Using action dice in D&D

[gariig]

I was wondering if anyone has implemented any sort of action dice into their D&D games. We have a rule of one reroll per level. The problem is that if you need an insanely high number to hit(let's say 19 on a D20) and roll a 17..rerolling doesn't give you any help other then another chance. Now with some sort of action dice(the only rules I have are the D20M) you can sacrifice a die and roll a d6 and I can make it pretty easily and if I want to make sure I can roll 2 of them.

Also, you can allow the sacrifice of dice to mean other things for people(like spellcasters) who don't throw dice around as much as tanks do. Just curious to see how these rules have worked in your campaigns. Also, I was wondering if you get new dice every level(d20M) or every session(Spycraft).

Gariig

 

[hong]

The clerical Luck domain ability is sorta like an "action point", that allows a reroll once per day. There is also a feat in the Rokugan book that does the same thing.

Personally, I prefer game mechanics to have at least some sort of in-game justification or handwave, even if it's not a very solid one. Explicitly metagame things like action points just break my sense of disbelief somewhat.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Re: action points and suspension of disbelief

We rule that the character has gone to "bullet time".




US$0.02

 

[gariig]

Re: action points and suspension of disbelief

We rule that the character has gone to "bullet time".

Cute, I see it as the character is trying "extra" hard..the adrenaline has kicked in, the stars aligned properly, the gods were smiling down on them..or bullet time. It's just the PCs did something extraordinary.

Also, what about the DM getting dice of his own?

Gariig

 

[hong]

Also, what about the DM getting dice of his own?

The DM isn't fighting the PCs, so the DM doesn't need dice of his own.

Now NPCs, that's a different matter.

 

[gariig]

Also, what about the DM getting dice of his own?

Ok, let me clarify for the nit picky out there. The DM getting dice would be for NPCs, like the DM can throw X amount for all the nonimportant mook type characters and random monsters. Major villains and major lackeys could get a small pool of dice as compared to the PCs.

Gariig

 

[gariig]

bumping to the top

 

[Sagan Darkside]

Also, I was wondering if you get new dice every level(d20M) or every session(Spycraft).

We are playing Spycraft now, but when we go back to d&d- I may implement the action dice. I like the feel they give the game.

I would definitly go with every session- dice per level is one more bit of book-keeping between adventures.

Plus, if the action points/dice become tied to class abilities- then refresh at level can be a frustration.

Final note: Yes- the dm gets them as well.

SD

 

[2WS-Steve]

I've been using action points from d20 Modern in my D&D game for a little while now. We decided to drop raise dead a while back so I thought having something else to help out would be reasonable. They don't change the game too significantly but the players enjoy being to pull out some extra oomph when there's something they want extra hard. I think they do a good job making the players feel like they have more control over the game; the action points wind up connecting the character putting in extra effort to the player putting in extra effort. That kind of immersiveness is fun.

I'd like to add more options for how to use action points but that'll probably end up as a 96 page book or part of a larger sourcebook.

 

[Ace]

I like to use action dice as roleplaying reward.

Yes I know that D20 explicitly cautions against that but I disagree

My "system" is to start the players with 3, refresh them at each level and give extra dice if the players roleplay well

It keeps the game in a more narrative mode which is what the players and I like