Re: [BNW] Goliath vs. Speedster, hope for the speedster?

["Steve Crow" <crow_steve@hotmail.com>]

>Anyway, I was looking over the rules (which I don't have with me, so I
>can't do a super in-depth analysis, but here goes) and this is what I saw:
>
>For HtH the book says that you roll against a base TN of 5, plus the
>targets HtH skill.
>
>Under dodging it says that the base TN to hit the target is 5 or the
>result of the dodge roll, which ever is higher, before any modifiers.
>
>So the thing that I'm thinking is that, from these descriptions (I think
>they're given better in the book) the addition to the HtH TN of the
>opponent's skill (i.e. the speedster's martial arts: 3) is a modifier and
>is added to the dodge roll result.
>

Actually, based on what we've determined in the rulebook, the HtH TN's is a 
base 5, plus the defender's HtH skill.

However, if the defender Dodges, first of all they're not _using_ a HtH 
skill any more.  Presumably you have to be actively using a HtH skill to get 
the defensive bonus.  By the same token, a Martial Artist/Barehanded 5 type 
using a gun doesn't get the defensive bonus if he is merely shooting a gun.  
Although I'll grant you that this doesn't seem to be clearly stated in the 
rule.

The thing to keep in mind is that actually the BNW system is somewhat of an 
improvement over its predecessors, Deadlands and Hell on Earth.  Why?  
Because you couldn't use dodge _at all_ in that system against HtH attacks.

In BNW you can do so, but being a good HTH fighter is a better defense.  It 
doesn't look to us, based on a reading of the rules, that a 
Speedster/bare-hand fighter type gets both his Dodging (and bonus therein) 
_and_ his HtH skill defensively added to the TN.

In other words, a Speedster can add his Dodge skill to his dodge roll, or he 
can add his HTH skill levels to his opponent's TN.  But doing both seems a 
bit...abusive.


>So in the fight the Goliath swings at the Speedster, who dodges. The
>Goliath rolls 5d6 + 5 (str.) +5 (fighting 5) and gets an incredibly
>average 15.
>
>The Speedster dodges: 5d6 + 5 (speedster power) + 5 (dodge) + 3 (his
>Martial Arts skill) and gets an incredibly average 18.
>
>Any comments?
>

It gives the Speedster the benefit of two different Skill adds, which seems 
a bit odd and overpowerful.

It also means that pretty much no one but skill-enhanced types are _ever_ 
going to hit the Speedster.  His ability to benefit from two different skill 
levels might make him marginally superior to a Goliath (or a Gunner, or 
whatever), but it puts him well beyond any reasonable change of being hit by 
anyone else!

>-Theo McCracken, whose thoughts and ideas are solely his own and do not,
>in any way, reflect those of Jefferson Lab or its staff. Unless of
>course there is any money to made off those ideas, in which case the lab
>says: "Gimme, gimme, gimme!"


---

Steve Crow

"Worm Can Opener Extraordinare"

Check out my website at:  http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/

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