Extra d20s & On-the-Fly Equipment

[Mark Chance]

Extra d20s
A character gets a pool of extra d20s equal to one-half his character level (maximum 4d20 at 8th level). Whenever a character rolls 1d20 to determine success, he has the option of rolling one or more extra d20s from his pool and choosing the best result out of the dice rolled. Since my game has the players roll their own fate, this gives a character a powerful tool to determine the results of a wide variety of situations.

For example, Jeremiah Dawes is doing battle with a fierce gnoll. The gnoll's attack score is high, and Jeremiah has failed most of his defense checks. As a result, Jeremiah has suffered serious damage. He won't be able to fight much longer at this rate. The next time Jeremiah makes a defense check, he rolls 2d20, using a die from his pool. He takes the better of the two results, improving the odds that he'll avoid more harm at the gnoll's hands.

Extra d20s Issues: A couple of questions pop up in my mind when looking at this possible addition to F&F.

1. Is it a good idea? Why or why not?
2. What is the mechanic for replenishing a depleted dice pool?

Another idea:
Each character is allowed X gp per level for On-the-Fly equipment. OtF equipment isn't itemized. Instead it represents a character's ability to be prepared. When an item is needed, a character who has sufficient OtF "funds" available can "spend" those funds in order to automatically add the desired item to his inventory.

Is this a good idea? Why or why not?

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Mark Chance]

Hope that helps.

Thanks! I'll definitely have to take a look at those links. In fact, I probably have because I'm getting the feeling I've read about them before, which is probably how the idea for a d20 dice pool got planted in my head to begin with.

P.S. - Fencing and Firearms looks really good. You've got some ideas in there I was already thinking of trying with my game. You did a good job though putting it together in a comprehensive form. Not sure I'll use everything (I rarely do), but it's got quite a bit of stuff I'm probably going to use. Nice job.

Thanks! I'm always open to feedback, especially constructive criticism. I'm glad you like F&F. While I never made any particular claims to originality, I do think I've got an eye for pillaging some of the best OGL material there is and cobbling it together into something like a new shape.

 

[Celebrim]

1. Is it a good idea? Why or why not?

I believe it is a good idea. The main reason I think is that it allows the player to have better control over his character's 'save or suck' situations.

2. What is the mechanic for replenishing a depleted dice pool?

I've struggled with that myself. It depends on how fast you want the dice pool to replenish. Right now, I'm going with a) you regain a dice when you gain a level and b) you regain a dice by taking a week off from adventuring. I also have 'c', you regain a dice when the DM thinks that you should, but I'd love to turn 'c' into a more formalized RP reward system similar to the demeanor mechanic WoD uses for recovering willpower but maybe a little less vague. I just haven't struck on a way to balance or formally define it yet.

Each character is allowed X gp per level for On-the-Fly equipment.

I'm less interested in this one as a general rule because at some point it becomes conjuration. I might allow this as a special ability like, "Make a skill check to conjure something from your pack" or "Spend a dice from your dice pool to conjure something from your pack", to allow a player to play someone who is always prepared without actually being that sort of person in reality.

 

[Mark Chance]

I'm less interested in this one as a general rule because at some point it becomes conjuration. I might allow this as a special ability like, "Make a skill check to conjure something from your pack" or "Spend a dice from your dice pool to conjure something from your pack", to allow a player to play someone who is always prepared without actually being that sort of person in reality.

Thanks for the input, Celebrim. I can definitely see your point about the OtF equipment. I certainly wouldn't want it to end up being something magical in its effects. The idea of having a cost (such a die from the dice pool) is a good one. Perhaps some sort of gold piece per action die cap?

 

[Celebrim]

Thanks for the input, Celebrim. I can definitely see your point about the OtF equipment. I certainly wouldn't want it to end up being something magical in its effects.

Well, the main problems I foresee are nothing like pulling an emergency potion of cure light wounds out of the pack. That I could live with. The things that worry me are:

1) Every time I can pull an object worth X g.p. out of my hat, if the object is valuable, I store the object in my pack with the intention of selling it to covert the funds from my free 'On-the-Fly' equipment pool into my 'can buy magical items' treasure supply.
2) I go into the dungeon with no equipment so as to minimize my encumberance. Every time I need something, I pull it out of the hat, use it, and then (if its not valuable), I drop it so that it won't encumber me. In this way, I have a virtually endless supply of weightless food, arrows, torches, chalk, rope, stakes, tools, 10' poles, sample vials, bottles of alchohol, bottles of vinegar, first aid kits, tents, sacks, flint and steel, etc. It's better than a bag of holding.

#2 could be partly solved by forcing anyone who wanted to use this feature to have an entry on their character sheet that read: "Pack: 30lbs.", but I don't see what you do about #1 without a steep cost to pay.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Extra d20s

1. Is it a good idea? Why or why not?

I really like this one. I'm more accustomed to an action point mechanic that grants a +1d6 on the roll. But the problem I've always had with that is that really crap roll +1d6 might still be a merely crap roll. Your way, imho, has a more fateful feel: either the bad roll is undone by the good one, or both rolls are horrible, and yeah verily the Norns really do hate you.

2. What is the mechanic for replenishing a depleted dice pool?

Not so sure on this one. Imho, this sort of thing is very campaign/setting specific. You could consider something along the lines of UA action points acquisition, but maybe toned down as the extra d20s have a very specific use?

Another idea:
Each character is allowed X gp per level for On-the-Fly equipment.

Is this a good idea? Why or why not?

What are you trying to accomplish with this? Is the intention to increase a PCs functional ability in a pinch (eg, have a grappling hook handy when he needs one), or his minor preparedness for mainly RP (eg, have a spool of green thread available when an NPC happens to ask for it)?

I like the idea for some games, but not as something all characters have access to; it feels kind of "niche" to me. Perhaps as a class feature, or with a feat buy-in. And with the caveat that only mundane, common items are accessible.

Alternatively, if the focus is on very minor items, there could be a percentage associated: for any item of less than Xgp value, there's a Y% chance the character has it in his pockets.

(Actually, now that I'm thinkg about it, I'm pretty sure I've seen a feat that does something like this, but I can't track it down... "Packrat" maybe? Probably a homebrew...)

 

[Mark Chance]

What are you trying to accomplish with this? Is the intention to increase a PCs functional ability in a pinch (eg, have a grappling hook handy when he needs one), or his minor preparedness for mainly RP (eg, have a spool of green thread available when an NPC happens to ask for it)?

I guess a little bit of both, as well as tweaking the noses of those DMs who have draconian, if-it-ain't-written-down-you-don't-have-it equipment policies. I mean, this makes sense for magical items, for example, but for relatively mundane equipment? Meh.

(Actually, now that I'm thinkg about it, I'm pretty sure I've seen a feat that does something like this, but I can't track it down... "Packrat" maybe? Probably a homebrew...)

Whoa! Memory spike! You've reminded me that I wrote a Packrat prestige class for one of Fantasy Flight Games's books. Path of Shadow, IIRC. I'll have to dig out my copy and check that out.