|
5 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 9:51PM
#111
|
Date Joined:
May 18, 2002
|
I want a My Little Pony version of D&D.
Shut up and take my money.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 10:30PM
#112
|
Date Joined:
Jun 22, 2008
|
The numbers for each class may not have been right but I liked the concept. I doubt they playtested the xp numbers or had someone actually develop a weighting system using a statistical analysis.
D&d is very math heavy yet the people who develop the systems often seem very oblivious to the math that they use. They need to hire one PhD in math or statistics to review the system before implementing it.
I think people overestimate the amount of math that actually needs to be applied. PhDs are the people pushing the boundaries of their fields forward. You don't really need a PhD in math or statisitics. You don't even need a guy with a college degree (although it probably wouldn't hurt). You just need a guy with the knowledge of how to apply the high-school-level math that needs to be done and - more importantly - the willingness to do it. That willingness really is key, though. Math is a part of game design (especially the design of games as intricate as D&D), just like it's part of running a business. Good intentions don't magically make math happen on their own.
I think you underestimate the complexity of these systems. Simply being able to perform algebra or trigonometry or even calculus is not enough to perform the statistical analysis necessary to test these systems.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 10:44PM
#113
|
Date Joined:
May 18, 2002
|
I think you underestimate the complexity of these systems. Simply being able to perform algebra or trigonometry or even calculus is not enough to perform the statistical analysis necessary to test these systems.
We need someone who understands what sigma does (I am not one of those people) to get the math right.
The "perfect" D&D system is one where we don't have to have to understand the underlying math to play a competently balanced game, yet anyone who wants the dig around in the system guts can freely do so without unintentionally breaking anything.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 10:50PM
#114
|
Date Joined:
May 14, 2010
|
I want a My Little Pony version of D&D.
Shut up and take my money.
D&D Pony miniatures, D&D Pony Campaign Adventures, and even a D&D Pony DM Screen.
C'mon WOTC, I know you can smell the money.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 26, 2013 - 11:06PM
#115
|
|
|
The numbers for each class may not have been right but I liked the concept. I doubt they playtested the xp numbers or had someone actually develop a weighting system using a statistical analysis.
D&d is very math heavy yet the people who develop the systems often seem very oblivious to the math that they use. They need to hire one PhD in math or statistics to review the system before implementing it.
I think people overestimate the amount of math that actually needs to be applied. PhDs are the people pushing the boundaries of their fields forward. You don't really need a PhD in math or statisitics. You don't even need a guy with a college degree (although it probably wouldn't hurt). You just need a guy with the knowledge of how to apply the high-school-level math that needs to be done and - more importantly - the willingness to do it. That willingness really is key, though. Math is a part of game design (especially the design of games as intricate as D&D), just like it's part of running a business. Good intentions don't magically make math happen on their own.
I think you underestimate the complexity of these systems. Simply being able to perform algebra or trigonometry or even calculus is not enough to perform the statistical analysis necessary to test these systems.
Calculus isn't sufficient, but it also isn't necessary. The same is true of trigonometry. You don't need math that's more advanced than those, just different. You need probability and statistics, but you don't need someone who has demonstrated the ability to do novel research in those fields, just someone who can do them. Certainly the more comfortable someone is with those fields the better off they'll be, but I don't think that it's that complicated. (Of course, I'd gladly take the Statistics PhD over 4e's strategy of "My buddy Riggle's cleric sure seems powerful. Better errata EVERY CLERIC ABILITY. Sample size one says what?")
Dwarves invented beer so they could toast to their axes. Dwarves invented axes to kill people and take their beer.
Swanmay Syndrome: Despite the percentages given in the Monster Manual, in reality 100% of groups of swans contain a Swanmay, because otherwise the DM would not have put any swans in the game.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 3:06AM
#116
|
Date Joined:
Jun 22, 2008
|
calculus isn't sufficient, but it also isn't necessary. The same is true of trigonometry. You don't need math that's more advanced than those, just different. You need probability and statistics, but you don't need someone who has demonstrated the ability to do novel research in those fields, just someone who can do them. Certainly the more comfortable someone is with those fields the better off they'll be, but I don't think that it's that complicated. (Of course, I'd gladly take the Statistics PhD over 4e's strategy of "My buddy Riggle's cleric sure seems powerful. Better errata EVERY CLERIC ABILITY. Sample size one says what?")
I agree about your points on calculus and trig.
I disagree about not needing someone who has demonstrated the ability to do novel research.
in actuality a computer programmer who knows matlab or some similar program could likely run millions of combat simulations of every level, with every monster, and every combination of characters. If computers can play chess, they can certainly play D&D (At least the combat portion). It may not be as nuanced as the average party but it might even be far more strategic than many parties.
Answers that would be discovered:
Challenge level of individual monsters.
Clallenge level of groups of monsters and mixed groups even.
Utility of various classes by level in combat scenarios.
Utility of various powers in combat scenarios.
Utility of various magic items in combat scenarioes.
etc. etc. etc.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:52PM
#117
|
|
|
Get rid of attack rolls. 1d20+weapon+Str - AC = damage.
I'd love to see the reverse of that: get rid of weapon damage rolls.
To hit roll + Str + 1* - AC
*All weapons would deal 1 damage. This means that weapon damage is equal to 1 + Str + the amount by which you beat the target's AC.
OR
1/2 of natural d20 result* + Str
*This means that weapon damage is equal to Str + 1/2 of the natural result of your d20 roll to hit (rounded up).
Why Mechanics-Alignment Integration is Bad
Show
so why even play a fighter if you can play the paladin the exact same way behaviorally and get added power to boot. "Paladin" is about accepting better game-enhancing mechanics at the price of more rigid in game behavior.
Really? So it goes something like this?
Fighter: "I want to be a paladin."
NPC: "Really?"
Fighter: "Yes."
NPC: "Very well." Starts reading from a holy book while still in-character "Do you accept having to choose and stick to the lawful good alignment, eventhough neither of us actually knows that it exists or what it is?"
Fighter: "I do."
NPC: "Do you reject good game balance because you accidentally rolled a high Charisma?"
Fighter: "What?"
NPC: "I don't know what it means either."
Fighter: "Oh. Umm, ok I do."
NPC: "In the name of all that is metagamey and broken, accept these better game enhancing mechanics."
Fighter: "These what?"
NPC: "Just get out there and try to fulfill a million different people's notion of good while not violating and part of any of them."
So the system is designed such that every single hit needs to be described to avoid confusion? Here's a scenario. The players are nudists, everybody in the world are nudists, it's not weird, it's totally normal in this land. They are naked and they fight drakes taking damage throughout, but healing up with surges. Later they meet the guy who raised the drakes.
Part 1: I didn't describe any of the hits. What does he see?
Part 2: Lets say I described the drakes as biting the players, yet they healed up. What does he see?
D20 Modern Toon PC Race.
Mecha Pilot's Skill Challenge Emporium.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 10:00PM
#118
|
Date Joined:
Mar 19, 2004
|
I want a My Little Pony version of D&D.
Shut up and take my money.
While I'm not a fan of MLP, I agree too. Bring out the D&D crossovers!
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 28, 2013 - 4:22AM
#119
|
Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2007
|
While I'm not a fan of MLP,I agree too. Bring out the D&D crossovers!
This would be enough to see me abandon the brand.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Jan 28, 2013 - 5:22AM
#120
|
Date Joined:
Jun 22, 2008
|
While I'm not a fan of MLP,I agree too. Bring out the D&D crossovers!
This would be enough to see me abandon the brand.
I completely understand. I was a Toyota fan for years. Camry. Avalon. Highlander. 4Runner. Even the good ol' Corolla. But then they made the Venza... The dreaded crossover. Half car and half SUV. A bastard attempt at making an offroad passenger sedan. I abandoned the brand completely. I was never going to buy a Venza. I had such an irrational and psychotic fear of crossovers that I could never drive a Toyota again. In fact, I hate Toyota so much that I now drag my key across any Toyota vehicles I see to punish people who still like them..
I completely understand your insane psychotic fear of crossovers. Not only would you never play a My Little Pony D&D game, you don't want any one else to enjoy it either and would actively work to prevent their happiness. Their disappointment gives you hideous glee. It makes total sense.
My cute little daughter would love a My Little Pony D&D game. But you couldn't stand it if she enjoyed playing a crossover because it would tarnish the purity of your game.
|
|
|
