[Dungeon Crawl] Weapons and Combat

When one is developing an abstract representation of combat, even more so when it's fantasy-realm combat, I think there's a lot of wiggle room in terms of combat effectiveness. As long as the internal game system remains consistent and doesn't seem *too* unfamiliar to the player, then it will hold. For example, what's a "Dwarf Axe" and how different is it from a "Battle Axe"? I never really had to worry about the specific differences beyond the descriptor "Dwarf" in the name.

I think "piercing vs. slicing vs. bludgeon" damage isn't something the original poster is looking for, so abstracting based on a "bigger is better" concept seems good enough, at least to start. I don't recall anything that complex in my Hero Quest days, and that seems to be a chief inspiration here.

Regarding feedback on battle systems: If you're concerned about inflating the dice pool, then just go with the method that uses the fewest dice and test it out. From what you've listed here, it seems like your second option fits what you want the most. Very similar to Hero Quest, and mildly factors in character customization.

If you go with that method, then I strongly suggest you also allow for an Agility- and/or Mind-based adjustment to defense as well, to balance out the utility of the Strength statistic. Again, testing will sort what seems to work best for the system you're trying to create.

I didn't mean to imply I thought you were being "too complicated," you misunderstood his point, or whatever. I apologize if it came off that way.

One way to limit the size of the dice pool could be such system that would use your alternative system, but instead of just checking your strength, you'd check the strength difference of your dude and the enemy (or strength vs. constitution). This would not limit the dice in overkill situations of course.

Dynamic dice pool games usually make the pool inflate. Unless of course you've made it hard-capped to like 5 or something.
Static dice pool would also be one answer, like D&D and its D20. Or maybe always use 3D6 instead, if you like to have a bell-curve to your balancing.

Also, when the talk comes to dice pools and the number in them, I've always been on the other side of the fence, liking the big pools. It's feels damn good on your power fantasies to roll 20+ dice when you've buffed up your dude and drank all the strength potions.

I've have play tested like four different Heroquest variants my crew's been cooking up, and the biggest hurdle has always been the quantity of the monsters (and the amount they can cover ground). Sometimes no enemy can even lay a finger to our dudes, and sometimes they flank us in no time.
This dice system especially when combined to character progression(=bigger difference in dice amounts) can be pretty brutal and binary.

Is it a better idea to have a fixed dice pool?
Like 3d6?

And simply add X for each level?

That way you always have the same amount of dice.

***

Meaning that level 0 gives 3-18.
level 1 gives 4-19.
level 2 gives 5-20.
etc.

If a weapon is blunt, you do +2 or +3 for each level for the blunt effect. While other effects only receive +1.

You could even do so that some effects for some weapons receive 0.

In short, you have a level that adds a score to what you roll.

Now then, the number of hits.
Simply put that in a table:
no hits: 3-12
hit: 13-22
2 hits/critical hit: 23-32
etc.

I don't know what distribution you really want. So you could try the system that I suggested, but add your own numbers for your desired results.

Well, sure I understand.
But I think you need to sacrifice something of your mechanic if you want to keep your number of dice to an absolute minimum.

The only other way that I think is possible would be simply saying:
I roll 1 die all the time.
If the level is higher, simply a multiplication is added to what you roll.

So if you have level 3, and you roll a critical. Than you have 3 critical for that hero.

But I doubt that you want something like that.

***

Something just crossed my mind.

You go from 1 to 2. That is +100%.
And some weapons pause for a level.

Are you happy with that?

Because there is such thing as a re-roll if you roll a certain number. Just a one time re-roll.

And you add them up. It still can be done with critical too.

My favourite is:
level 0: 1 die
level 1: 1 die, re-roll when 1 is rolled.
level 2: 1 die, re-roll when 1-2 is rolled.
level 5: 1 die, re-roll when 1-5 is rolled.
level 6: 2 dice
level 7: 2 dice, first you roll 1 die without re-roll. Then the second die, re-roll when this second die rolled 1.
level 8: 2 dice, first you roll 1 die without re-roll. Then the second die, re-roll when this second die rolled 1-2.
etc. etc.

It gave me a good system that can be used for any die, with any worth. And with this system you have a +16,7% increase in damage regardless of what a die is worth.

Example of weapon.
In my prototype, weapons grant extra or better battle dice and extra Handicap Dice. Normally a creature of Level 2 rolls 4d8, but with a Runic Blade, after rolling those 4 dice, 3 of these dice can be replaced by 1d6, 1d6 and 1d8 optionally.
Handicap Dice are a way to add extra thematic damage like Eye, Ear, Hand, Foot, Head, Heart damage that stays permanent, even after the battle, thus the name Handicap.
So, in your case, you might want to add or replace dice.
By the way, I think rolling more dice is more fun than rolling few.
See my FAQ.

Hey, I had a suggestion a while back called "Medieval Combat System" which had some elements for realistically differentiating weapons which you could borrow if you want. The scale for my suggestion was different, but I think my system might actually work better at this scale. Feel free to borrow any elements of that that you might like, I don't mind.