RPGs and Combat Resolution
It's been mentioned that there are 3 main steps to resolving physical combat:
1) determine a successful hit.
2) determine penetration of armor or skin.
3) determine extent of internal damage.
There are various ways of resolving this.
D&D has always used an abstract armor class system. In it, steps 1 and 2 are combined. You roll the dice to hit the armor class. If you failed, it means that either you missed completely, or your attack bounced off the armor. If you succeed, then you get to roll damage. TOTAL Resolution Rolls: 2.
White Wolf stuff requires a roll to determine a successful hit and a roll for damage. The defender can opt to roll a dodge. If it fails, the defender also has to also roll the damage that armor would absorb, plus the amount of damage he can soak if any. TOTAL Resolution Rolls: 3 to 5.
Kult resolves everything in one roll - success in hitting, armor penetration, and effect of damage. The only other roll might be if the defender decides to block or dodge. TOTAL Resolution Rolls: 1 to 2.
HERO combines steps 2 and 3 instead. After a successful to-hit roll, the damage is rolled and applied to armor and to the target. Only defensive manuevers I know requiring rolls would be Dive for Cover and Block. TOTAL Resolution Rolls: 2 to 3.
Why am I counting? I'm working on Hinirang RPG again, and I've been trying to see the cleanest way to handle a one-roll resolution of combat.
HERO Updates
Apparently, HERO's been racking up awards in InQuest Magazine!
CHAMPIONS: THE SUPER ROLEPLAYING GAME was inducted into the InQuest Gamer Hall of Fame, and Champions Universe won the Best Non-Fantasy RPG Supplement... both for 2002.
Also, according to their website, they ran a total of 89 games at GenCon using the HERO system "more (I'm told) than any other system except for the ubiquitous D&D." It seems to have helped them clean up most of the inventory they brought to sell at the convention.
Apparently, HERO's been racking up awards in InQuest Magazine!
CHAMPIONS: THE SUPER ROLEPLAYING GAME was inducted into the InQuest Gamer Hall of Fame, and Champions Universe won the Best Non-Fantasy RPG Supplement... both for 2002.
Also, according to their website, they ran a total of 89 games at GenCon using the HERO system "more (I'm told) than any other system except for the ubiquitous D&D." It seems to have helped them clean up most of the inventory they brought to sell at the convention.
It was the dawn of the 3rd Age of Mankind... AGAIN?
Picked up my copy of the NEW Babylon 5 RPG from Comic Quest Megamall.
It's by Mongoose Publishing and it's a beaut. Full color on all pages, hard bound book.
RULES: It does require the PHB 3rd Ed for the core rules, however. It supplants the classes in the book with its own (Officer, Soldier, Diplomat, Scientist, etc.), and has an intriguing approach to hit points: you don't get many. The most a starting character gets is 1d6+6, I believe... and you get no CON bonuses for that. No Armor Class... it uses a Defensive Value instead based on your full Reflex Save and your Size Modifier.
Simple and consistent vehicle rules (which use the same Size Mods when fighting one another) which were lifted and modified from Dragonstar.
SOURCE MATERIAL: The book takes an interesting approach evident from the cover. It's subtitle is SIGNS & PORTENTS, which is the overall title of Season One of the series. All the source material is as of the beginning of the Season... and it's a lot. Poltical situations, major and minor players, a great tour of the B5 station and characters the players might interact with.
Then it gives an episode-by-episode synopsis for the entire season, complete with the dates the events that each episode's events took place in during the year 2258. Each synopsis ends with short discussions about major developments, characters, and organizations introduced in the course of the episode and suggests 5 to 7 plot hooks for the GM to base campaigns or 'episodes' around.
Future releases will tackle developments in future seasons.
OTHER STUFF: Character sheet looks OK, but I'd rather have a B&W character sheet instead of trying to photocopy a full-color one with nice images in the background. Index is OK, a bit sparse. Interesting recommendations on how to create an epic storyline and guidelines on how not to lose the flavor of the series... but not as concise or informative as the prior B5 RPG.
Good resource for a fan - dunno how it plays... yet.
Picked up my copy of the NEW Babylon 5 RPG from Comic Quest Megamall.
It's by Mongoose Publishing and it's a beaut. Full color on all pages, hard bound book.
RULES: It does require the PHB 3rd Ed for the core rules, however. It supplants the classes in the book with its own (Officer, Soldier, Diplomat, Scientist, etc.), and has an intriguing approach to hit points: you don't get many. The most a starting character gets is 1d6+6, I believe... and you get no CON bonuses for that. No Armor Class... it uses a Defensive Value instead based on your full Reflex Save and your Size Modifier.
Simple and consistent vehicle rules (which use the same Size Mods when fighting one another) which were lifted and modified from Dragonstar.
SOURCE MATERIAL: The book takes an interesting approach evident from the cover. It's subtitle is SIGNS & PORTENTS, which is the overall title of Season One of the series. All the source material is as of the beginning of the Season... and it's a lot. Poltical situations, major and minor players, a great tour of the B5 station and characters the players might interact with.
Then it gives an episode-by-episode synopsis for the entire season, complete with the dates the events that each episode's events took place in during the year 2258. Each synopsis ends with short discussions about major developments, characters, and organizations introduced in the course of the episode and suggests 5 to 7 plot hooks for the GM to base campaigns or 'episodes' around.
Future releases will tackle developments in future seasons.
OTHER STUFF: Character sheet looks OK, but I'd rather have a B&W character sheet instead of trying to photocopy a full-color one with nice images in the background. Index is OK, a bit sparse. Interesting recommendations on how to create an epic storyline and guidelines on how not to lose the flavor of the series... but not as concise or informative as the prior B5 RPG.
Good resource for a fan - dunno how it plays... yet.
A Coup or Not?
Snippets of information from the TV send my thoughts spinning into interesting directions about the "coup" attempt...
1. Apparently, early on during the incident yesterday members of the Magdalo group indicated that it was not a coup attempt. This was, naturally, ignored. I mean: "We've taken over a hotel with weapons and explosives and then made demands that gov't heads step down... but it's not a coup, okay?"
2. The government kept listing housing and pay as the primary grievances of the 94-95 groups, downplaying and generalizing the accusations we heard yesterday to correcting the 'graft and corruption' in the country.
3. General distrust in the group of ANYONE with a "flag rank" with few notable exceptions.
4. Despite concerns about who might've been behind the Magdalo group, it's fairly clear that the Magdalo group was far more organized and efficient than any political parties that attempted to take advantage of this event. It's clear the Magdalo group had their own agenda apart from the political players.
5. They're season veterans claiming that they've been betrayed by the country they've bled and died for, and fingered the highest military authority below the president as a ringleader.
6. Everyone seems to agree (except perhaps for a certain Defense Secretary and others in his camp) that there are legitimate grievances, but this was not the place or time to engage in acts such as this to force change.
7. While everyone points out the economic problems that this will cause, they argue that nothing will improve anyway unless the changes they propose are implemented... whereas in the long run, the country will benefit if they are.
Likely scenario:
1. Punish the heads of the "coup" to the full extent of the law.
2. Make minor but public concessions to the minor demands of the group, and belittle their primary demands and accusations.
3. Use the event to purge convenient political targets like Honasan and supporters of Erap.
4. Release lots of well-written PR crap to confuse and depress the rest of us.
5. Life goes on.
I don't agree with their methods as well, but would I tell these "idealistic" folks to wait for change from the stagnant and self-perpetuating bureacracy of our country if I met them? I have no answers. I suppose they've made their decisions and took action.
Perhaps more of us should take action if we still care about our country. If indeed there is still a country to care about.
Snippets of information from the TV send my thoughts spinning into interesting directions about the "coup" attempt...
1. Apparently, early on during the incident yesterday members of the Magdalo group indicated that it was not a coup attempt. This was, naturally, ignored. I mean: "We've taken over a hotel with weapons and explosives and then made demands that gov't heads step down... but it's not a coup, okay?"
2. The government kept listing housing and pay as the primary grievances of the 94-95 groups, downplaying and generalizing the accusations we heard yesterday to correcting the 'graft and corruption' in the country.
3. General distrust in the group of ANYONE with a "flag rank" with few notable exceptions.
4. Despite concerns about who might've been behind the Magdalo group, it's fairly clear that the Magdalo group was far more organized and efficient than any political parties that attempted to take advantage of this event. It's clear the Magdalo group had their own agenda apart from the political players.
5. They're season veterans claiming that they've been betrayed by the country they've bled and died for, and fingered the highest military authority below the president as a ringleader.
6. Everyone seems to agree (except perhaps for a certain Defense Secretary and others in his camp) that there are legitimate grievances, but this was not the place or time to engage in acts such as this to force change.
7. While everyone points out the economic problems that this will cause, they argue that nothing will improve anyway unless the changes they propose are implemented... whereas in the long run, the country will benefit if they are.
Likely scenario:
1. Punish the heads of the "coup" to the full extent of the law.
2. Make minor but public concessions to the minor demands of the group, and belittle their primary demands and accusations.
3. Use the event to purge convenient political targets like Honasan and supporters of Erap.
4. Release lots of well-written PR crap to confuse and depress the rest of us.
5. Life goes on.
I don't agree with their methods as well, but would I tell these "idealistic" folks to wait for change from the stagnant and self-perpetuating bureacracy of our country if I met them? I have no answers. I suppose they've made their decisions and took action.
Perhaps more of us should take action if we still care about our country. If indeed there is still a country to care about.
NEW COUP REVIEW
This Sunday morning, a bunch of junior military officers holed up in the Oakwood apartments and G4 complex. Their grievances: among other concerns like low pay and lack of housing as compared perhaps with then Philippine National Police... an accusation that General Angelo Reyes was behind not only the sale of weapons and ammo to the MILF, but also gave the go ahead for the bombing of the Davao airport by military personnel. Another accusation - the potential declaration of Martial Law in August of this year.
Most of the concerns are about the impact to the economy... and yet, these officers don't appear to be concerned about that. They must be concerned about generals and other government officials growing wealthy over the deaths of the comrades and bloodbrothers... enough so that they are willing to lay down their lives (having already said goodbye to their families already).
As for the involvement of ousted presidents and members of the opposition... it's likely they are using these military groups for their own purposes with promises of support and so on. I'd be shocked if this were the case, though... since these problems were certainly aggravated if not started by that prior administration.
I think that there's obviously more complexity to the situation than is apparent on the news and the spin placed on it by the various political parties. From the statement of the military personnel, it's apparent that the junior officers believe in what they're doing, but were probably convinced or manipulated by others to believe that there's no other option.
And the politicians are having a field day, jockeying for position.
Apparently, though, the Estrada camp released a CD across the country (which I don't have a copy of) that shows how the plight of the common Filipino has worsened in the time of PGMA (including of course the injustices against the former president). So there was SOME planning in the Estrada camp for this.
I hope it doesn't overshadow their grievances about the military. Apparently they DID express their concerns directly to PGMA, but nothing happened in the interim. So they assumed she was part of the problem...
This Sunday morning, a bunch of junior military officers holed up in the Oakwood apartments and G4 complex. Their grievances: among other concerns like low pay and lack of housing as compared perhaps with then Philippine National Police... an accusation that General Angelo Reyes was behind not only the sale of weapons and ammo to the MILF, but also gave the go ahead for the bombing of the Davao airport by military personnel. Another accusation - the potential declaration of Martial Law in August of this year.
Most of the concerns are about the impact to the economy... and yet, these officers don't appear to be concerned about that. They must be concerned about generals and other government officials growing wealthy over the deaths of the comrades and bloodbrothers... enough so that they are willing to lay down their lives (having already said goodbye to their families already).
As for the involvement of ousted presidents and members of the opposition... it's likely they are using these military groups for their own purposes with promises of support and so on. I'd be shocked if this were the case, though... since these problems were certainly aggravated if not started by that prior administration.
I think that there's obviously more complexity to the situation than is apparent on the news and the spin placed on it by the various political parties. From the statement of the military personnel, it's apparent that the junior officers believe in what they're doing, but were probably convinced or manipulated by others to believe that there's no other option.
And the politicians are having a field day, jockeying for position.
Apparently, though, the Estrada camp released a CD across the country (which I don't have a copy of) that shows how the plight of the common Filipino has worsened in the time of PGMA (including of course the injustices against the former president). So there was SOME planning in the Estrada camp for this.
I hope it doesn't overshadow their grievances about the military. Apparently they DID express their concerns directly to PGMA, but nothing happened in the interim. So they assumed she was part of the problem...
SANDUGO!
Please check out this link for a Sandugo teaser!
BREASTFEEDING FATHERS
Oh. My. God.
Male Lactation
I first became interested in male lactation in 1978 after reading Dana Raphael's book, The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding. Although Raphael only dealt with the subject briefly, she did say that men can and have produced milk after stimulating their nipples.
My husband, David, and I were intrigued with the idea. We had just had our first unassisted homebirth and were excited about applying our positive thinking techniques to other aspects of our lives. Although Raphael had written about milk production through nipple stimulation, perhaps, we thought, David could do it simply through suggestion. He began telling himself that he would lactate, and within a week, one of his breasts swelled up and milk began dripping out.
Fascinating stuff. Dean? Any comments?
Please check out this link for a Sandugo teaser!
BREASTFEEDING FATHERS
Oh. My. God.
Male Lactation
I first became interested in male lactation in 1978 after reading Dana Raphael's book, The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding. Although Raphael only dealt with the subject briefly, she did say that men can and have produced milk after stimulating their nipples.
My husband, David, and I were intrigued with the idea. We had just had our first unassisted homebirth and were excited about applying our positive thinking techniques to other aspects of our lives. Although Raphael had written about milk production through nipple stimulation, perhaps, we thought, David could do it simply through suggestion. He began telling himself that he would lactate, and within a week, one of his breasts swelled up and milk began dripping out.
Fascinating stuff. Dean? Any comments?
TEEN TITANS
The new Teen Titans comic book is out, and it's a mixed bag. I liked the art, and I liked how the story seemed to be building towards something. I liked the tensions building between the young Titans, and how the mentors were genuinely concerned about their "wards".
I found it curious, yet tantalizingly satisfying that they've retconned Superboy into having 1/2 Kryptonian DNA along with his human half. I'd always thought he was fully human and had metahuman abilities that approximated Superman's powers, but...
I didn't pick up Graduation Day, but I was sad to see that Donna Troy (Wonder Girl) is dead. Gah, I hate it when they kill characters for shock value.
I'll be around for the next issue though. We'll see...
The new Teen Titans comic book is out, and it's a mixed bag. I liked the art, and I liked how the story seemed to be building towards something. I liked the tensions building between the young Titans, and how the mentors were genuinely concerned about their "wards".
I found it curious, yet tantalizingly satisfying that they've retconned Superboy into having 1/2 Kryptonian DNA along with his human half. I'd always thought he was fully human and had metahuman abilities that approximated Superman's powers, but...
I didn't pick up Graduation Day, but I was sad to see that Donna Troy (Wonder Girl) is dead. Gah, I hate it when they kill characters for shock value.
I'll be around for the next issue though. We'll see...
Brainstorming for a Campaign
I've got several threads that are slowly being woven into a story line for my Champions campaign:
1) The mystical thread - this ties in with the mysterious shadowman and the tablets at U.P. The Chinese Warlord and the copper bowls. And of course, the Crowns of Krim.
2) The organizational thread - FREELancers, VIPER, UNICORN.
3) The alien thread - the Boazanians, the dimensional mirror creatures...
Are these threads connected somehow? Yes...
I've got several threads that are slowly being woven into a story line for my Champions campaign:
1) The mystical thread - this ties in with the mysterious shadowman and the tablets at U.P. The Chinese Warlord and the copper bowls. And of course, the Crowns of Krim.
2) The organizational thread - FREELancers, VIPER, UNICORN.
3) The alien thread - the Boazanians, the dimensional mirror creatures...
Are these threads connected somehow? Yes...
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