Making combat (far) more deadly

[Kzach]

I guess I don't see the benefit of adding this kludge onto 4e when there are systems built from the ground up to get the same effect.

So the point of your post was?

 

[Rel]

So the point of your post was?

That if you desire for combat to be fast and deadly that you might want to consider looking at some systems that were designed to be that way from the ground up. Even if you don't prefer them to your houseruled version of 4e they might provide some inspiration.

 

[DragoonLance]

I think this could be implemented on the DM's side without any changes to the PCs. Just figure out a damage level for the PC's. Anything below that level is one wound, above is two. Add +1 for a crit or daily power. I would use Old School Hack as a base myself, although I just like that system. Solos have 10-15 points under that and your average enemy has 2-5 hits. As far as monster damage, again figure out what on average a surge worth of damage is and each monster inflicts damage equal to the party's average surge value in one hit. This allows the defender to take a few more hits, while being tough to the controller/striker, and would probably clear up most of the underpowered monster problems of the first two MMs.

 

[LostSoul]

Here is the base of my combat system's HP/Damage values. Damage is a little more complex than this, but eh. You get the picture. We've been using it for a few months now.

			Role
	Level	Minion	Normal	Elite	Solo
	1-3	1	4	8	20
	4-6	2	6	12	30
	7-9	3	8	16	40
	etc.
	Brutes add 1.

		Hit Points / Level
	Level	4	5	6+
	1-3	6	8	10
	4-6	9	12	15
	7-9	12	16	20
	etc.
	Add 1/2 CON modifier to the number of hits.

	Level	Damage Dealt
	1-3	2
	4-6	3
	7-9	4

 

[EvilDwarf]

You might like the board game Castle Ravenloft. They do the simple hitpoint thing very similar to your proposal.

I've been thinking along these very same lines! My hope was reduction in bookkeeping, faster combat, etc.


Has anyone taken a look at or tried to break down the math behind the Castle Ravenloft stats? I wonder if there's any comparison or formula to take D&D characters and monsters into the Castle Ravenloft format? You could also potentially open up a new type of homebrew boardgaming/RPGing cross-over. If there was a relatively easy conversion formula, you could have 3 MMs worth of Ravenloft monsters! AND Ravenloft-style PCs who could advance beyond 2nd level!

(D&D Heroscape does sort of the same thing with Hits, Defense, etc--but I've not had a chance yet to compare the stats in Heroscape to Castle Ravenloft....)