Another Task System Idea

[RobertFisher]

Just a random thought that popped into my head recently: Instead of using Stat/5 or something similar as a DM, add a +1 DM if you roll the relevant stat or less on 2D.

Probably use the Bits CT target numbers.

e.g. (Using the Bits' example) Maria rolls 2D >= INT (10). If she rolls 10-, she gets a +1 DM to the task roll (2D + Forgery + 1 >= 12). Otherwise, it's just straight 2D + Forgery >= 12.

OK, so this slows things down a bit. You have to roll 4D instead of 2D & take the extra step of comparing 2 of the dice to the stat.

It's no worse than using a separate time roll, though.

On the positive side, it means every point of stat matters without the stat overshadowing skill.

 

[RobertFisher]

Just a random thought that popped into my head recently: Instead of using Stat/5 or something similar as a DM, add a +1 DM if you roll the relevant stat or less on 2D.

Probably use the Bits CT target numbers.

e.g. (Using the Bits' example) Maria rolls 2D >= INT (10). If she rolls 10-, she gets a +1 DM to the task roll (2D + Forgery + 1 >= 12). Otherwise, it's just straight 2D + Forgery >= 12.

OK, so this slows things down a bit. You have to roll 4D instead of 2D & take the extra step of comparing 2 of the dice to the stat.

It's no worse than using a separate time roll, though.

On the positive side, it means every point of stat matters without the stat overshadowing skill.

 

[aramis]

Robert:

Interesting idea... but the limmit of DM+1 is a bit low, woudn't you think? Especially since most CT "tasks" have a DM-1 or more for a low, and a DM+1 or more for a high att, for a 3 point range.

here's a couple thoughts/eleaborations:
If 2x throw of dice still less, then DM+2?
If each die is individually higher than att, DM-1

 

[aramis]

Robert:

Interesting idea... but the limmit of DM+1 is a bit low, woudn't you think? Especially since most CT "tasks" have a DM-1 or more for a low, and a DM+1 or more for a high att, for a 3 point range.

here's a couple thoughts/eleaborations:
If 2x throw of dice still less, then DM+2?
If each die is individually higher than att, DM-1

 

[RobertFisher]

Good ideas.

I was using the CT portion of the BITS task system as a baseline. It doesn't give any DMs based on stats.

Having a way to give a +2 would also be good to differentiate scores over 11.

I might go with a straight "make by 5 points" or something, though. "Make by 10" would be easy.

In any case, you could record the "+2" target numbers next to the stats on your char record.

 

[RobertFisher]

Good ideas.

I was using the CT portion of the BITS task system as a baseline. It doesn't give any DMs based on stats.

Having a way to give a +2 would also be good to differentiate scores over 11.

I might go with a straight "make by 5 points" or something, though. "Make by 10" would be easy.

In any case, you could record the "+2" target numbers next to the stats on your char record.

 

[Flynn]

Isn't that a lot of extra rolls, though? The more rolls you make, the more it bogs down gameplay, unless you like rolling dice a lot, that is. For me, I prefer to resolve the action and move on. That's why I'm a fan of the MT Task Resolution, though I've seen some interesting mods for it online.

My two credits anyway,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

Isn't that a lot of extra rolls, though? The more rolls you make, the more it bogs down gameplay, unless you like rolling dice a lot, that is. For me, I prefer to resolve the action and move on. That's why I'm a fan of the MT Task Resolution, though I've seen some interesting mods for it online.

My two credits anyway,
Flynn

 

[Malenfant]

The time roll bugs me in the MT system... I think I'd rather have it so that the assumed time is 10 times that number, and every point you beat the skill roll by reduces that time by one increment.

 

[Malenfant]

The time roll bugs me in the MT system... I think I'd rather have it so that the assumed time is 10 times that number, and every point you beat the skill roll by reduces that time by one increment.

 

[Flynn]

That's one shortcut I've heard some people use, and easy enough to implement on your own.

-Flynn

 

[Flynn]

That's one shortcut I've heard some people use, and easy enough to implement on your own.

-Flynn

 

[aramis]

Flynn: In MT, I have players use 5d6; every roll. whether I'm worried about time or not... usually 3red (Roll low for time), 2 white (for success).

Tyical task roll discussion:
I ID task: 3 sec
They grab dice 1-6 sec
Shake and roll: 2-3 sec
sort dice: 2-3 sec
Check success: 2-3 sec
check time 4-6 sec.
I state results: 5sec to several minutes.

Now, just for a fun bit of trivia here:
comparisons on average, take about 1-2 seconds per comparison.
Adding two numbers 0.5 to 1.5 sec (typical, for 1-2 place numbers)
Subtracting two numbers: 1-2 sec (1-2 place minus a 1 place number)
Rote memorization of multiplication recall: typically about 1-3 sec.
totalling 2d: 1-5 sec, depending on individual and dice marking type, median about 2
Totalling 3d: 1-20 sec, again by dice marking and individual.
median about 4 sec.
gathering thrown dice 2-10 sec+0.5-5 sec per die after seccond, by # thrown, distance, surfacce type

So the extra dice, if in the main throw, as differenced dice, it adds about 4-10 sec to each task throw for just one comparison; but only 5-12 sec for a double compare, and 6-15 sec for a triple compare; not really a whole lot. (Mind you, my numbers are derived from timing my players and elementary school kids; both samples are congruent.

Mal: I often use a # of time increments =11-assets, rather than a time roll, when dealing with new players.

 

[aramis]

Flynn: In MT, I have players use 5d6; every roll. whether I'm worried about time or not... usually 3red (Roll low for time), 2 white (for success).

Tyical task roll discussion:
I ID task: 3 sec
They grab dice 1-6 sec
Shake and roll: 2-3 sec
sort dice: 2-3 sec
Check success: 2-3 sec
check time 4-6 sec.
I state results: 5sec to several minutes.

Now, just for a fun bit of trivia here:
comparisons on average, take about 1-2 seconds per comparison.
Adding two numbers 0.5 to 1.5 sec (typical, for 1-2 place numbers)
Subtracting two numbers: 1-2 sec (1-2 place minus a 1 place number)
Rote memorization of multiplication recall: typically about 1-3 sec.
totalling 2d: 1-5 sec, depending on individual and dice marking type, median about 2
Totalling 3d: 1-20 sec, again by dice marking and individual.
median about 4 sec.
gathering thrown dice 2-10 sec+0.5-5 sec per die after seccond, by # thrown, distance, surfacce type

So the extra dice, if in the main throw, as differenced dice, it adds about 4-10 sec to each task throw for just one comparison; but only 5-12 sec for a double compare, and 6-15 sec for a triple compare; not really a whole lot. (Mind you, my numbers are derived from timing my players and elementary school kids; both samples are congruent.

Mal: I often use a # of time increments =11-assets, rather than a time roll, when dealing with new players.

 

[Flynn]

Aramis,

That's a nice way to cut down on the added time expense of making two rolls instead of one. (As the characters in my weekly 3E game start to cross the line into Epic, the number of die rolls and how multiple rolls slow down game play seriously comes to the fore.)

Thanks for sharing that with us,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

Aramis,

That's a nice way to cut down on the added time expense of making two rolls instead of one. (As the characters in my weekly 3E game start to cross the line into Epic, the number of die rolls and how multiple rolls slow down game play seriously comes to the fore.)

Thanks for sharing that with us,
Flynn

 

[aramis]

Flynn:

Until I started talking with people on the boards (Methodologies were not a big issue on the XBML nor TML during the years I was on them, at least until T4), I had thought that methodology to be completely self-evident... as almost everybody I knew playing MT was doing the same whether or not I gamed with them....

 

[aramis]

Flynn:

Until I started talking with people on the boards (Methodologies were not a big issue on the XBML nor TML during the years I was on them, at least until T4), I had thought that methodology to be completely self-evident... as almost everybody I knew playing MT was doing the same whether or not I gamed with them....

 

[Flynn]

Hehehe, some of us are just a bit too linear in thought. The flowchart says it's two rolls, so we made two rolls. Now that I'm older, I have experience to draw on that would have led me to that, were I still able to play MT on the tabletop. *sigh*

Before T20, MT was my favorite rules system for Traveller. However, T20 gives me players, so I have to go where the action is.

Thanks,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

Hehehe, some of us are just a bit too linear in thought. The flowchart says it's two rolls, so we made two rolls. Now that I'm older, I have experience to draw on that would have led me to that, were I still able to play MT on the tabletop. *sigh*

Before T20, MT was my favorite rules system for Traveller. However, T20 gives me players, so I have to go where the action is.

Thanks,
Flynn