Swimming...how does it work

[Duke Bushido]

6 hours ago, Usagi said:

 the Mammalian Diving Reflex 

 

Yep.  Believe it or not, there are sensory cells in your face, particularly around the eyes, just for this. 

 

They also pick up blue light, which tends to keep you awake and more alert.  (ever wonder why your high beam indicator is usually blue, the most irritating of light colors?) 

[ScottishFox]

On 11/14/2019 at 12:54 PM, BoloOfEarth said:

 

On a serious note, as to the "holding breath for 2 minutes" being potentially too long, you should factor in that this assumes that 1 END / phase is the *only* END you're spending.  Keep in mind that a swimmer is typically also spending 1 END per Phase on his Swimming, in addition to the 1 END per Phase for holding his breath.  So even if you go with a 2 SPD, 20 END "normal", that person burns through his entire END in 5 Turns, or 1 Minute, swimming underwater.

 

On the flip side of that, the person can spend STUN as END once he has used up all his END, taking 1d6 per Phase (burning 2 END that he doesn't have).  Assuming that "normal" has 20 STUN, on average he'd be unconscious in 7 Phases, or a bit over another half a minute.

 

I wanted to bring up the first point you made because it cuts the time in half and feels pretty accurate for a standard person.

 

Most people in real life would have to make Ego rolls to voluntarily do something painful enough to cause STUN damage every phase.  We're not Navy Seals and holding your breath until you're seeing spots and your muscles are spasming is beyond us (certainly me).

 

I'm pretty happy with the HERO system handling of this and find it far superior to say D&D 5e where characters can hold their breath for 3-5 minutes while fully active.