RangerWickett
Legend
I'm pondering different game systems, and wondering what people's feelings are about how you resolve whether something affects a character.
In 3rd and 5th edition (and Pathfinder 1st edition):
In 4th edition:
And to shake off a negative effect, in 3rd/5th/PF, if I paralyze you with magic, each round thereafter you roll to resist against a specific DC, which can be easy or hard depending on how powerful I am relative to you.
In 4e, if you're paralyzed, each round you might get a roll to resist, but my power matters almost not at all. It's as easy for a dragon to break free as a squirrel.
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How do you feel about the difference? Do you prefer the mechanical consistency of 'the thing that might cause harm rolls to see if it harms the victim' (i.e., 4e), or do you like the idea that whoever is most active is the one who rolls? Like, in 3rd/5th/PF, you vaguely aim your fireball, but you can't use something like true strike to help it hurt someone. In 4e you can.
Any preferences? Does it change the feel of the game? Is it weird to have boulders 'attacking' you?
In 3rd and 5th edition (and Pathfinder 1st edition):
- if I attack you with a weapon, I roll against your defense.
- if I attack you with a beam of energy, I roll against your defense.
- if I attack you with an area of energy, you roll to resist.
- if rocks fall toward you, you roll to resist.
- if I attack your mind with a compulsion, you roll to resist.
- if I attack your lungs with poison gas, you roll to resist.
In 4th edition:
- if I attack you with a weapon, I roll against your defense.
- if I attack you with a beam of energy, I roll against your defense.
- if I attack you with an area of energy, I roll against your defense.
- if rocks fall toward you, the rocks roll against your defense.
- if I attack your mind with a compulsion, I roll against your defense.
- if I attack your lungs with poison gas, I roll against your defense.
And to shake off a negative effect, in 3rd/5th/PF, if I paralyze you with magic, each round thereafter you roll to resist against a specific DC, which can be easy or hard depending on how powerful I am relative to you.
In 4e, if you're paralyzed, each round you might get a roll to resist, but my power matters almost not at all. It's as easy for a dragon to break free as a squirrel.
---
How do you feel about the difference? Do you prefer the mechanical consistency of 'the thing that might cause harm rolls to see if it harms the victim' (i.e., 4e), or do you like the idea that whoever is most active is the one who rolls? Like, in 3rd/5th/PF, you vaguely aim your fireball, but you can't use something like true strike to help it hurt someone. In 4e you can.
Any preferences? Does it change the feel of the game? Is it weird to have boulders 'attacking' you?