[HR] Variant Heat and Cold rules.

Trachmyr · 08-18-2012, 11:23 PM

I'm looking at rebooting one of my favorite campaign settings, Clovis-Culture Nomadic Hunter/Gatherers. One of the things that has always bothered me about the setting is the low diversity of equipment for characters.

I've been working on custom design rules for TL0 weapons and clothing, with a lot of emphasis on character-created (rather than player created) items. While creating a custom Leather Clothing/Armor Creation system, it donned on me that I might get a lot more variation by changing how Clothing protects from the elements... rules-wise that is.

My idea is first to narrow the Comfort Zone of humans considerably, as it seems that this comfort zone assumes (it must assume) access to appropriate clothing. Second, is to streamline the Cold & Heat rules so that they assume a naked human. Then finally, to give each garment or outfit, an effective temperature modifier range. Basically, you can add a number within that range to actual temperature, to find if you make it to your comfort zone, and if not, what HT penalty you take to your rolls.

For instance, a normal human will have a range of 65 to 80 degrees for their comfort zone, although they can shift this slightly (by 5 degrees) and modify it with Temperature Tolerance (now 2/level, but available in half levels).

Lets take an example character "Tatanka", he has 1/2 level of Temperature Tolerance (Cold), giving him a comfort zone of 60 to 80 degrees. He wears Light clothing (Moccasins, Breechcloth, Leggins), but also has a heavier long bison-skin cloak. The Light Clothing offers a Temperature range of 0 to 5 degrees, the cloak when worn open offers a range of 5 to 10 degrees, and doubles that when pulled around him.

The day starts out at a pleasant 75, as Tatanka is wearing all regalia, his effective temperature is 80, within his comfort zone. By mid-day the temperature rises to 87. At this point Tatanka needs an HT roll if he is active, at a penalty equal to any encumbrance level. If he is still wearing his cloak, then his effective temperature becomes 92... now he needs a roll every 30 minutes regardless of activity, loses and extra point of fatigue from exertion or dehydration, and makes HT rolls at an additional -1 if active. By Nightfall, the temperature has dropped to a cool 58 degrees, but given his outfit, he stays quite comfortable. However, a coldfront moves in over the night, an he wakes to a chilly 40 degrees. His clothing and cloak can only bring him to 55, which would require an HT roll every 30, so he opts to pull his cloak around him and bump his effective temperature back up to 65, cool, but within his tolerance. A sound startles Tatanks from outside the dwelling, he grabs his spear and goes to investigate. The wind outside is a strong 30mph, making the temperature after the chill factor a brisk 28 degrees. Tatanka is outside some time scarring off raccons that have gotten into the food stores. He requires an HT roll after 15 minutes, if Tatanka had kept his cloak draped around him, his effective temperature would be 53 degrees, requiring an unmodified roll. But not wanting his arms and spear hindered, the cloak only offers partial protection, giving an effective Temperature of 43 degrees, requiring an HT-1 roll.

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So what are your thoughts on this, obviously this man vs. nature detail will be a focus for the setting, thus the detail warrented. Any suggestions, spot any issues?

Thanks in advance...

08-18-2012, 11:23 PM	#1
Trachmyr Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida	[HR] Variant Heat and Cold rules. I'm looking at rebooting one of my favorite campaign settings, Clovis-Culture Nomadic Hunter/Gatherers. One of the things that has always bothered me about the setting is the low diversity of equipment for characters. I've been working on custom design rules for TL0 weapons and clothing, with a lot of emphasis on character-created (rather than player created) items. While creating a custom Leather Clothing/Armor Creation system, it donned on me that I might get a lot more variation by changing how Clothing protects from the elements... rules-wise that is. My idea is first to narrow the Comfort Zone of humans considerably, as it seems that this comfort zone assumes (it must assume) access to appropriate clothing. Second, is to streamline the Cold & Heat rules so that they assume a naked human. Then finally, to give each garment or outfit, an effective temperature modifier range. Basically, you can add a number within that range to actual temperature, to find if you make it to your comfort zone, and if not, what HT penalty you take to your rolls. For instance, a normal human will have a range of 65 to 80 degrees for their comfort zone, although they can shift this slightly (by 5 degrees) and modify it with Temperature Tolerance (now 2/level, but available in half levels). Lets take an example character "Tatanka", he has 1/2 level of Temperature Tolerance (Cold), giving him a comfort zone of 60 to 80 degrees. He wears Light clothing (Moccasins, Breechcloth, Leggins), but also has a heavier long bison-skin cloak. The Light Clothing offers a Temperature range of 0 to 5 degrees, the cloak when worn open offers a range of 5 to 10 degrees, and doubles that when pulled around him. The day starts out at a pleasant 75, as Tatanka is wearing all regalia, his effective temperature is 80, within his comfort zone. By mid-day the temperature rises to 87. At this point Tatanka needs an HT roll if he is active, at a penalty equal to any encumbrance level. If he is still wearing his cloak, then his effective temperature becomes 92... now he needs a roll every 30 minutes regardless of activity, loses and extra point of fatigue from exertion or dehydration, and makes HT rolls at an additional -1 if active. By Nightfall, the temperature has dropped to a cool 58 degrees, but given his outfit, he stays quite comfortable. However, a coldfront moves in over the night, an he wakes to a chilly 40 degrees. His clothing and cloak can only bring him to 55, which would require an HT roll every 30, so he opts to pull his cloak around him and bump his effective temperature back up to 65, cool, but within his tolerance. A sound startles Tatanks from outside the dwelling, he grabs his spear and goes to investigate. The wind outside is a strong 30mph, making the temperature after the chill factor a brisk 28 degrees. Tatanka is outside some time scarring off raccons that have gotten into the food stores. He requires an HT roll after 15 minutes, if Tatanka had kept his cloak draped around him, his effective temperature would be 53 degrees, requiring an unmodified roll. But not wanting his arms and spear hindered, the cloak only offers partial protection, giving an effective Temperature of 43 degrees, requiring an HT-1 roll. ------------------- So what are your thoughts on this, obviously this man vs. nature detail will be a focus for the setting, thus the detail warrented. Any suggestions, spot any issues? Thanks in advance...