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Do players really want balance?
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<blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 9489044" data-attributes="member: 2209"><p>If you had one of those later 1e character sheets.</p><p></p><p>1e did not even provide the PCs with the THACO chart (and the saving throws chart too) to write down those numbers, it was hidden away as secret DM knowledge in the DMG. It presented the info in the DMG as stuff to be kept secret from the PCs.</p><p></p><p>If you did keep it secret it presented the mechanics as a behind the scenes thing for the DM to resolve actions and for the players to stay more immersively in character by not considering every such mechanic.</p><p></p><p>The 1e DM screen had this info on the DM only facing side as well.</p><p></p><p>The sheets were developed later in 1e for those who wanted to make things easier to resolve at the table and take some of the burden off of the DM during combat.</p><p></p><p>1981 B/X also allowed THACO and saves to be player info and were included in the sample character.</p><p></p><p>But in 1e the reference in the PH is page 105 which says the DM has the chart:</p><p></p><p>Attack and Saving Throw Matrices:</p><p>Your DM has matrices for each class of character by level groups, showing the scores required to hit the various sorts of armor and armor classifications. Normal men such as men-at-arms are always considered at level 0. Monsters are classed by their hit dice. All creatures use the same saving throw matrices; the modifier is relative class, i.e. fighter, thief, etc. Items save on a special matrix.</p><p></p><p>Also a sentence in each class which only show relative differences.</p><p></p><p>"<strong>Clerics have nearly as good a prospect of success in melee combat as fighters (the best in such situations). They move upwards in combat ability in steps consisting of three ability levels.</strong>"</p><p></p><p>"Although fighters do not have magic spells to use, their armor and weapons can compensate. <strong>They have the most advantageous combat table</strong> and generally have good saving throw (q.v.) possibilities as well."</p><p></p><p>"While they have mighty spells of offensive, defensive, and informational nature, magic-users are very weak in combat. They have but four-sided dice (d4) to determine how many hit points of damage they can withstand, and <strong>magic-users have the least favorable table and progression as regards missile and melee combat.</strong>"</p><p></p><p>"Although they fight only slightly more effectively than do magic-users, they are able to use stealth in combat most effectively by back stabbing."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Voadam, post: 9489044, member: 2209"] If you had one of those later 1e character sheets. 1e did not even provide the PCs with the THACO chart (and the saving throws chart too) to write down those numbers, it was hidden away as secret DM knowledge in the DMG. It presented the info in the DMG as stuff to be kept secret from the PCs. If you did keep it secret it presented the mechanics as a behind the scenes thing for the DM to resolve actions and for the players to stay more immersively in character by not considering every such mechanic. The 1e DM screen had this info on the DM only facing side as well. The sheets were developed later in 1e for those who wanted to make things easier to resolve at the table and take some of the burden off of the DM during combat. 1981 B/X also allowed THACO and saves to be player info and were included in the sample character. But in 1e the reference in the PH is page 105 which says the DM has the chart: Attack and Saving Throw Matrices: Your DM has matrices for each class of character by level groups, showing the scores required to hit the various sorts of armor and armor classifications. Normal men such as men-at-arms are always considered at level 0. Monsters are classed by their hit dice. All creatures use the same saving throw matrices; the modifier is relative class, i.e. fighter, thief, etc. Items save on a special matrix. Also a sentence in each class which only show relative differences. "[B]Clerics have nearly as good a prospect of success in melee combat as fighters (the best in such situations). They move upwards in combat ability in steps consisting of three ability levels.[/B]" "Although fighters do not have magic spells to use, their armor and weapons can compensate. [B]They have the most advantageous combat table[/B] and generally have good saving throw (q.v.) possibilities as well." "While they have mighty spells of offensive, defensive, and informational nature, magic-users are very weak in combat. They have but four-sided dice (d4) to determine how many hit points of damage they can withstand, and [B]magic-users have the least favorable table and progression as regards missile and melee combat.[/B]" "Although they fight only slightly more effectively than do magic-users, they are able to use stealth in combat most effectively by back stabbing." [/QUOTE]
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