Re: [BNW] House rules package changes

["iguana.1031" <iguana.1031@gateway.net>]

Remember to consider how often each of the attack you describe will occur.
We played BNW every week for over a year and saw a lot of attacks doing
damage in the 'teens but almost never saw anything over 30 (unless it was
the Blaster Super-Blasting).  Out Goliath had it a lot rougher than our
Tough; his wounds got nickel-n-dimed in almost every fight while the Tough
rarely took a wound at all.

>
> a) They both get hit by a little attack, say 5-10 points.  Both ignore it.
>
> b) They both get hit by a medium attack, say 11-20 points.  The Tough
> ignores it.  The Goliath ignores it as long as it is 16 points or less (10
> for armor + 6, since only 7 or more points of damage will cause an actual
> wound).  Even if he takes a wound, it will only be one -- about 10% of his
> total in one location -- so, he's not too worried.
>
> c) They both get hit by a large attack, say 21-30 points.  The Tough takes
> between 0 and 2 wounds (0 at 21-24, 1 at 25-29, 2 at 30) or 0-50% of his
> total in one location.  The Goliath takes between 1 and 2 wounds (1 at
> 21-23, 2 at 24-30) or 10%-20% of his total in one location.
>
> d) They both get hit by a really nasty attack, say 40 points or more.  The
> Tough is crippled, or nearly so, taking at least 4 points (80%) to one
> location (5 points -- 100% -- at 45 damage really does cripple him).  The
> Goliath is still chugging along, losing only 4 wounds, as well (40%).  He
> would have to be hit for at least 80 damage to be crippled (80 - 10 = 70/7
=
> 10 wounds).
>
> e) Obviously, things just get worse from there for the Tough.  He's
pushing
> up daisies long before the Goliath even gets crippled.
>
> Clearly, there is a balance problem here, but I'm not sure about the best
> way to fix it -- which is probably why I haven't touched it, yet.  Of
> course, the Goliath has a bunch of negative quirks that the Tough doesn't
> have to worry about.  His Strength bonus is pretty cool, even aside from
the
> damage it helps him absorb, but, on the other hand, the Tough has Fast
> Healer.  Putting all of this together, I would say that the Goliath is a
bit
> better than the Tough, but, perhaps, not as bad as it initially looks.
The
> real problem is more one of "flavor", i.e. that the package whose real
> specialty is damage absorption gets beat out in that department by someone
> else.  That kinds of begs the question, though: do you fix the Goliath or
> the Tough?  If the former, I'd say knock the armor down to 5/-.  It's
still
> not perfect, but it's a better balance.  The Goliath already absorbs tons
of
> damage with his Size and Strength, anyway.  If the latter... well, how do
> you make the Tough... er... tougher, without going overboard?  That I'm
not
> sure about.  The best way might be to tinker with his Tricks to make sure
> that they give him an edge in this department.
>
> Guess I haven't really solved anything here, have I?  Oh well, at least
the
> examples put the problem into perspective...  :)
>
> Cwylric
>
>
>
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