From:	David Buehrer <dbuehrer@******.CARL.ORG>
Subject:	Re: Number of Houser Rules
Date:	Mon, 5 May 1997 14:09:00 -0600

Court Schuett wrote:
)
)>Resisted tests use a base target number of 4.
)I'm confused, could you ellaborate on this. Generally, I think these are
)good changes, and I'll prolly implement them, so can you clarify?
)Thanks. :)

Okay, in your basic melee combat each side roles their skill vs a
target number of 4. The one that gets the most success hits the
other one. Everyone agrees that if you used the opposing skill
ratings as the TNs then the combat would be way overbalanced in favor
of the guy with the highest skill (more dice vs a lower target number).

However, the rules for resisted tests do exactly that. If you're arm
wrestling with someone you role a number of dice equal to your
strength vs a target number equal to his strength. He roles his
strength vs your strength. Whoever gets the most successes wins.
But, all you need is a difference of one for it to go out of wack. A
guy with strength of 5 vs a guy with strength 4 is going to win 9
times out of ten. This becomes a real problem when you've got a mage
throwing mana bolts. Typically it's manabolt 5 vs Willpower of 3.

But if you change it so that the base target number is a 4 for all
resisted tests, then the guy with the lower skill/attribute has a chance.

-David
--
"The thing with high-tech is that you always end up using scissors."