Would DnD/d20 Benfit from a 4th save?

[JustKim]

I'm sorry. Maybe I'm just being dense, but I just don't get this. How can you be 'heading toward less points'? Whatever save progression you picked for the medium save, it would obviously be an upward progression!

At any given level (apart from first), a save goes up by a point, or not at all. A Good progression goes up at more levels than a Poor. A Medium progression would go up at more levels than than a Poor, but fewer than a Good.

How is this a problem?


glass.

You are headed toward less points because progression slows down at some points. It's like making an average BAB by giving a class good BAB for 4 levels, then poor for 4 levels. In the end it works out, but it doesn't follow the math of the d20 system.

 

[Nyeshet]

Perception might be a better word/name choice than Deception as a fourth save. Mind if I use it?

Not at all, go ahead and use it. Note that I also use it for 'enlightenment' - such as if the PCs are about to make a foolish choice that they should know better than to do. I ask for a Perception save, and if they make it I explain to those that made the save the 'enlightenment' they had regarding the possible consequences of their about to be made choice. I figure it's less metagaming if the characters rather than the PCs are informed, especially as I can more easily limit the 'revelation' to facts pertenant to the situation and the in-character reasons that should allow them to know better.

 

[glass]

You are headed toward less points because progression slows down at some points. It's like making an average BAB by giving a class good BAB for 4 levels, then poor for 4 levels. In the end it works out, but it doesn't follow the math of the d20 system.

Bit all the progressions slow down at some points (the levels where you are going up by +0 rather than +1). Thats just the nature of the system.

EDIT: Ah, comparing the Good and Poor progressions from the SRD with Remathilis's progression above, I think I see what you mean now. In Good and Poor it is always the same number of levels from one increase to the next (2 and 3, respectively). Since there is no integer between 2 and 3, a medium save must necessarily alternate between them. I still don't see it as a huge issue, though.

It might not have the mathematical purity of the good or poor saves, but mathematical purity (like symmetry) should be a very low priority compared with playability and ability to model different character types, IMO.


glass.