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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Libramarian" data-source="post: 6034803" data-attributes="member: 6688858">I've seen this argument a few times here; it's incorrect. If you reduce the swinginess of the game, that favors the side more likely to win (i.e. the PCs), all else being equal. Swinginess favors the underdog (the monsters).To demonstrate:Consider a static combat system.Goblin has 5 HP and does 2 damage per round.PC has 6 HP and does 3 damage per round.The Goblin always wins initiative.Round 1:PC: 4 HPGoblin: 2 HPRound 2:PC: 2 HPGoblin: *dead*As you can see, it's impossible for the Goblin to win. The stats are similar, but because there's no swinginess, the PC is guaranteed to win.Now let's add swinginess. The Goblin now has to make a 50% attack roll to hit, but if they do they do 4 damage. This results in the same average damage per round (0.5*4 = 2). However, now the Goblin will kill the PC if they hit twice in a row.The chance of two separate events occurring is equal to the product, so:0.5 * 0.5 = 0.25Instead of having zero chance to die, the PC now has 25% chance to die, even though the stats (HP and damage) have stayed the same. More swinginess = more lethality.</blockquote>