Casting Shadows

Week 4: Which         Prompt 21: Which dice mechanics appeal to you?

Today’s prompt for Day 21 of #RPGaDay2018 concerns dice mechanics, but if you are into games which do not use them, it is of course totally appropriate to substitute whatever mechanic is responsible for determining outcomes in times of uncertainty, but keep in mind that tomorrow’s question focuses specifically on that.

I oppose

One of my favorite dice mechanics in RPGs is the Opposed Roll. If you are unfamiliar with this type of roll or know it by another name, this is where two or more sides roll to determine who among them will, in a manner of speaking, achieve the goal that they all seek.

EXAMPLE: Debate in Mythras
One character is testing their skill as an orator versus another, both trying to sway the opinion of the audience.

Both characters are rolled for in tandem, each player seeking a better degree of success than the other, or if they both attain the same degree of success, a better performance inside that degree.

Analog

I like this method because it finds a visceral way to pit skill against skill in a situation and as the dice are rolled can even come to be a sort of physical metaphor for the actions taking place in our imaginations. It allows a visible contest between the traits of the characters to be played out in the minds and on the table of the players, while helping to increase the dramatic tension in so doing.

Tomorrow

We continue the fourth week, “which,”  and dip into our card decks, bidding pools, and other non-polyhedral methods of task resolution. The prompt for Wednesday, Day 22 of #RPGaDay2018 is to discuss non-dice systems that we enjoy.

YouTube

As has been my habit since the second year of #RPGaDay, I am also keeping pace with the prompts on video. The content of the videos and the blog overlaps, but is not exactly the same, and where the greater emphasis on detail resides varies from day to day.

#RPGADAY 2018

This is the fourth week of the fifth iteration of the monthly roleplaying gaming celebration launched by Autocratik for all forms of social media. Share your responses however you prefer to share. If you want to get involved, grab and share the infographic with the prompts and jump right in!