Upper Krust, where are you? [Immortal's Handbook]

[Bjorn Doneerson]

Yeah, actually I'm 14, but I have the personality of a hyperactive 3 year old. Its just that you wouldn't know it from my posts. Hard to show hyperactivity through writing, eh? If ya ever met me in person, though, you'd know. Also I love cartoons of almost any kind. What this has to do with anything, I don't know.

How much of the material in the encyclopedia do you figure will be new to me. (a guy who mostly knows the occult through pantheon.org and a choice few other websites) ? I've always had an interest in this sort of thing, so it may end up on the X-mas list. Also on the subject of the occult, I read a good article (actually it was closer to a small book) about "The Truth About Tarot Cards." It was all about how the Major Arcana represents the story of the universe. I can find a link if ya want. Again, I've found my way off topic.

Of course my Mommy's right. She's always right! I hate anticipation, but I love a suprise so I'm being a good little boy.

I don't know about low constitution. I'm hardly ever sick. Since I'm so clumsy, I've evolved to be virtually indestructable, but that could just be damage reduction.

 

[-Eä-]

Re: Damaging Damage

Hi all!

I will have the CR/EL article done tonight - I have been deliberating over one sentence for the past 24 hours. I just need to chill for a bit then go back and finish it off. Usually I am not so pernickety but I don't want anymore confusion on this matter.

Onto something new...

Using the monster building elements of MM2 I had a look at some of the epic level monsters in the ELH and it turns out at least one third of them have been 'doctored'; in that they have the ability to deal some wild damage figure (that should be credited to significantly larger creatures) with no explanation*!?

*Undead generally need no explanation, dealing damage is seemingly an extension of their hate rather than simply physical attributes.

Anyway, I have decided to write another article on the merits and pitfalls of damage and strength. With the monsters in the IH detailed with these changes in effect.

Essentially the two main breaks with official convention will be that increasing one size category doubles damage (instead of x1.5) and that the ability score modifiers for increasing/decreasing size are doubled.

Before anyone starts to complain about more changes* I must stress this is again optional - although the IH monsters will benefit; as do many of the epic monsters in the ELH already and I don't remember hearing anyone complaining about them!?

*not to name names or anything!

Any comments?

I guess that's why we can call you a designer! It's excellent that someone addresses such points to make gaqming all the simpler for all of us who don't have the sheer energy to undertake such projects!

I am looking forward to your article, hopefully it will get finished much faster than the IH (-;

By the way, on monday I had the most excellent gaming experience in my entire life! Ahh...it only encourages me to keep on gaming.

Why aren't you a DM, UK? I am sure you would be a most extraordinary DM! Sure, you play...but there is no harm in DMing one campaign while playing in another. I know I do. Well...if I ever come to Belfast, I hope to get to play with you!

Have a splendid evening!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Bjorn mate!

Yeah, actually I'm 14, but I have the personality of a hyperactive 3 year old.

Me too...except maybe the hyperactive bit.

Its just that you wouldn't know it from my posts. Hard to show hyperactivity through writing, eh?

I know a few who can!

If ya ever met me in person, though, you'd know. Also I love cartoons of almost any kind.

Me too! Me too!

How much of the material in the encyclopedia do you figure will be new to me. (a guy who mostly knows the occult through pantheon.org and a choice few other websites) ?

Lots.

I've always had an interest in this sort of thing, so it may end up on the X-mas list.

I would be amazed if you managed to even find a copy before Christmas.

Also on the subject of the occult, I read a good article (actually it was closer to a small book) about "The Truth About Tarot Cards." It was all about how the Major Arcana represents the story of the universe. I can find a link if ya want. Again, I've found my way off topic.

Sure thanks!

Of course I have a few books on Tarot myself.

Of course my Mommy's right. She's always right! I hate anticipation, but I love a suprise so I'm being a good little boy.

That reminds me - I still haven't posted my letter to Santa yet. I'm only asking that the Book of Vile Darkness be available in Belfast before Christmas.

I don't know about low constitution. I'm hardly ever sick. Since I'm so clumsy, I've evolved to be virtually indestructable, but that could just be damage reduction.

So its a low dexterity then!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Damaging Damage

Hi Eä mate!

I guess that's why we can call you a designer!

...perhaps even a good designer?

It's excellent that someone addresses such points to make gaming all the simpler for all of us who don't have the sheer energy to undertake such projects!

I'm just ironing over the creases as it were.

I am looking forward to your article, hopefully it will get finished much faster than the IH (-;

Easy tiger!

By the way, on monday I had the most excellent gaming experience in my entire life! Ahh...it only encourages me to keep on gaming.

I'm sure we are all very happy (and jealous) for you.

Why aren't you a DM, UK?

To be honest I never really tried.

My heart was never really in it.

Also, perhaps I was just spoilt by having S'mon as a DM (don't tell him I said so though)!?

I am sure you would be a most extraordinary DM!

Extraordinarily bad perhaps.

Sure, you play...but there is no harm in DMing one campaign while playing in another. I know I do.

Agreed. If I wanted to DM I am sure I could. I guess that means I don't really want to; perhaps in the future I will have an inclination to DM, who knows?

Well...if I ever come to Belfast, I hope to get to play with you!

Thanks. Though it might be more beneficial to come to London for Gencon UK next April for the ENWorld Meeting #2.

It was great to meet poil brun (if only briefly) among others from these boards.

Have a splendid evening!

You too mate!

 

[Bjorn Doneerson]

The Truth about the Tarot

Also, Its a very low dexterity.

 

[Knight Otu]

I know a few who can!

Are we thinking about the same person?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Knight Otu mate!

Are we thinking about the same person?

If you are quick enough to pick these jests up you should be quick enough to know not to draw attention to them!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Bjorn mate!

The Truth about the Tarot .

That link is broken.

 

[Sonofapreacherman]

Re: Damaging Damage

Anyway, I have decided to write another article on the merits and pitfalls of damage and strength. With the monsters in the IH detailed with these changes in effect.

Essentially the two main breaks with official convention will be that increasing one size category doubles damage (instead of x1.5) and that the ability score modifiers for increasing/decreasing size are doubled.

I've been exploring this rule modification for a while now. One thing keeps standing out for me.

What I started designing went like this...

-----
The bigger you are, the more destructive your body becomes. With increased mass comes greater force. In the same way that Carrying Capacity is fractioned and multiplied, relative to size, damage modifiers use the same multipliers, but as straightforward bonuses and penalties. Damage size modifiers are as follows: Colossal x16, Gargantuan x8, Huge x4, Large x2, Medium-size +0, Small /2, Tiny /4, Diminutive /8, Fine /16 (for positive modifiers; round all fractions down); Colossal /16, Gargantuan /8, Huge /4, Large /2, Medium-size +0, Small x2, Tiny x4, Diminutive x8, Fine x16 (for negative modifiers; round all fractions down).[/b]
-----

This is all well and good until look at some examples of larger than Medium-size creatures with less than 10 Strength, and smaller than Medium-size creatures with greater than 10 Strength.

Let's go to extremes then. Take a "Colossal" creature and examine their Strength progression.

1 Strength: +0
2-3 Strength: +0
4-5 Strength: +0
6-7 Strength: +0
8-9 Strength: +0
10-11 Strength: +0
12-13 Strength: +16
14-15 Strength: +32
16-17 Strength: +48
18-19 Strength: +64
20-21 Strength: +80
22-23 Strength: +96

You move through 11 points of Strength (from 1 to 11 Strength) with no sign of advancement, and then all of sudden you hit a +16 modifier which quickly increases to a +96 modifier over the next 11 points. Even fantasy logic doesn't track here.

Now take a "Fine" creature and look at their Strength progression.

1 Strength: -80
2-3 Strength: -64
4-5 Strength: -48
6-7 Strength: -32
8-9 Strength: -16
10-11 Strength: +0
12-13 Strength: +0
14-15 Strength: +0
16-17 Strength: +0
18-19 Strength: +0
20-21 Strength: +0
22-23 Strength: +0
24-25 Strength: +0
26-27 Strength: +0
28-29 Strength: +0
30-31 Strength: +0
32-33 Strength: +0
34-35 Strength: +0
36-37 Strength: +0
38-39 Strength: +0
40-41 Strength: +0
42-43 Strength: +1

It takes 10 points of Strength to go from a -80 modifier to a +0 modifier, but it takes 32 Strength points to go from a +0 modifier to a +1 modifier. I think the inherent nonsense of that equation is obvious.

The solution?

Create "damage size modifiers" that work in much the same way that "attack size modifiers" work now. You don't end up with quite so large a Strength modifier, but it does solve this Strength progression problem in a simplistic and stylized way. And heck, this is a modifier that wouldn't exist normally, so any bonus that represents mass-based damage is a good bonus.

Taking from my passage above...

-----
The bigger you are, the more destructive your body becomes. With increased mass comes greater force. In the same way that Carrying Capacity is fractioned and multiplied, relative to size, damage size modifiers use the same multipliers, but as straightforward bonuses and penalties. Damage size modifiers are as follows: Colossal +16, Gargantuan +8, Huge +4, Large +2, Medium-size +0, Small -2, Tiny -4, Diminutive -8, Fine -16.
-----

It’s effectively the same thing as giving Colossal and Fine creatures +32 Strength and -32 Strength (respectively) to their melee damage modifier. So far in my playtesting, it seems to work great.

 

[Bjorn Doneerson]

The link works for me. Anyhow, the address is: http://www.yhwh.com/Tarot/tarottoc.htm
Hope that helps.