Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site warwick.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!mcvax!ukc!warwick!req
From: req@warwick.UUCP (Russell Quin)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: weapons specializations
Message-ID: <285@snow.warwick.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Aug-85 21:31:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: snow.285
Posted: Wed Aug 21 21:31:53 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 00:40:15 EDT
References: <482@busch.UUCP> <770@water.UUCP>
Reply-To: req@warwick.UUCP (Russell Quin)
Organization: Computer Science, Warwick University, UK
Lines: 34
Socks: blue & furry
Xpath: warwick snow snow ubu

In article <770@water.UUCP> abgamble@water.UUCP (abgamble) writes:
>> [...]
>> ps - bows are awesome and should be that way.
>[...]
>Sure, bows should be powerful, but I don't think you'll convince
>me that one arrow should do more damage than a charging lance attack.
>I think that +2/+2 is reasonable, and as I said before, 3-8 pts will
>usually kill a 0-level and often kill a 1st level type as well.

Of course, Harold, it is said, was killed by a single arrow which pierced his
eye.  But what level would you say *he* was?  20?  So an arrow must be able to
do 150+ points of damage? !?
No, of course not.  This merely points out the discrepancy between HP and
Combat Prowess.  Even some of my favourite RPGs suffer from over-using Hit
Points, although Rolemaster gets round it to some extent by having a table of
results which are Not dependent on the target's level (the so-called "critical"
tables).
I think that you can never do more than compromise badly when your original
model is inadequate.  This seems to be the case foe AD&D & others.
If you want to have 'realistic' combat, then consider separating out Endurance,
Ability-To-Withstand-Damage, Ability-To-Avoid-Being-Hit &c &c...
But beware of losing the speed & simplicity that a *game* requires.
		- Russell
[have you ever tried editing when the screen background displays fractals?]
model is inadequate.  This seems to be the case foe AD&D & others.
If you want to have 'realistic' combat, then consider separating out Endurance,
Ability-To-Withstand-Damage, Ability-To-Avoid-Being-Hit &c &c...
But beware of losing the speed & simplicity that a *game* requires.
		- Russell
[have you ever tried editing when the screen background displays fractals?]
-- 
		... mcvax!ukc!warwick!req  (req@warwick.UUCP)
"If no small boy smeared with honey can be found, it may be necessary to take
an ordinary small boy and smear him, which should be a pleasure."