House Rule: Superficial Wounds and Distracted Dice

[worldeater]

Although I think that Luke's revised wound penalies are a step in the right direction, the +1 Ob penalty for a Sup wound just didn't sit right with me. From a purely numerical perspective, a combatant with 2 superficial wounds (and thus +2 Ob) would be better off causing himself a third Sup would to roll the penalty over to -1D.

What I came up with (and what my players allowed me to inflict upon them) are Distracted Dice (DD). For each superficial wound, a character has one DD. For each DD a character has, a "1" rolled during a test is not just a failing die, but it actually cancels out one successful die.

The concept here is that a Sup wound is only mildly detracting, coming into play on an irregular basis (as opposed to a more significant wound, which hurts more or less constantly).

Example:
Swordsman has B6 Sword skill. He rolls: 1,1,2,4,5,5.

Without any wounds, that comes out to Ob 3.

With one Sup wound (and one DD), the first "1" cancels one success, resulting in Ob 2.

With two Sup wounds, Swordsman would have Ob 1.

With three or more Sup wounds, Swordsman would still have Ob 1 because he only rolled two dice that came up "1".

Comments? Thoughts?

Regards,
Alan H.

[Durgil]

Check out this discussion (http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=226). There might be a few others out there as well that are on the same subject. Also, might I suggest taking a look at my probability tables (http://www.burningwheel.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=31) that Luke has posted on his website.

[worldeater]

Check out this discussion (http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=226). There might be a few others out there as well that are on the same subject. Also, might I suggest taking a look at my probability tables (http://www.burningwheel.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=31) that Luke has posted on his website.

Durgil,

Those discussions/tables are actually what led me to the idea of having Distracted Dice. The thing that I'm trying to avoid is the phenomenon where the chance of success decreases as one takes more Sup wounds until it "rolls over" to a -1D and the chance of success jumps back up.

Alan H.

[Durgil]

Oh, I see. Now that I've taken the time to read instead of scan your post, what you have sounds pretty good. Has it worked well in play?

[Thor Olavsrud]

Those discussions/tables are actually what led me to the idea of having Distracted Dice. The thing that I'm trying to avoid is the phenomenon where the chance of success decreases as one takes more Sup wounds until it "rolls over" to a -1D and the chance of success jumps back up.


Just wanted to point out that the way this steps is intentional. Luke's explanation is that the point where you take that third wound is where your adrenaline kicks into overdrive. That's where you've got enough endorphins pumping through your system to ignore the pain of your wounds, at least for a little bit.

[worldeater]

Just wanted to point out that the way this steps is intentional. Luke's explanation is that the point where you take that third wound is where your adrenaline kicks into overdrive. That's where you've got enough endorphins pumping through your system to ignore the pain of your wounds, at least for a little bit.

With all due respect to Mr. Crane, I've never bought into that one. So it takes exactly three bruises for my adrenaline to kick in? What if I'm already pumped up before the battle? If I take a Light or greater wound, wouldn't that cause my adrenaline to kick in and allow me to ignore any additional Superficial wounds?

Alan

[luke]

Dude,
It's a game. Like Shogun. It's got rules to effect a certain feel, but it is still very much a game.

This game assumes that you are already pumped up before battle -- the base level of adrenaline is on. Without this kick, the first wound would put you out every time. With that adrenaline, you are able to take some nicks and scrapes before the fear and pain really kick in.

But that's the explanation for the game. Not you. Not life. Not Muhammad Ali. In this game, that's how it works.

-L

[eruditus]

Personally I like the +1 ob for superficials (which Luke is considering be the limit for Superficials until you get your third).

Yeah I think the explanation is weak but for me that's not the point.

Superficials are healed faster but hurt more. Bruised limbs or a rattled skull is far more distracting than cuts and breaks (difference between superficials and lights) so I don't mind the probability hike and just figure that more superficials is just desensitizing the body to the pain.

Regardless, I like that superficials are annoying but takable. The fact that you can take a beating to a certain degree without any serious reprocussions.

Although I don't think the Distraction Dice are a bad idea they do not jive with the tenents of the game and I hardly see the +1 ob as annoying enough to break that up. The whole purpose of the new wounding results was to reconcile some philosophical concerns in playing with DNs and I think that was met nicely.

[Kaare Berg]

Experience wise from BW battles (not real lif this is a game) the +1 ob rule works infenitly beter than the +1 dn.

Both because it keeps the DN's constant but also because that a +1 dn would for instance make alle sorcerors scarrification freaks (which is by the way a cool concept it just dosen't fit my world).

So for once I got to agree with Eruditius :cry: , the +1 ob is annoying, it hurts there and then, but is alltogether shakeable and you can wound your players without it becoming something permanent, which bad luck can (and have) make a light wound do.

However, if you the tenet of the system isn't a too important worry for you (don't flame me please), then my first impresssion of your distraction dice is that it would shift your tenor (aka the tone of your game) towards the more heroic.

My experience says this isn't necessary, but its your game.


K

[Kublai]

There is a side-rule to go along with the new wounding penalties, as well. You can take two actions to shake off a Superficial Wound, temporarily ignoring the +1Ob until the end of the battle.

[foxandwarlock]

Kublai, is that something you guys are doing as a house rule? I don't see that on the variant wound penalties print-out. Or are you referring to the use of Artha to Shake It Off?

[luke]

Hi Fox,

Health tests that allow you to mitigate pain are in the new new wound modifiers/recovery rules.

you'll have them soon!

-L