In YotZ is a "miss" an actual "miss" or could it be a hit that causes no appreciable damage?

If those are misses, then I agree -- that's not very realistic sounding at all.

Quote from: StuartIn YotZ is a "miss" an actual "miss" or could it be a hit that causes no appreciable damage?

If those are misses, then I agree -- that's not very realistic sounding at all.

It is basic D20 rules.

And when a 1st level character, aims for a specific body part there are minuses that apply.

An average Classic Zombie has a Defense of 11
The first level Smart Ordinary has a BAB of 0
This particular character had a Dex or 8 so -1
Aiming for the neck is a -8

So,

With a total defense of 18 that left it so the player needed to roll a 20.

That is the mechanics of it anyway.

If he had just said, "I am swinging at the zombie", then he would not have had the -8.

Also, keep in mind that the Zombie is not just standing there, sticking out his neck. It was trying to Bash and Bite the guys brains out, which means the character is also trying to not get hit while he is attacking. If the player said, "I will just stand there and let it attack me so I get a better shot at his neck" then I might have said, "ok" and given him additional bonuses to hit. But be damn sure the Zombie would have gotten a FREE attack of opportunity and it would have been an automatic hit.

If there is any unrealism, then take it up with WotC.

-RangerJim

Quote from: RangerJimIt is basic D20 rules.

And when a 1st level character, aims for a specific body part there are minuses that apply.

An average Classic Zombie has a Defense of 11
The first level Smart Ordinary has a BAB of 0
This particular character had a Dex or 8 so -1
Aiming for the neck is a -8

So,

With a total defense of 18 that left it so the player needed to roll a 20.

That is the mechanics of it anyway.

If he had just said, "I am swinging at the zombie", then he would not have had the -8.

Also, keep in mind that the Zombie is not just standing there, sticking out his neck. It was trying to Bash and Bite the guys brains out, which means the character is also trying to not get hit while he is attacking. If the player said, "I will just stand there and let it attack me so I get a better shot at his neck" then I might have said, "ok" and given him additional bonuses to hit. But be damn sure the Zombie would have gotten a FREE attack of opportunity and it would have been an automatic hit.

If there is any unrealism, then take it up with WotC.

-RangerJim

Well, I do have issues with WotC, and D&Disms from the ground up, and I take it up with them through the expidence of not buying as much of their products as I might otherwise.  So that's all good.  Of course, now I gotta wonder, since you were making characters based off the players how you decided everyone was level one? :eyecrazy:

Of course, seeing a whopping -8 penalty to hit the neck, next you gotta ask yourself, why keep going for the aimed shot???

"Smart hero" lol

Unfortunately, creating a smart hero rarely seems to add any smarts to the player.

Quote from: James McMurrayUnfortunately, creating a smart hero rarely seems to add any smarts to the player.

The question is this: What smart player would EVER play a smart hero?

The guy that wants the class abilities and skill list?

I actually intend on doing an expanded "explanation/optional rules" writeup in the January issue of Survivor's Guide to Risen America.

I'll be expanding on "normal zombies" and the called shot table. (BTW-I pulled the called shot rules right out of the 3.0 DMG and slightly modded them)

Mostly, slight variations on the slow shambler and how to handle "Swing at the neck, hit the body" stuff, AND I'm thinking about adding random hit locations for wild fire, but I might address that in the Feb issue, along with "Frenzied Zombies" workup.

And for those who have the stuff, and don't want to bother with the Survivor's Guide, I'll be putting out the zombie variations and the modded rules in a small booklet about June.

BTW-Merry Christmas Guys!

Quote from: SpikeOf course, now I gotta wonder, since you were making characters based off the players how you decided everyone was level one? :eyecrazy:

I just made up the following table and put it in my House rules:

Player Age..........Character Level
12 – 19..........................1
20 – 27..........................2
28 – 35..........................3
36 +..............................4

And used the following for a guide on stats:

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/terragf/back/xstattest.html

-RangerJim

Quote from: RangerJimI just made up the following table and put it in my House rules:

Player Age..........Character Level
12 – 19..........................1
20 – 27..........................2
28 – 35..........................3
36 +..............................4

And used the following for a guide on stats:

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/terragf/back/xstattest.html

-RangerJim

That's some mighty harsh scaling unless you planned on taking into account other 'expirences'.  I mean, a 30 year old pothead living in his mother's basement? I'm cool with that guy being level 1 or 2 and 3 might be a stretch, while the 25 year old who  lived on the streets as a teenager, joined the military and served overseas might easily be level 5 or more...

Maybe.

Of course, the entire concept reminds me Timelords, which had stat tests and voting as the character creation mechanic... in theory the ONLY way to play was to make yourself... fun times.  Nothing like making guys stand there with milk jugs full of water at full arm extension to figure out their strength to make for a fun character creation system.  Of course, oddly, their strength test was more an endurance test, but hey!

Quote from: RangerJimI just made up the following table and put it in my House rules:

Player Age..........Character Level
12 – 19..........................1
20 – 27..........................2
28 – 35..........................3
36 +..............................4

And used the following for a guide on stats:

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/terragf/back/xstattest.html

-RangerJim

Have you thought about using a skill based system? They seem to make creating the players a lot easier.

Quote from: James McMurrayHave you thought about using a skill based system? They seem to make creating the players a lot easier.

Nope, I like D20 and all of my players are D&D 3.5 players so it was an easy conversion for their minds to handle.

Besides, we were mostly using themselves as a template since once the game was underway they could add feats and skills as they wanted.

-RangerJim

Cool. Just a suggestion.

Quote from: SpikeYou obviously haven't seen the video of the muslim trying out the shotgun and being blown back into the door of the indoor shooting range.. that was awesome

Link! Goddamnit link!

Quote from: Mystery ManLink! Goddamnit link!

So.  What you are saying is that I need to go through the mountain of archive'd CD's I have, prey I actually kept a copy through 6 years and four moves, and figure out this intarweb well enough to post it somewhere and link it?


I hate you now. Just so you know.