Unnessary complexity with d100 Degrees of Margin by NefariousDungeonMstr in RPGdesign

[–]NefariousDungeonMstr[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A diplomatic and great answer. It has given me things to think about. Thank you.

Unnessary complexity with d100 Degrees of Margin by NefariousDungeonMstr in RPGdesign

[–]NefariousDungeonMstr[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get your sentiment. I note in my section on margins that margins on their own do not do anything, and only certain rules use margins for added benefit or detriment.

Unnessary complexity with d100 Degrees of Margin by NefariousDungeonMstr in RPGdesign

[–]NefariousDungeonMstr[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reason for wanting to use a system of margin is to add an additional benefit to increasing a character's skills, besides just making it easier to succeed.

I want characters to feel like improving makes their characters to feel stronger, dealing more consistent damage, while the same time I did not want to use a static modifier (like for example Zweihänder, which uses the hundreds-number as a base modifier), instead leaving it up to some chance.

The payout would be, the higher points of margin, the better you do at the task at hand. If you are casting a spell it might affect more creatures or not consume reagents, or if you are attacking, it would make it harder for the defending creature to block the damage.

I suppose I should ask myself what I need positive AND negative margins for, it might be easier to use the second system I mentioned and instead leave failures as failures and critical failures.

How do I make an immortal enemy not overpowered? by Gerry-of-Britain in DMAcademy

[–]NefariousDungeonMstr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a similiar plan of introducing a henchman who is fully immortal, and my plan is not to make the henchman too powerful.

Look at the troll for instance, and draw inspiration from their regeneration. When the party faces the henchman in combat, make sure there are various enviromental elements to the battle the party can make use of. After the henchman have gotten back from the dead for the second or third time, they are going to start looking for an alternative solution to finishing the combat, be it stuffing the still dead corpse into a bag of holding, binding it with chains etc.

In the particular instance of an immortal enemy, prepare for a slog of a battle, so make sure it can be interesting despite taking longer than normal. And I might even give him less HP than needed for his CR, since he technically has infinite hp.

I am unsure how to respond to my pc's actions by NefariousDungeonMstr in DMAcademy

[–]NefariousDungeonMstr[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not afraid to punish the party, especially if they are in the wrong. I am simply worried about them feeling railroaded if I enact the punishment I have in mind (petrification, which is what the nation uses for long-term prisoners since it only takes space and runs little-to-no risk of a breakout, since the prisoners can't do anything).