Re: How do edges and handicaps work?

From: tim_at_...
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 16:19:46 -0000

> While the above method is a tad more realistic, it is probably
> easier and favors the heroes much more) to total each combatant's
> offensive and defensive ranks into one lump score. Using Kallai
> again, his weapon rank plus his armor rank is 3 + 5 = 8. The
> weaponthane's weapon rank plus his armor rank is 4 + 3 = 7. Kallai
> would have a +1 Edge every exchange he won, and the weaponthane
> would have a -1 Handicap every exchange he won.
>

I'm not sure I like this. Consider the case of Kallai (offensive ^3, defensive ^5) against a Gargoyle (offensive ^0, defensive ^10)

Using the "standard" rules, Kallai must bid at least 8 AP to affect the Gargoyle (assuming he is only causing a loss of 1x), and the gargoyle must bid at least 6 in return (3-10 = -7 and 0-5 = -5). If you apply a "consolidated bonus" Kallai gets a total of 8 against the Gargoyle's 2, giving him a net handicap of -2, this means he does not have to risk as much to harm the Gargoyle, while the Gargoyle gets +2 - It's stony skin has just made it more effective offensively as well as defensively...