Problem with ranks vs. skill totals

**Eosin the Red** · 07-25-2003, 09:30 PM

r this one for some time. If you allow total skill, which is not bad for domain actions, then you have Units that will never fail rolls. I played the Mhor and my write up has him at Warcraft of 21 and Lead of 20 - I know other folks like Boeruine can generate a 25+ and the Gorgon could generate a 40+ Lead roll. This effectivly means his armies never fail morale when he is present or when Kiras (?) is present on the field. That can be considered good or bad?

On the War system -

There are 2 or 3 mass combat rules coming down the pike (Malhavoc "Cry Havoc," and Eden`s whose name I forget.) I am hoping that these will have so canabilizable material for BR war actions.

"Cry Havoc" is in PDF now - I will wait for print but if any of you get it and care to comment here it would be appreciated.

Eosin~Randy

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> This post was generated by the Birthright.net message forum.

> You can view the entire thread at:

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> Osprey wrote:

> Wow, talk about a never-ending list of postings! :)

>

> I`ve been running a D20 Birthright campaign for the last 6 months (since the playtest version came out). In my game, I decided that Regency collection should be based on ranks, not totals. Why? Because in some skills, like Diplomacy, it gets really easy to have high scores, thanks to multiple synergies (Bluff and Sense Motive), and the fact that many regents have good Charisma. So for the sake of game balance (because the average regent shouldn`t get full collection for all holding types), I left it at ranks. It keeps things somewhat class-based (i.e., clerics are good at running temples, rogues at running guilds, etc.), and keeps low-level regents from being the political equals of very high-level ones. Personally, I like this aspect of the rules as is.

> But when it comes to Synergies for Domain Actions, I decided to go with skill modifiers rather than ranks to determine synergy bonuses (+1 to the Domain action for every +5 in the relevant skill). I see these skill synergies as essential skills in governing a domain, and wanted to reward those with natural talents and enhancing feats. It tends to benefit those with high Intelligence and Charisma abilities, which only makes sense when considering what makes for a good ruler.

> As for compatibility with the Players` Handbook synergy rules, well...who cares? Domain Actions are quite a different world than normal skill use, so a different set of rules to govern them isn`t unreasonable.

> Hope my 2 cents was useful.

> Osprey

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**kgauck** · 07-25-2003, 10:44 PM

ge -----

From: "Eosin the Red" <eosin_the_red@COX.NET>

Sent: Friday, July 25, 2003 4:08 PM

> I have struggled over this one for some time. If you allow total skill,

> which is not bad for domain actions, then you have Units that will never

> fail rolls. I played the Mhor and my write up has him at Warcraft of 21

> and Lead of 20 - I know other folks like Boeruine can generate a 25+

> and the Gorgon could generate a 40+ Lead roll. This effectivly means

> his armies never fail morale when he is present or when Kiras (?) is

> present on the field. That can be considered good or bad?

I think its accurate, as long as units can still fail morale on a natural 1,

or because of magical fear effects which should require will saves. Its

also good for there to be modfiers for weather, terrain, and supply so that

a Hannibal type situation is not a gimmie.

Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com

**Birthright-L** · 07-26-2003, 09:33 AM

r />
> "Cry Havoc" is in PDF now - I will wait for print but if any of you get it

and care to comment here it would be appreciated.

>

> Eosin~Randy

I´m reading it right now. I´ll post something as soon as I try it.

Greetings,

Vicente

**Eosin the Red** · 07-27-2003, 04:29 AM

rd to reading your comments. I will likely buy it when

it is in soft back but I would like to know if it is useful to BR first.

Randy

----- Original Message -----

From: "Zaor" <zaor81@HOTMAIL.COM>

To: <BIRTHRIGHT-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>

Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 3:51 AM

Subject: Re: Problem with ranks vs. skill totals [36#1516]

> Hello,

>

> > "Cry Havoc" is in PDF now - I will wait for print but if any of you get

it

> and care to comment here it would be appreciated.

> >

> > Eosin~Randy

>

> I´m reading it right now. I´ll post something as soon as I try it.

> Greetings,

>

> Vicente

>

>

>

> Birthright-l Archives:

http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html

>

>

**DanMcSorley** · 07-27-2003, 04:49 AM

Eosin the Red wrote:

> Thanks, I look forward to reading your comments. I will likely buy it when

> it is in soft back but I would like to know if it is useful to BR first.

There`s preview of it, including an overview of the mass combat rules, on

http://www.montecook.com/

Like you, I`m waiting for the dead tree version, but it looks good.

--

Daniel McSorley