{"id":96,"date":"2024-03-21T03:55:24","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T03:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/retroroleplayer.com\/?p=96"},"modified":"2024-03-21T03:55:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T03:55:24","slug":"3d6-the-myth-the-legend-the-intuitive-dice-mechanic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/retroroleplayer.com\/?p=96","title":{"rendered":"3d6: The Myth, The Legend, The Intuitive Dice Mechanic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Years ago when I was working on the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0ed. of Don\u2019t Look Back<\/em> (my supernatural and paranormal horror RPG), I came up with what a pretty novel and extremely easy to use core game mechanic. It was one of the things that the magazines really liked at the time. When I made the new third edition I opted to use use Lester Smith\u2019s D6xD6 rules because A) I really like them, and B) I wanted DLB to have more immediate material available. I still get people who bring it up the old mechanics from time to time and I may bring them back for a different project. I really need your help though to know if they have held up as well as I hope. If you like the core rules I present here, please feel free to use them in your personal games. If you\u2019d like to print it or do something more, give me a shout. Either way and even if you absolutely hate them, I\u2019d like to know what you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I created this core system because I felt that a lot of games were too complicated with special circumstances and mixed dice rolls that do weird things statistically. I wanted something that was intuitive and elegant where things simply worked without having to do a lot of referencing or complicated math.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skills and Abilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All characters have core abilities like Strength, Intelligence etc. and then learned skills like fighting, climbing, languages, stealth, etc. If I were doing this over again I think I\u2019d narrow the list to four basic attributes: PHYSICAL, MENTAL, MYSTICAL, and SOCIAL then as many skills as necessary including some customizations like \u201cFeats of Strength\u201d etc. that might give bonuses to the basic attributes in specific situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never liked making people flip through books looking at charts so I just made the score equal to the bonus or penalty. A character with an average trait would have a score of 0. An above average score might be +1 up to highly skilled being +2. Below average goes the other way from -1 and down. for somebody who\u2019s basically hopeless. Skills have scores like +1 up to +5 such as going from a yellow to a black belt. To do a task, you add the skill and attribute scores along with any special bonuses or penalties and that sum indicates if the character has a better or worse than average chance of success. If your PC was in a contest against another character, their opponent\u2019s scores may be used as penalties to your PC\u2019s rolls. If a thief was trying to pick a person\u2019s pocket, the victim\u2019s Perception may be reflected as a penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action Rolls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All resolutions are made with an Action Roll \u2013 skill use, combat, saving throws, contests etc. All Action Rolls are made with at least 3d6. You get to roll extra dice based on the sum of all those bonuses and penalties from before. If doesn\u2019t matter if the sum is a positive or negative number \u2013 as long as it isn\u2019t zero you roll extra dice. If the sum was -1 or +1 you would roll 4d6 instead of 3d6. If that sum of bonuses and penalties was positive, you\u2019d pick the three highest dice and add them together. If it was negative you\u2019d pick the three lowest dice and add them together. Anything over 10 is successful. The higher the result, the better the result. Rolling an 11 would barely make it, but rolling an 18 would be done with grace and finesse. Hitting someone with a roll of 18 does a lot more damage than with an 11. This was always one of the things that bothered me when I played most games — there was almost no connection at all between an attack or action roll’s result and the actual result like the amount of damage inflicted. Maybe a natural 20 gives you a bonus but a 19 is no better than a 14 in general. This never made sense to me so I wanted something where there was an inherent connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nerdy Stuff I Like About These Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n