Experience with Comparative DX for Combat?

[TippetsTX]

I'm missing something then. How do "high-DX figures hit each other much less..." and visa versa with the low-DX fighters? Are you assuming in those statements that the DX values are both high (or low) but still unequal? 14 vs 15, for example?

One of the other things that bothered us in our playtesting was that a high-DX wizard gained a combat advantage over the lower-DX hero. That may just be a bias from other game systems, but it felt off somehow.

We also didn't like the way that it reveals a fairly important strength (or weakness) of one's opponent.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

I'm missing something then. How do "high-DX figures hit each other much less..." and visa versa with the low-DX fighters? Are you assuming in those statements that the DX values are both high (or low) but still unequal? 14 vs 15, for example?

No. With these house rules, figures with the same adjDX have to roll a 10 or less to hit each other, whether they are both adjDX 7 or both adjDX 18. Without the house rule, the adjDX <9 fighters miss each other a lot, and the adjDX 15+ fighters almost never miss each other.

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

One of the other things that bothered us in our playtesting was that a high-DX wizard gained a combat advantage over the lower-DX hero. That may just be a bias from other game systems, but it felt off somehow.

I didn't apply this house rule to spellcasting. In what way did they gain an advantage the way you played it?

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

We also didn't like the way that it reveals a fairly important strength (or weakness) of one's opponent.

Their adjDX? Yes, that's a point. Unless the GM handles the calculations.

[TippetsTX]

Originally Posted by Skarg

No. With these house rules, figures with the same adjDX have to roll a 10 or less to hit each other, whether they are both adjDX 7 or both adjDX 18. Without the house rule, the adjDX <9 fighters miss each other a lot, and the adjDX 15+ fighters almost never miss each other.

Yes, I definitely missed that rule.

Originally Posted by Skarg

I didn't apply this house rule to spellcasting. In what way did they gain an advantage the way you played it?

No, just talking about melee... DX 14 wizard with a dagger (or staff) vs adjDX 10 hero with a broadsword. Or even a DX 12 Fencer vs that same wizard. In both cases the heroes are at a disadvantage which seems off given their superior combat training.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

Yes, I definitely missed that rule.

Ok. I imagine I'd agree with your assessment of the house rule you were playing with.

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

No, just talking about melee... DX 14 wizard with a dagger (or staff) vs adjDX 10 hero with a broadsword. Or even a DX 12 Fencer vs that same wizard. In both cases the heroes are at a disadvantage which seems off given their superior combat training.

I don't see an issue with Chris' house rule there, but I could see expanding it to represent what you're pointing to, which seems to me like wanting combat talents to figure in. Perhaps daggers and weapons without talents would have less defensive effect, for example. In my own playtest experiments, I added options where a figure can forgo their defense to get a higher chance to hit, which the heroes facing wizards might well choose.