Stamina loss and hit points
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Stamina loss and hit points
Do you bother recalculating hit points when a character loses Stamina?
What about if the loss is temporary instead of permanent?
Just curious. Since most fantasy-RPG iterations using hit points usually want you to do that sort of namby-pamby math juggling, I'm naturally kind of leaning away from it. But I'm curious what the crowd of more experienced Judges thinks.
How does it go down at your table?
What about if the loss is temporary instead of permanent?
Just curious. Since most fantasy-RPG iterations using hit points usually want you to do that sort of namby-pamby math juggling, I'm naturally kind of leaning away from it. But I'm curious what the crowd of more experienced Judges thinks.
How does it go down at your table?
- Skyscraper
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
There was a suggestion in a recent thread that a PC get -1 to all rolls for every 3 point of ability loss. It short-circuits the rules, but it's simple and I kind of like that. I'm going to try it in my next session(s), starting this weekend.Starhawk wrote:Do you bother recalculating hit points when a character loses Stamina?
What about if the loss is temporary instead of permanent?
Just curious. Since most fantasy-RPG iterations using hit points usually want you to do that sort of namby-pamby math juggling, I'm naturally kind of leaning away from it. But I'm curious what the crowd of more experienced Judges thinks.
How does it go down at your table?
Maledict Brothbreath, level 4 warrior, STR 16 (+2) AGI 7 (-1) STA 12 PER 9 INT 10 LUCK 15 (+1), AC: 16 Refl: +1 Fort: +2 Will: +1; lawful; Armor of the Lion and Lily's Blade.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
I don't find the math namby-pamby at all.
And I think tracking it makes the damage mean something in game, and drives exploration/adventuring choices. Those choices are the RP in RPG, after all.
Is it really so hard to say "Your Stamina went down four points, which means you have a -1 modifier, rather than that zero. You're 2nd Level, so you lose 3 hp until that Stamina comes back enough to move you into zero-modifier territory again"?
It doesn't seem any harder than tracking hp to begin with.
And I think tracking it makes the damage mean something in game, and drives exploration/adventuring choices. Those choices are the RP in RPG, after all.
Is it really so hard to say "Your Stamina went down four points, which means you have a -1 modifier, rather than that zero. You're 2nd Level, so you lose 3 hp until that Stamina comes back enough to move you into zero-modifier territory again"?
It doesn't seem any harder than tracking hp to begin with.
...
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
It's funny - recalculating HP when characters lose stamina never even occurred to me.
My understanding was that the point of stamina that drops off every time you are downed would simply catch up to you eventually via worse future hp rolls, and a destroyed fortitude roll. And it is probably secondary to the luck number anyway - Luck will probably be dropped quicker than stamina and end the characters life well before significant stamina loss becomes an issue.
Doesn't retrospectively changing HP totals unfairly disadvantage higher level characters? Especially those without a good hit die or those who didn't roll so well in the first place..
My understanding was that the point of stamina that drops off every time you are downed would simply catch up to you eventually via worse future hp rolls, and a destroyed fortitude roll. And it is probably secondary to the luck number anyway - Luck will probably be dropped quicker than stamina and end the characters life well before significant stamina loss becomes an issue.
Doesn't retrospectively changing HP totals unfairly disadvantage higher level characters? Especially those without a good hit die or those who didn't roll so well in the first place..
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
You don't have to track things that way, obviously. But I like to do so.maxinstuff wrote:...Doesn't retrospectively changing HP totals unfairly disadvantage higher level characters? Especially those without a good hit die or those who didn't roll so well in the first place..
If you're none too able to fend off damage and fatigue to begin with (low hp), and then something saps your Stamina (sickness, infection, perhaps), aren't you less able to fend off damage and fatigue? Alternately, if something soups up your Stamina, shouldn't you then be more, uh, stout?
Just having a lower or higher Stamina somewhat reflects that, but adjusting hp goes further. Not everyone is going to want to go further, but it can be some good drama.
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
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Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
I have the players adjust their Maximum HP, not necessarily their current HP. Current HP only drops after Stamina loss if it exceeds Max HP. Makes sense to me and I haven't had a problem with it. Been doing it that way for a long while, even back when Stamina was called Constitution.
- Skyscraper
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
You forgot the FORT save modification alsoGnomeBoy wrote:I don't find the math namby-pamby at all.
And I think tracking it makes the damage mean something in game, and drives exploration/adventuring choices. Those choices are the RP in RPG, after all.
Is it really so hard to say "Your Stamina went down four points, which means you have a -1 modifier, rather than that zero. You're 2nd Level, so you lose 3 hp until that Stamina comes back enough to move you into zero-modifier territory again"?
It doesn't seem any harder than tracking hp to begin with.
Maledict Brothbreath, level 4 warrior, STR 16 (+2) AGI 7 (-1) STA 12 PER 9 INT 10 LUCK 15 (+1), AC: 16 Refl: +1 Fort: +2 Will: +1; lawful; Armor of the Lion and Lily's Blade.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
Oily carp! You're right -- now I see why it's too much trouble...Skyscraper wrote:You forgot the FORT save modification also
*ducks thrown game books, bottles of mountain dew, and a shoe*
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
- Skyscraper
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
I throw a d16 at you!GnomeBoy wrote:Oily carp! You're right -- now I see why it's too much trouble...Skyscraper wrote:You forgot the FORT save modification also
*ducks thrown game books, bottles of mountain dew, and a shoe*
Maledict Brothbreath, level 4 warrior, STR 16 (+2) AGI 7 (-1) STA 12 PER 9 INT 10 LUCK 15 (+1), AC: 16 Refl: +1 Fort: +2 Will: +1; lawful; Armor of the Lion and Lily's Blade.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
Brother Sufferus, level 4 cleric, STR 13 (+1) AGI 15 (+1) STA 11 PER 13 (+1) INT 10 LUCK 9, AC: 11 (13 if wounded, 15 if down to half hit points), Refl: +3 Fort: +2 Will: +3, chaotic, Robe of the Faith, Scourge of the Maimed One, Darts of Pain.
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
Nah. I use the d16. I throw a d5.Skyscraper wrote:I throw a d16 at you!GnomeBoy wrote:Oily carp! You're right -- now I see why it's too much trouble...Skyscraper wrote:You forgot the FORT save modification also
*ducks thrown game books, bottles of mountain dew, and a shoe*
I can never get those to roll right.
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
Damn. The d5 is the larger of the two...smathis wrote:Nah. I use the d16. I throw a d5.Skyscraper wrote:I throw a d16 at you!GnomeBoy wrote: Oily carp! You're right -- now I see why it's too much trouble...
*ducks thrown game books, bottles of mountain dew, and a shoe*
I can never get those to roll right.
*readies the bactine; makes 'bracing' face*
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.
Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters
bygrinstow.com - The Home of Inner Ham
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- Cold-Hearted Immortal
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Re: Stamina loss and hit points
Don't worry too much. Ask Doug and Harley. I roll TERRIBLY.GnomeBoy wrote: Damn. The d5 is the larger of the two...
*readies the bactine; makes 'bracing' face*
Like epically... horribly... might be good if we were playing a tabletop golf-game bad...