We're going to need a bigger Step table

Discussion on the Earthdawn game line, errata, and feedback not related to playing or GMing.
User avatar
Panda
Posts: 331
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2012 5:40 am
Location: Corvallis, OR
Contact:

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby Panda » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:50 pm

There were a few reasons behind bringing back the D4 and D20. The two largest factors were popular demand and (in the case of the D20) reducing the very large pools of dice (as etherial indicated). Popular demand was naturally tempered by a desire for a more normal distribution in the affected areas. The D20 itself appears a few steps later than the classic table (Step 19 instead of Step 14), showing up as D20 + 2D6 (instead of D20 + D4 at Step 14), which provides the more normal distribution of results.

We didn't think it was so far fetched to have two sets of dice (to make 2D8 and 2D12). Which ties into another piece: the total sets of dice required are also reduced. The previous setup required lots of D12s, which is rather unusual unless you are a big fan of The Everlasting.

Hopefully this helps.
Earthdawn Developer and I have a gaming , though, let's face it, it is really an Earthdawn blog which also happens to have some reviews.

ottdmk
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:33 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby ottdmk » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:56 pm

Deadlands Classic is another game that can benefit from many d12s. My Huckster was throwing 7 of them for Spirit related hexes when we finished off our campaign...

User avatar
Kasbak
Posts: 414
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:22 pm
Location: Illinois
Contact:

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby Kasbak » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:23 pm

I never could get the hang of the d12. They just never seem to want to work well for me. The d6 loves me, most everything else is at least on friendly terms with me, but those d12's just have something in their plastic that hates me.

Personally, I always preferred the d20's early in the step table, and the resulting wider distribution is exactly the reason why. As I see things and tend to run it in my games, the players are the heroes of the world for reason; to make as big of an impact on it as possible. Pass or fail, if they're going to do things, they should be done spectacularly, because those are the stories that get remembered and told and retold.

I always loved the subtle mathematic elegance allowed by the step table with that. You can get the same average result with different dice, but with that minor of a tweak you can influence how widely you tend to wander from that average. That kind of distribution does put the players at higher risk with failure, but also provides them equivalent higher rewards for success. Either way, I believe tending to stray farther from the average is a win because it makes for a more memorable story (though the average is still useful as a measuring stick).

Of course, not everyone follows my 'go big or go home' ideology of dice theory. Totally valid opinion either way. The fact that the step system allows for both is just a testament to its strength, and a feature you don't tend to see in most other systems.

User avatar
kosmit
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:49 pm
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby kosmit » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:49 am

That's why my fav steps are those with 2d6s ;>
Duvvelsheyss

Marceli
Posts: 72
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:10 am
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby Marceli » Sat Mar 14, 2015 4:32 am

Later i have no problem with d20, earlier it make adept like moron. 14 step was full roulette :>

User avatar
Spader
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2013 12:32 pm
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Re: We're going to need a bigger Step table

Postby Spader » Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:02 am

I'm thinking of turning the step 36 into D4+D6+D8+d10+d12+d20 just the sake of rolling a whole set of dice. (expcept for the D10 for percents).


[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable

Return to “Product Discussion”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests