07-02-2011, 05:51 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
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House Rules for Fatigue Points
So, I''ve been dabbling in GURPS for about two years now, and I'm finding that in the games I've played, which are pretty much magic-free, Fatigue Points are a largely useless mechanic. Does anyone have any advice on how to bring them into game?
I've been thinking of house ruling things that would turn them into a wannabe action point system, but that's about all I've got. So, I'm turning it to those amoung you who are wiser than I in the ways of General Universal Role Playing Systems. Any ideas you can share? |
07-02-2011, 05:56 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Göttingen, Germany
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
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Apart from that, I'd agree, FP are not of very much use normally, maybe sometimes for hiking or running but that's not much. Though as the GM you can apply "stress rules" like it is mentioned in Tactical Shooting, so being alert and in "action time" also costs FP. |
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07-02-2011, 06:37 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Midwest, USA
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
We use the crap out of extra effort in combat. Also, we use a lot of magic.
I guess you could have an enemy with an Innate Attack that drains fatigue if you're wanting to work them into a session.
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. "How the heck am I supposed to justify that whatever I feel like doing at any particular moment is 'in character' if I can't say 'I'm chaotic evil!'"? —Jeff Freeman |
07-02-2011, 07:10 PM | #4 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
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07-02-2011, 07:11 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: FL
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
Two ideas that should fit into most campaigns:
a) Running away from more powerful opponents or people who you don't want to see you (cops, monsters, etc.), out running a boulder, or chasing down a witness. b) Missing sleep to either sneak into a place at night or get to someone early in the morning on their way to work. |
07-02-2011, 08:16 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
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07-02-2011, 09:45 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Heartland, U.S.A.
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
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It wasn't until our Martial Arts campaign that FP became an issue, and then it became a major issue. Check out Extra Effort in Combat: B357 and MA131. We were all down to half FP or less after most combats. Of course, if your PCs rarely engage in melee combat (or cast spells), then Evil Roy Slade is right, it'll be pretty much up to you to contrive situations to sap them of FP.
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07-02-2011, 09:48 PM | #8 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
I'm not sure missing sleep, lifting heavy stuff, running, dehydration and starvation are altogether that contrived. Anymore than adventuring is contrived to begin with. The (thankfully) few real-life "adventures" I've had certainly involved those things, and most good adventure fiction does too.
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07-02-2011, 10:08 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: GMT-5
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
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Here's an old post of mine on the subject. In our games, FP are vary important. And we don't even use the Extra Effort in combat rules anymore. Food and sleep are the main things. Fright Checks often drain FP too as does sickness and extreme temperature. Dehydration is wicked. And don't get me started on suffocation. Also, the PCs work. Sometimes they need to build a boat quickly in the wilderness, haul heavy treasure up a shaft on a rope, dig a trench for a trap, swim a raging river, or whatever. That stuff will tire someone out. Plus, combat is fatiguing by default according to the rules even of no one uses Extra Effort. A large part of our games is fatigue management by the characters. I (as the GM) usually keep track of the FP so it doesn't become a hassle for the players. Figuring out when to rest and when to risk pushing on is a primary challenge for adventurers in our games and in real life. |
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07-02-2011, 10:26 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
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Re: House Rules for Fatigue Points
We don´t need any house rules, RAW seem to work well for us. Mostly extra effort in combat, long journeys, combat and fighting in armor you loose FP and so on.
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In the Griffin World I play Agriana Trotter, here is the GURPS crunch. Darth Vader "Luke! I am your fathers second cousins sisters best friends brother!" Luke Skywalker "Nooo... eehh What?!" |
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