RE: HW Bump-ups

From: Alex Ferguson <abf_at_yeats.ucc.ie>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 17:08:07 +0100 (BST)


Phil H:
> I think the comparison of the die roll on equal successes is only really
> designed to provide more detailed distinction and a bit more random chance
> between characters with equivalent skill levels. The fact that a fumble
> bumped up by two to a success always loses out against a rolled success
> doesn't bother me.

Well, that was just a parenthical comment, the single-bumped failure is the one that vexes me -- a little, I should add, it's not exactly keeping me awake at night, or likely to destroy the workability of the game system. Not by a long chalk, in either case.

But it a little statistically odd; for example, it means that the betting on 10W vs 10 is about 3:1, whereas with 18W vs. 18, or with 2W vs. 2, it's about 8:1 (if memory serves). (In a simple contest, or a single round of an extended one, that is.) So the degree of advantage you get from a Mastery varies quite a bit, and in a way that doesn't instantly grab me as making a huge amount of game-world sense.

Granted both non-masters will likely get their bottoms booted, and I'm quibbling about 'how hard', and 'with what degree of certainty'.

> I'm more concerned about the state that the magic rules
> still seem to be in at this late stage.

I couldn't possibly comment...

Cheers,
Alex.


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