VP/WP and Nonlethal Damage, and Other Variants [Archive] - Wizards Community

VP/WP and Nonlethal Damage, and Other Variants [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mythSSK
03-26-07, 07:14 PM Title basically outlines my main question. How does the VP/WP system interact with nonlethal damage?

What are people's experiences using the VP/WP system? What are some tweaks to it that you've used that you've found have improved it? What are some problems with the system that you believe need fixing?

In case you hadn't guessed, I am considering integrating the VP/WP system into my games and want to go into it armed with as much knowledge as I can.

I am also looking rather hard at the Armor as DR and the Defense Bonus options as well. The Armor as DR system seems to me to work better as a representation of how real armor functions, and has a decidedly less "videogamey" feel to it to me.

The Defense Bonus system makes a good point in that characters skill in attacking goes up as they level, but not their skill in defending themselves, but it doesn't seem to me to mesh well the with Armor as DR system. If anyone has any pointers or advice about these two systems as well, I'd be most grateful.
The_Levitator
03-27-07, 01:49 PM We tried the VWS, but it didn't integrate smoothly into DM Genie, and doesn't seem to play nice with undead creatures, so we went back to the HP system. Actually, I created a modified HP system that our group feels better reflects the wear and tear and stress and exhaustion of combat. I just created a system I call Battle Fatigue. Basically, as a creature drops in HP, it becomes more fatigued, dropping its STR and DEX. Here's what we are currently using:

Light Battle Fatigue: 51-75% or less of total HP (-1 STR, -1 DEX)
Moderate Battle Fatigue: 26-50% of total HP (-2 STR, -2 DEX)
Heavy Battle Fatigue: 25% or less of total HP (-4STR, -2 DEX)

We do use AaDR and the CDB. I modified that as well with some help from a member here named Solaris. Here's what we are using:

AaDR. It's pretty simple. Armor just has a DR rating equal to its normal AC bonus and no AC bonus. Magical enhancements also increase the DR, not the AC bonus. Shields still enhance AC bonus, not DR. Magical armor spells also increase DR, not AC bonus.

CDB. Again, really simple. In our game, the Class Defense Bonus is equal to BAB, and stacks with armor. Since AC bonuses don't only reflect the ability to dodge, but also to redirect blows, parry, etc., we felt that fighter types should get better at defending themselves, even in their armor considering its what they train to fight in anyways.

I wanted to add some things to give me more tools with which to describe combat. In addition to the above, we also use the Facing Variant from UA, the Opposed Defense Roll from the DMG, and the Clobbered Variant from the DMG.

Lucky for me, I was able to set up DM Genie to track all of this automatically for me! :D
Gideon_Gideonson
03-27-07, 10:44 PM My version actually combines both a variant on WP/VP and something similiar to The_Levitators. It can be found HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=801692).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mythSSK 03-26-07, 07:14 PM	Title basically outlines my main question. How does the VP/WP system interact with nonlethal damage? What are people's experiences using the VP/WP system? What are some tweaks to it that you've used that you've found have improved it? What are some problems with the system that you believe need fixing? In case you hadn't guessed, I am considering integrating the VP/WP system into my games and want to go into it armed with as much knowledge as I can. I am also looking rather hard at the Armor as DR and the Defense Bonus options as well. The Armor as DR system seems to me to work better as a representation of how real armor functions, and has a decidedly less "videogamey" feel to it to me. The Defense Bonus system makes a good point in that characters skill in attacking goes up as they level, but not their skill in defending themselves, but it doesn't seem to me to mesh well the with Armor as DR system. If anyone has any pointers or advice about these two systems as well, I'd be most grateful.
The_Levitator 03-27-07, 01:49 PM	We tried the VWS, but it didn't integrate smoothly into DM Genie, and doesn't seem to play nice with undead creatures, so we went back to the HP system. Actually, I created a modified HP system that our group feels better reflects the wear and tear and stress and exhaustion of combat. I just created a system I call Battle Fatigue. Basically, as a creature drops in HP, it becomes more fatigued, dropping its STR and DEX. Here's what we are currently using: Light Battle Fatigue: 51-75% or less of total HP (-1 STR, -1 DEX) Moderate Battle Fatigue: 26-50% of total HP (-2 STR, -2 DEX) Heavy Battle Fatigue: 25% or less of total HP (-4STR, -2 DEX) We do use AaDR and the CDB. I modified that as well with some help from a member here named Solaris. Here's what we are using: AaDR. It's pretty simple. Armor just has a DR rating equal to its normal AC bonus and no AC bonus. Magical enhancements also increase the DR, not the AC bonus. Shields still enhance AC bonus, not DR. Magical armor spells also increase DR, not AC bonus. CDB. Again, really simple. In our game, the Class Defense Bonus is equal to BAB, and stacks with armor. Since AC bonuses don't only reflect the ability to dodge, but also to redirect blows, parry, etc., we felt that fighter types should get better at defending themselves, even in their armor considering its what they train to fight in anyways. I wanted to add some things to give me more tools with which to describe combat. In addition to the above, we also use the Facing Variant from UA, the Opposed Defense Roll from the DMG, and the Clobbered Variant from the DMG. Lucky for me, I was able to set up DM Genie to track all of this automatically for me! :D
Gideon_Gideonson 03-27-07, 10:44 PM	My version actually combines both a variant on WP/VP and something similiar to The_Levitators. It can be found HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=801692).