The CBG System (discussions)

[Numinous]

Well, we have Snakefing, Beejazz, and my own MAGIC PROPOSALS, each in their own thread.
Is anyone else throwing one into the ring?

I was pretty sure Silvercat was doing one, and quite frankly his examples were my favorite so I'm gonna wait for it, if that's cool.

[beejazz]

d20+ability bonus... +bonuses for training?
other dice... similar setup?

I propose dice pools, where the number of dice you roll is based on your training. Dice themselves are smaller, probably d6s... and only add your ability. Hence both innate abilities and training work... but the numbers themselves don't need to scale (in the absence of level).

[beejazz]

Well, we have Snakefing, Beejazz, and my own MAGIC PROPOSALS, each in their own thread.
Is anyone else throwing one into the ring?

Cat? Is this true?

[CYMRO]

d20+ability bonus... +bonuses for training?
other dice... similar setup?

I propose dice pools, where the number of dice you roll is based on your training. Dice themselves are smaller, probably d6s... and only add your ability. Hence both innate abilities and training work... but the numbers themselves don't need to scale (in the absence of level).

Give us an example of this in play.

[beejazz]

Okay, CYMRO...
Let's say I want to... I guess break a door.
Normally, I roll 1d6 and add my strength score (DCs might be significantly lower in this setting).
If, however, I have special training in breaking doors, I can roll more dice and take the highest roll. I haven't increased my maximum or my minimum... I've just made it more likely to be closer to maximum.

The advantage is the single-bonus roll, which doesn't need to scale... great for a levelless (non-scaling) system.

[CYMRO]

Okay, CYMRO...
Let's say I want to... I guess break a door.
Normally, I roll 1d6 and add my strength score (DCs might be significantly lower in this setting).
If, however, I have special training in breaking doors, I can roll more dice and take the highest roll. I haven't increased my maximum or my minimum... I've just made it more likely to be closer to maximum.

The advantage is the single-bonus roll, which doesn't need to scale... great for a levelless (non-scaling) system.

And this would apply to skill checks.
What about combat and saves?

[beejazz]

Pretty much the same.
If you can train, you can use more dice.

[CYMRO]

Pretty much the same.
If you can train, you can use more dice.

Okay, so, for example, I have not taken the proficiency with a battle axe, I get to roll a single die.
If I had taken the prof, then I would roll 2, take the highest.
If I had taken Weapon Focus(or its equivalent), then roll 3 dice, take the highest.
Correct?

Now for saves, how would it work?

[beejazz]

Well... I hadn't thought of handling it that way for weapons. But... nice!
Saves like everything else.
One die plus appropriate ability.
More dice can be bought.

[CYMRO]

Well... I hadn't thought of handling it that way for weapons. But... nice!
Saves like everything else.
One die plus appropriate ability.
More dice can be bought.

I like non-prof with a weapon/weapon group being baseline.  It makes impromptu combat choices an option again.

So, I am in favor of dice pools.
I like the d20 for this, just because 5% increments is handy.

[beejazz]

well... d20s... aside from the fact that most people have fewer d20s than other dice. Also, smaller dice means less need for bonus-scaling.

[CYMRO]

well... d20s... aside from the fact that most people have fewer d20s than other dice. Also, smaller dice means less need for bonus-scaling.

Bonus scaling in regards to what?

[beejazz]

Well... This mostly has to do with ability scores. If we do d20s, the ability scores might need to be smaller... and then we'd need some formula of making ability-derived stats (like AC, WP) higher. If we use smaller dice, people hit smaller numbers... which means abilities can be bigger numbers... which means AC can just straight up *be* "reaction time" and wound points could straight up *equal* toughness...
Maybe d10s?

[CYMRO]

Well... This mostly has to do with ability scores. If we do d20s, the ability scores might need to be smaller... and then we'd need some formula of making ability-derived stats (like AC, WP) higher. If we use smaller dice, people hit smaller numbers... which means abilities can be bigger numbers... which means AC can just straight up *be* "reaction time" and wound points could straight up *equal* toughness...
Maybe d10s?

d20
Staying with d20s, we have some variation of my earlier VP/WP formula.
And AC can stay pretty close to current D&D.
Ability scores starting at zero, and being upped point by point, with a straight 6 point buy at character creation.

[beejazz]

Let's say we *do* use d20s.
I roll (best of x)d20+strength to attack.
That *tramples* an AC that equals Reaction Time. Even reaction time plus armor bonus won't do it.

If we use (best of x)d6 + ability to attack.
And then use Reaction time plus armor bonus (between one and six)... that's roughly balanced.