Re: Relative resistances and narrow/broad abilities

From: L C <lightcastle_at_...>
Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:03:50 -0500

 Olli. I think you must keep in mind that relative resistances aren't a fixed requirement. (How very Zen.)
In other words, what this does (from my understanding) is put the judgment of what resistance to set with the GM, rather than fix things at a given level.

In other words, Breaking through this Wall is not a 10W3 resistance, it's just REALLY HARD. What does REALLY HARD mean in your game? Well, that depends on your game, doesn't it?

So to take your Pitiful, Narrow, Broad, Augmenting ability thing, I don't think you ever go "this event will be +5 harder". Sometimes you do if narratively that makes sense. But usually you would say, "That Pitiful Ability is PERFECT" so this shouldn't be too hard using it. Or that broad ability sort of applies, but it will be tough. Or that narrow ability is pretty spot on, but this is a really tough wall.

What the rules give you are how to set what tough, really tough, easy, etc, are - and you set those related to the ability in question. Or possibly the ability level of the campaign. (That's unclear to me.)

But it isn't set as "Your next challenge is +5 whatever ability you use", I'm pretty sure of that.

LC

Olli Kantola wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I don't have access to HQ2 draft although I managed to page thru it once.
> Perhaps this is premature anyway, because the new HeroQuest isn't coming
> out until 2012. ;)
>
> Anyway, I was thingking about narrow and broad abilities, devotees and
> stuff and relative resistances. It seems to me that there is no point in
> having abilities narrow or broad if this relative resistances thing works
> like it sounds like it works.
>
> Let's say that I have:
>
> Pitiful Ability 13
> Narrow Ability 10W
> Broad Ability 10W
> Augmenting Ability 15
>
> Now, if the resistance is going to be 5 bigger than my final number, who
> cares if I get +6 for a narrow ability? Why not just use the Pitiful
> Ability instead. Perhaps it's better color anyway, if the actual name of
> the ability is nifty enough.
>
> Am I getting something wrong here or what? I have confidence in Robin's
> game design fu, but following this conversation is bound to confuse
> anyone.
> =)
>
> Olli Kantola
> ----
>
> As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to
> kindle
> a light in the darkness of mere being.
>
>