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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 4691723" data-attributes="member: 18280"><p>While it is true that, as you say, "It's conceivable to use THAC0 with ACs that range from -80 to 10, or even from -100 to +100", it is also true that the issue is not completely separate. </p><p></p><p>This is true for two reasons:</p><p></p><p>(1) In relation to the much argued about human cognition, AC 0 is automatically significant, whether or not the system extends to 100 and -100. The system, by its very nature, tells you where the "center point" it balances upon is.</p><p></p><p>(2) Related to the above, when you set the worst high AC, the "center point" automatically suggests the best low AC. Thus, in the system as presented, the worst AC is 10, and the best AC is -10.</p><p></p><p>Both of these factors make game balance inherently easier to achieve. As 3e's out-of-control spiral amply demonstrates, IMHO, removing a known "fulcrum point" also removes any useful sense of simulated scale. It quickly ceases to become obvious where, on a continuum, a certain value should lie. This is even more true in 4e, IMHO, where the numbers used no longer map to any meaningful simulation at all. </p><p></p><p>If the math is co-equal, then there are two human variables to consider: </p><p></p><p>(1) Is this easier to use at the table?, and</p><p></p><p>(2) Is this easier to use when designing new materials?</p><p></p><p>I think that BAB wins on (1), and THAC0 wins on (2). OTOH, as I suggested earlier, I think that it is possible to related BAB to THAC0 strongly enough to compensate somewhat (but not entirely) on (2), which is what I am attempting with RCFG.</p><p></p><p>While, as I said before, I prefer BAB, I don't find it a completely correct statement to say that BAB is easier than THAC0 overall. It is just easier than THAC0 for some specific tasks. And THAC0 is easier than BAB for some others.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Fair enough.</p><p></p><p>OTOH, you should also clarify that your clarification doesn't relate to the THAC0/BAB paradigms in any edition of D&D to date, whereas my point that you are clarifying does. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool :cool:" data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>RC</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 4691723, member: 18280"] While it is true that, as you say, "It's conceivable to use THAC0 with ACs that range from -80 to 10, or even from -100 to +100", it is also true that the issue is not completely separate. This is true for two reasons: (1) In relation to the much argued about human cognition, AC 0 is automatically significant, whether or not the system extends to 100 and -100. The system, by its very nature, tells you where the "center point" it balances upon is. (2) Related to the above, when you set the worst high AC, the "center point" automatically suggests the best low AC. Thus, in the system as presented, the worst AC is 10, and the best AC is -10. Both of these factors make game balance inherently easier to achieve. As 3e's out-of-control spiral amply demonstrates, IMHO, removing a known "fulcrum point" also removes any useful sense of simulated scale. It quickly ceases to become obvious where, on a continuum, a certain value should lie. This is even more true in 4e, IMHO, where the numbers used no longer map to any meaningful simulation at all. If the math is co-equal, then there are two human variables to consider: (1) Is this easier to use at the table?, and (2) Is this easier to use when designing new materials? I think that BAB wins on (1), and THAC0 wins on (2). OTOH, as I suggested earlier, I think that it is possible to related BAB to THAC0 strongly enough to compensate somewhat (but not entirely) on (2), which is what I am attempting with RCFG. While, as I said before, I prefer BAB, I don't find it a completely correct statement to say that BAB is easier than THAC0 overall. It is just easier than THAC0 for some specific tasks. And THAC0 is easier than BAB for some others. Fair enough. OTOH, you should also clarify that your clarification doesn't relate to the THAC0/BAB paradigms in any edition of D&D to date, whereas my point that you are clarifying does. ;) :cool: RC [/QUOTE]
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