A while
back, I had asked about exploding dice for TORG in another forum and there was
mention that it could be handled through API scripting, along with the
corresponding bonus value translation.
Here’s my original request that was posted to the other forum:
I'm running a game (TORG) that uses a similar mechanic to the Shadowrun
exploding dice. However, the character re-rolls 10's and 20's on a d20 (instead
of just 20's) and adds all the rolls together as a single roll. Example: a roll
of a 20 [explodes], then a 10 [explodes], then a 17 is a single roll value of
47...
Here's
the bonus translation table:
The Bonus
Table:
Die Roll
1
2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11-12
Bonus
-12
-10
-8
-5
-2
-1
+0
Die Roll
13-14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Bonus
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
Die Roll
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
+5
Bonus
+8
+9
+10
+11
+12
+13
+1
Basically, for every 5 points over 50, add +1 to
the bonus.
Mechanics for a basic roll are: roll 1d20 and
convert to the bonus number from the table. If a 10 or 20 is rolled, add
that number and reroll again (as many times as a 10 or 20 comes up). See
my example above. Things start to get a bit funky when someone
"spends a Possibility point," which allows the player to roll again
and add to the previous roll total, but the minimum roll value of the second
roll will be 10, even if the actual die roll is lower. If they roll a 6,
for example, you add 10 to the previous roll, but a 12 still adds 12. The
same exploding on naturally-rolled 10's and 20's applies. Then, there are
cards that a player could conceivably use that can be used like a Possibility
(which could mean another roll, using the same Possibility rules). The final total is then translated to a bonus
value on the same table. Whether or not an individual is spending a
possibility and/or using a card isn't generally known before the first roll is
made, so if it's a separate API function, the original roll total(s) might need
to be input as a parameter. The final
translated bonus number is added to your skill, which is handled similar to
3.0/3.5/Pathfinder, where skill value is equal to ranks in the skill plus the
corresponding attribute value.
If the API could actually show the results of
each die roll, the total, and then the resulting bonus number, and resulting
skill total with bonus added that'd be great. (In my previous example, it
would show the 20, 10, and 17, the total of 47, and the bonus number of +13
that it translates to, X+13=Y for total skill attempt.)
To really push things, the previous information
assumes that the character has ranks in the skill they just attempted. If
they (or other “Possibility-rated” individuals) have no ranks in the skill,
only 10's explode, not the 20's. Non-Possibility-rated individuals don't
explode on any number if they're untrained in the skill. (All PC's are
considered Possibility-rated, so that case would only be for most "ordinary" opponents.)
To further complicate things, there are certain
skills that apply a -5 to the roll total if you attempt using them unskilled
(Pilot Air Vehicle, for example).
Keep in mind, this game was designed in the
90's, before anyone thought too much of making game mechanics more simplified.
Some people really like that aspect.
Don’t get me started on translating real-world measures (10 seconds, 60
mph, etc.) to game values and vice versa.
