Do you keep track of normal ammunition?

[MonsterMash]

I try to with both PCs and NPCs and monsters, but more with masterwork or magical ammo than straightforward arrows or crossbow bolts. Maybe I'll start using the endurance rules too!

 

[Cergorach]

My bard3/ranger2 half-elf ranged specialist is currently stuck in the underdark with only six arrows, can we say annoying! That's when you start getting inovative, we found a +1 sonic ranseur, i'm now using it when i don't absolutely have to use those six last arrows...

 

[Gez]

Yes.

On the bottom of our character sheets, we have little boxes, packed by five, like this:

OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO

Each column is used to track something, be it charges in a wand, number of arrows, or days left of trail rations. A little slash with a pencil to show it's there, a strike with the eraser to remove it.

Simple. In fact, it's a variant of the system we used for Blood/Gnosis/Rage/Glamer/Tass/Experience/Whatever Points in White Wolf games.

 

[Agemegos]

It's not that hard, of course. And if players are used to it, it's a minimal hassle.

On the other hand, does keeping track (normal, of course) ammo make your game more interesting?

Well, I guess that depends on how interesting you find it to work around constraints and to sometimes have to change tactics. A character who specialises in archery can easily rip through two or three arrows per turn of combat, so unless you have a mule loaded with the things or a Heward's Handy Haversackful you do have to conserve ammunition.

 

[Ashrum the Black]

Most definitly do I track ammunition. Heck I even make the PC's go shopping to refill whenh they're in town if they can't make them themselves.

Do I get finicky of they miscoun t one round and forget to scatch them off? Nah. But by and large we track the ammo and when they're out, they're out. Of course then they just start picking up the arrows used by their enemies. But it's still fun to watch as they start to worry about how many arrows they have left.

-Ashrum

 

[Cassius_the_Elf]

Not at all, the players have enough to worry about and micro-manage without adding extra things for them to tick off and audit.

I prefer the palyers to have to look at their character sheets as little as possible, so as long as things are not obviously being abused I don't worry about things like that and assume that they take arrows/bolts/sling bullets from fallen foes.

 

[dren]

Yes. Even at middle levels while going into dungeons, the amount of times my players will use up their ammo is amazing! Of course, if they are travelling in any type of wilderness/forest type area, and the ranger has time, he can make 5-10 a day depending on his craft skill archery. (I assume that at night around the campfire, he is taking ten and crafting arrows.Double that if riding in a wagon.)

 

[diaglo]

yes. always have. always will.

as well as food, water, and encumbrance.

edit: and light sources

edit2: and iron spikes and feet of rope and candles and means to write(paper, quills, ink) and every other item listed

edit3: including where coins are minted.

 

[WanderingMonster]

HOUSE RULE: Pay 10x cost for ammunition and then forget about it.

My players are bad at keeping track, and I'm bad at reminding them. For us, it's just one of those things that doesn't enhance our enjoyment of the game. Of course magic arrows and such are a different story.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Yes. PC's running out of arrows is a positive thing. And, as Dirigible noted, it's especially important in IK. Just the other day a gunslinger-type unfettered had to spend about 3/4ths of his hard-earned silver on ammo.