A Strange New issue occurred when We started playing Blood Rain & Cataclyzm. At first I was worried that I'd forgotten a rule and broke things..
If you're unaware, players can choose to 'burn' a stat in DD12, to gain an instant advantage, The most common of which are Reflexes, Strength and of course Luck.
Reflexes
With an instant burst of speed, a character increases their Combat Initiative by their reflexes, besides the reflexes going down 1 point (after the bonus is applied) the player gains exhaustion equal to their new reflexes score. Typically players use this to get in an extra final hit, or perform an extra action, just in time before something happens beyond normal control.
Strength
With an instant burst of strength, a character increases their Damage by their strength score, or a bonus +3 to a strength roll, besides the strength going down 1 point (after the bonus is applied) the player gains exhaustion equal to their new strength score. Typically players use this to get in extra damage for a killing blow, or perform an feat of extraordinary strength.
Note, the similarities in description. Both are physical stats, and as such, gain physical exhaustion, Mental stats gain mental Exhaustion, but are the same, either a +3 to the same stat, or plus its score to a value related.. they are listed in the rulebook.
But Luck, is a stranger one. Coming from Dragon Warriors, and Warhammers Fate, The idea was to allow players the chance to avoid that blow, that telling deadly blow, or vice versa, to push for a hit. In any case, luck allows a player the ability to modify a die roll, 1 single die, to be rolled differently. If the player NEEDS this next roll to pass, they can spend a luck to change the results of the die, after it has rolled. If, they just wish the whole roll to change (i.e. attack roll + extra dice) they can 'roll' their luck, and if they pass, spend 1 luck, and if failed, spend 2 luck, to negate the entire roll against them.
Because players spend these more often, sometimes 2-3 in a given combat, having some kind of exhaustion, really slows down the game.. the STR or REF ones above are so rare, players will understand the cost, but with luck, we have to think a different way.
This was more obvious in Cataclyzm, and Blood Rain, where players would spent 5-10 luck in their first session, just to survive.. players literally were running out of luck.
And Luck isn't fixed to your own rolls, anyone can luck any roll.
But, Younger, Wiser, well rested me, was smart enough to put in an interesting rule about luck. Its relevant to your ability to take wounds, and your healing.
When a Character has taken damage, A lot of people consider their Health Max to be the value to check against. If Damage > Health, do I die.. well, yes but no..
First, we check if the individual blow is greater than your health + pain threshold bonuses, if not.. you shrug it off, if it IS, then we check your luck, If you pass, lucky you.. proceed, else, suffer consequences (see below)
BUT if the individual blow is above your Luck score.. you're out of luck.. no roll (except now, you'll probably spend a luck, to change the damage die roll to its minimum)
Next, lets see if your total damage so far, is above your ability to cope,
The quick rule is, if Total Damage > Luck + Health + Constitution, then you're going to make a luck check to see if you might die or not. For most people, this will be in the range of 30-50.
Furthermore, Your luck score ties directly to your healing rate, luck is added to the healing rate WHEN its calculated, (not before) so a person travelling with a healing rate of 27% and a luck of 16, gets a 43% chance to heal per day, When rested, they double this to 86%, when under care of a physician, they add their luck again to 102%, Even with a 10 point wound (-81%) they'd have a 1% chance to heal, but a player having reduced luck to 10, this would be -16%, unless their friends can come up with some cash to the local temple, this character is done for.
Given Base healing, Rested Healing and Physicians Luck, maintaining your luck above 10 is worth 30% but, in the moment, burning your luck, and avoiding the damage in the first place.. well, damned if you do, damned if you don't?
Luck, Burning stats, and Health.
If you're unaware, players can choose to 'burn' a stat in DD12, to gain an instant advantage, The most common of which are Reflexes, Strength and of course Luck.
Reflexes
With an instant burst of speed, a character increases their Combat Initiative by their reflexes, besides the reflexes going down 1 point (after the bonus is applied) the player gains exhaustion equal to their new reflexes score. Typically players use this to get in an extra final hit, or perform an extra action, just in time before something happens beyond normal control.
Strength
With an instant burst of strength, a character increases their Damage by their strength score, or a bonus +3 to a strength roll, besides the strength going down 1 point (after the bonus is applied) the player gains exhaustion equal to their new strength score. Typically players use this to get in extra damage for a killing blow, or perform an feat of extraordinary strength.
Note, the similarities in description. Both are physical stats, and as such, gain physical exhaustion, Mental stats gain mental Exhaustion, but are the same, either a +3 to the same stat, or plus its score to a value related.. they are listed in the rulebook.
But Luck, is a stranger one. Coming from Dragon Warriors, and Warhammers Fate, The idea was to allow players the chance to avoid that blow, that telling deadly blow, or vice versa, to push for a hit. In any case, luck allows a player the ability to modify a die roll, 1 single die, to be rolled differently. If the player NEEDS this next roll to pass, they can spend a luck to change the results of the die, after it has rolled. If, they just wish the whole roll to change (i.e. attack roll + extra dice) they can 'roll' their luck, and if they pass, spend 1 luck, and if failed, spend 2 luck, to negate the entire roll against them.
Because players spend these more often, sometimes 2-3 in a given combat, having some kind of exhaustion, really slows down the game.. the STR or REF ones above are so rare, players will understand the cost, but with luck, we have to think a different way.
This was more obvious in Cataclyzm, and Blood Rain, where players would spent 5-10 luck in their first session, just to survive.. players literally were running out of luck.
And Luck isn't fixed to your own rolls, anyone can luck any roll.
But, Younger, Wiser, well rested me, was smart enough to put in an interesting rule about luck. Its relevant to your ability to take wounds, and your healing.
When a Character has taken damage, A lot of people consider their Health Max to be the value to check against. If Damage > Health, do I die.. well, yes but no..
First, we check if the individual blow is greater than your health + pain threshold bonuses, if not.. you shrug it off, if it IS, then we check your luck, If you pass, lucky you.. proceed, else, suffer consequences (see below)
BUT if the individual blow is above your Luck score.. you're out of luck.. no roll (except now, you'll probably spend a luck, to change the damage die roll to its minimum)
Next, lets see if your total damage so far, is above your ability to cope,
The quick rule is, if Total Damage > Luck + Health + Constitution, then you're going to make a luck check to see if you might die or not. For most people, this will be in the range of 30-50.
Furthermore, Your luck score ties directly to your healing rate, luck is added to the healing rate WHEN its calculated, (not before) so a person travelling with a healing rate of 27% and a luck of 16, gets a 43% chance to heal per day, When rested, they double this to 86%, when under care of a physician, they add their luck again to 102%, Even with a 10 point wound (-81%) they'd have a 1% chance to heal, but a player having reduced luck to 10, this would be -16%, unless their friends can come up with some cash to the local temple, this character is done for.
Given Base healing, Rested Healing and Physicians Luck, maintaining your luck above 10 is worth 30% but, in the moment, burning your luck, and avoiding the damage in the first place.. well, damned if you do, damned if you don't?
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