Post originally by Roy Morgan at 2004-09-27 14:49:19
Converted from Phorums BB System

"But the truth is that the new combat is not making it easier to hit someone with higher damage weapons. It takes combat rounds holistically.. that is: it is easier to -hurt- someone with said weapon.

You very well might be hitting them MORE often with the other weapons, but not doing any signifigant damage. The fact is that when all is said and done, it isn't simulating hit and damage any more its simulating TOTAL RESULT FROM CONFLICT."

Wrong.

It's worth saying again: YOU CAN'T INJURE SOMEONE WITH A WEAPON IF YOU CAN'T HIT THEM WITH IT!

But in effect, if not in intent, the largest, heaviest, hardest-to-use melee weapons in this system are more likely to actually hit because the dice pools are loaded in favor of the them by virtue of the fact that they do more damage. MBM's chainsaw example illustrates the biggest logic hole I've seen in a system since the 80's. Holistic approach? More like fuzzy logic, particularly considering the fact that the system still uses combat rounds instead of just getting the whole fight over with in one roll. MBM's description of firearms combat only highlights how ludicrous the system is as-written. Bill Bridges did a fantastic job on Fading Suns, but he should have looked to his own work for inspiration when he wrote the combat engine for this game.

"Also, consider the fact that bruising damage is gone quickly."

The most dangerous weapons in this system are battle axes and two-handed swords, with the system configured this way. And they don't do bruising damage, Einstein.

"And that combat is designed to NOT be the focus for the game."

Fine. But the combat system should still work. As written, it doesn't. I've tried a playtest with a mechanic involving holding the damage rating in reserve until the actual skill roll is resolved, and then applying it, and it worked a lot better than the system does as written. And, essentially, it's no more complicated for something that works so much better.

"It's like the anti-d20."

Normally, as one of that system's most ardent critics, I'd be glad to hear that. But that's the biggest 'glittering generality' I've ever seen, even if it is accurate. With time and tweaking, the new WOD could live up to that statement.