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research_todo [2025/06/08 12:27] – Ron Helwigresearch_todo [2025/07/04 20:42] (current) – Ron Helwig
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-====== Dice Systems ====== +# Things to Research
-The default seems obvious, use the d20 Test system as described in the 2024 D&D player's handbook. It is fairly simple and most people are used to it. However, it is very random - swingy is the word a lot of people use. Your ability to do stuff is based more on chance than on chosen skills. Perhaps a system that places more emphasis on skills than luck is worth a look.+
  
-Because of this I have been thinking about using d4s as a sort of pool. You would roll a number of d4s equal to your attribute modifier plus your proficiency bonus (if proficient), and add the results to see if you succeed. That works OK for skills, where not being proficient means you won't have a lot of dice so your chances are a lot lower. This makes your choice of skills to be proficient in more important.+This page lists unresolved questions and areas that still need development. Some items have been moved to their own pages or archived if resolved.
  
-But we could even apply this to attack rolls. Say you are using a longsword or battleaxe (both using a d8 for damage). If you have a strength modifier of +3 and a proficiency bonus of +2, then you would roll 5d4 to see if you meet or beat their armor class. But what if we also added the damage die to the same roll? Then you would roll 5d4+1d8, subtract the AC of the target, and any remainder is the damage done.+## Open Topics
  
-Similarly, a spellcaster using Fire Bolt would use their spell attack modifier as the number of d4s to roll, plus the d10 for the damage, totaling 5d4+1d10.+### Damage System Alternatives
  
-Advantage and Disadvantage would be affected by this. We likely wouldn't reroll the entire batch of dice, but maybe we would instead add another d4 and remove the lowest/highest for advantage/disadvantage. This could even stack advantage & disadvantage, where we would add a d4 for each stacking, and remove a number of high and low rolls accordingly.+Explore alternatives such as:
  
-Example of that last, what if they have advantage twice and disadvantage once? Assuming a standard 1st level character with a +3 modifier and +2 proficiency, they would be rolling 5d4. But with 2xadvantage and 1xdisadvantage they would add 3 more d4s, but remove the two lowest dice and the highest die.+#### Resistance and Vulnerability Shifting Wound Tier 
 +An alternative to halving or doubling the raw damage before comparing to thresholds would be simply reduce or increase the Wound Tier by one. This would be simpler and faster than even dividing or multiplying by 2, but leaves us with two questions: 
 +* Is it OK if Resistance shifts a Minor Wound down to No Damage? 
 +* What would happen to a Critical Wound with Vulnerability?
  
-For leveled spells that under normal rules have lots of damage (e.g. Guiding Bolt - 4d6) the caster might be allowed to use one of their rolled damage die to see if they hit, but then that die would not be included in the damage result. In the case of Guiding Bolt, they could add their highest roll, but that would mean their damage would be that much less. If instead they used a low roll die, their chance of hitting would be lower but the damage would be greater.+### Status Effects & Conditions
  
-That might be OK, but also the idea that spellcasters are just more powerful but limited by their spell slots is also a fine idea.+- Develop a standard list of **conditions** (e.g. frightened, slowed, exhausted) 
 +- Clarify how they interact with the damage/stress model 
 +- Should conditions stack or escalate?
  
-For savings throw based spells, there would be opposed rolls. The spellcaster would roll just like in an attack roll, including the option of using one of the damage die to increase their DC. The targets would need to meet or beat the rolled DC.+### Itemization & Economy
  
-This extra die, removed from the damage, would be called a Risk Die. It is not included in the damage done, but it helps make sure that the spell is successful.+- How modular should weapons and armor be? 
 +- Can weapons have thresholds, scaling damage severity? 
 +- How can crafting or upgrading work within this modular framework?
  
-See [[https://anydice.com/program/3c172]] for die results for rolling stats.+## Resolved Topics (Now Tracked Elsewhere)
  
-====== Damage Systems ====== +### ✅ Dice Pool Mechanics (Moved to: rules:dice_pool)
-We might want to use a different system than simple hit points. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Zney4NVB4]] for some good reasons why.+
  
-If we do, some sort of system like they use in Daggerheart or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEy3Ktb2ljA|Tales From Elsewhere damage]] might work.+We’ve adopted the **d4 pool system** instead of a flat d20 system. It:
  
-I'm thinking we still roll for the amount of damage, but use thresholds (like in Daggerheart) to determine if they are strain/stress, serious, or critical. I also like how TFE's resistance and vulnerability work, reducing or increasing the severity class.+- Encourages more consistent results (bell-curve-ish outcomes) 
 +- Makes skill investment matter more than luck 
 +- Integrates seamlessly with action economy (spendable d4s) 
 +- Replaces Action/Bonus action with diminishing dice per action
  
-This would also affect healing spells, requiring them to be rewritten. Perhaps a cantrip might eliminate one stress/strain, but can't help with serious or critical wounds. Healing Word or Cure Wounds might eliminate one serious or two strains. A second level spell would be required to eliminate critical wounds.+See the [Rules: Dice Pool](rules:dice_pool) page for complete details and current implementation.
  
-Glass cannons would have fewer slots, while fighters and barbarians might have a bunch.+<WRAP info>Historical note: rationale for this change, including discussion of risk dice, multi-die advantage/disadvantage, and AC subtraction can be found on the archived page: [Dice Rationale](design_archive:dice_rationale). 
 +</WRAP>
  
-It might help to have a way to record the effects, like TFE shows in their video, but that might get cumbersome unless there is a known set of conditions that get applied. But then without doing that this system just basically reverts back to a simplified HP attrition.+### ✅ Attribute Aspect Web (Moved to: rules:aspects)
  
-===== Further research ===== +We now use **15 Aspects**, derived from attribute pairings, in place of skills and saving throws.
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSoc2qFrRKE+
  
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nltDDXguhpE+This allows: 
 +- Smoother integration across all gameplay types 
 +- Granular character differentiation 
 +- A consistent mechanic for actions, saves, and concentration checks
  
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqvcgSeYL-k+See [Rules: Aspects](rules:aspects) for the full table and skill-mapping conversion.
  
-https://jfacegames.substack.com/p/health-systems-in-tabletop-rpgs-beyond +<WRAP info> 
-====== Further investigation ======+The original reasoning behind ditching traditional skills/saves is preserved at [Aspect Web Rationale](design_archive:aspect_rationale). 
 +</WRAP>
  
-[[https://www.daggerheart.com/|Daggerheart]] has a lot of cool ideas.+## Games & Systems for Reference
  
-Look into [[http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/|Spheres of Power]] and [[research/Crown and Skull]] (already downloaded the player's guide).+- [Daggerheart](research:daggerheart) 
 +- [Spheres of Power](http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/) 
 +- [Crown and Skull](research:crown_and_skull) 
 +- [DCC RPG](research:DCC) 
 +- [GURPS](research:GURPS) 
 +- [Knave 2](research:Knave%202) 
 +- Monte Cook’s *Cypher System* 
 +- <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_systems_in_games>
  
-Read [[research/DCC]] book+## Ideas to Explore Further
  
-[[research/GURPS]]+### Telegraphed Actions / Called Shots
  
-[[research/Knave 2]]+Idea: A character declares their next action at the end of their turn. If they follow through, they gain **advantage** (or bonus d4). If they change actions, they suffer **disadvantage** (or penalty).
  
-Look into Monte Cook’s Cypher System+- Could tie into a **called shot** mechanic for aimed attacks or spell prep 
 +- May interact with enemy AI or boss-phase design
  
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_systems_in_games+### Dash Username Integration (Decentralized Curation) 
 + 
 +Consider whether Dash usernames could function as identities for decentralized content curation. 
 + 
 +- Would allow creator attribution for shared rules/modules 
 +- Might simplify multiplayer content syncing across local copies 
 +- Ties into web-of-trust ideas for curated rule sets 
 + 
 +## Notes 
 + 
 +Archived rationale and deeper design essays are being moved to a new `design_archive:` namespace.
  
-====== Random Thoughts to Investigate and Integrate ====== 
-**Telegraphed actions:** The idea is that a player, NPC, or monster can gain advantage by telegraphing their intended action for the next turn. They state it on a turn, but don't actually do it until the next turn. If they perform that action they will get advantage on the D20 Test. If they do something else instead maybe they should have disadvantage? 
  
-Maybe this is how you do "called shots"?