6 (4+1+1 for the three ⚃), ⚄⚄⚄⚄ = 8, and ⚅⚅⚅=8 (6+1+1)