Brian Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
subplotkudzu) wrote2006-08-15 06:21 am
subplotkudzu) wrote2006-08-15 06:21 am
Entry tags:
Gamma World - round three
So the re-read of the combat rules is finished, and I'm still not sure I divined the authors intent - unless all Mr. Ward wanted was some really long combats, or a major excuse for the PCs to want to upgrade their tech. There was one interesting bit that I can make use of...
There's a rule about making attacks to KO, where the attack does no damage but the target has to make a d% save against their Con x5 (and this is not a d20 save why?) or be immediately knocked out. This is the only way to capture people, but since the average 10 Con person has 35 hP - enough to take 10 sword hits - but has a 50% chance of being KO'd, this is actually a pretty attractive option for ending fights.
As per usual, it can only be done with 'weapons that can stun people', so axes and swords still require the old 'hack them to pieces' routine, but I might be able to do something with this. I'm considering adding a rule that lets you just Kill the target rather than KO them with the same sort of rules - no damage if they don't die, drop to 0 HP if they make the save - that carries some sort of penalty along with it. not just a reduced chance to hit because a) it's boring and b) it's too gameable, but perhaps needing to take extra time to aim it for a ranged attack or giving the opponent aa free counter attack in melee. This is the equivalent of going for a killing blow, which will drop your defenses.
I'd appreciate thoughts (especially from the potential players) as to whether this would work for them or not.
The other thing I found is the effect of Strength on damage (+1 per point over 15, meaning the 22 PS Mutated Cougar with a claw/claw/bite attack is going to be insanely effective). I also expect I'll adopt the old -10 HP till your dead rule, just because it's quick, easy, and won't have mutant grasshopper corpses littering the landscape.
There's a rule about making attacks to KO, where the attack does no damage but the target has to make a d% save against their Con x5 (and this is not a d20 save why?) or be immediately knocked out. This is the only way to capture people, but since the average 10 Con person has 35 hP - enough to take 10 sword hits - but has a 50% chance of being KO'd, this is actually a pretty attractive option for ending fights.
As per usual, it can only be done with 'weapons that can stun people', so axes and swords still require the old 'hack them to pieces' routine, but I might be able to do something with this. I'm considering adding a rule that lets you just Kill the target rather than KO them with the same sort of rules - no damage if they don't die, drop to 0 HP if they make the save - that carries some sort of penalty along with it. not just a reduced chance to hit because a) it's boring and b) it's too gameable, but perhaps needing to take extra time to aim it for a ranged attack or giving the opponent aa free counter attack in melee. This is the equivalent of going for a killing blow, which will drop your defenses.
I'd appreciate thoughts (especially from the potential players) as to whether this would work for them or not.
The other thing I found is the effect of Strength on damage (+1 per point over 15, meaning the 22 PS Mutated Cougar with a claw/claw/bite attack is going to be insanely effective). I also expect I'll adopt the old -10 HP till your dead rule, just because it's quick, easy, and won't have mutant grasshopper corpses littering the landscape.