06-30-2009, 08:16 AM | #1 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
[Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Greetings, all!
MC27 notes that groups of monsters use IQ or Per ('Cunning' value) instead of Strategy when confronting strategists. However, it is unclear: under exactly what conditions is this allowed? And for cases where it normally isn't, what advantage would make it possible again? I'm wondering about the Rules Exemption/Extra Option Perk, but am not sure. This is mostly intended for modelling swarms, hords and Chaotic races. Thanks in advance! |
06-30-2009, 03:50 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Quote:
Just my opinion, Ghostdancer
__________________
My Twitter My w23 Stuff My Blog Latest GURPS Book: Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Thieves Latest TFT Book: The Sunken Library Become a Patron! |
|
07-01-2009, 03:18 PM | #3 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Well, I'm so unsure mostly because it creates a dilemma:
Price it as a Perk (or maybe a Feature as a Perk + Quirk), because it doesn't give much benefit to an individual unless a part of a swarm with the same perk. Or price it somehow else, because it allows bypassing a need for a central skill in warfare. |
07-01-2009, 08:19 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Quote:
Meh. Ghostdancer
__________________
My Twitter My w23 Stuff My Blog Latest GURPS Book: Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Thieves Latest TFT Book: The Sunken Library Become a Patron! |
|
07-01-2009, 09:30 PM | #5 |
Join Date: May 2008
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Any reason why you couldn't just use the Strategy skill and call it something else? Maybe base it on Perception and let it do a little less?
|
07-02-2009, 12:55 AM | #6 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Because the whole point of 'Cunning' is simulation of entities that don't rely on the Strategy skill.
|
07-02-2009, 05:58 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
I wonder if, at least realistically, such entities shouldn't be made to use Strategy at default anyway, and just have really excessive TS scores. Imagine how much more deadly Godzilla would be if operated as an organic supertank by a smart commander rather than rampaging as a dumb, angry lizard.
__________________
I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident. |
07-02-2009, 10:25 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
In many cases, it appears that the monsters have Affliction (Incompetence, Tactics), not any actual tactical skill of their own.
|
07-03-2009, 07:07 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: May 2008
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Quote:
Or is there something wholely different about the statistical applications of Cunning as opposed to Strategy, besides the description and name? If so, why not just make a new skill? Also, if this is for NPCs, and you're the GM, why does it even matter? If you want the enemies to do something, have them just do it, and call them cunning if anyone asks. If you need to roll for it, pick a good number that would be appropriate as a challenge and roll against that. |
|
07-04-2009, 02:29 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
|
Re: [Mass Combat] 'Battling Monsters', swarms/hordes and 'Cunning' . . .
Quote:
|
|
Tags |
cunning, horde, mass combat, swarms |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|