stupid question about dice step changes

[etherial]

[Danger]

[kosmit]

When will be this near future? Give us Step table preview :D:D

[etherial]

[Mataxes]

Stay tuned. I will try and get the new chart up later today. Have a couple of other things that need to be done first.

[Mataxes]

Here you go. You asked for it. The Step/Dice table for ED4.

Step/Action Dice Table
StepNumber Action Dice
1: D4-2
2: D4-1
3: D4
4: D6
5: D8
6: D10
7: D12
8: 2D6
9: D8+D6
10: 2D8
11: D10+D8
12: 2D10
13: D12+D10
14: 2D12
15: D12+2D6
16: D12+D8+D6
17: D12+2D8
18: D12+D10+D8
19: D20+2D6
20: D20+D8+D6
21: D20+2D8
22: D20+D10+D8
23: D20+2D10
24: D20+D12+D10
25: D20+2D12
26: D20+D12+2D6
27: D20+D12+D8+D6
28: D20+D12+2D8
29: D20+D12+D10+D8
30: 2D20+2D6
31: 2D20+D8+D6
32: 2D20+2D8
33: 2D20+D10+D8
34: 2D20+2D10
35: 2D20+D12+D10
36: 2D20+2D12
37: 2D20+D12+2D6
38: 2D20+D12+D8+D6
39: 2D20+D12+2D8
40: 2D20+D12+D10+D8

So we have the d4 back in for Step 3 (and Steps 1 and 2). We follow the ED3 progression up to Step 19, where ED1 first goes to three dice with d20+2d6. At that point, we start a repeating 11-Step cycle (adding another d20 for each cycle), so it's a relatively easy matter to progress the chart beyond the numbers here. We also do away with needing more than two of any die type for the base step at least up to Step 41 (where we go to 3d20). We are still keeping the ED3-style progression of keeping the 2d8 and 2d12.

[shiinx]

Still having your original analysis of the probabilities for D20+D4 vs 2D12 in mind, I have to say I am curious why you chose this solution for the step chart. The D20 only appears for rolls with 3 or dices and thus the probability distributions should remain more linear than bell shaped. But for example at step 14 (2D12), we will have a more Bell-shaped curve. I am also curious, why you chose the D4 for the lowest steps. Was it for sentimental reasons? Granted, these steps will rarely see play, but the tetraeder is such an impractical form for dicing.

[Mataxes]

With regard to the d4, yes, it is largely for sentimental reasons. It only rarely saw use in the original step progression, but I like having all the die types in play.

With regard to the old d20+d4 vs 2d12 argument, the problem wasn't quite so much the linear vs bell curve situation, as it was the other strange things that happened at that point in the ED1 progression (higher chance of a Rule of One, places where prior step was actually more advantageous). Once you get into 3+ dice, the distributions tend to even out. This new system keeps some of the flavor of the original system, while avoiding the bigger statistical pitfalls.

[kosmit]

To bad it's eleven step cycle not 10. It would be easier to memorize. Now it is Step 8 2d6 and next is Step 19 d20+2d6, but I think that changing that would mess with probability. I am happy with how it is also return of d4 is nice because it may be used in spells or something.

Please Tell me there will be dice listed in creature descriptions like Classic did It...
also having short description of their powers would be nice :):)

[Mataxes]

Not sure offhand about the dice being included in the creature stat blocks (that's a matter of space and layout, and not where we are at right now).

I am planning on having a basic rule summary for any creature powers included with the creature description, rather than in a separate list at the beginning of the creature chapter. (That is a layout decision that I've never been really happy with. It makes running a creature out of the book a bit more annoying because of the page flipping you need to do.)