Underpowered Guns in d20 Modern (rant, long)

[Zoatebix]

That sounds kind of neat, Aaron2. Care to share more?

 

[ledded]

I don't know, but some people see D20 Modern as more realistic than DnD. Even if you're not using FX, it's not more realistic and isn't supposed to be.

Some good discussion in this thread. Rather than trying to hit tons of the points I'd like to comment on, I just want to throw this one out there.

I've heard a lot of realism/cinematic argument, with both sides having good points, until I don't even refer to it as 'realism' any more. I guess what a lot of folks really want when they say 'realism' is that they want reliable physics; in Modern games that often becomes much more apparent because people are much more educated about all things modern than they are about greatswords and plate armor. You tend to be a lot more forgiving about the things you dont have as much experience with.

But still, even some of the hard-core 'realism' fans are really just wanting to see the physics they know something about, whether it be guns, cars, etc to feel more real, so they can better immerse themselves in the fantasy of the game. Either that, or they just want to nitpick

Personally, I like my games to run a bit more gritty, with physics as closely matching what we experience in real life, so that the fantastic or cinematic moments feel so much more so when they happen in game, and aren't just the everyday occurrance. I prefer to suspend my disbelief for the truly unnatural occurances in-game, rather than try to suppress my normal senses to accomodate something that obviously shouldn't work that way.

The designers of d20 system games have went a direction that they did for various reasons involving playability, etc, and sometimes, with the type of system they espouse, you have to sacrifice physics or believability for game play. Which is why we do our research, house-rule what we dont like or cannot accept, and I go on with life.

 

[Aaron2]

That sounds kind of neat, Aaron2. Care to share more?

There is not much more to share. Its fairly straightforward (only 2 pages). There is a chart based on the target's negative hit points. Roll 1d20 on the chart and you'll get a result like "18D". The number is the Fort save DC to stay conscious and the letter is any extra effect. You look up the "D" on another chart based on the attack type. For example, a "D" from a Piecing weapons yields:

-----
"The weapon has been driven straight through your shoulder."
Take 1d4 points of ability damage:
1-3 Strength
4-5 Constitution
6 Dexterity
Bleed to death 2d6 rounds
-----

I tried to make it as close as possible to the similar table in WFRP (since that is the game world I use). The Bleed to death part replaces the normal stabilization rolls. For NPCs, there is a quick result line so you don't have to roll for them.

Unfortunately, my web page is down until I find a new service. If your interested, email me at akkala@cyberramp.net and I'll send you the 24k PDF file (or a .doc file if you feel you'd like to change some of it).


Aaron

 

[Zoatebix]

Hmmm... maybe I'll just make an addendum to the Grim Tales action point rules - the GM reserves the right to do something mean (sever a limb, etc.) to a disabled or dying character in exchange for awarding an action point to said character.