Castles and Crusades SEIGE Engine .... and Others

Message:


This is the Troll Lords twist on the 5E thing.

To summarize:

In 5E:

Referee picks a challenge difficulty .... say 15 for Moderate (don't remember the number, making it up). It's just a rough guestimate from a table of examples.

Player adds appropriate stat to the roll. For example, to pick lock, add DEX modifier. My dex is 16, so add +2.

If appropriate, add your proficiency bonus which is a number based on your level. I'm a high level thief, so, I should add that. It's a little table that you cross reference your level to get you "Proficiency Bonus". So, like +2 for level 1 toon.

Ref Says: Difficulty 15
Player does math: +2 for Dex of 16. +2 for Proficiency bonus from level 1. Add D20 roll. High = good. So, player is adding total of +4.

Therefore, 11 or higher is a success.

Roll twice with advantage. Take higher.

Can do "Opposed Rolls" as well.

(Note: You have on your character sheet, the 25 or so "skills" which you indicate if you have Proficiency.)

In Troll Lords C&C

If the task/skill is your "Primary Stat", so like Dex for Thieves, you start with an 12.

"Primary Stat" is the 1 critical stat for your class. (Human are allowed to pick 2.)

If the task/skill is not, you start with 18.

Ref decides if task is Easy to Very Hard (1 to 6). Add to Target above.

If Ref thinks appropriate, add level.

So: Primary Stat for Lockpick (Thief) = 12. Challenge Rating = Moderate (3). Target is now 15.

Player has +2 Dex (16 Stat) and level 1

So, the target is 12 + 3 - 2 -1 = 12.

(I could have fudged the numbers to match but hope the math is reasonably clear.)

Two ways of getting to the same thing. This is the "modern" RPG mechanic. For saves, for example, use Wisdom / Intelligence for Spells. Dex for Petrification.

"To Hit" is just use your Strength or Dex depending on weapon.

{b>Miscellaneous Other

Benevolent Dictator: Ref sets Target Number. Roll a die. (See Professor DM.)

ICRPG: Target number is set for everything in the encounter. Everything in this encounter is a 14 .... climbing a wall, hitting someone, surviving poison, etc. etc.

In "modern" game, the "Raw" Stat ... the 3-18 score is not used once you get your modifier. In fact, when you fill out your "modern" character sheet, that 3-18 goes in the smaller box as opposed to the calculated mod in the "big box".

Some systems just skip the raw score all together. You get two +1's, one +2, and one +3. Put them where you want. (Maze Rats, Knave).

The OSR Hacks do use the "Roll Under" on stats. Tried and true.


We used to just say, if you roll good, something good happens. If you roll bad, something bad happens.

As it has been shown by analysis, your chance to succeed remains pretty constant at ~ 40%. The player thinks they are doing something and the game moves along. (One would ask, why not skip the fluff and call it 12 off the top and get it done.)


PS: Forgive if I have remembered a detail wrong. Feel free to correct. Just showing the differences of a few systems.



Yours,