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Not a Conspiracy Theory: Moving Toward Better Criticism in RPGs
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<blockquote data-quote="The Shadow" data-source="post: 8929461" data-attributes="member: 16760"><p>This question seems to be easy to answer? Your hit point total and ability scores are going to be with you for a while - low rolls at starting levels in particular can be crippling. </p><p></p><p>But rolling to-hit and damage matters only for that round - at most for the encounter. They're exciting. A high roll gives you an immediate benefit, but a low roll doesn't usually have lasting consequences. </p><p></p><p>Where the really interesting questions come in, I think, are at a level higher up: Why have hit points at all? Why not some other mechanic?</p><p></p><p>I used to hang out at the True20 forums quite a bit. For those who don't know, True20 uses a "Toughness save" in place of hit points, and a feat-based magic system. And it was <em>astounding</em> how often people would come in and say, "I want to play True20, but I want to put hp, damage rolls, and Vancian magic back in. How can I do that?"</p><p></p><p>At that point one wants to say, "There's this game called D&D, maybe you've heard of it?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Shadow, post: 8929461, member: 16760"] This question seems to be easy to answer? Your hit point total and ability scores are going to be with you for a while - low rolls at starting levels in particular can be crippling. But rolling to-hit and damage matters only for that round - at most for the encounter. They're exciting. A high roll gives you an immediate benefit, but a low roll doesn't usually have lasting consequences. Where the really interesting questions come in, I think, are at a level higher up: Why have hit points at all? Why not some other mechanic? I used to hang out at the True20 forums quite a bit. For those who don't know, True20 uses a "Toughness save" in place of hit points, and a feat-based magic system. And it was [I]astounding[/I] how often people would come in and say, "I want to play True20, but I want to put hp, damage rolls, and Vancian magic back in. How can I do that?" At that point one wants to say, "There's this game called D&D, maybe you've heard of it?" [/QUOTE]
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