From:	Wafflemeisters <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject:	Re: Pool Use
Date:	Thu, 21 May 1998 16:05:24 -0500

> Re: Pool Use (was; Summer Time) (Mike Elkins , Wed 17:21)
>
> <Snip: Using one pool should reduce them all>
>
> You are correct. One of those factoids I learned studying cognitive
> science is that the more skilled you are in a task, the less concentration
> it takes.

Well,higher skill means you can do the same job (roll the same
dice)with less pool use- is that what you meant?
This does break down some for magic pool use, at least under SR2
rules..

>
> Wafflemeister's proposed rule is a good compromise between playability and accuracy,
although there are two features I don't like about it. Joe Mage (Magic Pool 8, Combat Pool
3): Spends his full attention dodging lead (spends 3 CP), but can still cast spells with
5MP. or Spends almost no attention on a spell (1MP) and looses a full 1/3 of his combat
pool. (this one isn't so bad, spliting ones > attention is hard).

NO, thats NOT how I wrote my proposal. His one MP die could come "off
the top" of his magic pool, notaffecting combat at all. Only if he uses
more than 5 magic dice would it cutinto his combat pool. Anypool dice
used from a pool of equal or smaller size reduce the other pools sizes.

Think of it this way:

Magic dice o o o o o o o o
Comabt dice o o o

Now, you can pull from the farthest right colum for any action.
Pulling combat would obviouslyaffect both rows- pulling magic usually
would NOT.
(Note that I would proabaly actually DO just this with some dice- I
actually keep special colored dice for my pools physically sitting on my
character sheet. Avoids ANY confusion as to available pool.)


> I can't think of a playable counter-proposal, however. If you don't mind
> doing some math during character creation you could change pools into
> "Cost Per Die".
<SNIP>
> As I said, I don't have a _playable_ alternate proposal.

No, that is NOT playable, and I CAN do math in my head. I just can't
remember multiple muti-digit numbars while trying to figure out sveral
other things; traking availible dicepoints would be a PAIN. :) Its the
right basic effect, but I actually like the effect I gave above (duh-
hence my posting it), especially for its easy "physical representation"
as digramed.


-Mongoose X