tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post256861178262278584..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Decisions, Decisions ...Alexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-44959448665819773832010-09-17T09:51:40.492-06:002010-09-17T09:51:40.492-06:00Sounds interesting, Symeon. I'd like to know ...Sounds interesting, Symeon. I'd like to know which games in particular you'd want to start with. For the present, however, I really am interested in finding someone ready to put forward their world.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-66326816523210415872010-09-16T23:36:12.793-06:002010-09-16T23:36:12.793-06:00I have no world to contribute. What I do have is a...I have no world to contribute. What I do have is an interest in the behind-the-scenes mechanics, the statistics that not even the DMG bothers to print.<br /> I'd like to start with the basic math of dice and follow up with how those numbers work in various systems. This will be generic enough to apply to any combination of dice under most systems. Once that is comprehensible I'd like to focus on character progression.<br /> The end goal for me would be to produce a framework where any system or subsystem could be translated into any other. Good structural work by one author would then be straightforward to incorporate into another's efforts. I may not work fast, but I will tackle the subjects one at a time until it is done.Chris Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247630943891521469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-49723160125219175872010-09-16T11:11:40.030-06:002010-09-16T11:11:40.030-06:00James,
Have you read the conversation on Three Ha...James,<br /><br />Have you read the conversation on Three Hams Inn?<br /><br />I'm going to be on yahoo chat this evening. You can find me at tao_alexis; it might be good if we could talk in real time.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-61819680644302564222010-09-16T09:16:57.607-06:002010-09-16T09:16:57.607-06:00Graham,
That is the right idea, but I’d like to s...Graham,<br /><br />That is the right idea, but I’d like to see greater specificity in the content, along with some viable experimentation. To begin with, rather than just listing off the alternate systems, what is the source for these? Which issues of the Dragon, which versions of D&D and – included, hopefully – methods from Palladium, Steve Jackson or other old systems. What about the actual stats being rolled for, as they compare between games?<br /><br />As far as experimentation, run a couple of games using alternate levels of stat abilities. Did the increased stats improve the game or no? How bad could the stats be before they’re too low.<br /><br />By the most bizarre chance, a player in my game last Saturday rolled four stats (using the 4d6 and remove the lowest die method) below 9. The actual rolls were 6,7,7,8,16,17. Absolutely weird. Does the potential for vastly different stat scores improve the game? I know that many would have an ad hoc opinion, but I’d like some actual gaming examples.<br /><br />Finally, if we could get a sociologist to build up an inquiry, how often do stats actually influence a character’s death, as opposed to a die roll. If a hundred players were recruited, and asked to give their reasons for death, how many of them would actually blame the stats?<br /><br />This is all off the top of my head, but I’d be willing to look at a series of articles comparing the effects of different mechanics, provided those comparisons were not made in an ad hoc manner.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-91324190389865223402010-09-16T07:39:06.803-06:002010-09-16T07:39:06.803-06:00I was willing to drop $500 before, so yes... I'...I was willing to drop $500 before, so yes... I'm in for free, wherever its hosted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-69091203987945041192010-09-15T18:47:38.549-06:002010-09-15T18:47:38.549-06:00Alexis,
The Escapist has won two Webby Awards for ...Alexis,<br />The Escapist has won two Webby Awards for Best Game Related website on the internet, and a Mashable Award for Best Online Magazine on the internet. We reach around 3 million people every month - we have more readers than D&D has active players, to put that into perspective. So, with all due courtesy, what you see as an eyesore is a very, very successful website. <br /><br />I frankly don't understand, in any event, what my corporation's aesthetic sensibilities have to do with my own personal sincerity.<br /><br />You could have taken my word for the fact that I'm not interested in commercializing a D&D database on the basis of good will between grognards; on the basis of Zak's recommendation; or on the basis of the fact that I've not done so when obviously I could.<br /><br />In any event, you haven't made an enemy. I know from reading your blog that you are highly opinionated about things you are passionated on, so I can't villainize you for staying true to form. You merely have foregone an ally. If you change your mind, let me know.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Alexander M.Restitutor Orbishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05625086532637410710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-60676112689273241142010-09-15T11:23:06.343-06:002010-09-15T11:23:06.343-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Aoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145284080419502886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-61462797208784873292010-09-14T17:13:36.291-06:002010-09-14T17:13:36.291-06:00would this kind of thing be appropriate?
Article:...would this kind of thing be appropriate?<br /><br />Article: Character Creation<br />Subsection 1: Stat Generation<br /><br />A traditional and the simplest way to generate stats is simply 3d6 in order. There are many many other variants and almost all are meant to either inflate, or give the PC more control over the final stats.<br /><br />Some such alternate systems include:<br />rerolling low scores<br />rerolling poor characters<br />rolling 4d6 and discarding the lowest score<br />getting bonuses to scores depending on class/race or other factors<br />allowing the player to swap two scores<br />allowing the player to roll an additional 3/4d6 and swap it for one of the allocated scores<br />being given a number of pregenerated scores to allocate<br />using a point buy system<br /><br />Some reasons to use a method which inflates or gives the PC more control over stats are:<br />1. If stats have significant mechanical effects<br />In a very rules light system such as Swords and Wizardry in which the highest and lowest possible stats only have effects of +/-1, it is much more viable for a character with shitty stats to be successful. If stats provide greater bonuses, or have other mechanical effects, a PC will be less willing and able to play with below average stats.<br />2. Long character lifespans<br />If a character is not expected to make it to the third level it matters less if their stats are unideal. <br />Also, frequent death means frequent character generation, and mid game character generation is less disruptive with a simpler system. <br />3. To facilitate pre-planned character concepts<br />Characters with 3d6-in-order stats are generally limited to just a couple available or ideal classes. A campaign in which all the PCs were elves would require a system which ensured they all had the minimum necessary stats.<br /><br />this is all off the top of my head but I would be willing to help write a series of articles comparing the effect of different mechanics used between various games and editions if that would be appropriate.grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04504705324275536197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-35319841929863995512010-09-14T14:40:53.030-06:002010-09-14T14:40:53.030-06:00"Daring people to agree with him, since 2008&..."Daring people to agree with him, since 2008"Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.com