vivsavage

Re: Using d20 instead of 3d6 (DON'T KILL ME!) Gotcha.

Re: Using d20 instead of 3d6 (DON'T KILL ME!) I like this line of thinking! Let me do some more math and maybe I'll change my mind after all... Okay, the +1 bonus bumps the no-skill guy from 5 to 6, or an improvement of 2%. The average guy goes from 11 to 12, or an improvement of 12%. The skilled guy goes from 15 to 16, or an improvement of 2%. If you're inclined to believe that modifiers should affect the guy with the average skill the most...this might be pretty good after all!

Re: Using d20 instead of 3d6 (DON'T KILL ME!) You're talking about DCs and other things that indicate you think I'm suggesting making HERO into a d20/D&D/OGL thing. All I'm suggesting is keeping the EXACT same HERO mechanics and using a twenty sided die instead of 3d6 in order to make modifiers more consistent. I'm very aware of the benefits of the bell curve -- I prefer it over linear results except for the modifiers issue. But I'm definately not communicating my thoughts very well because most people seem to equate using a twenty sided die with the d20 *system*, which is not at all what I'm talking about. You can use a twenty sided die and not have anything to do with the d20/D&D/OGL rules.

Re: Using d20 instead of 3d6 (DON'T KILL ME!) I actually agree with what you are saying. Some people on this thread seem to be under the impression that I am suggesting that a linear probability is preferable to a bell curve. This isn't the case at all. I love the results a bell curve gives, as it strongly favors skill over random chance. But, again, I am not talking about that aspect. I'm ONLY talking about the effect of applying modifiers. As a GM, I want to know precisely what effect modifiers have on a roll. With d20, d100, d10 (etc), the effect of applying a modifier is easy to ascertain. With a bell curve, they are not. That's all I'm saying. To reiterate: I love the bell curve. But the EFFECTS OF MODIFIERS on a bell curve have me questioning the mechanic.

Re: Hero Needs Reviewers!! Do you mean that all the current reviews are by people biased in favor of the game?

Re: Using d20 instead of 3d6 (DON'T KILL ME!) I didn't make my point well. I am NOT NOT NOT talking about making HERO into a D20/OGL system!!! All I'm saying is that using a twenty-sided die (instead of 3d6) to resolve test rolls would mean that any modifiers applied to the roll would be the same across the board, no matter what your skill level is. But with 3d6, a penalty is entirely different from a %age standpoint depending on your present skill level. Therefore a GM needs to take into account just what a -2 penalty (or whatever) is actually doing.

Re: Hero Needs Reviewers!! Do you mind if reviews are written for products that have already been reviewed? In other words, I read a review of the Turakian Age on rpg.net but I know that web site always prints multiple reviews. But does it matter to you? I'd be interested in reviewing the FH Grimoire or the revised 5th edition rulebook (when it comes out). Heck, I'd even do the current 5th edition if you're interested.

I love the bell curve. Bell curves are great. But here's my problem -- modifiers aren't equal in a 3d6 system. For instance, when the GM assigns a penalty of -2, it means something entirely different to someone with a skill of 13 than it does to someone with a skill of 8. With d20, a -2 penalty is the same for anyone at any skill level (-10% on a 1d100 system). To roll an 8 or less with a 3d6 system gives you essentially a 25% chance to succeed, meaning that a penalty of -2 drops you to a 6 or less, or approximately a 9% chance...thus the -2 penalty drops you by 16% (or so). Now, if you've got a skill of 13 (approx. 84% chance of success) and you get a -2 penalty, that drops your chances to 11 (or 62%), meaning a drop of 22%. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but as a GM it makes me question my modifiers. Any thoughts? Would the Hero System work with d20?

Re: Do you always use character points to buy weapons & armor? Good to know! Why do the weapons & armor have real point costs? Isn't that for purposes of character point cost?

As a newbie to the HERO system, one concept that strikes me as somewhat odd is the concept that players buy armor & weapons with character points. Does everyone do this, or do most people ignore this aspect and just equip characters as they see fit (or with the money perk)?

Re: What the heck is BODY anyways? Your example is a good one, but it seems that it's a reflection of EGO ("will to live"). So again, I'm not sure why BODY should be a separate attribute. Mr Long, what are your thoughts?

Re: What the heck is BODY anyways? Most systems that have hit points have it tied to STR (as in the forthcoming GURPS 4th edition) or CON (D&D, etc). The thing that puzzles me about HERO is that BODY isn't tied to anything. You can be super tough, super strong, super determined...yet you can have a wimpy BODY score. So I'm still puzzled as to what it is supposed to represent.

Re: What the heck is BODY anyways? I understand that aspect. But I guess what I'm saying is that it has no relation to actual physical makeup? I'm thinking of changing BODY to equal the average of CON and STR. Seems more realistic to me.

I understand what BODY is used for in the Hero system, but what does it represent? It's not strength, it's not constitution, it's not ego/will, it's not size (is it?), it's not based on a combination of anything. I mean, you could have a guy who is 6'6" and weighs 300 lbs with a CON, STR and EGO of 20 and still have a BODY of 10 or something, so just what the heck is BODY anyways?

Re: Meters or yards or feet? Woops! You're right.