unclevlad

Why does this make Hero a copy of D&D? There are 4 basic success-test mechanics that I know (plus Fate's odd one, or MSH's table-based that I really dislike)... 1. Actor's rating combined with a die roll compared to target's rating or a static difficulty. D&D, Hero, etc. Note that rolling percentiles is only a variant on this. 2. Roll dice, add them up to get a total. 2a. Roll and total all dice. (Star Wars, IIRC) 2b. Roll some dice, take a subset of the best. Exploding d10 uses this...older L5R, Seventh Sea are the two I know. 3. Trials. Roll N dice, each is considered separately. Success is based on the number of successes. Storyteller, Shadowrun. Trials is an ugly approach; minor tweaks in the target number for a trial to succeed, have BIG effects. Roll and total is fairly flexible; the trick is recognizing difficulty/target numbers. The "roll N, take the best M" is complex to analyze. What's better...roll 5, choose the best 2 (which I'll abbreviate r5c2 from now on), or 4c3? Those are both clearly a step better than r4c2. And if you've got r5c2, is it better to advance to r6c2 or r5c3? That makes costing tricky. The rating and simple, consistent roll approach is straightforward. Using 1 die has issues with being linear, and getting REALLY good can be hard. On the flip side, rolling 3d6 means that not all +1's or -1's are created equal. But recognize: Hero's system for attacks IS fundamentally the same as D&D's. They LOOK different but they're not. And how Hero does it is...kind of bizarre. As I noted, it's like THAC0...we got used to it but it took time and effort to get there.

Broncos were going to go up for sale after Bowlen died. There were some probate-related issues. Tommy Boy made it official. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz BIGGER news??? Brian Flores has filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, Fins, Broncos, and Giants alleging racism in coaching hiring. WOW!!! No one who follows the league at all would argue the numbers brook no denial. But it's still huge that it got filed. EDIT: Flores was a finalist for, IIRC, the Texans. I figured, forget that now. Michael Wilbon on PTI's opening segment noted...it probably means he can't get another job in the NFL, *period*.

So what you're suggesting is, the NPC's roll is always CV+10, and the PC always rolls, so it's his CV+3d6. Tie still goes to the attacker. That's straightforward. In some ways it's too simplistic but that might just be that I need my nap... schir: if you're going high is good, as I mentioned, then carry it through. A basic skill roll is Rating - 3d6 >= 0. To convert this to Rating + roll, it's Rating +3d6 >= 21. Let's go with no ranks in the skills, it's just easier. It would be simpler to adjust for the players if the different base ratings...8 familiarity, 10 proficient, 11 general...let's keep these the same. The higher your base, the more understanding you have/the better you are. And it's better to NOT change the mechanics as we get into characteristic rolls, which are just an extension of this. So...an 8- standard means 13+...Rating 8, target 21. So for simple rolls... Base + ranks + situational bonuses + 3d6 >= 21 + situational penalties Ranks is easy, it's how many you bought. Bonuses and penalties should be straightforward. So...Tumbler has a 23 DEX and 2 ranks in Acrobatics. He wants to cross a room and has dodge some goons. GM figures this incurs a penalty of 2. Tumbler's getting no situational bonuses. 23 DEX == base 13, + 3 ranks. His difficulty is 21 + 2 for the goons, or 23. So he has to roll a 7 or higher. Example 2: Whizbang is a mage-type with a 23 Int, a VPP with 60 Control size, and 8 ranks in his Power skill. To swap over a full 60 point power adds 60/10 or 6 points to the difficulty. He's got 13 base + 8 ranks, so 21 + roll, to beat a 27 difficulty. (For comparison? He'd have a 21- base Power skill roll, -6 for the amount changed...15-. Same probability.) I believe the math should all work out, and the system doesn't have *too* many tweaks.

Drop "presidency" and I'll buy it.

Or as Beau pointed out...a sitting VP fairly commonly runs for President when the sitting President can't, due to term limits. So the sitting VP could put himself in place.

Hmm. Stupidest Owner. Sounds like a great thing to add to NFL Awards Night. TOUGH choice!!!

I don't think that's the major issue, but you may well be right. I think it is easier to understand "this is the number you have to match or beat"...and it's a HECKUVA lot more common. But if it's to be that way, then I'd restructure ALL rolls. Also, you need to make a tweak: Succeed on 11- is the same as succeed on 10+...not succeed on 11+. I'm formalizing it as roll high: OCV + 3d6 >= DCV + 10 vs. the standard roll low: OCV + 11 - 3d6 <= DCV P(3-10) = 50%. P(11-18) = 50%. P(10) = P(11); P(9) = P(12). And so on. So rolling low, 11- means P(3-10) + P(11). Rolling high, 10+ means P(10) + P(11-18). Well, those are clearly equal. OCV is one higher...12- adds P(12) while 9+ adds P(9), which are equal. So the math remains the same *as long as you remember to switch to 10+*. It's also easy to adapt to all skill rolls and is probably more natural. A higher stat means a higher basis, and High is Good. I actually think even the old farts would adjust readily enough, if it was a universal change. In some ways this is the same debate from the Days Of THAC0...and switching away from THAC0 was a massive relief. But just express it throughout, or it's WAY worse.

Anyone can edit a Wikipedia page, I believe. That BS will get removed sooner or later. Mind, I'm not saying I approve of Khan or that the sentiment is massively off base, but it's BS in the context of Wikipedia page.

I suppose I could, but I don't see the point of making the defender roll. Why not OCV + 3d6 >= DCV + 11 Still gets the sense that you want to roll high, but keeps the attacker...normally the one considered the actor here...making the roll. As a secondary point, is this the only time you'll do that? Because all other skill-class rolls (and combat is a skill-class roll) say Low Is Good, so why have one that's High Is Good?

Also suggests that while Jerry wanted to read Dan Quinn's choice to decline to interview as a win for the Cowboys, it says rather more about the Jags.

Not ready, or didn't look it in? Or maybe just choked. The toss wasn't perfect, no...and maybe the back was looking inside, with the ball going to the outside shoulder? I'd have to see that again. Granted that even if he'd caught it, the defensive back was, I believe, gonna hit him and leave 4th and close to 15...and also force the Niners to burn the last TO.

High risk, high reward, high variance football. Can't blame Jimmy too much on that pick...it went off the back's hands. On replay? Ehhhhh....I think it *could have* been caught. If Jimmy takes the sack, the Niners would've had to burn their last TO, facing 4th and 20-odd....good luck. And he had the guy there, and a play that could've been made. MVPs so far: Kupp for the Rams, hands down; and a kicker!!!!!! McPherson deserves a double playoff share from the Bengals. Best prop bet of the Super Bowl: will Bengals fans outnumber Rams fans?

Niners fans have to be sweating bullets...game's in Jimmy G's hands now. Of course, the way things have been going, they'll get the FG to tie. EDIT.. Or not.............

Speak for yourself. I am kinda rooting for the Niners in this one, if only to finish off the year as a total comedy of errors. Home field? Road teams have taken 5 of 11 so far, but even more? .5 of those were in the wild card round, where there were quite a few teams that just didn't belong. Plus, as I've said, I dislike what the Rams did, betting the farm the way they have. If they lose...far as I'm concerned, that's karma. If it does end up Niners-Bengals...side thought, wouldn't this be a rematch? Anyway, I'd also be curious to know what the odds on that as the SB matchup woulda been, back in September.

Oh my gosh Let the second guessing of Andy Reid continue, and that of Patrick Mahomes begin.. The BENGALS??????? Starlord, your whining privileges are revoked.

I never would've thought I'd say this but Mahomes just dodged a HUGE bullet. That sack was classic overconfidence. Oh, here we go again. Chiefs won the toss..... EDIT: wowwwww.....for those not watching? Nantz just dropped an amazing factoid. 11 prior playoff games went to OT. Home team is 10-1. 7 of them were on first-possession touchdowns. THAT suggests a rule change should be considered.

3 possessions, 72 yards rushing, 154 passing, and 3 TDs. Is this game over? Not that the Bengals can't score 21 per se, but they haven't been able to slow the Chiefs down at all. As far as McDaniels, well, remember that when he went to Denver, the comment was he probably lacked experience. He's had more time to learn, so...who knows.

Rodgers to Denver might make sense for Denver, if you really think they're so close to being a contender. Everyone oohh--ahhed about their roster and how much sense it would make. Yeah, weill, whatever. Jimmy G? Well...he's gotten his team to a SB, and now into the conference championship...and the Niners STILL want to move past? That in itself is a big yellow flag. Something has to be the source of that. This year, his QBR was 13th...not horrible, but not great. Behind Tannehill and Wentz, just ahead of Cousins and Carr. It was about the same last year. In the SB run, it was better...would've been right around Josh Allen's level. It's possible that a lot of the issue is buyer's remorse/unreasonable expectations with the contract he signed...but he did get them to a SB. Some of it could be frustration/concern with an injury history...only played 3 games in 18, 6 in 20. Plus, I think there's the pressure that they drafted Lance and paid him a big chunk. He has to have playing time to see if he's gonna cut it before his rookie contract ends.

I caught some of the presentation during the replay, at a more sane hour. Wish I hadn't...the woman who spoke drove me up the wall. She blathered on for over 4 minutes. She's the head of Tennis Australia, I believe...hey, look, we DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU. Utterly banal. Drove me away once I found out that, yes, Barty won. I will grant that inviting Goolagong to be a part of it was very cool. I vaguely recall enjoying watching her.

Scale differences. A QRF is at the unit level...platoons to companies. An RDF...the 82nd Airborne Division is an RDF. Division...3 levels of size larger than a company. https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/u-s-army-units-explained-from-squads-to-brigades-to-corps/

That won't help but let's face it. On the roster, next up would be...Blaine Gabbert. Yeah, that's a 6-win QB for ya. And 10 years in the league, so this isn't like a Daniel Jones or Ben's backup...name's escaping me. Long track record of Not Good. Oh...he's a free agent. But he'll be a cheap sign. And look at this list: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/quarterback/ Ben's gone. Next best is probably Dalton, and well, we saw what he could do. There's not one on that list that looks capable of making the playoffs, much less making a serious run. There's Watson, I suppose...if you dare. Rodgers is going to cost an arm, a leg, and your first born male child, we gotta think...do you really want to gut your team for the next 5 years to have 1 or 2 years of Rodgers? With all his baggage? And his age? Is he really going to fit? After those two, who's left? So...yeah, we won't know for a little while yet, but odds are the Bucs will be serious longshots to, say, win the conference.

TOO LATE!!!!! Well, TBH I saw them on SC last night. Not quite the worst color choice ever but probably top 15. Ya gotta admit, the list of candidates is horrifyingly long.

Just flashed across the ESPN bottom line.... Tom Brady has announced his retirement. So that's 40 years, almost 150,000 passing yards and over 400 regular season wins leaving. Did you know...not counting the season where he was injured so early....Brady won 10+ games 18 years in a row.....

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33169698/philadelphia-76ers-fan-taunted-lakers-carmelo-anthony-banned-indefinitely According to the story, this wasn't the fan's first offense by any means. I know had I been near him...if security asked for fan confirmation of his bad behavior, I'd give em chapter and verse. Fans think they've got herd camouflage....

Did he learn hits like that from Grayson Allen? Aussie Open: haven't seen Collins that much. My feeling is Barty in straights; she's just a big step up for Collins. That said, hey, Collins has taken advantage of the opportunities, climbing from #30 to #10, which is a massive jump, and bodes well for a great season. #10 will often mean a top-8 seed, as players above her sit out for one reason or another. That means there's no chance of facing another top seed until the quarters. Of course, women's tennis has an insane number of upsets every tournament, so maybe it doesn't mean as much. Nadal vs. Medvedev for the men. I rather dislike Medvedev, altho he came off rather better in the post-match after his QF I think...maybe he's loosening up, but that remains to be seen. And Rafa is Rafa. First to 21 would be great. Stat I saw from the semis...Federer and Virushead have 31 GS finals appearances, Nadal now has 30. Insane. I still largely expect Virushead will pass everyone eventually; Federer has age and health as 2 *big* limiters, and Nadal's got his own health concerns, and his style is so physical that they hinder him more, IMO.