A RPG System Development Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

A RPG System Development Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aurotuli
07-19-05, 11:45 AM When determining the base saves (high, low), why was the high save made [(Lv/2) + 2] while the low save was made [Lv/3]?

Why not have the low save [Lv/2] or [(Lv/2) - x] (where x is 1 or perhaps even 2), to make things more symmetrical? Or, if they wished to use thirds, perhaps make the high save [(Lv/3) + 2]?

There are so very many possibilities, so why were the two chosen (for high, low saves)? Was there a particular reason? Did they just seem to "look about right"? Was there a 2ed tradition in need of following? (As far as I know, 2ed did not even have save progressions with level, so the latter is unlikely, I think.) Was this a hold over of another system the d20 was perhaps based upon? (Was the d20 system based upon another, for that matter?)

I would hope that there is a valid reason, perhaps mathematical, or at least logical, for the selection, but I am curious as to what it might be.
q'afuu
07-19-05, 12:09 PM Did they just seem to "look about right"? That's how I'd do it, actually. Given the DCs a character is likely to face at each level, I'd determine what save bonus I'd want that character to have (basically, how much of a chance to succeed or fail). Starting with those numbers, I'd look for a nice, easy formula.

I'm not saying that's what the designers did, but I think it's actually quite a good way to do it.
weasel fierce
07-19-05, 12:32 PM When determining the base saves (high, low), why was the high save made [(Lv/2) + 2] while the low save was made [Lv/3]?

Propably to have a significant difference. Since its looked up on a chart, I dont figure that having them be comparable to each other in the math, was a major worry

Was there a 2ed tradition in need of following? (As far as I know, 2ed did not even have save progressions with level, so the latter is unlikely, I think.)

Reread the books. Saving throws have progressed since the very first D&D book.

Was this a hold over of another system the d20 was perhaps based upon? (Was the d20 system based upon another, for that matter?)

D20 is based on a ton of games, and has taken bits of them along with it. I cant think of many rules in D20, that havent been used before, somewhere else.

I would hope that there is a valid reason, perhaps mathematical, or at least logical, for the selection, but I am curious as to what it might be.
With game design, often, something is the way it is, simply because thats the way someone wrote it down as, and noone had a reason to change it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aurotuli 07-19-05, 11:45 AM	When determining the base saves (high, low), why was the high save made [(Lv/2) + 2] while the low save was made [Lv/3]? Why not have the low save [Lv/2] or [(Lv/2) - x] (where x is 1 or perhaps even 2), to make things more symmetrical? Or, if they wished to use thirds, perhaps make the high save [(Lv/3) + 2]? There are so very many possibilities, so why were the two chosen (for high, low saves)? Was there a particular reason? Did they just seem to "look about right"? Was there a 2ed tradition in need of following? (As far as I know, 2ed did not even have save progressions with level, so the latter is unlikely, I think.) Was this a hold over of another system the d20 was perhaps based upon? (Was the d20 system based upon another, for that matter?) I would hope that there is a valid reason, perhaps mathematical, or at least logical, for the selection, but I am curious as to what it might be.
q'afuu 07-19-05, 12:09 PM	Did they just seem to "look about right"? That's how I'd do it, actually. Given the DCs a character is likely to face at each level, I'd determine what save bonus I'd want that character to have (basically, how much of a chance to succeed or fail). Starting with those numbers, I'd look for a nice, easy formula. I'm not saying that's what the designers did, but I think it's actually quite a good way to do it.
weasel fierce 07-19-05, 12:32 PM	When determining the base saves (high, low), why was the high save made [(Lv/2) + 2] while the low save was made [Lv/3]? Propably to have a significant difference. Since its looked up on a chart, I dont figure that having them be comparable to each other in the math, was a major worry Was there a 2ed tradition in need of following? (As far as I know, 2ed did not even have save progressions with level, so the latter is unlikely, I think.) Reread the books. Saving throws have progressed since the very first D&D book. Was this a hold over of another system the d20 was perhaps based upon? (Was the d20 system based upon another, for that matter?) D20 is based on a ton of games, and has taken bits of them along with it. I cant think of many rules in D20, that havent been used before, somewhere else. I would hope that there is a valid reason, perhaps mathematical, or at least logical, for the selection, but I am curious as to what it might be. With game design, often, something is the way it is, simply because thats the way someone wrote it down as, and noone had a reason to change it.