Comments on: Players Make Monster ‘To-Hit’ Rolls?

By: Timeshadows

Timeshadows — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:02:27 +0000

Simply, although it is an Ascending AC system:

* (“Dex” modifier + Armour-type Bonus + 1d20) becomes the number I must equal or exceed on my Attack Roll.

* The Armour bonus typically ranges from +1 (Light Armours: Leather, etc.) to +3 (Heavy: Cold-cast Plate).

* Shields add a +1 to +3 but only to the Flank on which they are held, unless the character forgoes an Attack, and Defends-only in which case their entire front-arc gains the bonus.
–Rear, or other ‘unawares’-attacks usually only receive (1/2 bonuses and only 1d10) as the number to beat, based on Referee understanding of the situation.

—
Armour and Shields also provide damage-reduction in my system, but this can easily be ignored in more conservative D&Dish games.

Best,

By: Kilgore

Kilgore — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:01:49 +0000

Yeah, I think if *I* was the player rolling against myself I’d get tired of it.

By: Kilgore

Kilgore — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:01:08 +0000

The more I think about this the more I think it’s not for us.

By: Kilgore

Kilgore — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:35 +0000

So how does the “defence” roll work?

By: JB

JB — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:45:39 +0000

I’m with Timeshadows on this one. Part of the “challenge” of D&D (or LL) is fighting opponents and the DM represents those opponents. Having the players roll against themselves makes the game akin to several solo games with the DM simply narrating.

I readily take on all the bile my players wish to spew at me; heap your curses upon my head for I AM the Labyrinth Lord!

HAHAHAAHAHA!

; )

By: Kilgore

Kilgore — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:17:06 +0000

I wonder if it might not remove some of the “the DM killed my character again” attitude. Though I’m sure it would not make anyone feel any better.

By: Kilgore

Kilgore — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:15:51 +0000

As I noted, I do not fudge rolls. So that’s not an issue here.

Still not sure I’d ever use it, though.

By: David Macauley

David Macauley — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:05:15 +0000

I find it both necessary and desirable to fudge rolls now and then, so it’s not a system I’d ever use.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:45:58 +0000

I’ve tried this before and the players HATED it! They’d rather not have to ‘blame themselves’ when they take a hit. YMMV

By: Timeshadows

Timeshadows — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:43:31 +0000

I have run that way before, and it speeds things up, but I felt as though I, as GM, was losing out on part of the integration with the world I was running.
–It added a very mechanical feel, like the players were involved in a video game, and I was merely the one to shove monsters out onto the stage for them to fight.

My players now do roll their Defence, but I attempt to equal or exceed it with my NPC rolls.
–That keeps the players feeling involved in their fate, and preserves my part of the process.