Post originally by Seanchai at 2003-04-10 19:46:29
Converted from Phorums BB System

>>...but when players with mid-high level characters know that they don't have to worry about taking "just one" (or two, or three, or...) shotgun blasts from deranged cultists, you have a game that feels very different from the original.<<

Couple of things.

An attacker beating an target's AC isn't indicative of a solid hit. It can just as easily represent a pellet or two grazing one's elbow...

A shotgun blast deals 3d6 points of damage to targets within 25 ft.. Thus an average damage roll will trigger a Massive Damage Save every time.

An average 10th level character might have a Fort Save of +4 or +8 - a three in four or two in four chance of automatically dying when hit.

An average 15th level character might have a Fort Save of +6 or +10 - about a two in five or one in three chance of dying.

These aren't fantastic odds, particularly when even a slightly less than average shotgun blast will trigger a check.

Of course, none of this addresses the fact that the highest level NPC I've been able to find in a published product thus far is 10th level.

Also, the odds of surviving to reach 10th level - much less 15th level - are quite, quite low.

I have years of experience with BRP CoC. I also have run d20 CoC. The latter doesn't feel wrong because of my experience with the former -I've done the math and watched d20 after d20 character die at the hands of NPCs and Mythos beasties.

Seanchai