<!-- MHonArc v2.4.4 --> <!--X-Subject: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset --> <!--X-From-R13: "Syv Egriraf" <jvpxrqterlNjvpxrqterl.pbz> --> <!--X-Date: Sat, 01 Apr 2000 22:33:42 -0800 --> <!--X-Message-Id: 001d01bf9c57$87898e10$aa600304@wicked --> <!--X-Content-Type: text/plain --> <!--X-Head-End--> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <html> <head> <title>MUD-Dev message, [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</title> <!-- meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow" --> <link rev="made" href="mailto:wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com"> </head> <body background="/backgrounds/paperback.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#006000"> <font size="+4" color="#804040"> <strong><em>MUD-Dev<br>mailing list archive</em></strong> </font> <br> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] <br clear=all><hr> <!--X-Body-Begin--> <!--X-User-Header--> <!--X-User-Header-End--> <!--X-TopPNI--> Date: [ <a href="msg00003.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00005.html">Next</a> ] Thread: [ <a href="msg00007.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00008.html">Next</a> ] Index: [ <A HREF="author.html#00004">Author</A> | <A HREF="#00004">Date</A> | <A HREF="thread.html#00004">Thread</A> ] <!--X-TopPNI-End--> <!--X-MsgBody--> <!--X-Subject-Header-Begin--> <H1>[MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</H1> <HR> <!--X-Subject-Header-End--> <!--X-Head-of-Message--> <UL> <LI><em>To</em>: "Mud-Dev" <<A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A>></LI> <LI><em>Subject</em>: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</LI> <LI><em>From</em>: "Eli Stevens" <<A HREF="mailto:wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com">wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com</A>></LI> <LI><em>Date</em>: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 21:57:13 -0600</LI> <LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI> <LI><em>Sender</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu">mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu</A></LI> </UL> <!--X-Head-of-Message-End--> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-Begin--> <HR> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-End--> <!--X-Body-of-Message--> <PRE> I have roughly worked out the base for a system to be used in place of the traditional DnD/Diku Stats, Hit Points and Mana. I was wanting list members to let me know what they thought, because there are probably (more than) a few flaws in it that I am not seeing. :) I would also be interested if anyone has seen a system similar to this in action, and if it worked (I wish I was more versed in various RPG/MUD systems...). Characters have six statistics that fill similar roles to the DnD six, and three relating to their reputation, where lowers scores are not neccissarily undesirable (having a low fame, for example, means you are recognized less by strangers, but it makes it harder to get into office...). The reputation stats are not as conflict oriented, so I won't be paying as much attention to them here. I will probably ramble on about them later. ;) The traditional six are: Body: Strength Dexterity Constitution Mind: Intellegence Wisdom Willpower (Charisma being accounted for by some of the reputations stats) The starting scale for the stats would be 0.5 to 1.5+. What would be considered "average" would correspond to 1.0, even if most of the players had "above average" strength. Think DnD divided by 10, roughly. The difference is that damage, instead of being subtracted from a pool of hit points, would directly affect the constitution of the target. If appropriate, a spell or other effect could also affect other stats as well/instead. Each stat would have a current score and a max score, with the current score slowly healing toward the max as time passed. Ex: A "numbness" spell might drop Dex and Str. A blow to the head could affect Int or Wis. Etc. Another key point is that instead of damage being subtracted from the stat, it would be multiplied with the stat, and the result used as the stat's acting score until that damage is healed. Ex: Boffo the fighter has Str: 1.5, Dex: 1.0, Con: 1.2 Boffo gets hit for .9 Constitution damage, dropping it to 1.08 for the time being. Since scores can never reach zero by this method (except by rounding errors), there would have to be a cutoff point where the damaged player can no longer function. Note that if ANY stat dropped below this line, they would drop uncnscious (be it from lack of strength/coordination/mental drive, blood loss, etc.). Just from some initial number juggling, I think that .5 might work out well. Hits taken before unconsciousness with a Con of: Damage \ Con: 1 Con: 2 .9 6 hits 13 hits .8 3 hits 6 hits .7 1 hit 3 hits They act pretty much as one would think with double the Con resulting in double the amount of blows taken, except that the higher Con can shrug off powerful attacks better. I think it makes sense, because it means that dragons can take out normal folk right away, while warrior heroes can last a few rounds. I also like it because once someone starts loosing, it gets harder to even it out, which makes sense to me. It gives backstabs an effect without having them do massive damage. A warrior might take a defensive approach and let the opponent tire out (attacking would take a small bit of Str, Dex). Another aspect that appeals to me is that two mages can battle without doing any physical damage at all. Once one mage overexerts him/herself or gets too mentally battered, it is over and the mage is unconscious. While a mage could not outfight a sterotypical orc physically, the orc's low Int/Wis would make it a prime target for a confusion spell. It allows mages and psionicists to fight on their own level, instead of everything having to boil down to physical damage. Racial stat adjustments would still work, Elves might get +.1 to Int and -.1 to Con at character creation, fairly similar to DnD. Advancement would come in as better weapon proficiencies, skills, and such (I am envisionins a levelless MUD, but this could be adapted to levels, I think). If Boffo has the Dagger weapon proficiency at .9 and we considered Str and Dex to be equally important to wielding a dagger, then his attack roll might look like: ((Str: 1.5) ^ (.5)) * ((Dex: 1.0) ^ (.5)) * (Dagger: .9) = 1.1 Where if he was using a Club with the same skill (but the club being a Str weapon): ((Str: 1.5) ^ (.8)) * ((Dex: 1.0) ^ (.2)) * (Club: .9) = 1.24 It would seem that the club would be the superior choice, but keep in mind that the club would also impose a larger penalty against Str the more Boffo swung it (it would tire him more). I think I need to juggle some more numbers, and see how this might work out in the long run. The defender's roll would be based on the armor worn, Dex, etc. etc. I think I have rambled on a bit too much... Thoughts? Abuses? Weaknesses? <//> Silence is golden RUIN, v. To destroy. <\\> || Eli Specifically, to destroy a maid's || || wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com belief in the virtue of maids. || <\\> www.wickedgrey.com -- Ambrose Bierce <//> _______________________________________________ MUD-Dev mailing list MUD-Dev#kanga,nu <A HREF="http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev">http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev</A> </PRE> <!--X-Body-of-Message-End--> <!--X-MsgBody-End--> <!--X-Follow-Ups--> <HR> <ul compact><li><strong>Follow-Ups</strong>: <ul> <li><strong><A NAME="00008" HREF="msg00008.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong> <ul compact><li><em>From:</em> "Ryan P." <ixiterra#earthlink,net></li></ul> </UL></LI></UL> <!--X-Follow-Ups-End--> <!--X-References--> <!--X-References-End--> <!--X-BotPNI--> <UL> <LI>Prev by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00003.html">[MUD-Dev] An introduction</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00005.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Richard Garriot's 'X' project</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Prev by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00007.html">[MUD-Dev] Old Topic: Playfulness in 3-D Spaces, done.</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00008.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Index(es): <UL> <LI><A HREF="index.html#00004"><STRONG>Date</STRONG></A></LI> <LI><A HREF="thread.html#00004"><STRONG>Thread</STRONG></A></LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> <!--X-BotPNI-End--> <!--X-User-Footer--> <!--X-User-Footer-End--> <ul><li>Thread context: <BLOCKQUOTE><UL> <LI><STRONG>RE: [MUD-Dev] Fw: 16K mud server competition !</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM> <ul compact> <LI><strong><A NAME="00042" HREF="msg00042.html">RE: [MUD-Dev] Fw: 16K mud server competition !</A></strong>, Powell, Warren <a href="mailto:warren.powell#nz,unisys.com">warren.powell#nz,unisys.com</a>, Tue 04 Apr 2000, 22:22 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00051" HREF="msg00051.html">Re[2]: [MUD-Dev] Fw: 16K mud server competition !</A></strong>, Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</a>, Wed 05 Apr 2000, 00:46 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00053" HREF="msg00053.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Fw: 16K mud server competition !</A></strong>, Jon Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Wed 05 Apr 2000, 01:41 GMT </LI> </ul> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00007" HREF="msg00007.html">[MUD-Dev] Old Topic: Playfulness in 3-D Spaces, done.</A></strong>, Rudy Fink <a href="mailto:rudyfink#rice,edu">rudyfink#rice,edu</a>, Sun 02 Apr 2000, 14:54 GMT <LI><strong><A NAME="00004" HREF="msg00004.html">[MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong>, Eli Stevens <a href="mailto:wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com">wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com</a>, Sun 02 Apr 2000, 06:33 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00008" HREF="msg00008.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong>, Ryan P. <a href="mailto:ixiterra#earthlink,net">ixiterra#earthlink,net</a>, Sun 02 Apr 2000, 17:26 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00010" HREF="msg00010.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong>, Erik Jarvi <a href="mailto:ejarvi#megsinet,net">ejarvi#megsinet,net</a>, Sun 02 Apr 2000, 21:48 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00009" HREF="msg00009.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong>, Eli Stevens <a href="mailto:wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com">wickedgrey#wickedgrey,com</a>, Sun 02 Apr 2000, 21:48 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00014" HREF="msg00014.html">Re[2]: [MUD-Dev] An idea for breaking away from the HP/Mana mindset</A></strong>, Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</a>, Mon 03 Apr 2000, 03:51 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL></BLOCKQUOTE> </ul> <hr> <center> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] </center> <hr> </body> </html>