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What causes the resistance, to d100 % Dice adoption throughout RPGs?

Started by Man at Arms, August 09, 2024, 05:38:41 PM

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Man at Arms

Quote from: jeff37923 on August 09, 2024, 10:55:22 PM
Quote from: Man at Arms on August 09, 2024, 05:38:41 PMd100 % Dice can do everything well. 

Finite Detail?  Yes. 
General Pass / Fail?  Yes.
Easy to Read and Understand?  Yes.

Why haven't d100 % Dice Mechanics become more universal, in RPGs?

Six sided dice are more common and familiar to people.


I love d6 action, myself.  I don't mind d20, either.  Especially d20 roll under ability scores.  But I could embrace d100, and never look back.  I read where people  in general, often complain about d100; but it just seems like d20 with more granularity, or finite detail.

Trond

Well, people like variety (see e.g. Savage Worlds) and D20 systems came earlier.

But I do think D100, as used in e.g. Runequest, is pretty awesome. And the granularity was used creatively from the start in that game. E.g. if you have 80% in spear, a D100 roll of less than 16% (1/5 of 80) is an impale, and less than 4% (1/20 of 80) is a critical hit. 

That's not to say you can't do similar things in other systems, but the way it works in RQ is pretty neat. 

Steven Mitchell

Part of the resistance to d100 is really resistance to roll under.  The two often go together, because rolling under your percentage is one of the best things about d100 for new players.  Even complete novices that are math challenged have some idea of what a skill of 55% means.

You should not discount personal taste in that equation, either.  I rather like d100, except for the multiple dice for every check thing. However, I have a strong, negative feel to any roll under mechanic.  It's a testament to how well Runequest works, that I like it a lot despite the roll under. 

Man at Arms

You have a 90% chance of success.  Roll 90 or under, and you're all good.

That's so dang simple, and it's not just a target number; it's the actual percentage chance of success, at the same time.

However, I completely appreciate the concept of personal preference.

For example: I love the d6 mechanic in Tiny Dungeon.

Roll 2 d6.  If either one shows a 5 or 6, you succeed.  Have Advantage?  Roll 3 d6.  Have Disadvantage?  Roll 1 d6.

That's fun, and I don't even know what the actual chances of success are, above 1 d6?

tenbones

Let me preface this with the fact that one of my go-to games that I run consistently is a d100 game (Marvel Superheroes/Heroic).

I think the problem is that many players/GM's feel d100 is "swingy". And while statistically this is no different, per se, than any other set of statistical probabilities, it *feels* swingy.

MSH mitigates a lot of this with its Karma system. I think this is one of those times where metacurrencies are good for the game. But of course it opens up other potential issues on the GM side to be wary of.

I'm enamored with Runescape/Mythras, but I've yet to actually run it.

Mishihari

Doing math with number 1-20 is easier than doing math with numbers 1-100. 

GeekyBugle

What does 0+00 read like?

Ask that on some social media and you'll get ONE reason, people who have been playing for years don't know how to read the d%
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Opaopajr

Also too many d% games rely on starting very low combat % and expect people (GM included) to maturely run dice tests only as necessary -- which since combat is typically explicitly life and death this gets lost in nuanced translation. So you get much whiffing, more whiffing than the typical AC 10 (WotC 50% or TSR 55%) threshold. Given people dislike unclear instructions, required experienced nuance, and much whiffing, it's not a surprise CoC and other d% starting you at 20% or 30% Punch, Kick, & Shoot is not garnering as much enthusiasm to switch. CoC is popular because you're expected to die, heroic in spite of the odds, so flailing is excused. But if you don't understand the conceits on system methodology it'd be hard to see using this system for other things and satisfied watching repeated failure.

Baseline, majority of humans like just enough failure and just enough success. The answer is around 2/3s success rate 66%, with a 15% swing plus or minus, to feel fair yet thrilling. That's where the game is; design from there. Everything else is fighting against nature and obfuscating expectations. Yes, eventually even this will get boring for some, but some is not the majority. ;) Want popularity, there it is.
Just make your fuckin\' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what\'s interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it\'s more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
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HappyDaze

Quote from: GeekyBugle on August 10, 2024, 02:19:54 AMWhat does 0+00 read like?

Ask that on some social media and you'll get ONE reason, people who have been playing for years don't know how to read the d%
It depends on the game. I know of one game where it's "0" as the die result range is set for 0-99 and it's roll under (not equal to or under). However, for  most games I'm aware of, it's treated as "100"

ForgottenF

Quote from: Opaopajr on August 10, 2024, 02:44:09 AMAlso too many d% games rely on starting very low combat % and expect people (GM included) to maturely run dice tests only as necessary -- which since combat is typically explicitly life and death this gets lost in nuanced translation. So you get much whiffing, more whiffing than the typical AC 10 (WotC 50% or TSR 55%) threshold. Given people dislike unclear instructions, required experienced nuance, and much whiffing, it's not a surprise CoC and other d% starting you at 20% or 30% Punch, Kick, & Shoot is not garnering as much enthusiasm to switch.

Warhammer Fantasy 4th edition is another game where a starting character is likely to have skill percentages in the 30s, but a standard difficulty test is at +20% to compensate. I once played with a GM who just didn't get that, and so he functionally made every Test at "challenging" difficulty. It was quite annoying.

jeff37923

Quote from: Man at Arms on August 09, 2024, 11:20:45 PM
Quote from: jeff37923 on August 09, 2024, 10:55:22 PM
Quote from: Man at Arms on August 09, 2024, 05:38:41 PMd100 % Dice can do everything well. 

Finite Detail?  Yes. 
General Pass / Fail?  Yes.
Easy to Read and Understand?  Yes.

Why haven't d100 % Dice Mechanics become more universal, in RPGs?

Six sided dice are more common and familiar to people.


I love d6 action, myself.  I don't mind d20, either.  Especially d20 roll under ability scores.  But I could embrace d100, and never look back.  I read where people  in general, often complain about d100; but it just seems like d20 with more granularity, or finite detail.

Sometimes that extra granularity slows down actual play. Which do you find faster? D6, d20, or d100 roll mechanics?
"Meh."

Theory of Games

1% chance of rolling a 100 on 1d100. 5% chance of rolling a 20 on 1d20. Plus d100 always roll off the table  and then ya gotta find em.

TTRPGs are just games. Friends are forever.

Omega

Quote from: GeekyBugle on August 10, 2024, 02:19:54 AMWhat does 0+00 read like?

Ask that on some social media and you'll get ONE reason, people who have been playing for years don't know how to read the d%

Was going to post exactly this. The number of idiots who just flat out seem to willfully misread percentile dice as 00-99 is pathetic.

GeekyBugle

Quote from: Omega on August 11, 2024, 08:09:59 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on August 10, 2024, 02:19:54 AMWhat does 0+00 read like?

Ask that on some social media and you'll get ONE reason, people who have been playing for years don't know how to read the d%

Was going to post exactly this. The number of idiots who just flat out seem to willfully misread percentile dice as 00-99 is pathetic.

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 10, 2024, 03:26:16 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on August 10, 2024, 02:19:54 AMWhat does 0+00 read like?

Ask that on some social media and you'll get ONE reason, people who have been playing for years don't know how to read the d%
It depends on the game. I know of one game where it's "0" as the die result range is set for 0-99 and it's roll under (not equal to or under). However, for  most games I'm aware of, it's treated as "100"

Actually reading it like 00-99 while not the original way still gives you 100 possible outcomes...

I was talking about the real idiots that go 00-100, which is 101 possible outcomes and requires an exception to get 100 but nothing beyond that.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Eric Diaz

I think people just use the d20 because D&D is the most popular game.

The d100 is great.

Although it requires two dice, and the d20 could be popular precisely because it is the biggest dice you can roll alone (I have a d30, it looks a bit clumsy but could work too).

My particular issue is that I have a player that always "forgets" which dice is the tens...
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