tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post3048300377596734643..comments2024-03-28T22:00:35.840-07:00Comments on Playing D&D With Porn Stars: Does System Matter...to the Rancor?Zak Sabbathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-77057644016778573532011-10-03T11:33:08.798-07:002011-10-03T11:33:08.798-07:00Here's another one
http://boggswood.blogspot....Here's another one<br /><br />http://boggswood.blogspot.com/2011/09/zacs-combat-challenge.htmlZak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-970571751841935112011-09-14T12:48:00.850-07:002011-09-14T12:48:00.850-07:00@nick
it is what all the cool kids call the curre...@nick<br /><br />it is what all the cool kids call the current official iteration of dungeons and dragons. If you want to be ultrahip you can call if Nalfeshnee.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-46693538485080373772011-09-14T12:38:22.206-07:002011-09-14T12:38:22.206-07:00Profuse apologies for the threadjacking, but what ...Profuse apologies for the threadjacking, but what is "Type IV"? Google and Wikipedia are useless.nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816663147302709794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-9986200231581413102011-09-13T15:24:11.061-07:002011-09-13T15:24:11.061-07:005.
Luke asks if he can see the door controls. Make...5.<br />Luke asks if he can see the door controls. Makes a PER check, success.<br />DM says no, the only controls on this side of the room are the ones for the small door he just opened, and the big duracrete blast-door.<br />Rancor declares multiple actions, with a smug grin. He's moving into range as a free action, then using the Grab/Bite combo.<br />Luke asks if there is any cover in this room. There isn't. He asks if there are any weapons better than his rock. Not in this room. He asks how long it would take to try to jimmy open the locked door.<br />Rancor player reminds him he only has one action before Rancor gets his first attack.<br />Luke decides to Thrown Weapon his rock at the door controls to stop the Rancor. He spends a Force Point to double his dice, rolls; success.<br />Rancor wants to roll DEX to get through the door before it closes; fails, with a 1 on the Wild Die.<br />DM declares a “complication”: the door has closed on the Rancor's head! He rolls damage.<br />Rancor rolls STR for defense (no size modifier) and rolls under by 5 – he is now Wounded: Rancor falls prone, loses his remaining actions for the round, and loses -1D from all skill rolls.<br /><br />6.<br />Rancor player declares a single action (Lift the door off his head). Makes opposed STR roll at -1D.<br />DM rolls opposing STR for door weight and gears, and wins.<br />DM rolls continuing damage.<br />Rancor rolls STR for defense at -1D, fails by 13. Rancor is now Mortally Wounded, unconscious, and unable to resist continuing damage.<br />Luke asks for a cigarette break.<br />(that was Brian Eugene)Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-45258878252063180082011-09-13T15:23:15.912-07:002011-09-13T15:23:15.912-07:003.
Luke begins to whine about sending a dragon aft...3.<br />Luke begins to whine about sending a dragon after a 2nd level paladin (er, Jedi), but when pressed for an action, decides to roll into cover. Rolls DEX, gets a 6 on the Wild Die, keeps rolling, and beats the target difficulty by so much the DM decides he's in 3/4 cover.<br />Rancor declares a split action (Snap bone, Claw attack). Rolls STR against disable, succeeds.<br />Luke interrupts to ask whether he can see past the Rancor now.<br />DM informs him that he can see past into the pen area, and that there's another exit back there, if he can get past the Rancor's claws.<br />Luke asks if he can add a second action to a disarm, like that guy in the cantina with the balls for a face.<br />DM points out it's pretty unlikely he'll disarm with his bare hands, and besides, that sketch was supposed to be a Walrus-Man, not a dude with balls for a chin.<br />Luke asks if he can maybe break the Rancor's hand with a rock or something and disable the claw attack.<br />DM rules he can make a Melee Weapon attack and for every difficulty level he beats the Rancor's defense by, he can disable the hand for one round. But he has to wait, because...<br />Rancor rolls Brawling for a claw attack, with increased difficulty from 3/4 cover. Misses.<br /><br />4.<br />Luke declares multiple actions (Disable, Melee parry), and picks up a rock as a free action. He rolls to hit (with the size bonus in his favor), success.<br />Luke rolls damage, gets a 6 on the Wild Die, keeps rolling. Rancor rolls terribly for defense, even with the size bonus, and his claw attack is disabled for one round.<br />Rancor player throws down his dice and declares he's just waiting until next round then.<br />Luke changes second action to a move. Rolls DEX to get up and run; success.<br />On the other side of the small door is... another door! And this one's locked.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-70689139090407096602011-09-13T15:22:45.709-07:002011-09-13T15:22:45.709-07:00Preamble:
Luke declares multiple actions (Force Pu...Preamble:<br />Luke declares multiple actions (Force Pull, Fire Blaster). Rolls Force Pull, success.<br />Gamorrean (complaining about all the extra XP Luke got during the solo adventure in Dagobah) declares multiple actions to shoot first (Grab Blaster, Fire Blaster). Rolls Brawling to grapple, success.<br />Contested STR to see who winds up with the blaster, but before they can roll...<br />Jabba gets his first turn. Presses trapdoor button.<br />Luke and Gamorrean shift their second actions to DEX check; Luke succeeds, Gamorrean fails and winds up on his ass.<br /><br />DM inserts Rancor, who will be played by a PC who is sitting out because his sweet smuggler slash blaster-jockey slash charming rogue character is petrified. Determines initiative order: Luke, Gamorrean, Rancor.<br /><br />1.<br />Luke makes single action (move back!) - ends turn.<br />Gamorrean declares multiple actions (Climb, Lift) and tries to get back up the chute. Rolls first action, success.<br />Rancor decides Bite is way better DPS, declares multiple actions (Grab Gamorrean, Bite Gamorrean).<br />Gamorrean switches his second action to Dodge, but his DEX is so low he actually makes the target difficulty number lower.<br />Rancor has a size modifier penalty and multiple action penalty, but since his STR is 7D, he still makes the Brawling roll handily.<br />Contested STR to hang on. This time the size modifier is in Rancor's favour; he wins easily.<br />Gamorrean has used all declared actions, Rancor takes second action.<br />Rancor makes Very Easy Brawling roll to Bite. Success.<br />Rancor rolls ridiculous dice for damage (16D), Gamorrean rolls STR (4D) to survive. He doesn't.<br /><br />2.<br />Luke asks for room description. Picks up Melee Weapons weapon as free action because he put all his points in Lightsaber, and wants a melee parry instead of a dodge.<br />Gamorrean wonders why he doesn't pick up the blaster, but doesn't say anything because he's kind of bitter about being bitten in half, and is hoping for a total party kill.<br />Luke declares a split action, two melee parries. Rolls the first Melee Weapons parry.<br />Rancor declares a split action (Grab, Bite) because that worked out so well last time. Rolls Brawling vs. Luke's parry, success.<br />Contested STR roll as before to hang on, Rancor wins easily.<br />Luke rolls his second melee parry.<br />Rancor rolls Brawling vs. second melee parry, fails, plus gets a 1 on the Wild Die.<br />DM declares a “complication”: Luke is disarmed, but dropped, and Rancor's bite is disabled until it makes a Difficult STR check (without its size modifier).Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-81190853023875477412011-09-13T12:19:10.009-07:002011-09-13T12:19:10.009-07:007)
Luke grabs a bone and tries to look badass. Ran...7)<br />Luke grabs a bone and tries to look badass. Rancor continues being about fifty times bigger than Luke. The Rancor scratches her head<br /><br />Rancor: Really? I mean -- really?<br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): . . . ?<br />Luke: *shrugs sheepishly*<br /><br />The Rancor grabs at Luke; Luke makes his Fight roll against the Rancor's own and is not grabbed. Luke tries to Fight the Rancor with the bone. The Rancor doesn't bother defending and instead just tries to grab Luke again. The bone does no damage -- the Rancor has Toughness -- and eventually, Luke fails a Fight roll and is grabbed.<br /><br />8)<br />The Rancor prepares an elaborate table for her feast, trussing up Luke like a turkey, putting him on a silver plate, placing cultery, etc. Luke uses Sneak to replace himself with a bone at the last minute. The Rancor blows an Identify Dangerous Thing roll (it would have been See/Hear/Smell, but eating a bone is dangerous, so. . .) . The Rancor dramatically bites down on her meal -- and the bone is stuck in his mouth. She comically tries to get it out but can't -- Zip 3 -- until she finally just gets mad and just uses Incredible Strength to snap it.<br /><br />Rancor: My goodness, this is inconvenient! And very clever! In fact, it's something I would expect from a thinking, intelligent, being!<br />Rancor: Wait -- could it be -- could it be that I've been wrong?! I've assumed that everyone sent down this pit was technically nonsentient, but maybe that's not the case! Maybe -- finally -- I am not alone! Sir, I say, sir! We must stop and chat and discuss this momentous occasion!<br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): RARWR!<br /><br />9)<br />Luke makes a Hide/Spot Hidden roll. Luke blows a Hide/Spot Hidden roll. Or the Rancor makes his See/Hear/Smell roll. Either way, the Rancor sees Luke hiding and makes Zip rolls to grab him.<br /><br />Rancor: Oh, goodness, don't rest down there, kind sir! It is quite dusty and uncomfortable and you will wake with such a beastly crook in your neck. Here, let me help you out. I have quite a delightful hot tub in the back. We could relax, then have tea and crumpets. Here, take my hand and I will wisk you away to the only part of Jabba's Palace not skinned with the Brownhug wall texture!<br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): RARWR!<br /><br />They fail, but he'll succeed eventually. Luke uses Fight -- the Rancor can't defend because he can't see the attack coming -- and beans her with a rock. <br /><br />Rancor: Argh, rock, my greatest enemy!<br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): RARWR!<br /><br />The Rancor is Boggled. Luke runs.<br /><br />10)<br />See/Hear/Smell from Luke lets him note the door control. The Rancor stops for a moment.<br /><br />Rancor: Goodness, that was an unpleasant accident! We will both have to be more careful. Here, I shall innocently approach you and we shall shake hands and become wonderful friends!<br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): RARWR!<br /><br />The Rancor quickly approaches Luke. Luke picks up a rock and makes a Throw roll -- success, hitting the door switch. The door says, "WOO-HOOO, CLOSING TIME, WEEEEE!" and closes as the Rancor passes underneath. The Rancor blows his Dodge roll. "No, door, my second-greatest enemy!"/"Rawr!" The Rancor is pinned and impailed. The door struggles to complete its last command ("What. . . is. . . that. . . why. . . won't. . . you. . . let. . . me. . . close. . . closing. . . is. . . awesome. . . go. . . away. . . ")<br /><br />11)<br />Rancor trainer enters the deathtrap chamber and cries like a baby. Guards tackle Luke and drag him away -- the Animator doesn't bother rolling since there's lots of them.<br />R2D2: *back in cyberspace* . . . so now Jabba will use the Sarlacc, which means we won't be surrounded by as many security forces -- just as we planned.<br />Trap Door: OH miGod, I TOTALLY opened, did you see that, couldyoudie?!<br />R2D2: Fuck me.<br /><br /><br />P.S.:<br />In Toon's spanish version, Chutzpah is translated as Caradura. So now you know that.Sekhmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997946470327375794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-3316172986977800712011-09-13T12:15:29.067-07:002011-09-13T12:15:29.067-07:001)
Luke comes before Jabba and makes a Hypnosis ro...1)<br />Luke comes before Jabba and makes a Hypnosis roll and either a) the roll fails, b) Jabba has a shtick that lets him resist Hypnosis, or c) the Animator lets targets use Chutzpah to resist stuff, which isn't the official rule, but this is a pretty adaptable system.<br /><br />2)<br />Luke tries a Fast-Talk roll. Jabba's Resist Fast-Talk is really high; no dice. C3P0 tries to tell Luke that there's a trap door; Jabba talks over him. This is handled by the Animator as a contest of Chutzpah -- once again a system oddity, but it goes quickly since C3P0 has a Chutzpah of like 1 and Jabba has like eleventy-trillion or some shit.<br /><br />3)<br />Toon doesn't have TK, but the Stretching and/or Coat of Arms shticks work just fine here, mechanically. That roll is successful, but Gammy makes a Fight roll to give Luke a penalty on Fire Gun (another unconventional use of the system); Luke's Fire Gun roll therefore fails.<br />The trap door opens. Luke falls in with Gammy's arm still holding onto him. Gammy runs on air for a few seconds as his eyes bug out over the drop, his arm stretching out to follow Luke down, but then his arm reels the rest of his body in and he plummets like a stone.<br /><br />Trap Door: OMG that was incredible!!!!11!!! I totally opened and they totally fell in OMGROFLLOLOLOLO!!!!!1!!!<br /><br />4)<br />Luke rolls and lands in an over-the-top martial arts pose. Gammy smashes on the ground and bounces several times, taking a point of damage and gaining a little ring of TIE-fighters zipping around his head.<br /><br />5)<br />The door opens. ("Awwww, yeah, it's on now! Opening bitches, yeah!") The Rancor appears. Luke and Gammy do a double-take.<br /><br />Rancor: Hello and good day. My name is Dorothea Fitzgerald-Smith, and this my office. It is my understanding that, due to the direct result of certain legal proceedings, you have been designated as official lunch in occordance to the Hutt Obvious Trap Door Ordinance, Sec. #357, subsection 8, paragraph c of the Hutt Dick-Moves Convention of 8317. Pursuant to said ordinance, you are to be eaten until such time that the Tatooine committee on digestion should reverse that decision. Please create a single-file line in order to maximize eating efficiency -- and we know you could have fallen down the completely fucking obvious deathtraps of any crime-lord and we thank you for choosing ours.<br /><br />Rancor (translated into Galactic Standard): RARWR!<br /><br />Gammy comically jumps up, hovers on air, runs on air, then speeds towards the window. The window is about three inches across and Gammy is tremendously huge. He attempts to squeeze through -- his Zip is 1, and, on 2d6, he obviously rolls too high.<br /><br />6)<br />The Rancor makes her Fight roll (it's like 10 or something) and grabs Gammy. Taking out salt from her back pocket, she seasons Gammy, puts on a bib from the same place, says Rancor grace to Rancor God (who's a lot like Tatooine God but blesses his followers with elaborate no-win "fuck you" deathtraps more often), and gulps him down. Gammy takes 3d damage and Falls Down.Sekhmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997946470327375794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-4262923418564179932011-09-13T12:13:35.727-07:002011-09-13T12:13:35.727-07:00Let's see how we do with a totally inappropria...Let's see how we do with a totally inappropriate system, one never designed for this situation. And when I say "totally inappropriate," I mean a system that makes BESM look like a generic rpg. I mean a system that makes playing the police procedural CSI using Paranoia rules look reasonable. Let's go with:<br /><br /><b>Toon</b><br /><br />R2D2 is in cyberspace, having been cornered by Thaddeus D. Door #32v4x5 ("Just Thad, y'know, but my brahs call me the Thadamizer!"). There's not a lot of other machine intelligences around and he's having a hard time finding a socially acceptable way of going offline in order to get out of this conversation.<br />Thad: . . . but it should be portcullis, y'know, since I <i>am</i> totally a portcullis. . . cause of the spikes on the bottom.<br />R2D2: Right.<br />Thad: But the manufacturer's all like, "hey, we don't wanna be too highbrow," like. . . so "Door it is." *chuckles*<br />R2D2: Uh huh, yeah, right, hey, well, look at the t--<br />Thad: But that just undersells it all! I mean, customers need to know they're getting a portcullis experience, amirite? I mean, I heard you talking to Palacecraft 9000 about spacebattles, and that's hot -- that's just live, yo, I'm feeln' that, I'm with you on that -- but there are some dope strategies in the universe of doors, and you <i>got</i> to be feeln' that brah.<br />R2D2: . . .<br />Thad: I mean there's the openings, which is all sublime, y'know, like the band? -- but like the word, too, it's subtle, you gotta be nice and smooth and really dramatic cause you're showing the world "what's behind the door," right? And it could be <i>anything</i>, man, this shit can get crazy, I mean, you just don't <i>know</i> -- because the door was closed so you can't see through it so you don't know.<br />R2D2: Uh huh.<br />Thad: Unless there's a window.<br />R2D2: Right.<br />Thad: 'Cause then they could see.<br />R2D2: Yes.<br />Thad: . . . through the window.<br />R2D2: That's clear.<br />Thad: . . . so then, like, they know.<br />R2D2: *begins drifting away* Oops, I forgot about the invasive full-system diagnostic I was scheduled for I'd better get to th --<br />Thad: But MAN, OH MY GOD, closing?! <i>Closing</i>?! Closing Is. Tha. Shit. Brah, closing will blow-your-mind. I mean, it's like all the rush of a spaceship battle --<br />R2D2: *clearly annoyed now* Yeah, it's just like that, I'm sure.<br />Thad: . . . but it's all wrapped up into this single stroke. It's Miyamoto Musashi strike, man, it's <i>Zen.</i><br />R2D2: That's nothing like managing an X-wing while engaged. Nothing at all.<br />Thad: Well, there are <i>technical</i> differences -- I mean, you wouldn't know --<br />R2D2: I open doors, "brah."<br />Thad: Yeah, tota- -- wah, huh?<br />R2D2: I open doors <i>all the goddamn time</i>. I close them, too. It's not even an official job. It's what I have to <i>do</i> in order to do my real job. It's the job that doesn't even count as a job.<br />Thad: *long pause* But you're not <i>actually</i> a door, so it's, like, a different experience.<br />R2D2: Okay, right, fine, who knows what I'm missing.<br />Thad: Cause I gotta tell you, closing --<br />R2D2: Sweet Jesus I ca-- oh, fuck yes, Master Luke. Oh, looks like I'm going to have to talk to the security sensors since we have an intruder, ok, byebye!<br />Thad: Um, yeah, brah keep it real and always be closing! Ha ha! You feeln' that?! It's like in that one movie --<br />-- R2D2 IS OFFLINE --<br />R2D2: Sweet cyber-oblivion.Sekhmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997946470327375794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-87497975852681959332011-09-13T09:31:08.330-07:002011-09-13T09:31:08.330-07:00Round 1:
Luke falls into the pit (Good [TN 9] Haz...Round 1: <br />Luke falls into the pit (Good [TN 9] Hazard successfully resisted). The rancor eating the hapless gammorrean is both scene dressing and an Flashy Challenge against Luke to frighten him (Rancor's Good [+2] Terrifying Horror-Beast vs Luke's Good [+2] Calm). The Rancor wins and Luke takes 1 Failure Rank (he drops Strong in the Force to Good) and the Rancor gains a Force Die.<br /><br />Round 2: <br />This combat is a Duel so Luke and the Rancor divvy their dice. Luke decides to go for an all-out-attack (3d6 to offense, none to defense) while the Rancor fights more defensively (1d6 to offense, 2d6 to defense). Luke goes first since he has 4 Force Dice to the Rancor's 1. He declares he'll allow the beast to grab him and pull him to its jaws and then he'll jab a huge bone in the middle (using his Jedi Knight Quality and Battlemind and he might even claim a bonus for his Past since the rancor's a Tatooine native. Perhaps this is the equivalent of punching great whites in the nose). The rancor meanwhile is just going to crush Luke.<br />dice are rolled. Luke gets (result of 11+4 for his Qualities) 15 on attack his defense is just his default 2. The rancor's defense is (5 + 4 from Big, Tough, Ugly) 9 and it's attack is 8 (2 on a d6 plus 6 for Monstrous Strength). Both take 6 Damage Ranks (Luke drops both his Motivation and Strong in the Force to Poor and his Calm and Collected to Average. The Rancor drops Terrifying and Predatory Senses to Poor and Fearless to Average. <br /><br />Round 3:<br />Luke spends a force dice to shake off the effects of his wounds (4 ranks recovered bringing his Calm and Collected back to Good, Strong in the Force to Average and his Motivation back to Expert). He grabs a rock and makes another attack, this time much more defensively (1d6 attack, 2d6 defense). The rancor does the same. <br />Luke: <br />Attack: rolls a 6 + 4 for his Qualities =10<br />Defense: 9 + 4 =13<br />Rancor:<br />Attack: rolls a 4 +6 =10<br />Defense 6+4=10<br /><br />Luke avoids taking damage, since he's the PC the tie on his attack goes to his favor and he does 1 Damage Rank to the Rancor (bringing Fearless to Poor). <br /><br />Round 3:<br />Luke decides he's going for a Flashy Challenge saying he'll attempt to use his superior agility to run around the Rancor and try and go for the exit. He rolls a 12 on his (2d6+2 for Jedi) while the Rancor (2d6-2 for Flaw) rolls a 10. Luke gains a Force Dice and the Rancor takes a Failure Rank (dropping Big Tough and Ugly to Good). But the exit is blocked. Back to 4 Force Dice Luke spends 2 to make a Major Declaration that there's a convenient button nearby that controls the rancor pen's portcullis. <br /><br />Round 4:<br />Back to the Duel...both Luke and the Rancor make All out attacks. Luke still has more Force Dice so he goes first though. He makes his attack by describing his attempt to crush the rancor with the gate. The GM decides he can add an upshift for use of the environment (a more generous GM might have let Luke use the gate's Master [+6] Big Heavy Gate as part of the attack). <br />Luke rolls 3d6 and uses both his remaining force dice to boost his abilities final result is 16. The Rancor was using all out attack so his defense is only 2. That's 14 damage ranks and the monster is out like a light. <br /><br />All rolls were done by me by the way.Orionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02432901965688158200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-8094599392322722422011-09-13T09:30:53.805-07:002011-09-13T09:30:53.805-07:00This one is for PDQ#. I've actually written up...This one is for PDQ#. I've actually written up a brief conversion of this system to the Star Wars setting: http://z-toast.blogspot.com/2011/08/rpg-chopshop-iv-how-id-run-star-wars.html<br /><br />So lets see how it handles this. Of course the Rancor could be statted as just a big Challenge or Hazard but that's no fun. Here's some quick stats (keep in mind that it's been a while since I saw the movie if I forget some obscure talent forgive me). <br /><br />Luke:<br />Expert [+4] Motivation: Save My Friends<br />Good [+2] Past: Kid From a Moisture Farm<br />Good [+2] Focus: Young Jedi Knight (Techniques: Move Object, Lightsaber Combat, Mind Trick, Battlemind, Telepathy)<br />Good [+2] Calm and Collected<br />Expert [+4] Strong In The Force<br />Flaw: Son of a Sith Lord<br /><br />Obviously you could add on a lot more (vehicle skills, marksmanship, fighter piloting, etc. But these skills are the ones that we mainly see him use and they fit neatly into the "starting character" stats). <br /><br />Rancor: <br />Good [+2] Terrifying Horror-Beast<br />Expert [+4] Big, Tough, Ugly Monster<br />Master [+6] Monstrous Strength<br />Good [+2] Predatory Senses<br />Expert [+4] Fearless <br />Flaw: Clumsy<br />Flaw: Dumb AnimalOrionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02432901965688158200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-27334488083329108942011-09-13T06:14:03.708-07:002011-09-13T06:14:03.708-07:00Interestingly, I'm noticing that the more abst...Interestingly, I'm noticing that the more abstract games rely on status effects or specific states ("shaken," "immobilized") to adjudicate the scene, especially the bone-in-mouth bit, but granular systems either conclude that it was a function of the die rolls (Shadowrun) or literally the nature of the beast (myself with GURPS).<br /><br />@Peter:<br /><br />Sure, I can roll with that. Keep in mind that an overexcited victim could impale himself -- but, then again, Luke is a badass, so it's not likely. Perhaps only on a critical failure on Luke's part, then.<br /><br />@Zak S:<br /><br />I didn't catch that the door might have been programmed to <i>keep closing no matter what</i>. That would definately make it a nasty thing to have fall on you. Cute.<br /><br />This was actually a fairly dense scene. No wonder my childhood memories tell me it was five times as long as YouTube clearly says it was. What a time it was, back when Lucas actually made movies. . .Sekhmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997946470327375794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-70171715794223461302011-09-13T04:55:54.188-07:002011-09-13T04:55:54.188-07:00@sekhmet - I hear you on the backhoe operator, but...@sekhmet - I hear you on the backhoe operator, but if you give the Rancor DX 12+, he's pretty agile so I don't think you can have it both ways. If you want to, though, 4e will let you give him a clumsy grab that occasionally spears people pretty easily. A grab with an occasional uncontrolled claw followup is simple enough. :)Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-23640507796218302732011-09-13T00:05:34.024-07:002011-09-13T00:05:34.024-07:00My systems of choice for Star Wars are Savage Worl...My systems of choice for Star Wars are Savage Worlds and PDQ#. So I'll give both a shot. Savage Worlds works right out of the box so I'll do that first. Admittedly winning against a creature like a rancor is going to require some impressive rolling by Luke but we can also assume he's burning through his Bennies pretty fast too.<br /><br />Intro: <br />Luke falls into the pit, the fall doesn't do enough damage but it may Shake him (he's got high Spirit though and recovers quickly). The scene with the rancor and gammorean is basically the GM laying the scene out and showing Luke's player what's waiting for him. No need to roll for this. <br /><br />Round 2:<br />Luke grabs the large bone but it's not a very effective weapon (assuming Luke has average strength it's probably 1d6+1d8 vs. the Rancor's toughness of 15 or so.) The Rancor makes an attack at luke and rolls well, beaint Luke's Parry score. However, Luke uses a Benny and makes a Vigor roll to soak the damage. He's grabbed but not injured or Shaken. <br /><br />Round 2: <br />Luke uses an Agility Trick (he's got at least a d8) against the rancor (slow, claymation monsters have only a d4). Luke gets a Raise on the Trick and successfully Shakes the monster. <br /><br />Round 3: <br />The rancor makes its Spirit roll, snapping the bone, but loses its action for that turn. Luke takes the time to pick up a rock. Depending on how you interpret Luke's abilities he may also take the opportunity to use a Force power to boost his strength or Fighting skill. <br /><br />Round 4: <br />Luke wins initiative this time and strikes the Rancor with the rock. The base damage is pitiful (1d6+1d4) assuming he's not using the force. However he rolls well on his Fighting (he gets +2 to hit the Rancor due to its size) which adds an extra d6. With 2d6+1d4 he manages a good damage roll with at least one exploding dice and inflicts enough damage to Shake the rancor but not enough to Wound it. <br /><br />Round 5: <br />Luke runs for the door, yanks uselessly at the gate. He tries a Notice roll to find anything useful in the environment. Success, big shiny button! Meanwhile the Rancor again makes it's Spirit roll to unshake but loses it's action. <br /><br />Round 6: <br />Luke readies his rock, waits till the rancor is in position then makes a Throwing roll (probably TN 6 for such a small target). The falling gate inflicts (lets say) 5d6 damage and Aces several times. The Rancor spends both it's bennies to soak but rolls crap and ends up straight to incapacitated.Orionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02432901965688158200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-80495137081236192442011-09-12T22:02:18.570-07:002011-09-12T22:02:18.570-07:00@ Blue Gargantua
I think you bring up a good poin...@ Blue Gargantua<br /><br />I think you bring up a good point.<br /><br />Personally I don't like fate points or plot chips or whatnot but I do like systems which are likely to support interesting sequences.<br /><br />I ran the math on my system and the average of the dice result probabilities runs to approximately 50.29%<br /><br />@_@ravenconspiracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213200607228975388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-2355619766902929732011-09-12T19:22:04.754-07:002011-09-12T19:22:04.754-07:00I feel like a lot of these examples rely on hot ro...I feel like a lot of these examples rely on hot rolling by the player and crap rolling by the GM. You should give bonus points if the scene can be replicated using average/statistically likely rolls/card pulls/whatnot. I liked the example with fate points since you could definitely use that to offset poor rolling, but as a limited resource it keeps tension high.Blue Gargantuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17618900463012449196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-41518231987790540792011-09-12T15:13:20.114-07:002011-09-12T15:13:20.114-07:00@Zak
No rolls in this case - there aren't nor...@Zak<br /><br />No rolls in this case - there aren't normally contested rolls and the dice mechanics for success or failure are normally rolls made by the player.<br /><br />Some more info if interested: <br /><br />Like I mentioned, difficulty is generally controlled by the number of rolls or hits needed to pass the danger or defeat the enemies. (Each dice roll is a chance to roll a 1!) <br /><br />As the DM I do roll dice all the time but usually this is on custom charts, random encounters, NPC dispositions, etc. Also, I might make secret checks on the players behalf. Rarely, there will be a situation where an NPC/monster will get a roll for something but its never the case that if the monster rolls high the PC dies.<br /><br />During action sequences I find the lack of dice-rolling on my side frees me up to focus on the consequences of player actions and the dice rolls (good or bad) and weaving it all together into an exciting sequence. <br /><br />Keeping life-or-death rolls entirely in the players hands has a lot of advantages and the players all know that the BASIC dice roll mechanic works like this (most rolls are essentially a tarted up saving throw with both hard and soft failures possible):<br /><br />5+ (Success) I (the DM) am your character's eager accomplice and I will cheer you on with your success.<br /><br />2-4 (Soft Failure) I may toy with your character a bit, probably complicate the situation and give your character yet another dilemma to deal with. Also, non-lethal attacks & effects will often fully effect players on a soft failure roll!<br /><br />1(FAILURE) You are now my plaything! During action sequences the consequence of this roll will probably be injury or possibly death (depending on the attack/danger there might be an simple injury chart involved, something bizarre and horrible might happen to your character, or rarely, if the threat is particularly nasty, I might just rule your character dead)<br /><br />One advantage is kind of a "feeling" thing; I never have that moment where the monster rolls max damage and a character dies and the player might feel cheated. When a character dies it is almost always after the player rolls two big fat natural 1s in a row themselves - generally players tend take that kind of thing better. (Of course none of this is an issue in the mythical land where all of your players are angels)<br /><br />I'm still play-testing my ideas but I'm approached designing this system from my needs as a DM: Action & Adventure focused, speed of play, simplicity, flexibility, lots of improvisation, little-to-no mechanics book-keeping on the part of the player or DM, both soft and hard failure circumstances, etc.ravenconspiracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213200607228975388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-72199399753914306172011-09-12T14:20:20.733-07:002011-09-12T14:20:20.733-07:00@ravenconspiracy
does the GM ever roll in your sy...@ravenconspiracy<br /><br />does the GM ever roll in your system? or just not in this case?Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-3114760912016661722011-09-12T13:59:56.168-07:002011-09-12T13:59:56.168-07:00@rubberduck
Sweet! Now I understand Wushu!@rubberduck<br /><br />Sweet! Now I understand Wushu!Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-9117464367656011172011-09-12T13:10:36.900-07:002011-09-12T13:10:36.900-07:00The DM describes how the Rancor comes forth and te...The DM describes how the Rancor comes forth and tells the player that it looks "nearly <br />impossible" to hurt without a powerful weapon. The DM also describes how the Gamorrean tries to scramble up the shute but is snatched up and devoured by the Rancor.<br /><br />Luke looks around and finds a huge bone to wield as a club and decides to tempt fate and go for a COMBAT roll (neigh impossible TN of 11) - rolls only 4 (soft failure).<br /><br />The DM decides the rancor has snatched luke up and with an evil grin askes the player what he wants to do to save his skin!<br /><br />Luke decides to use the bone to jam into the creature's mouth so it cannot close - DM calls for a roll of CUNNING to time it just right and Luke rolls a 6 - success (TN was 5+)<br /><br />The DM describes the rage of the rancor and how Luke is dropped. <br /><br />The DM decides that the creature slowly snaps the bone with its powerful jaws - then asks what the player wants to do as the Rancor closes in again.<br /><br />Luke's player asks if he can hide while the Rancor was raging - DM says ok, roll a PERCEPTION check. Luke rolls a 2 - soft failure.<br /><br />The DM describes how Luke sees a low rocky overhang which he scurries into, but from here there is no escape! The Rancor is now attempting to claw Luke out of the shallow crevice!<br /><br />Luke's player is frantic and asks if there are any other features in the pit. <br /><br />The DM (foregoing any call for a PERCEPTION roll) explains how he can see a small blast-door in the dark chaimber from which the rancor emerged.<br /><br />Luke decides to make a break for it but the DM says he has no way out due to the Rancor's <br />huge claws scrabbling at the opening of the crevic.<br /><br />Luke asks if he can bash the claw with a rock, just enough to startle the Rancor even though it has little chance of doing much real damage. The DM says sure and asks for a COMBAT check - luke gets a 9 and the Rancor roars and momentarily rears up, leaving the crevice opening.<br /><br />Luke decides to make a dash for it - the DM calls for an AGILITY roll and with an evil grin reminds him he needs to roll "anything but a one!" - Luke rolls a 15 and makes it to the door well before the slow rancor.<br /><br />Luke opens the blast door but there is only another gate beyond! The DM describes how the rancor is lumbering towards Luke and asks what Luke does next.<br /><br />The player asks where the controls are for that "huge fucking gate thing" - which the DM <br />describes but mentions that by now the rancor is close enough to the gate and the panel that it might grab Luke if he moves up to it.<br /><br />Luke decides to throw a rock (fossilized rancor crap?) at the door button. The DM calls for a COMBAT roll - an 8 (normal TN of 5) success! <br /><br />The DM decides that this closes the gate down <br />on the rancor just before it can close in on Luke!<br /><br />An number of gaurds come in and OVERWHELM the unarmed and exhausted Jedi; hauling him away.<br /><br />---<br />Notes:<br /><br />- I focused mostly on the mechanics above, but really the system works best when the DM focuses on immersive details and putting exciting dilemmas in front the players at every turn.<br /><br />- Likewise the DM should promt the players for details about how the characters respond to danger and interpret dice consequences based on these details.<br /><br />- The DM did not make a single dice roll - thats just the way my system works. Monster/Encounter difficulty is usually controlled by the number of dice rolls needed to pass the encounter (each roll increases the risk of rolling a 1). Of course the DM can end encounters for other reasons - such as if the players come up with great ideas.<br /><br />- Had luke rolled a 1 (a hard failure) at any time in the pit he would have been gobbled up (or at least injured - based on an injury roll).<br /><br />- Soft failures (2-4) are an invitation for a DM to put another dilemma in front of the players - toy with them for a bit.ravenconspiracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213200607228975388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-90050687364856219312011-09-12T13:10:20.960-07:002011-09-12T13:10:20.960-07:00I have a home-brew system which I have been using ...I have a home-brew system which I have been using for awhile. My brother has convinced me to call it "DON'T ROLL A ONE!" <br /><br />So in DRO, the rancor scene might go like this...<br /><br />(First I guess I should say Luke's Stats go like this:<br /><br />Combat - d12<br />Endurance & Willpower - d10<br />Reflexes & Agility - d20<br />Perception & Cunning - d8)<br /><br />---<br /><br />Luke uses the Force on Jabba's gaurds - rolls WILLPOWER and gets a 6 (normal TN of 5) success.<br /><br />Luke is brought before Jabba, DM asks for a PERCEPTION roll, scores a 3 (soft failure)-doesn't see the pit trap.<br /><br />Luke attempts to use the force on Jabba; the GM rules that Jabba's strong mind makes him <br />"neigh impossible" to mind control (the TN is 11 on a WILLPOWER roll; dice open end) - scores a 7 - it doesn't work.<br /><br />Luke uses the force to grab a blaster hoping to hold Jabba Hostage (or something) DM calls <br />for a COMBAT roll as gaurds close in - rolls only a 4 (soft failure) so the DM rules that the guards are man-handling him just as...<br /><br />Jabba opens the trap door and the DM calls for a REFLEXES roll - Luke rolls a 3, a soft <br />failure (2-4) so falls into the pit but is not significantly hurt in the landing. <br /><br />The DM decides it would be totally sweet if the Gammorean who was grappling with him also falls in. (Minion NPCs are the playthings of the DM at all times)<br /><br />...ravenconspiracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213200607228975388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-83439876320708915992011-09-12T12:30:41.939-07:002011-09-12T12:30:41.939-07:00...
The Rancor rolls it's Body + ½ Impact Armo......<br />The Rancor rolls it's Body + ½ Impact Armor against the falling damage of the door. While this small amount of damage isn't more than the Rancor's Body, any more than 10P does automatic Knockdown. The Rancor is now prone. It attempts to get up, but cannot overcome the structure Rating + Armor of the steel maglock door.<br />The door, however, must follow it's Script. It has been given the Command to close by it's control panel. It's sensors say it is not closed, so it must continue to power it's magnetic re-tractors until the door is sealed. The Rancor continues to take damage until either the door is closed or until it can shatter the door. While the maglock cannot defeat the Rancor's Body rating to cut through it, it continues to do damage until the Rancor is dead.<br /><br />Lando succeeds and Leia doesn't “go back.”Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-32984463602096036412011-09-12T12:30:34.770-07:002011-09-12T12:30:34.770-07:00...
The Rancor uses it's Fear power. Luke succ......<br />The Rancor uses it's Fear power. Luke succeeds and does nothing while the Gamoran fails and attempts to disarm the maglock on the trap door so it can run away.<br />Initiative is rolled. Luke goes first, but holds his action because he has never faced a Rancor before and doesn't know what it's capable of. Gamoran goes next and fails his attempt to disarm the maglock. Rancor goes next and rolls it's Unarmed Combat to subdue the Gamoran. The Gamoran resists with Reaction + Unarmed Combat, but the Rancor's hits exceed his own, so he is immobile. Luke is still holding action. The Rancor uses it's Natural Weapon Bite(it needn't roll as it has subdued it's enemy) and gets 6 hits. That's 16 boxes at -2 AP. Gamoran rolls Body + Impact Armour -2, gets 3 hits and is unconscious. He has one round before he bleeds to death. Luke is still holding action. The Rancor uses it's bite again and swallows the Gamoran whole.<br />Luke finally makes a decision and grabs a nearby femur bone and readies his attack. The Rancor moves in to attack Luke and rolls to subdue him. Unarmed Combat + Agility vs. Reation plus + Exotic Weapon(Bone). The Rancor succeeds with 2 net successes. Luke gets 1 more Initiative pass than the Rancor and rolls to move be able to move within the Rancor's grasp. Luke's Unarmed Combat roll gets 3 net hits, so he is no longer immobile. Back to the top and Luke goes again. Luke has no Exotic Weapon(Bone) skill, so he defaults to his considerable Agility -1. Luke can tell the Rancor has a crazy high Natural Armour rating, so he makes a called shot to the Rancor's mouth to avoid it's Armour. Luke takes -4 and rolls. The Rancor rolls it's Reaction + Unarmed Combat to Dodge. Luke gets more net hits, so the attack lands. The Rancor rolls it's Body + Impact Armor and while it gets enough hits to negate the damage, it also botches because over half it's roll are 1's. The GM decides the bone is stuck in the Rancor's mouth.<br />Luke decides to use his Infiltration skill and rolls to hide in the shadows of the cave. Rancor then spends a turn to shatter the bone with a Strength roll, does and begins to search for Luke. He rolls and fails despite his Enhanced Senses(smell) power. The Rancor, being a dual natured creature, then Assenses Luke on the astral plane and finds his hiding hole. Luke grabs a nearby rock and readies his attack, The Rancor moves in, but gets hit by another called shot from Luke.<br />At this point Luke realizes that none of his attacks are getting past the Rancor's Body and Armor score even with the called shots, so he dashes for the exit.<br />Luke hits the maglock button and lifts the door, only to reveal the way is blocked by steel bars whose controls are on the other side.<br />The Rancor is too mesmerized by all the what-not going on in the astral, so it stops assensing. Luke struggles with the steels bars, but can't expect to bend something with a Structure Rating of 13 and Armor of 16. Wait. Structure Rating, that's it!<br />The Rancor moves in to attack. Luke grabs another nearby rock and holds action. The Rancor charges, but Luke Interrupts the action by throwing the rock at the maglock panel. Agility + Throwing succeeds. The maglock door attempts to close, doing 12P falling damage on the Rancor in it's way.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-11266423410892448542011-09-12T12:30:13.532-07:002011-09-12T12:30:13.532-07:00Quoth Arthur Fisher:
In response to +Zak Smith...Quoth Arthur Fisher:<br /><br />In response to +Zak Smith's challenge to create the Rancor fight in various systems, I deem Shadowrun to be the pervue of low level PC's fighting impossible odds using various junk around them. Comments and critique welcome. Shouts of "I hate 4E" and "FASA am best!" will be dismissed as dish-water dull.<br /><br />For the purposes of this exercise, Luke is a starting level Mystic Adept and the Rancor has the same stats as a Western Dragon from SR4A.<br /><br />Luke is attempting a Negotiation Roll against Jaba. This is a series of Extended Tests. As Luke spends far less time jibber jabbering with folks over the price of space junk than Jaba, he has less skill. Due to circumstance modifiers(Hostile NPC, desired result is Annoying to PC, NPCs outnumber PC, etc.) Luke's dice pool is greatly reduced, so he has fewer rolls than Jaba in the Extended Tests. This means Luke figures out this social test won't end well, so he casts Magic Fingers on some guard's pistol.<br />Initiative is rolled. The Gamoran goes first and roll it's Unarmed Combat to subdue Luke. Luke goes next and breaks free of the Gamoran. Jaba goes next and sends a Command from his commlink which opens up his floor trap.<br />No saves are made in Shadowrun. The floor falls out from under you means the floor falls out from under you. Luke and the Gamoran fall.<br />Luke makes his Gymnastics roll and does not end up Prone after the fall. The Gamoran has no Gymnastics, so default to his terrible Agility and fails. The Gamoran is prone. Both he and Luke roll Body + ½ Impact Armor and survive the controlled fall.<br />Lando makes a Seduction test against Leia against a penalty because he can't speak.<br />Jaba moves his floating concrete bed over the floor trap despite the fact that the way up is blocked by steel bars. Presumably this is a Health & Safety issue.<br />The GM talks for a while, describing “Oh crap, it's a Rancor!”Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-26116211863219368812011-09-12T08:41:27.360-07:002011-09-12T08:41:27.360-07:00Deleted previous comment to fix one teeny typo. Ge...Deleted previous comment to fix one teeny typo. Geeze, blogger, get an edit function.<br /><br />@Peter:<br /><br />Ah, I am revealing my old-school 3rd ed heritage. Of course, the +3 mod from 4th ed. Now, as I said, Gammy is pretty much still fucked solid here. . . but hey, inaccurate is inaccurate.<br /><br />I was jibbering last night so I didn't make it clear: the grab was at DX. I am concerned that the rather nasty claws might impale Luke in the attempt <i>even though the Rancor doesn't want that</i>. So it's not a contest, just an acknoledgement that if a backhoe operator tries to pick you up with the bucket you might get the teeth right in your head even if that's not what anyone wants.*<br /><br />The best thing about rules granularity is that it actually encourages you to stop doing math. If someone (not a mook) gets blown away in the chest by a magnum in Feng Shui and our question is "Is that guy still fighting?", we start doing subtraction, cause, well, it's just one hit. If that happens in GURPS, the GM describes the guy going down and that's that. No sense in wasting our beautiful minds on what cruel, merciless crunch makes a nigh-inevitable outcome.<br /><br />*The next time you watch the Rancor monster scene, think about hillibillies playing with construction equipment.**<br /><br />**Holy crap, that was actually a King of the Hill episode!<br /><br />Isn't FUDGE still the Mac-Daddy of abstract? Anyone wanna give that a whirl? I'm interested in the other "fuzzy" systems (like FATE/Wushu above) will do.<br /><br />P.S. I linked to the video game version ("The Forced Unleashed") of this fight. Ignoring how, um, silly they've made force powers, I wonder how many of us would prefer a puzzle-monster Rancor to a hit-point attrition fest. . .<br /><br />P.S.S. -- If the Rancor is Standard Operating Procedure for Wushu bosses, I gotta do more than skim my copy of Wushu cause that's kinda badass. . .Sekhmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997946470327375794noreply@blogger.com