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<blockquote data-quote="Steverooo" data-source="post: 1789549" data-attributes="member: 9410">I think modern RPGs are a large part of the problem...&nbsp; There is absolutely no point in expecting the players to have their PCs act like heroes when the rules very clearly make sure that they are not!&nbsp; With 4 HPs, less than a 50% chance to hit anything, no armor, few (if any) weapons, and about a 50% chance, at best, to make use of any skill they possess, it's no wonder that PCs don't feel at all heroic!Monsters in the hold...&nbsp; Go down into hold.&nbsp; Get killed.&nbsp; Roll up new 1rst level PCs.&nbsp; Rinse.&nbsp; Repeat!Maybe Seventh Seas has a better idea: Assume that the PCs already ARE heroes, give them skills enough to handle situations, and then make advancement slow...&nbsp; It's another option, anyway.In D&amp;D, starting PCs have 50-55% chance to hit naked enemies, and it drops with armor and DEX Bonuses.&nbsp; On skills, they will have +4, max., with a typical +2 bonus, against a DC:15 target number...&nbsp; In targets, as with skills, they are more likely to FAIL than to succeed.Is it any wonder, then, that they are cautious?Try ramping DOWN the threats.&nbsp; Instead of having the ship attacked by pirates armed with sabers, have an unarmed revolt, or something.&nbsp; If you need a trap, have a Tanglefoot Bag fall from the ceiling, trapping the PC, instead of a pit trap that can and will kill him/her if they fall in.Look at the characters' (lack of) abilities, and rate the challenges to that.&nbsp; Remember: D&amp;D is designed as a game where &quot;No one can do everything&quot;.&nbsp; If only one in four PCs can do what needs doing, OF COURSE the other three are going to be sitting around, unheroically picking their noses (or whatever).It seems to me that D&amp;D is designed to make the PCs be &quot;Hero-wannabes&quot; up until about 10th level, or higher.&nbsp; So it really isn't until that level that you should really expect Kick-In-The-Door type action.&nbsp; IMHO, anyway.&nbsp; YMMV.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Steverooo, post: 1789549, member: 9410"] I think modern RPGs are a large part of the problem... There is absolutely no point in expecting the players to have their PCs act like heroes when the rules very clearly make sure that they are not! With 4 HPs, less than a 50% chance to hit anything, no armor, few (if any) weapons, and about a 50% chance, at best, to make use of any skill they possess, it's no wonder that PCs don't feel at all heroic! Monsters in the hold... Go down into hold. Get killed. Roll up new 1rst level PCs. Rinse. Repeat! Maybe Seventh Seas has a better idea: Assume that the PCs already ARE heroes, give them skills enough to handle situations, and then make advancement slow... It's another option, anyway. In D&D, starting PCs have 50-55% chance to hit naked enemies, and it drops with armor and DEX Bonuses. On skills, they will have +4, max., with a typical +2 bonus, against a DC:15 target number... In targets, as with skills, they are more likely to FAIL than to succeed. Is it any wonder, then, that they are cautious? Try ramping DOWN the threats. Instead of having the ship attacked by pirates armed with sabers, have an unarmed revolt, or something. If you need a trap, have a Tanglefoot Bag fall from the ceiling, trapping the PC, instead of a pit trap that can and will kill him/her if they fall in. Look at the characters' (lack of) abilities, and rate the challenges to that. Remember: D&D is designed as a game where "No one can do everything". If only one in four PCs can do what needs doing, OF COURSE the other three are going to be sitting around, unheroically picking their noses (or whatever). It seems to me that D&D is designed to make the PCs be "Hero-wannabes" up until about 10th level, or higher. So it really isn't until that level that you should really expect Kick-In-The-Door type action. IMHO, anyway. YMMV. [/QUOTE]

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