Prime stats: 12 challenge base or +6 to tests?

vivsavage · Post by **vivsavage** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:14 pm

Which of the following do you prefer and why?

1) Prime stats have a challenge base of 12

2) Prime stats give a +6 bonus, and all challenge bases start at 18

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:21 pm

To me they both say the same thing, because they do, I just became comfortable with thinking about it the first way, first.
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alcyone · Post by **alcyone** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:53 pm

It's six of one and half a dozen of the other so to speak.

I prefer the BTB 12/18 system because:

- It's in the book; if you read the book you know how we all do it.

- It gives me an excuse to ask what peoples primes are all of the time. I forget if I don't and if I write it down it's under some book or notebook or something in my pile of crap behind the screen. Some people might avoid this system for the same reason; players get annoyed when you ask them the same question 100,000 times in their career. It also adds a miniscule amount of confusion to how I am pulling a challenge level out of my behind and gives me +1 protection against scrutiny against my total inconsistency.

If someone threatened to punch me in the arm unless I switched to other way, I probably would; it's not a big deal. I do insist that we all do it the same way at the table.
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mediapig · Post by **mediapig** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:11 am

I like the system as presented in the book. But really, it doesn't make any difference, they both amount to the same thing.

Sakusammakko · Post by **Sakusammakko** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:37 pm

I used to use the first method-- put all of the onus on myself w/ spreadsheets, etc. Now I use the second. I play exclusively online and I've got the players used to modifying their own rolls. Much easier to see at a glac if they've added the mods correctly.
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FASAfan · Post by **FASAfan** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 6:50 pm

Maybe it's just me, but the current (printed) way requires an extra step on the CK's part - multiplied by the number of players at the table.

I think it's easier to pull a DC out of thin air and let the players be responsible for knowing if they have a +0 or a +6. As it is now, aren't CK's having to wait to find out (whether by asking or by refering to notes) if a DC is a 12 or an 18? Sometimes the DC would have to be recalculated if the CK pulled a number out of the air without asking first.

A PC is NOT going to forget to tell the CK if he gets a +6 to his DC roll, LOL!

CK: Make a Strength Check, rogue! (DC 19)

Player: I get a +6 'cause Strength is my prime! (Rolls dice and adds 6).

As it is now:

CK: Make a Strength Check, rogue! Is Strength a Prime?

Player: Strength is one of my Primes, so... (Rolls dice)

CK: Ok, that means a base of 12 plus some random number...let's say 7... that makes 19.

OR:

Player: Strength isn't one of my Primes, so... (Rolls dice)

CK: Ok, that means a base of 18 plus some random number... if I use 7 that'll be next to impossible, but it's the same situation regardless of whether Strength is a Prime or not... um...

Maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe I'm too "3e" in assigning DCs. Help me out! How do you guys wrestle with this?

alcyone · Post by **alcyone** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:20 pm

Sakusammakko wrote:
I used to use the first method-- put all of the onus on myself w/ spreadsheets, etc.

What did you use the spreadsheets for?
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Sakusammakko · Post by **Sakusammakko** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:02 pm

Aergraith wrote:
What did you use the spreadsheets for?

When you play online, each character sheet may not be easily referenced or a number can be accidentally changed and not remembered what it originally was, etc. So I created a spreadsheet that has the following info. I printed it to be able to use at a glance.

Character name; Race; Class ; Level; HP; Move; BtH; Grap Def (-Opp's STR & BtH); STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA; Search; Perception; Light; Notes

I highlight the abilities that are prime (to be able to quickly double-check the player's rolls). I also ask for secret search and perception rolls on a semi-regular basis and record the results. I mark who has the light source and have a field for notes with any relevant special abilities they might have.
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Running two C&C games. Check them out at http://candc.forumotion.com.

One is a monthly affair on Saturday nights, 8pm EST (Company of Delvers).

The second is an historically-inspired campaign with players from around the world (Legio Campaign).