[Rq-rules] Re: Mongoose SRD

[Bruce Mason]

On 16/10/06, Julian Lord <julian.lord at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  In all cases the division by 2 is unnecessary
> mathematical paraphernalia, adding nothing
> to the overall gaming experience, and in fact detracting from
> it, and should have been scrapped IMO.

Not neccessarily. It depends on the degree of randomness wanted for
SRs. With dividing by 2 the potential range of SR modifiers
(INT+DEX)/2 for human characters is 6 to 18 +d10. Without division it
is 11-36 +d10. The former has a lower spread and, therefore, increases
the influence of the random element - the d10. I must confess that I
don't like the random element of the initiative determination because
it is just one die roll too many for me.

I wasn't involved in playtesting but looking at the proposed rules,
I'm not surprised they dropped them because they fall apart the minute
you think about them. If a character has 3 different strike rank
modifiers then what happens if he uses a magic action for his first
action  and then a combat one for the next one. What about delays or
changes of mind? At the very least you have to remember what the d10
roll was so that you can recalculate each time. That and consider
having to write three numbers where one can do. There is a niche of
roleplayer who looks that level of detail in the rules but it is only
a small minority.