DM's Best Friend Table

[Emirikol]

Any ideas for typical damage-related stuff?

jh

 

[Ry]

Oh, and for methodology, if you're ever going on a blind date with a statblock you've never seen, ask "what's her highest save?" and "does she have more hit dice from her class or her type?" Those two questions can tell you a lot. Of course, never go out alone with something with a higher CR than you.

 

[Emirikol]

You got that right

jh

 

[Ry]

Any ideas for typical damage-related stuff?

jh

Damage is really tricky, I have to say. It's the least homogeneous of the data I've got, and I've done the least data entry in that column (i.e. beyond the SRD monsters) to figure it out - because figuring out average damage for a monster means squinting at statblocks more than any other element. In a few weeks I imagine I'll have entered enough data to get some good numbers for NPC warrior damage, and then I'll repost the file (note its current version is 0.3)

As far as how to handle it, the chart gives average damage for a monster. What I do to add randomness is have two dice - blue and red, the "hot die" and the "cold die". Hot adds damage, cold takes it away. Usually I use 2d6, at high levels I might up it. Alternatively, you can subtract 7 from my number, reprint the chart, and then just say monsters do 2d6+X damage (that's the same math, for people who don't like subtracting, I used this method myself in the past). Finally, you can say "We're going to static damage" if your players will accept that, which focuses on the attack roll rather than the damage roll. My players are willing to try but it's taking me a bit longer to schedule the first game.

For full attacks, if secondary attacks are with the same weapon, I usually treat them as doing the same damage. If secondary attacks are less powerful (like a demon's horn attack), I use half my damage number as the base.

Sorry that the above is kind of long, but that's becaues this chart is the key to my gaming philosophy, so when you ask a question, I've (often) given it a lot of thought.

 

[waterdhavian]

This resembles the stat blocks for NPC's in Spycraft 2.0. You reference each stat/ability/attack to a challenge level chart to get the proper number for that level. You throw in special abilities and your set. It makes creating mooks and interesting enemies a snap.

 

[blargney the second]

That's really interesting, rycanada! I may end up using that in my game at some point.
-blarg

 

[Ry]

Hey blargney - works well with Players Roll All the Dice, as you'd probably guess.

 

[blargney the second]

*perks up*

Seriously, I'm never playing any other way ever again.

 

[Ry]

Yeah, just add 11 to the Attack and Save lines, and... well, print. Oh, here's the version that includes all the investigating and data entry I did today.

I'm trying to weigh the benefits of more lines (thus, more specifics breakdowns) against readability.

 

[blargney the second]

What else would you want to add? Skills maybe?